Tariffs Tipped the Scale — The Storm Has Arrived

[barnfindparts]

The storm clouds were visible months ago, but now that tariffs have hit, the scale has tipped. Selling on eBay as a Canadian just isn’t worth it anymore.

It’s not only tariffs. It’s the 2–3% of headache customers, chargebacks, returns and poor phone support stacked against sellers. Canada Post threatening strikes every other week. UPS and FedEx wrongfully piling on brokerage fees for returns. To be fair, their Facebook reps were decent — but that’s the exception, not the rule.

This past month was the worst yet: U.S. buyers blindsided by tariffs, wriggling out with chargebacks and returns. Sales may still trickle in, but the tide has turned.

Honestly? I’m relieved to be done. Free from the drain, and ready to focus elsewhere.

[reallynicestamps]

Keep in mind that a Refused shipment is deemed Undeliverable by eBay.

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?....

The seller does not owe a single penny in refunds for a Refused item. 

Right  @ devon@ebay ?

Most sellers will refund on return, which can be months since returned mail is not a priority for any carrier.

But only the purchase price, not fees or taxes or shipping and packaging costs. 

Keep in mind that the buyer can also go for a chargeback on the credit card they actually paid with.

[barnfindparts]

Yes 100%.  I've had a few this past month but moot point if they go nuclear and go straight to a chargeback, dealing with a couple right now. 

Long term this is not good .US customers wont want to deal with the extra hassle from Canadian sellers. 

[mrdutch1001]

"It’s not only tariffs. It’s the 2–3% of headache customers, chargebacks, returns and poor phone support stacked against sellers . Selling on eBay as a Canadian just isn’t worth it anymore."

so you think this is only happening on eBay?

"I’m relieved to be done. Free from the drain, and ready to focus elsewhere"

Unless you plan to only sell within Canada and/or locally, that "elsewhere" will also encounter the"headache customers, chargebacks, returns"....

and BTW, selling within Canada and/or locally has just as many headaches, so good luck with whatever you decide to do going forward...

[codacloset]

Part of the issue is that eBay has handled this situation terribly. The blanket warnings on all international listings shipped to the US are only partially true and they have been substantiating this information with incorrect facts given to prosepctive buyers through customer support.

As a seller on eBay you are obviously beholden to whatever information they want to convey to prospective buyers (whether it's accurate or not).

[barnfindparts]

Yes, it applies to the broader Canadian ecommerce economy —
but this is an eBay-specific forum.

Funny thing is, there are other paths one can take aside from selling.
If someone chooses to stay on this hamster wheel, by all means… go ahead.

[mapleleaf-collectibles]

I agree with you 100%. Until Ebay has a seamless new postal program that is transparent so USA buyers see exactly what they will be paying for their items with all tariffs and taxes included, I will not sell there. I started moving all my listing to Ebay.ca but that is also a waste of time now because of the postal strike. Ebay is done for now. With out easy access to the US market it is just a waste of time.

[mrdutch1001]

"but this is an eBay-specific forum."...yet it was you who stated " I’m relieved to be done. Free from the drain, and ready to focus elsewhere."...

so.....whatever...

[vintageandglamor]

Ebay needs a checkbox to say "Seller will Prepay Duties to USA" then advertise Duties Included and give that item improved exposure on the USA site.

[barki411]

I agree. Unless I am mistaken, not all items have a tariff with additional fees. The code for trading cards has zero tariffs. I shipped Canada Post and used Zonos to input the tariff codes. Its now manditory with Canada Post (when they are actually operating). No additional charges. eBay is mistakenly telling buyer there will be additional charges when not in every case (or category) there are. They need to adjust their messaging to be more accurate, and as one uses suggested, have a check-box to indicate if tariffs are due or not.

[nhl_automotive]

I'm with you. After 24 years of selling on eBay, I’m done. The site isn’t what it used to be. eBay has completely abandoned the people who built their platform. devon@ebay 

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

---

@vintageandglamor wrote:

Ebay needs a checkbox to say "Seller will Prepay Duties to USA" then advertise Duties Included and give that item improved exposure on the USA site.

---

I'm for that. I revised my listings to advertise "duties paid", the thing is because of the Canada Post strike I made a lot of changes to my business policies on the site, so when I sync my listings from SixBit it will revert back to shipping before the strike... can't have that yet, I'll revise my listings once the strike is over. International buyers still may pay import fees (that's not within my control, I try to avoid that by putting the correct codes on the packages, but in the EU they don't listen very well).

C.

[marnotom!]

---

@nhl_automotive wrote:

eBay has completely abandoned the people who built their platform.

---

eBay Canada may be putting most of its eggs into the basket for the new international shipping program that’s supposedly being rolled out starting this month.

[brettjet38]

---

@vintageandglamor wrote:

Ebay needs a checkbox to say "Seller will Prepay Duties to USA" then advertise Duties Included and give that item improved exposure on the USA site.

---

"Seller will Prepay Duties to USA"

Are you serious?

Not a chance...

eIS to the USA as soon as it becomes available here in Canada.

[brettjet38]

I am selling what I have in inventory, and then I will retire and watch this S... Show as go out with my middle finger held up high!

End capitalism is upon us, and basic incomes are coming for us next...

I am so glad I purchased so much inventory years ago on eBay. With all this nonsense and costs, one could never do that today.

2001 - ebay was fun!!

2025 - ebay is _____!!!

2030 - eBay is gone...

[nhl_automotive]

With Canada Post on the way out, it’s already too late. Using UPS or FedEx isn’t even a real option, they can randomly tack on whatever charges they feel like, sometimes in the hundreds. And eBay won’t have your back either. They won't even dispute label overcharges anymore. I used to be one of eBay’s biggest supporters, even publishing books on Amazon Kindle about how to sell successfully on the platform. But I can’t stand behind a site that seems determined to squeeze every last cent out of sellers while the ship is clearly sinking. devon@ebay rob@ebay kyle@ebay alan@ebay luke@ebay 

[sakic92710]

I found out books can be shipped to the US without tariffs applied, so I posted 1 autographed book on .com.  1 view in 6 days.  When the CP strike ends, I will be using .ca & .uk for the bulk of my sales - no shipping to the US.  For .com, I would only list small items that can be slipped inside a greeting card & sent as regular mail.  That would be my strategy.  For the longest time, I've been relying on Marketplace, but that is hurting a bit due to the mail strike, too.  Dealing with only pick-ups is not enough.  Good luck to all!   🙂

[brocante6]

2001 - eBay était amusant !!

2025 - eBay est _____!!!

2030 - eBay a disparu...

Exact!

[mrdutch1001]

" I would only list small items that can be slipped inside a greeting card & sent as regular mail.>>that may be your strategy but it is not a legal one LOL!.... and you really think that the USA border agents aren't going to be scrutinizing lettermail moreso now than ever, seeking out those shipments that are indeed trying to pass through with goods to avoid tariffs? Good luck with that strategy!

[barnfindparts]

I always found real-world examples to be the most helpful, so here’s one I can share (with identity protected, of course).

A customer bought an item after Aug 29. It arrived within the shipping estimates, and then I received this message:

“Hello, I just checked and the items couldn’t be received because of taxes due… can you tell me how I can pay those taxes?”

I told him I wasn’t entirely sure, as I’m Canadian, but if I had to guess it would most likely be with the shipper (UPS), who forwards the tariffs to the government. I asked if he wouldn’t mind sharing how much the extra charges were. His response:

“I just did it in the UPS web… $152. It hurts.”

So  extra $152 on a $169 item — most likely a combination of UPS fees plus tariffs. It’s just business, but if I were American I’d be shocked as well. It also explains the uptick in chargebacks and returns from U.S. customers this past month.

The point of all this? Tariffs are designed to keep American dollars in the U.S., and they’re effective. It is what it is.