USA packages being returned

[pvj2]

Anyone else have problems lately with packages being returned to sender? I had one that cleared customs in Chicago went to Texas which is the delivery state and then sent back. Had another this week with the m=buyers address blacked out and a RTS on the box.What's going on?

[marnotom!]

You’re definitely not alone. Have you found this thread yet?

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/USPS-RTS-Return-to-sender-Mystery/m-p/522698

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

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@pvj2 wrote:

Anyone else have problems lately with packages being returned to sender? I had one that cleared customs in Chicago went to Texas which is the delivery state and then sent back. Had another this week with the m=buyers address blacked out and a RTS on the box.What's going on?

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Read a bunch of the threads, it's happening to others as well. The other threads explain it. Our Cross Border Shippers (Chit Chats and Stallion Express) both sent us messages about this, they're posted in some of the other threads.

C.

[reallynicestamps]

If the item is returned as Refused (because the buyer didn't want to pay the tariff) or Undeliverable, the seller is not required by eBay to refund a penny.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...
Keep in mind that the Buyer also is protected by the chargeback policy of their credit card, though.

[cottagewoman]

Good point regarding refunds and eBay policies. However every case I've seen of this being discussed has absolutely no information given why the item is being returned to sender - buyer addresses are blacked out on the label, it's marked RTS and the tracking never gives any USPS status updates (like undeliverable, refused, etc). This sounds to me like CBP is pulling out the packages, marking them up with a big Sharpie as stated above, and shoving them back into the hands of Canada Post before they move to USPS who is doing absolutely nothing but sending it back. CBP is basically tromping all over the Universal Postal Union system the US is part of by diverting packages away from USPS as they arrive, just as they do at the border with CBS providers.

[byto253]

What was the country of origin?

[cottagewoman]

So from Google Gemini overview, which does have links cited, USPS does not collect duties or tariffs. That's the role of US CBP. Here's the summary:

While USPS handles delivery within the US, it relies on customs processes for international shipments. If duties and taxes are not paid, the package may be held by customs, and USPS may not be able to deliver it. The recipient or sender may need to resolve the issue with customs before the package can be delivered.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Customs Requirements:
All international mail is subject to customs regulations of both the origin and destination countries.
Duties and Taxes:
For shipments to the US from Canada, duties and taxes may be applicable depending on the value and type of goods.
Prepaid vs. Unpaid:
The sender can choose to pay duties and taxes in advance (Delivered Duty Paid - DDP), or the recipient may be responsible for paying them upon delivery (Delivered Duty Unpaid - DDU).
USPS Role:
USPS handles the final delivery within the US, but it relies on customs clearance for international packages.
Rejection:
If duties and taxes are not prepaid and the recipient refuses to pay them, the package may be held by customs or even returned to the sender.
Resolution:
The sender or recipient may need to work with customs officials to resolve the issue and ensure the package can be delivered.

I'm wondering if the very thinly spread CBP workers are so backlogged having to process all these packages with Chinese CoO that went through without duties (tariffs) assessed under de minimis that they are just kicking some back to lighten the load, almost randomly? Or if the value is low they figure it isn't worth the effort for the tariff that'll be possibly collected (or not if the buyer refuses)? Nobody seems to be reporting that their buyer has been informed of duties owed, so it doesn't seem that CBP isn't even assessing the tariffs or trying to contact the buyers.

[pvj2]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that thread . So both of my last 2 US packages were  RTS. The 1 was going to Texas and tracking shows it made it to Texas and then was sent back after clearing customs in Chicago. Interesting.                                

[dinomitesales]

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@pvj2 wrote:

Thanks, I hadn't seen that thread . So both of my last 2 US packages were  RTS. The 1 was going to Texas and tracking shows it made it to Texas and then was sent back after clearing customs in Chicago. Interesting.                                

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Was the declared country of origin China?

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

I only have one recent USA sale (made in Japan comic book) and it arrived to my US buyer in just 8 days. 

[fergua3]

somethng's not  adding up with all these returns ebay and other sellers are getting.   Are regular people who send stuff to the US eg to relatives, friends etc also getting a high percentage of returns?  I haven't heard of a single incident.

When i first started adding COO and HS numbers to packages a few weeks ago,  i had to get it done at the Post Office.   The ladies that work there had no idea what i was talking about and it took them several minutes of coaching from me to figure out how to add them.  Flash forward a few weeks to now and i was just there having them add a couple more COO HS numbers.  I asked how many people are doing this.....they said nobody is.

This is a very busy Post Office, hundreds of packages per day.  So if all those packages many that are US bound,  are being sent without COO HS codes are they all getting rejected by US Customs?  Again, i haven't heard of a single incident and neither have the ladies who work at the Post Office.

So why are seller's packages getting such a high rejection rate?  Are they being targeted by US Customs?

[cottagewoman]

@pvj2 -

Can you please provide a few details for each package?

Country of origin marked on each

Value of each

Tracking info - where it passed through customs

Any tracking info stating if the item was refused, undeliverable,etc

Any official USPS markings (stickers, etc) on the packages

Was the recipient address marked over, pen marks for RTS,etc

Thanks

[pvj2]

Both these packages are toys

Package 1  value at $25USD   country of origin China  destination was Deleware

Went into Chicago  never seemed to make it past there just shows a bunch of in transit to next station then showed upback in Mississauga

Package 2 valued at $135USD  country of origin China  destintion was Texas

Went into Chicago then proceeded to Texas 

Went back to Chicago then showed up in Mississauga 

I haven't received package 2 back yet , probably be Monday

Package 1  no stickers just the recipients address blacked out  and RTS put on the package

No tracking showing anything about the package refused or undeliverable.

At this point since almost all my packages go to the US I have blocked sales. It's getting ridiculous 

[fergua3]

i currently have two packages, both low value lego sets stuck in Customs at Chicago.  Going to PA and FL.   I will post what happens here.  COO for both was Denmark.

Over the last couple of months i've shipped about 5 packages to the US, all low value toys, all COO China all delivered with no problem and no tariffs i know about.  All went through Chicago.  Maybe some recent rule change is suddenly causing packges to be sent back?  But i'd still like to know why the genaral public does not seem to be getting their packages to the US returned.

[reallynicestamps]

About 80% of my sales go to the USA.

I have had one return in the past three months, a Canadian address that the postal carrier called "incomplete"  yesterday.

As a stamp dealer, my goods were produced all over the world, including in countries that no longer exist.

[cottagewoman]

@pvj2 - thanks for the info! In either case, have you had any word from the buyer that they've been asked to pay tariffs, or any other communication from CBP or USPS?

[cottagewoman]

@fergua3  - this is more worrying, as the CoO is Denmark.  Although toys may be a category that gets scrutinized by CBP much more than others.  I have some makeup out, hoping I don't have these issues - however my shipments pass through New York.  Hoping the 'disease' hasn't spread there!

[marnotom!]

I’m going to go with the reports that there’s confusion between CBP and USPS over who’s supposed to be charging and collecting the tariffs due on postal imports as the items seem to be getting through customs but are getting kicked back on the almost-last leg of their journey to their buyers.

[cottagewoman]

I think that whole statement put out by Stallion and ChitChats is a load of you know what from CBP. As per their own mandate they are the ones responsible for collecting tariffs (I posted this summary in another reply). They can ask USPS to collect at time of delivery, but it's not incumbent on USPS to do so. Neither would it be incumbent on Canada Post to do so - and how on earth would that be possible? CBP can hold a package in their facility and contact the recipient to inform them duties are owed and must be payed before it can be released to them. From what I've heard from the manager at my Stallion branch. CBP doesn't have the tools or manpower to do this work. So there just refusing entry and sending packages back to senders in Canada.

[pvj2]

Neither buyer has reported anything. The one buyer pf package 1 I think is in China and using a forwarding service at least if I do a google search of the address. The second buyer I reached out to him yesterday and he didn't seem  surprised he said       it's a bit of a chaos down here.