Please Help! Deal gone horribly wrong!

[Midnightly]

as much as i hate to say it i'd look at this as a bit of an expensive lesson unfortunately..

the seller isn't responsible for duties, it's one of the things that suck about buying outside your country on ebay, but it does sound like the seller listed the shoes at a much higher value then she should have (retail new vrs the price you paid) which is why the duties are so high that is their big mistake, IF you don't pick them up they will be shipped back to the seller BUT your not guaranteed to get a refund from the seller (that is up to the seller, YES you can dispute it BUT the seller followed their end of the sale, packaged it up and mailed it to you and it's the duty that your dispute is with not the shoes themselves)

once you have the shoes you can dispute the duty, i've had to do this in the past and never had an issue (never denied, i've once been charged duty for samples! yes samples!) it take take a few weeks but it's pretty easy, fill out the form provide proof of purchase through ebay

[sarajk]

I think you should send them back because you said they weren't as described.

I don't see where she said that?
Theres no way to know if they were as decribed since she had never been given the package.
They don't let you open it if theres duties owing on it.

I have to agree with Midnight.
If you want the shoes you should pay it and file the paper work.
If you send them back to customs who knows when you will see them again.

I don't think sending them back to the seller is a good idea.
You will be out the money you original spent and not have the shoes.
The seller doesn't have to refund the money, customs was not their fault.
And if they aren't responding to your emails pretty good odds they have washed their hands of you
and you will never see a penny from them if you send the shoes back.

[Mia]

i work for customs. you should have to only pay duty and taxes and fees on the total you paid. it should have been properly declared on the outside of the package with an ebay invoice inside the package. if this wasnt done, then customs has to appraise the item, they best they can. you are allowed to apply for a partial refund. the information is on the back of your custom import receipt. you need to send in an ebay invoice with a picture of the shoes to prove that they are the same ones you bought. you will get a refund. it wont be entirely what you paid, it will only be partial. good luck.

Actually, I was thinking the same thing. She has to apply for a refund to Customs, but has to prove her purchase with ebay invoice and a photo of the shoes.

I think, that will be the best option she can choose.

[Mia]

Two weeks ago I purchased a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes via ebay for $320 (A really good deal! orginal price is over $600) from the UK. They were used and it was evident on the soles where the red paint has worn off. Today the mail man came from Canada Post and I was so excited then he told me how much I owed in customs.....$249.63! WHOAH. The mail man was nice enough to stay so I could actaully have a look at the fees written on the package and I saw that Customs had declared the value of the shoes as $750! Even if they were new it would not have been that much but clearly they were used they could have been worthless for all they know.

I need help I have no idea what to do I love those shoes but I'm not paying almost the price of new Christian Louboutins to have a pair of used ones. This time the thrifty saver failed me I never would have thought customs would charge me this much. I call Canada Post the lady said theres nothing I can do but talk to the seller but what if she doesn't take returns? Are there not any other options for me? The shoes were totally mis evaluated for twice the price.

I am so sorry

I think you should apply to Customs for a refund. But you have to prove your purchase of $320 with ebay invoice (receipt) and a picture of the shoes.

I wish you good luck!

[silvialee]

Thanks guys, I picked the item up a few days ago I am going to send the form to customs today. The seller did claim the value as the original retail price of the shoes........... which was quite disapointing to hear. Also I opened a paypal claim as the shoes had more signs of wear than described. Hoping to seek a partial refund as she described them as in "immaculate" condition.

[EvilTofu]

So sorry to hear that. There is no way to avoid the tax, but they are supposed to tax on the sales price and not the retail value.

Some retailer would declare the higher value to show the customer that they have gotten a great deal. Sounds like they are not very good eBayer. I would print out the eBay transaction and try to show it to the custom to see if you can get a tax reassessment.

I doubt that you could get a refund from the seller. Tax is your own duty. But it is no doubt their fault to have declared a false amount. Maybe if you could get them to send you a letter admitting their mistake, along with the invoice and your packing slip, it might help you present your case.

What you really should have done in such situation was to refuse the item and claim a dispute from Paypal.