Shipped item, now buyer is complaining about import duties (US-Norway) What do I do?

[SpartanD63]

Hello! I shipped an item worth $400 to a buyer in Norway. I didn't mark it as "gift" or something like that, because it wasn't.

Now, the item's tracking has been in customs for several days now. Meanwhile the messages from this buyer seem a bit odd, especially the costs cited, though I'm not too familiar with Norwegian customs. Stuff like saying that he'd have to pay $400 to get it through customs if I marked it as an item I sold him? And if the value was over $100. That seems... odd to me.

Any help or suggestions of what to do would be appreciated.

[kernowlass]

@SpartanD63

Should not be your problem, a buyer is responsible for any import charges to import an item into his own country.

[DPCreations]

There are serious risks when selling internationally from the U. S.  International buyers may not be aware of customs, VAT, and other import fees--and they can be VERY high.  It really is up to the BUYER to know and understand local fees.  Buyer's may also refuse an item because of the fees, then it becomes a seller problem.   The seller makes the shipment with instructions for the local service in regards to non-delivery.  Did you mark it for disposal or for return to sender at sender expenses?

It really is important for the seller to know and understand all the implications and risks of international sales.  I make a point to inform international buyers that there may be local import, customs, or tax fees which are the responsibility of the buyer and allow buyer to cancel before shipping.

In this case, there isn't a lot for the seller to do; it's up to the buyer to accept the delivery and pay the fees or refuse and have the item return to seller.

You could respond that all local fees and taxes are the buyer's responsibiliyt and, if buyer refuses delivery, you will refund item cost AFTER it is received by seller.

[SpartanD63]

The buyer in this case likely knew, because he even said he'd had several similar items shipped to him internationally before. I didn't have it marked for disposal or return-to-sender 😕

[DPCreations]

@SpartanD63

Whether the buyer knew or didn't know isn't relevant to what you do or didn't do (like provide specific intenational sales alert).

You should look on your postage/customs receipt to see what the default disposition will be.

All you can do now is inform buyer of options and then wait...and wait.

[lancelotme]

Norway is safe,if he does not pick up the item,it will come back to you,you may have to pay return shipping.

It could take 30 days to get it back though.

If this is an Ebay transaction,refusal to pay customs does not go well with Ebay.

I doubt he is asked to pay $400 customs for a $400 item.

Did you use GSP?

[SpartanD63]

 It wasn't an eBay sale, and I'm not sure what GSP is, so probably not? He's asking if I'll pay for customs, which I don't have the funds to especially as the item was sold for less than originally intended as a "best offer" kind of deal.

I've told him I can't afford to pay customs, and said he can pay it or tell them to return to sender and I'll refund when it gets here. I'll see how that goes.

[DPCreations]

It's not unusual for European buyers to try to get a better deal and get the seller to cave on fees.  As for the seller, it should never be open for discussion and seller should never give excuse about afordability; this ony opens the door for more discussions and demands by the buyer.

It's much better to take a business approach and state that fees are the buyer's responsibility, NO discussions are reasons.

[kernowlass]

@DPCreations

I don't think slating European buyers is really fair. I get just as many problems with US buyers    

[DPCreations]

@kernowlass

Since this is a U. S. community forum and the post was about a shipment from the U. S. to Europe, the comment was for U. S. sellers.

European sellers on a European forum would likely have a simlilar view for their exports.