eBay blocks bidding on used watches from US to DK

watchyouwant · Aug 20, 2019

JimInOz
I'm glad I live in a backward country.

I buy a watch, wait for a few days and the postie drops it in my mail box

The only thing that shits me now is paying GST, but eBay sucks that out on my behalf so it's still hassle free.

And what "Goods and Services" am I using when buying a used watch?

I'd better leave it there before I start a real rant.

........ EBay only deducts the Gst and collects if you use PayPal. Tell the seller, you pay 2 % less and you use bankwire. PayPal keeps 4% on international transactions, so win/win and no Gst collected in Australia. Gst Free up to A$ 1000. When you use bankwire, the seller has no chargeback worries and can declare something under $ 1000 and: Bingo. No Gst. Has worked every time.

gatorcpa · Aug 20, 2019

JimInOz
And what "Goods and Services" am I using when buying a used watch?

OK, I’ll bite.

A watch is a “good” whether new or used. It’s all in the definitions under the law. Many jurisdictions exempt goods sold by occasional sellers from GST or sales taxes. Most of the sellers in the private sales forum probably qualify for this exemption (if it exists in their area).

However, brick and mortar retail has been fighting a constant battle with internet sellers such as Amazon, Wayfair and eBay, who took advantage of the fact that they routinely sold goods across state and national borders that exempted them from collecting GST and sales tax from purchasers under the law.

Amazon threw in the towel a few years ago when they joined the brick and mortar world. Wayfair lost a Supreme Court case in the US and now has to collect sales taxes here.

eBay has consistently claimed that they are not sellers of goods, they merely facilitate transactions. However, once they got into the the logistics business via this “Global Shipping Program(me)”, that argument lost credibility. They are now selling both goods (supplies) and services (handling and delivery), so they have partially given in to world governments in order to continue to be able to ship pretty much anything world wide.

Since the definition of a good or a service is determined under your law, by your elected officials, the only way to change that is to lobby these officials for a change in the law.

My rant is over now.
gatorcpa

gatorcpa · Aug 20, 2019

watchyouwant
........ EBay only deducts the Gst and collects if you use PayPal. Tell the seller, you pay 2 % less and you use bankwire. PayPal keeps 4% on international transactions, so win/win and no Gst collected in Australia. Gst Free up to A$ 1000. When you use bankwire, the seller has no chargeback worries and can declare something under $ 1000 and: Bingo. No Gst. Has worked every time.

And I’m sure that is legal in Australia. 😉
gatorcpa

Archer · Aug 20, 2019

watchyouwant
In some countries you can use a 3. Party insurer and that does not show in the shipment papers. They encourage you, to declare low. To not attract unwanted attention during transport.

I've never been asked by a third party insurer to under-declare an item. I would be interested to know what insurer you have used that has asked this?

Certainly not using the specific word "watch" is something that is done frequently, so "precision instrument" is what is in the description, but the tariff codes will still reflect what it actually is on the commercial invoice.

ConElPueblo · Aug 21, 2019

ConElPueblo
Trump Wants To Buy Greenland

...

Seems like he got a bit upset when told "not for sale"...

sxl2004 · Aug 21, 2019

My recommendation to him will be Northern Juetland being the better buy. Plenty of great Aquavit and rumored tons of great vintage watches.
😀😗

Vercingetorix · Aug 21, 2019

I will be in Copenhagen in 2 weeks time. I would like to start a gofundme account and use the proceeds to buy Greenland. Will rename it Omegaland. Who is in?

paddymoran · Sep 24, 2021

watchyouwant
Very complex topic. Shipment is always the weak part. Compensation is limited, no matter, how much you insured for and paid accordingly. Watches are Jewellery and that limit is around $500. In some countries you can use a 3. Party insurer and that does not show in the shipment papers. They encourage you, to declare low. To not attract unwanted attention during transport. My experience is, never to use the word "watch" in the declaration and declare low to go with the flow. Real time internet tracking for peace of mind a must. EMS courier pretty good and not expensive. Ups worldwide not good. FedEx into countries with Vat a bit better...... A few Carriers get paid by the government to do the customs clearing and get paid for it. It is in their best interest to collect Money....... kind regards. Achim

Definitely agree, declare low to avoid unwanted attention.

eBay blocks bidding on used watches from US to DK

watchyouwant

gatorcpa

gatorcpa

Archer

ConElPueblo

sxl2004

Vercingetorix

paddymoran

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