Customs Owed Confirmation Pop Up

DadsAfol

Please add a pop up or message during the checkout process for international buyers that the buyer has to explicitly click/accept to proceed with the order. I know its not realistic to calculate the actual amount, but a generic message should help.

For buyers in UK, you could use the grand total against the threshold ($25?) to diplay or not display the message. It would be even better if you could calculate the customs fees, but that could be a future enhancement.

We have a buyer asking us to refund their customs fees. Will probalby turn into our first negative feedback on BO.

minithingsforlife

so how can you refund a fee passed on by their government? Your customer needs education not pandering to their requests.

Timothy_Smith

Stuff like this makes me grumpy. Does your customer live in a representative democracy?
Customs duties are a local problem, and they can be eliminated at the user's end.

Lawrence

I do have on my list to build a system to notify customers, but it is quite complex. There are obviously many permutations, many countries have many rules for different countries you are importing from. I only know about the UK obviously, but that would probably still be better than nothing.

pumbaugh

I think you are exposing yourself to a lot of liability trying to calculate(even for just an estimate for the buyers clarification) customs fees/taxes on BO. Why not just use a checkbox/popup that verifies user understands that importing from another country exposes him/her to the import regulations of his/her own country? At that point, if the buyer is concerned enough about the possibility of a fee/tax they can research their own laws.

Lawrence

I won't attempt to calculate, but I do intend to warn, with links to more information.

pumbaugh

That makes sense. I guess I was reading too much into your previous comment

Badlove

I think this is a great idea but definitely do not try to calculate just inform.
James

DadsAfol

I posted the following information in my store blog, but its good for anyone that is interested in researching the rules for their country.

Its important that you as a buyer understand your own country's rules and regulations about making purchases from another country. Some countries are very thorough about checking the incoming packages' values and issuing customs fees. For example, the UK is very strict about their limit of £15! If your order is more, they charge a percentage plus an "Administrative fee" to cllect it from you! The EU generously allows up to €150 without duties. Other counties are very lax about enforcement. Canada technically requires customs dutues on packages from the US, but rarely actually attempts to collect it from the recipient on packages under $100. We are required by US law to declare all orders at the net total amount and classified as "merchandise". We cannot falsify the amount or mark it as "gift".

Here are some external references if you are unsure about what your country requires.

http://www.dutycalculator.com/help_center/Import-duty-and-taxes-explained-in-a-nutshell/ - General information about duties and a caclulator for most countries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs - General information about customs

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/tax-and-duty.htm - UK specific information

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html - Canada specific information

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/buying_online/buying_goods/within_non_eu_en.htm - EU specific information

Graham

The UK is the worst…

this is an example:: when I was in England, I received an order from the US which I had calculated to fall under the threshold.
at the time of ordering the "duty free" limit was £18 - however by the time my order arrived, they had changed it to £15. I thought no problem because the order was under that too - just.
Then I received that card, and went to the sorting office to find a demand for £12.80.

Their conversion rate was "off" so the package was assessed at £15.23 so they added the shipping ($10) charged 20% on the total (VAT) and £8 for their trouble… and there is nothing you can do, raise your voice in the PO - they call the police (it's not their fault anyway)

so my $22 order cost a total of £28 (approx $42)

what most don't realize is the USPS is a government department - to make a false declaration is a felony - not good.

Sending packages FROM the UK is a different "kettle of fish"!

Salas tax in the US is a State Tax, I have yet to be charged anything from "out of state" - however you are supposed to declare items purchased out of state - in NC they just stick on a % on your tax return "assuming" you can't remember and that figure is best left alone!

Graham

I am going to add something to my home page actually I think you can add a note to payment methods?

Might be worth doing

@Dads AFOL - the buyer in the UK has the option to refuse the package and it will be returned, or at least I was able to do that on a package where they "missed" the decimal point and assessed duty on $2145 rather than $21.45!

Graham

DadsAfol

I know they can refuse it, but there are no winners there. This buyer has already made 4 BO orders in my store, so I'm hopeful I don't lose that repeat business.

The site in the first link in my earlier post actually sells an API for eCommerce sites. I forwarded the info to Admin. Having someone else maintain the info makes a lot more sense that BO trying to do any calculations themseleves.

Graham

Ive added a simple line in International shipping methods comment that defines responsibility - should be obvious - however there are always those that don't inform themselves!

even with Duty Calculator - they make mistakes, or at least have done in the past (from experience) the buyer is the importer, the importer is responsible for knowing any laws on what they are importing and any fees and duty.
It is not the exporters responsibity - as long as they act according to export regulations, that is the end of it UNLESS they are acting is an import broker as well. Amazon are a good example of that.