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Ebay.com second hand purchase

  • 06-11-2014 01:14PM
    #1
    matchthis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭


    Apologies if already asked. Am looking to bid on a second hand item from the states. Value will more than likely end around €150. Does anyone know if this would get stopped by customs? Thinking as it would clearly be second hand and cost would be a good bit less than if it were brand new


Comments

  • #2
    nava
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,739 ✭✭✭nava


    matchthis wrote: »
    Apologies if already asked. Am looking to bid on a second hand item from the states. Value will more than likely end around €150. Does anyone know if this would get stopped by customs? Thinking as it would clearly be second hand and cost would be a good bit less than if it were brand new

    Most probably it will get stopped, the custom charge will be calculated from the total value (Item, Insurance and postage) there's no difference if item is new or 2nd hand.


  • #3
    Recondite49
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,004 ✭✭✭Recondite49


    matchthis wrote: »
    Apologies if already asked. Am looking to bid on a second hand item from the states. Value will more than likely end around €150. Does anyone know if this would get stopped by customs? Thinking as it would clearly be second hand and cost would be a good bit less than if it were brand new

    Naturally I cannot suggest that you ask the seller to mark the item as a gift but if they were to do so Customs would have a hard time charging you duty, especially if it was a second hand item.

    I usually have new items ordered in my Uncle's name who lives in the US. He then sends the items to me as a gift.


  • #4
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,589 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    Recondite49 wrote: »
    Naturally I cannot suggest that you ask the seller to mark the item as a gift but if they were to do so Customs would have a hard time charging you duty, especially if it was a second hand item.

    I usually have new items ordered in my Uncle's name who lives in the US. He then sends the items to me as a gift.
    They have no issues with adding their own valuation if they think it's to low; marking down the value also impacts any claims for insurance if it's broken or lost in transit.


  • #5
    Recondite49
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,004 ✭✭✭Recondite49


    Nody wrote: »
    They have no issues with adding their own valuation if they think it's to low; marking down the value also impacts any claims for insurance if it's broken or lost in transit.

    But if it were, you'd have received a receipt from them for the full value you paid, right? In other words, if the package was lost, the lower value would have been written only on that?


  • #6
    Beano
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭Beano


    Recondite49 wrote: »
    But if it were, you'd have received a receipt from them for the full value you paid, right? In other words, if the package was lost, the lower value would have been written only on that?

    they make a note of the insured value when they ship. they dont ask you for an invoice after the fact to determine how much the item was worth.


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  • #7
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,589 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    Recondite49 wrote: »
    But if it were, you'd have received a receipt from them for the full value you paid, right? In other words, if the package was lost, the lower value would have been written only on that?
    When you mail it you state the value on the package; that's the value you'd get refunded for by the postage service no matter what the actual value of content was basically.


  • #8
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Recondite49 wrote: »
    Naturally I cannot suggest that you ask the seller to mark the item as a gift but if they were to do so Customs would have a hard time charging you duty, especially if it was a second hand item.
    Why would they have a hard time? the OP said the item is €150, the limit on genuine gifts is €45. At €150 he is liable to both VAT and duty.

    Customs are wise to the gift thing. And second hand just means the value may be lower. Some people seem to think second hand stuff is exempt, in which case loads of retailers would just call themselves second hand shops.


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