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what happens if buyer doesn't pay customs fees?
 

sold an expensive item and tracking says Payment of charges - Item being held, addressee being notified... basically, he hasn't paid the customs fees.

I don't think he is out of town, I've sent him messages, it seems he doesn't want to pay customs fees and once it's returned to me, he will dispute it later saying he never received.

Ebay: very clear if buyer doesn't pay customs fees or refuses package and even if seller has item back, Ebay doesn't refund buyer, seller wins case.

PayPal: very clear if you get your item back, doesn't matter if buyer refused or didn't pay customs fees, buyer will win case and get 100% refund, same with chargeback, it's considered non-delivered and not covered by seller protection.
But today a paypal dispute rep said no, I did my part shipping out, it's buyer job to pay customs fees, and if he doesn't pay customs fees, we won't refund him and if he does chargeback I'll be covered even if it's sent back to me because I did my part mailing out... As nice as this seems, I don't think it's correct.


What should I do?

I think the buyer might file a case now, which might be a good thing because it's in customs for 2 weeks now, and when he files case paypal will decide on my side and tell buyer to pay customs fees and pick it up.
Then if he files chargeback later after package is delivered, paypal might cover me since I won the case earlier on paypal

Re: what happens if buyer doesn't pay customs fees?
 

Get your item back first and then settle the rest. When you get it back, keep shipping and your fees and refund the rest. If they open a case, input tracking. Report your buyer as well and block them

Re: what happens if buyer doesn't pay customs fees?
 

If they don't pay the fees it will be returned.

If they didn't get the item, they'll get all their money back. Every time. Doesn't matter why. It didn't arrive.

You don't get to 'keep the shipping and your fees'. It doesn't work that way.

IF your item comes back, and it may not, you got lucky.