Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Guess you will not be able to send anything to me then as we do not get deliveries in rural Canada. Everything is delivered to our locked box within the post office. Any large items or recorded/signed for are kept behind the counter and a coded card is put in our box. This has to be taken to the counter with photo proof of id before mail is obtained. A safer system than leaving a package on the doorstep.
No deliveries are made within the local towns (populations 4-6,000), even the banks and municipality have to collect their mail.
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Vic
I will be able to post to you until Manitoba becomes part of the United States ie until hell freezes over!
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Royal Mail has passed their final instructions to the Post Offices with regards to mail to the USA.
I have had discussions with our local post offices and I will no longer sell any stamps to members in the United States of America as they insist that any items
sold to the US must have their country of manufacture declared so the appropriate tariff % can be applied.
This makes it impossible to sell to the US as countries like Holland, UK and Switzerland etc all have different % rates.
This comes into effect NOW.
I can still sell to Canada, Australia, Brazil and Timbucto.
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The country of manufacture isn't always the same as the name on the stamp either, and what about mixed world lots?
If I sell this stamp, Australia 1956 Olympics, the country of manufacture is Switzerland, as it was manufactured by Courvoisier. Now, imagine the befuddlement of the US Customs agent who checked this at random. It would be rejected, as they'd see the stamp and say it was from Australia, not Switzerland. It wouldn't be allowed entry to the US, I'm sure.
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When I was doing import/export classifications, the country of origin label was defined as the location of last "substantial transformation". That is why some companies use Mexico to assemble products that mostly have parts from somewhere else. Since we were selling assembled products and had to also import spare parts so the spare parts may have different country of origin label than finished product.
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Aye Dave Great Britain stamps are not all manufactured in the UK.
The post office staff have been given strict instructions, they will not bend. They are asking everyone what they are sending and stamps are a product, therefore MUST have a customs form, tariffs must be paid and we will charge you for the privilege.
One other problem is that if I invoice an American customer and its in US Dollars, the custom forms are in GB Pounds, therefore conversion rates come into play.
What a mess!
I am 72 years old and it just isn't worth the hassle and aggravation.
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Unless I'm mistaken Ian, this is your only selling venue isn't it? This will have a massive impact on you, with most members being in the US. This whole kerfuffle really wasn't thought through, was it?
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For me it was for a long time but because of all the "kerfuffle " I am now much more active on local platforms here in the Netherlands and looking into the possibilities of Scandinavian sites.
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Dave,
Aye it is the only online platform I sell on.
I'll still list items for sale for the rest of the world and the Americans can look on in envy 
Anything that didn't sell on here was chucked in a box and sold in my local Auction House.
No Doubt the local Auction House will benefit with an increase in sales.
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I ordered a book last week from Thrift Books and one yesterday from an eBay seller, both located in The UK. No issues with tariffs, just reasonable shipping and state tax, Pennsylvania.
Vince
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Vince,
How much was the shipping? How much was the tax?
Please let us know when they arrive.
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The first book I ordered on August 2nd was from Abebooks, not Thrift books and the seller was from Great Britain. I didn't save the shipping label.
Book $1.97
Shipping $5.98
Tax (6% Pennsylvania) 0.48
The next book I ordered from eBay on August 31st and has not arrived yet.
Book GRP 12.50
Shipping GRP 5.00
Tax (6% Pennsylvania) GRP 1.05
I'll post the mailing label when it arrives.
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The first book was ordered and likely shipped prior to the mailing embargo. You may possibly have trouble receiving the second one
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Here is a link to eBay concerning tariffs.
https://pages.ebay.com/tariffs/
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I noticed, for the first time, this morning that eBay flashes a warning when I bid (from the US) on an item offered by a UK seller that reads:
"Due to US policies, import fees for this item will need to be paid to customs or the shipping carrier on delivery. Learn more"
Not clear what the mechanics of collection of the tariffs. Does the letter carrier collect them at the door, or do recipients have to go to the post office to pick their package up? How will the buyer know if the amount of tax to be collected is fair?
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If the Seller uses Royal Mail then the Seller has to pay the tariff and a handling charge to Royal Mail. The handling charge is approx 60-70 cents. Plus any conversion fees from Pounds to Dollars.
Royal Mail will then pass on the Tariff amount to US Customs.
If the seller charges the Buyer for the tariff amount at Ebay Checkout no doubt ebay will take their cut as will Paypal!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsM ...
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11:53:26am
What a darn mess!! It will definitely impact hugely on sales to the US! Not meant to be a political comment, just a statement of how I feel!!
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It wouldn't surprise me if U.S. Customs starts opening international letter mail to verify it does not contain merchandise. I realize this would be ridiculously expensive, but then again, so is the cost of sending soldiers into our cities.
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@Harry,
what price do you put on the lives of the victims of gun violence on any given weekend in Chicago?
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With the volume of incoming mail/parcels/packages to the USA each day and the total amount handled it would be naive to assume that every piece of incoming mail would be opened. I'm not sure every piece could even be scanned given time and staff/machinery constraints.
This link has some interesting facts.
https://facts.usps.com/one-day/
Without taking sides in the military presence on the streets, I hardly think the criminals are going to show their faces, more likely just move somewhere else until things go back to a more normal.
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@Ernie
Chicago crime
MOST RECENT YEAR-TO-DATE STATISTICS:
Overall Violent Crime: -21.6%
Homicides: -32.3%
Overall Shooting Incidents: -37.4%
Multi-Victim Shooting Incidents: -44.6%
Robberies: -31.9%
Vehicular Hijackings: -49%
Aggravated Assault: -18.1%
2023 Homicides per 100,000 population
Chicago 17.6
Memphis 40.9
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Harry,
Please stop getting political. This is a hobby community. There are plenty of sites for that type of thing. When you show up talking about "soldiers in the streets" yes, sir you are getting political.
Send me a private message. Let's catch up on what we've both been collecting.
Respectfully,
Ernie Jones
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TDS is alive and well on Stamporama.
Why are certain members not able to control the need to incert politics in every discussion?
Time to shut down another thread.
Vince
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Folks,
if it ain't about stamps, it doesn't belong here.
If we get back to the stamp topic, i'll keep this open; if not, i'll close it
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Thank you David!
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Good News
A Large Letter I posted on the day that Royal Mail stopped accepting items for the US has arrived at its destination. (Eight Days delivery time)
The Buyer has not commented so it appears it was not opened and no tariff was paid.
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I have been sending duplicate stamps to a young collector in Canada for roughly a year. I had two packages returned by the US Customs in January, saying I needed to declare customs. Keep in mind that I am sending these as gifts, no charges. The US Customs rules for gifts is less than $75 value do not have to be declared. I have since reduced the size of the envelope and sent smaller quantities. I usually remember to add a note to customs saying value is in the $20-30 range and it is a gift. Have not had any returned since.
Takeaways--If you send without an invoice/packing list and declare it to be a gift of limited value (10-15%Cat), it would be very difficult for customs to prove otherwise--certainly the ROI of effort vs payout would not be good. I would be fine if I never received another packing list on my SOR purchases.
There is always some risk that a postal authority with a bur in his saddle will do a deep dive and find you out. I suspect the odds a low, but could happen.
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I ordered some US stamps from a seller in the uk off of ebay.
They said they were going to take the tarrif amount out of the bank.
If I recall correctly, $2.86 was taken.
Not bad.
-Ari
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Ari,
Was ebay taking the tariff out of your bank or the sellers bank?
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Taking out of the buyers bank!
-Ari
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I hope that the seller gets a label from ebay stating your name and address and the amount of tariff paid.
You may find that the only way for the package to get to you is the seller has to use ebays Global Posting system.
If he tries to post it through the post office the seller may have to pay the tariff and the 60-70 cent handling fee for Royal Mail.
I assume you bought it from ebay.com NOT ebay.co.uk
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Yes, ebay.com.....
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"You may find that the only way for the package to get to you is the seller has to use ebays Global Posting system."
I never buy from anyone who does that. The cost is extortionate
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03:36:01pm
Not really relevant to the post but it's not worth starting a new post for, so what the hey! Just had a shipment arrive from France (E-Bay) that took 6 days and stuff from the US takes about two weeks! I'm not trying to make a point, just passing on something I've noticed!
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Joe
Like everything in this world it is down to just luck.
I posted 6 items in the mailbox for the US at the same time. Two have arrived a couple of days ago. Where are the other Four? God knows.
We have a saying in Old Caledonia " Its better being lucky than good".
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To save duplication there is more info in the "Member Notes" Section of Topics
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Just read an article that believes the Supreme Court will toss this as improper.
I can't believe some listings I am now seeing, high shipping prices on single items, no break by reduction of merchandise bought.
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Hi Ian,
This was sent on the 1st of September.
Here is a scan of the envelope, sender's business address and cover of the 48-page booklet.
The best part of this was my regular carrier was working, not the substitute, who is a real marker monkey.
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TELL ME ABOUT IT!
Our mail carrier slathers 314 20 times over anything bigger than a letter.
My best days are when the sub is in, so opposite for me.
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Vinman,
Thanks.
You are the lucky one.
Your item should have had a customs form as it is a large letter over 5mm thick. (Going by the value of the stamps.)
I am still waiting for 4 customers to receive theirs that were posted on the 26th August and were just large letters under 5mm thick and do not require custom forms. (Either that or the customers have not followed the correct protocol of notifying the seller that they have received the items)
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I am happy to announce that I shall resume listing from today and will also include the United States of America.
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I haven't seen any impact of tariffs on my UK stamp purchases, thus far.
My orders, from more than a few dealers, have all arrived in those nice cardboard backed envelopes, without a customs sticker, or any mention of what's inside.
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01:34:21pm
If I use Royal Mails system to send items to the USA they WILL NOT accept items for P O Box addresses!!
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Guess you will not be able to send anything to me then as we do not get deliveries in rural Canada. Everything is delivered to our locked box within the post office. Any large items or recorded/signed for are kept behind the counter and a coded card is put in our box. This has to be taken to the counter with photo proof of id before mail is obtained. A safer system than leaving a package on the doorstep.
No deliveries are made within the local towns (populations 4-6,000), even the banks and municipality have to collect their mail.
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05:40:58pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Vic
I will be able to post to you until Manitoba becomes part of the United States ie until hell freezes over!
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06:00:02am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Royal Mail has passed their final instructions to the Post Offices with regards to mail to the USA.
I have had discussions with our local post offices and I will no longer sell any stamps to members in the United States of America as they insist that any items
sold to the US must have their country of manufacture declared so the appropriate tariff % can be applied.
This makes it impossible to sell to the US as countries like Holland, UK and Switzerland etc all have different % rates.
This comes into effect NOW.
I can still sell to Canada, Australia, Brazil and Timbucto.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
The country of manufacture isn't always the same as the name on the stamp either, and what about mixed world lots?
If I sell this stamp, Australia 1956 Olympics, the country of manufacture is Switzerland, as it was manufactured by Courvoisier. Now, imagine the befuddlement of the US Customs agent who checked this at random. It would be rejected, as they'd see the stamp and say it was from Australia, not Switzerland. It wouldn't be allowed entry to the US, I'm sure.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
When I was doing import/export classifications, the country of origin label was defined as the location of last "substantial transformation". That is why some companies use Mexico to assemble products that mostly have parts from somewhere else. Since we were selling assembled products and had to also import spare parts so the spare parts may have different country of origin label than finished product.
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09:19:59am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Aye Dave Great Britain stamps are not all manufactured in the UK.
The post office staff have been given strict instructions, they will not bend. They are asking everyone what they are sending and stamps are a product, therefore MUST have a customs form, tariffs must be paid and we will charge you for the privilege.
One other problem is that if I invoice an American customer and its in US Dollars, the custom forms are in GB Pounds, therefore conversion rates come into play.
What a mess!
I am 72 years old and it just isn't worth the hassle and aggravation.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Unless I'm mistaken Ian, this is your only selling venue isn't it? This will have a massive impact on you, with most members being in the US. This whole kerfuffle really wasn't thought through, was it?
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
For me it was for a long time but because of all the "kerfuffle " I am now much more active on local platforms here in the Netherlands and looking into the possibilities of Scandinavian sites.
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11:21:20am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Dave,
Aye it is the only online platform I sell on.
I'll still list items for sale for the rest of the world and the Americans can look on in envy
Anything that didn't sell on here was chucked in a box and sold in my local Auction House.
No Doubt the local Auction House will benefit with an increase in sales.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I ordered a book last week from Thrift Books and one yesterday from an eBay seller, both located in The UK. No issues with tariffs, just reasonable shipping and state tax, Pennsylvania.
Vince
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10:57:20am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Vince,
How much was the shipping? How much was the tax?
Please let us know when they arrive.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
The first book I ordered on August 2nd was from Abebooks, not Thrift books and the seller was from Great Britain. I didn't save the shipping label.
Book $1.97
Shipping $5.98
Tax (6% Pennsylvania) 0.48
The next book I ordered from eBay on August 31st and has not arrived yet.
Book GRP 12.50
Shipping GRP 5.00
Tax (6% Pennsylvania) GRP 1.05
I'll post the mailing label when it arrives.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
The first book was ordered and likely shipped prior to the mailing embargo. You may possibly have trouble receiving the second one
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Here is a link to eBay concerning tariffs.
https://pages.ebay.com/tariffs/
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I noticed, for the first time, this morning that eBay flashes a warning when I bid (from the US) on an item offered by a UK seller that reads:
"Due to US policies, import fees for this item will need to be paid to customs or the shipping carrier on delivery. Learn more"
Not clear what the mechanics of collection of the tariffs. Does the letter carrier collect them at the door, or do recipients have to go to the post office to pick their package up? How will the buyer know if the amount of tax to be collected is fair?
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10:56:00am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
If the Seller uses Royal Mail then the Seller has to pay the tariff and a handling charge to Royal Mail. The handling charge is approx 60-70 cents. Plus any conversion fees from Pounds to Dollars.
Royal Mail will then pass on the Tariff amount to US Customs.
If the seller charges the Buyer for the tariff amount at Ebay Checkout no doubt ebay will take their cut as will Paypal!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsM ...
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
03 Sep 2025
11:53:26am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
What a darn mess!! It will definitely impact hugely on sales to the US! Not meant to be a political comment, just a statement of how I feel!!
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
It wouldn't surprise me if U.S. Customs starts opening international letter mail to verify it does not contain merchandise. I realize this would be ridiculously expensive, but then again, so is the cost of sending soldiers into our cities.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
@Harry,
what price do you put on the lives of the victims of gun violence on any given weekend in Chicago?
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
With the volume of incoming mail/parcels/packages to the USA each day and the total amount handled it would be naive to assume that every piece of incoming mail would be opened. I'm not sure every piece could even be scanned given time and staff/machinery constraints.
This link has some interesting facts.
https://facts.usps.com/one-day/
Without taking sides in the military presence on the streets, I hardly think the criminals are going to show their faces, more likely just move somewhere else until things go back to a more normal.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
@Ernie
Chicago crime
MOST RECENT YEAR-TO-DATE STATISTICS:
Overall Violent Crime: -21.6%
Homicides: -32.3%
Overall Shooting Incidents: -37.4%
Multi-Victim Shooting Incidents: -44.6%
Robberies: -31.9%
Vehicular Hijackings: -49%
Aggravated Assault: -18.1%
2023 Homicides per 100,000 population
Chicago 17.6
Memphis 40.9
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Harry,
Please stop getting political. This is a hobby community. There are plenty of sites for that type of thing. When you show up talking about "soldiers in the streets" yes, sir you are getting political.
Send me a private message. Let's catch up on what we've both been collecting.
Respectfully,
Ernie Jones
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
TDS is alive and well on Stamporama.
Why are certain members not able to control the need to incert politics in every discussion?
Time to shut down another thread.
Vince
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Auctions
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Folks,
if it ain't about stamps, it doesn't belong here.
If we get back to the stamp topic, i'll keep this open; if not, i'll close it
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Thank you David!
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05:57:00pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Good News
A Large Letter I posted on the day that Royal Mail stopped accepting items for the US has arrived at its destination. (Eight Days delivery time)
The Buyer has not commented so it appears it was not opened and no tariff was paid.
2 Members
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09:00:35pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I have been sending duplicate stamps to a young collector in Canada for roughly a year. I had two packages returned by the US Customs in January, saying I needed to declare customs. Keep in mind that I am sending these as gifts, no charges. The US Customs rules for gifts is less than $75 value do not have to be declared. I have since reduced the size of the envelope and sent smaller quantities. I usually remember to add a note to customs saying value is in the $20-30 range and it is a gift. Have not had any returned since.
Takeaways--If you send without an invoice/packing list and declare it to be a gift of limited value (10-15%Cat), it would be very difficult for customs to prove otherwise--certainly the ROI of effort vs payout would not be good. I would be fine if I never received another packing list on my SOR purchases.
There is always some risk that a postal authority with a bur in his saddle will do a deep dive and find you out. I suspect the odds a low, but could happen.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I ordered some US stamps from a seller in the uk off of ebay.
They said they were going to take the tarrif amount out of the bank.
If I recall correctly, $2.86 was taken.
Not bad.
-Ari
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06:05:27pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Ari,
Was ebay taking the tariff out of your bank or the sellers bank?
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Taking out of the buyers bank!
-Ari
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01:41:50pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I hope that the seller gets a label from ebay stating your name and address and the amount of tariff paid.
You may find that the only way for the package to get to you is the seller has to use ebays Global Posting system.
If he tries to post it through the post office the seller may have to pay the tariff and the 60-70 cent handling fee for Royal Mail.
I assume you bought it from ebay.com NOT ebay.co.uk
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Yes, ebay.com.....
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
"You may find that the only way for the package to get to you is the seller has to use ebays Global Posting system."
I never buy from anyone who does that. The cost is extortionate
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
06 Sep 2025
03:36:01pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Not really relevant to the post but it's not worth starting a new post for, so what the hey! Just had a shipment arrive from France (E-Bay) that took 6 days and stuff from the US takes about two weeks! I'm not trying to make a point, just passing on something I've noticed!
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06:10:56pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Joe
Like everything in this world it is down to just luck.
I posted 6 items in the mailbox for the US at the same time. Two have arrived a couple of days ago. Where are the other Four? God knows.
We have a saying in Old Caledonia " Its better being lucky than good".
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01:58:15pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
To save duplication there is more info in the "Member Notes" Section of Topics
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Just read an article that believes the Supreme Court will toss this as improper.
I can't believe some listings I am now seeing, high shipping prices on single items, no break by reduction of merchandise bought.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Hi Ian,
This was sent on the 1st of September.
Here is a scan of the envelope, sender's business address and cover of the 48-page booklet.
The best part of this was my regular carrier was working, not the substitute, who is a real marker monkey.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Approvals
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
TELL ME ABOUT IT!
Our mail carrier slathers 314 20 times over anything bigger than a letter.
My best days are when the sub is in, so opposite for me.
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06:28:35pm
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
Vinman,
Thanks.
You are the lucky one.
Your item should have had a customs form as it is a large letter over 5mm thick. (Going by the value of the stamps.)
I am still waiting for 4 customers to receive theirs that were posted on the 26th August and were just large letters under 5mm thick and do not require custom forms. (Either that or the customers have not followed the correct protocol of notifying the seller that they have received the items)
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09:22:44am
re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I am happy to announce that I shall resume listing from today and will also include the United States of America.
5 Members
like this post.
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re: Most Important For Mail from UK to USA
I haven't seen any impact of tariffs on my UK stamp purchases, thus far.
My orders, from more than a few dealers, have all arrived in those nice cardboard backed envelopes, without a customs sticker, or any mention of what's inside.
4 Members
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