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A UK-based eBay trader has given up doing business with Ireland after 80 per cent of his packages were sent back by An Post – and says “loads more” are doing the same.
Brexit has been blamed for tough new EU customs rules that have seen millions of euro worth of goods left in storage depots here or returned to sender since July.
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But while Rob Howe has seen 14 of 18 packages fail to get through, he has had just one issue – in Denmark – with 120 parcels sent to the rest of the EU.
He told the Irish Sun: “I would be better off throwing £3 down the drain than sending a package to Ireland. I can’t do business there until all of this is sorted out.”
Rob sells around 4,000 TV remote controls a year over the internet, buying them in bulk and selling them individually.
He said: “I sell remote controls on eBay, I buy job lots and sell them individually. A few weeks ago I bought seven lots of 100 from one seller in one week. I’m still working through them now!!
“I’ve got around 4,000 listings on eBay of individual ones, and actual stock I’ve got over 10,000.
“I’ve got one room full of them, under the beds in tubs, here there and everywhere! Generally I’ve the brand ones, Sony and Panasonic, for particular models.”
AN POST UNDER FIRE
An Post has come under fire from customers who since July 1st have failed to receive packages sent from outside the EU – mainly Great Britain – following a change in customs rules.
Sinn Fein communications spokesperson Ruairi O’Murchu warned that Irish shoppers are facing Christmas carnage unless the problem can be fixed.
The company insists the fault lies on the British side, but Rob, from Margate in England, disagrees.
He said: “In ten years I’ve done coming up on 40,000 orders so I’ve filled in a few customs forms in those years! Since July I’ve had 18 items sent to Ireland, and 14 of them have been returned.
“One was delivered definitely, the other three I don’t know whether they arrived or not.
“At the same time I’ve sent 120 to the EU and had one return from Denmark. It’s a heck of a difference.
“All these forms are filled in exactly the same way so I wonder if one gets through why don’t the others?”
SIMPLE PROCESS
The process for sending since July 1st is simple enough, according to Rob, who insists he does everything required to deliver a parcel from Britain to the EU.
He explained: “I send by Air mail so I go on to Royal Mail site to purchase the label. I say I’m sending an item sold on the marketplace, select eBay from the list and fill out their company number before including a description of the item.
“Then you print and pay for the label, stick on your item and post it. It’s exactly the same for all the orders I send. One return from Denmark in 3 months out of 120, but most of them returned from Ireland so there is something wrong there.”
WHAT ARE THE NEW RULES?
TOUGH new EU Customs rules governing non-EU goods came into effect on July 1 2021.
Many customers in Ireland buying from smaller or specialist non-EU retailers are experiencing significant delays or not receiving their goods at all as a result.
As most of the trade is between Ireland and Britain, most of the issues relate to there where even gift parcels being sent by family and friends are being impacted.
The EU now demands added electronic documentation and has also banned more goods from coming in from non-EU markets.
An Post says many smaller, more specialist British retailers are simply not aware of these requirements and have not put in place the necessary online shopping systems for selling to Ireland.
They say this is causing Customs delays when these parcels arrive in Ireland, while items then have to be returned to sender because the necessary electronic data is missing or incomplete, or the contents are restricted.
An Post says: “There are no such issues when shopping online in Ireland or other EU countries as no Customs tariffs apply when buying from these locations.
“Similarly, no issues arise when shopping with major British or international retailers (e.g. Amazon, M&S) where smooth online processes have already been developed with An Post.
“An Post is working with Irish Customs, Royal Mail and other non-EU carriers to help them solve these issues.
“In the meantime, we advise customers receiving parcels (either online shopping or personal goods) from outside the EU to check with the sender that they are completing the appropriate documentation with any parcels they send.”
However Rob Howe says the issues affecting business here have not arisen in the rest of the EU.
An Post say they worked with the likes of Amazon, Marks and Spencer and River Island to ensure a smooth transition post Brexit, and that the problems are lying with smaller retailers and ordinary people sending parcels to Ireland.
Rob says the knock-on effects are becoming obvious.
SELLERS BLOCKING IRELAND
He said: “On eBay you’ve got loads of people saying they’re blocking Ireland from buying which unfortunately I’ve had to do as I’m out of pocket by £100 in postage.
“I can’t do business until this is sorted out. Most parcels cost £5.65, if someone orders from Ireland I might as well throw £3 down the drain, not post it and I’ll still be better off!
“The one that annoyed me really is the last one was a fully tracked and signed parcel that went to a school which ordered three remotes to use with their projectors and they got rejected.
“I might have thought someone would go ‘ooh, it’s going to a school, we’ll let that go through’. Kids have had it tough enough!
“My regular postman said ‘another return from Ireland Rob, even he’s joking about it!
“Sort it out guys please. All I get is automated emails from An Post every time telling me they’re experiencing delays. I’ll continue to work with the rest of the EU, I just hope it won’t eventually affect them.
‘I WANT TO TRADE WITH IRELAND’
“I want to trade with Ireland. The people there have been so understanding, saying ‘sorry we’ve heard about these issues, thanks for the refund’.
“I’d love to start selling there again, An Post like Royal Mail have been troopers through the pandemic but they just need now to get a grip on this and work out what exactly the problem is.”
An Post did not respond to requests for comment.
It’s understood eBay are working with An Post and Royal Mail to ensure the “small portion” of affected UK sellers can ship to Ireland effectively.
They said in a statement: “eBay is focused on providing the necessary guidance and support so that businesses can keep selling.
“If sellers are experiencing issues in this transition, we recommend they utilise the Global Shipping Programme, which is there to make shipping to ROI and elsewhere much simpler.
“Duty payment, customs clearance, tracking and all the rest of the delivery are taken care of for the seller, which fully protects them and gives easy access to buyers in over 100 countries.”
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