Ebay unknown charge?

[Rick Law]

Gets a little weirder each time, now they have added "$0, to be confirmed at checkout" There are no import duties on items under $1000 to Australia (AFAIK)

There are two issues:
(1) you don't know the total until after you commit to buy.  At the time of commit, you are guessing their fees and duties.  The fees charged by Pitney and the 3rd party they select.
(2) you don't really know the import duty (since this is before import paper filing).   At one point in the Terms and Condition, they say the number they shown at check out is inclusive.  At another point, they say they will file the papers but you are responsible for all charges.  What if the numbers change after the filing?  Are you suppose to take a check book with to customs to pay up what they under paid?  The TAC is unclear.

Think of it as taking a taxi - well, I will drive you part way, I wont tell you how much my drive will cost you.  After I take you part way, I will select a friend of mine to drive you the rest of the way, and I wont tell you how much my buddy will charge you.  Also, you are responsible for all tolls and I wont tell you what toll bridge, toll tunnel, or toll road I will take.  But sign here first and get in my taxi, we will figure out along the way.

Would you get in that taxi?

Buying things from eBay is not like buying a Patak (watch) - if you have to ask how much that Patak is, it is too expensive for you.  Likely you are like me and many others - buying from eBay to safe some money.  If you take the that taxi to try to save the cost of renting a car, that is a lot of risk and likely very little saving.

For me, I will not get into that taxi and head over to car rentals.

Rick

[KJDS]

It's normal for the buyer to be asked to pay import tax separate from the item. There's no reasonable way that a seller can know what level of import tax will be charged on every widget they sell to every country. What isn't reasonable is to leave the customs handling charge in an unknown state and I believe that is the case.

One of the few good things about the EU is that it removes these issues for selling within the community so intercountry business is much easier. I daren't start typing the bad things. ...

[Rick Law]

It's normal for the buyer to be asked to pay import tax separate from the item. There's no reasonable way that a seller can know what level of import tax will be charged on every widget they sell to every country. What isn't reasonable is to leave the customs handling charge in an unknown state and I believe that is the case.

One of the few good things about the EU is that it removes these issues for selling within the community so intercountry business is much easier. I daren't start typing the bad things. ...

While I am reacting more strongly than you are,, I agree with you 100% .  They can't know the tax/duty as that is not in their control.  However, the shipping service fee is in their control.  That they don't want to show the fee to the customer until after the customer committed is the major issue here.  That smacks me as a lack of respect to the customer.  An attitude of "You want to buy from me, do it my way or get lost."  With that kind of an attitude, how am I to expect you Mr. Service Provider to handle my stuff carefully and correctly?

Tax is what it is.  Want different tax rates?  Elect different politicians.  Service provider is who they are.  Want different service (attitude), buy services from someone else.  I just don't like their attitude.  That's all.

Rick