The Corner Penthouse

Although the eBay logo is at top, and I am adding this to my series of articles about eBay, the fault for the matter also lies in the hands of UPS. In regards to "import fees", both are equally responsible in never informing buyers of how much they would be expected to pay, when they would be asked to pay it, and how they would be asked to pay it. I felt that I should document what I went through as a public service to others. Read on to find out more...

First, a brief note on why this is even happening at all... The "import fees" were instituted on August 29 2025, due to the Orange Goblin issuing an executive order that repealed the use of section 321 entry, also known as 'de minimis' entry, for goods manufactured in any country around the world entering the U.S. All shipments entering the U.S. that previously entered duty free now incur IEEPA tariffs. So much for the misguided belief that those tariffs were going to make everything cheaper.

On January 7, 2026, I ordered the Archie's Funhouse: The Complete Series DVD from eBay seller "everydaytreasurehunter", who is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The breakdown of my order is:

Condition: Very Good
Seller: everydaytreasurehunter
Item Location: Canada
Item: C$7.50
Shipping: C$15.83
Tax: C$2.02
Total: C$25.35 ($19.11 USD)

Due to other bullshit, eBay forced me to pay New York State sales tax on the item, even though U.S. taxes are not applicable in Canada. So, it could be said that I already paid an "import fee" on the item. Anyway, the only reference to an "import fee" during my buying & checkout process was a small note on the side of the listing itself that read, "Import fees will apply on delivery".


I was *NEVER* told by eBay BEFOREHAND what the import fee would be. I was *NEVER* told by UPS *BEFOREHAND* what the import fee would be. I was *NEVER* told by UPS at the time of delivery (as the eBay note stated) what the import fee would be. At no point was I *EVER* given the opportunity to decline buying the item, or decline accepting the package, due to the cost of the import fee. That is UNACCEPTABLE! I don't think it's legal, either.


The original eBay listing stated that the item would be shipped via "Canada Post Small Packets - USA - Air". So, I was expecting for it to be shipped via Canada Post, then transferred to the U.S. Postal Service. I expected for the local U.S. post office to leave a note on my door asking me to come to the post office to pay for and pick up the package.

At no point did I have any expectation that the DVD would be shipped via UPS. That was NOT stated in the listing. At no point, while the package was in transit, did the UPS tracking page (while I was logged into my UPS account) state that there would be an "import fee", much less what that fee would be. Since the UPS driver did NOT ask for money at time of delivery (on January 26, 2026) - he simply left the package in my mailbox and drove off - I assumed that there would be no "import fee" and that eBay's note was wrong.

A week later, on February 2, 2026, I received a physical three-page bill from UPS for $10.00. (THREE pages is a bit excessive for $10, don't you think?) I paid less than $20 for the DVD, yet UPS wants me to pay $10 (MORE THAN HALF THE ITEM COST) for "import fees"?!? Don't you think it's a bit too late to ask for money AFTER the item has already been delivered?


It's all moot anyway, as one of the discs was very badly scratched, so the set was returned to the eBay seller in Canada.




Over the past two months, I have ordered Archie's Funhouse: The Complete Series DVD set THREE times, and every single time there was a problem.

1. December 19, 2025 (Amazon, $13.99 plus tax) - As part of a large order of Amazon and Amazon-fulfilled items, in Very Good condition from seller "Loved Again Media"; Amazon lost it in transit.

2. January 7, 2026 (eBay, $19.11 total) - Ordered from seller "everydaytreasurehunter", who is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. One disc was very badly scratched, so the set was returned; also UPS sent me a $10 "import fee" bill a week after they delivered the item to me.

3. January 27, 2026 (Amazon Marketplace, $23.00 total) - Ordered from seller "HPB-Movies" (Half Price Books) in an attempt to replace the defective copy bought on January 7th. Half Price Books sent The Archie Show: The Complete Series instead of Archie's Funhouse.

I swear, I think I'm fated to NOT have this DVD set to complete my 1960s The Archie's DVD collection.

[UPDATE - 2/4/2026]
After publication of this article, I sent an e-mail to UPS executives Carol Tome (ctome@ups.com) and Nando Cesarone (ncesarone@ups.com), as well as the Payment Remittance e-mail address (paymentremit@ups.com) given on the bill, to inform them that I will not pay this bill, not to send me any more bills, and to point them to this article for more information. On February 3, 2026 I received a reply from the UPS Customer Service address (customerservice@ups.com) that doesn't say anything specific about the matter. It really just seems like a collection of pre-written pre-approved sentences.


It awaits to be seen if UPS will send another bill or if they will drop the matter. I'll update this article if they do, otherwise I'm done with the matter.