Lazada bans cross-border smartphone and tablet units due to Bureau of Customs updated policy
According to Lazada’s announcement, sellers who list smartphones and tablets that are cross-border units will be banned from listing them on its platform due to an updated policy from the Bureau of Customs. (via YugaTech)
In other words, a listing that ships outside the Philippines (usually from China or Hong Kong) will be blocked from Lazada.
Additionally, cross-border merchant orders exceeding Php10k will be restricted if they exceed the total order value.
In accordance with the Customs policy on taxes and fees, shipments with a value over Php10,000 will be subject to these charges. Due to Lazada’s lack of ability to calculate the Customs and Import Taxes within the platform and integrate these charges with the total charges to the customer, the default approach is merely to ban these orders.
Obtaining a permit from the NTC may also be a factor in the complete ban on cross-border shipments of smartphones and tablets. Nonetheless, if that were the case, then other wireless-connected electronic devices, such as laptops, smartwatches, routers, etc., should also have been covered.
Being affected the most by this Lazada restriction, with all smartphone listings having been removed, Tech site YugaTech tried ordering from the POCO Official Global Store. Unfortunately, a combined order of smartwatches worth Php13k being added to their cart and ready to be paid was eventually canceled by the merchant.
On the other hand, in the current version of Amazon Shopping, if the total order exceeds Php10,000, Customs and Import Tax will be computed automatically.
More info about this debacle is yet to come so we will make sure to update you if Lazada issues a statement. For now, what reaction do you have about this? Share them in the comments below.
