Google Product Email? Taxes and Shipping?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on March 7, 2012 at 6:40pm

Possibly Carol or someone can come up with a better worded thread on this. 

Permalink Reply by Jan Story on March 7, 2012 at 7:05pm

It almost sounds like Google doesn't allow calculated shipping.  Clarification please. 

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on March 7, 2012 at 7:19pm

Hi folks, I know you have questions on this topic, but I am off the clock for now but will address your concerns etc.  to the best of my ability tomorrow. Folks who sell  internationally, bulk type items or items where you do not know the shipping charges in advance, etc. are going to have to rethink and get creative with respect to shipping charges. I believe calculated shipping is fine but I will give you more information tomorrow, if I have anything. We shared the information provided to us - very 'skimpy' to say the least.

Carol

Permalink Reply by The Vintage Jewelry Boutique on March 7, 2012 at 7:52pm

Nightmare !!!!!

This is a nightmare for non US shops as we cannot Add / Edit Sales Tax Locations as the program is based on US locations.  

Shipping costs are another problem.

Copied from Ruby Lane:

"The software automatically calculates the shipping costs for your buyer, based on your inputs. If you have also set your shop's Sales Tax rates (in Edit Shop Info), this allows your buyer to immediately pay for their Purchase Order at checkout. "

This is all fine and dandy,  but not if your shop is outside the US...  Ruby Lane does not have software for Canadian or International sellers.

I have another headache !!!!

Permalink Reply by Charmed Life on March 8, 2012 at 1:14pm

I am operating under the assumption (and I may be very wrong) that once we set our tax rate, whether it is 5% or 0% in our RL settings, then we are good to go.

For many of us this is a "hobby" and not a business venture. We don't charge sales tax.

How do I set the Sales Tax for my shop?

All U.S. based shops need to make a selection to the Sales Tax tool, even if you plan not to charge sales tax in any instance.  If you do not charge sales tax for any transaction, simply choose No Sales Tax.   The tool is located at the bottom of your Edit Shop Info page. If you charge sales tax for items shipped to certain states within the U.S., you must specify this. This is done by selecting sales tax "Based On U.S. Location". Then click on Add/Edit Sales Tax Locations. Then specify the states that apply, and the tax percentage for each state. It also asks you if you want to apply the same tax rate to Shipping/Handling, and Insurance. Please note, you must update the tax rates whenever they change, and do it for each state for which you charge sales tax. Currently only U.S. states are supported.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on March 8, 2012 at 4:33pm

Hi folks,

We have not changed any of the text instructions on the site with respect to Sales Tax and Shipping. So what are seeing on the site, such as the above, is the way it is today - not necessarily what it will be in the future, once we have a few facts from Google.

If you are a hobby seller and you don't care if your items are in a Google feed, then perhaps not charging taxes or specifying shipping works for you, but for others it might be time to rethink your business and how you would like to manage it in the future.

The email is a heads up. If or when we make changes to the site to accommodate Google's new rules, whatever those might be,  we will let you know. 

Carol

Permalink Reply by Charmed Life on March 8, 2012 at 4:38pm

As a seller, hobby or not, I still would like my items in the Google feed.

I'll just wait and see what any new changes come down the pike and act on them as they come ...

Ruby Lane - Carol Augustine said:

Hi folks,

We have not changed any of the text instructions on the site with respect to Sales Tax and Shipping. So what are seeing on the site, such as the above, is the way it is today - not necessarily what it will be in the future, once we have a few facts from Google.

If you are a hobby seller and you don't care if your items are in a Google feed, then perhaps not charging taxes or specifying shipping works for you, but for others it might be time to rethink your business and how you would like to manage it in the future.

The email is a heads up. If or when we make changes to the site to accommodate Google's new rules, whatever those might be,  we will let you know. 

Carol

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on March 8, 2012 at 4:45pm

Carol, I do have my taxes set and have. 

My ? is does this now require us to have international cost set on all items? I have such a wide array of shapes, weights etc. 

I do sell to many, many countries but do require the person to contact me now for the total. 

Thanks. Sandy 

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on March 13, 2012 at 10:58pm

Carol, still need an answer on this please. 

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on March 14, 2012 at 11:22am

OK will be back.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on March 14, 2012 at 12:12pm

Items sent to certain destination countries may need to have shipping costs included,  however, this is not a requirement of Ruby Lane, but rather a requirement of Google for inclusion in their Google Product Search feature.

You might consider searching Google for 'Tax & Shipping in Data Feeds' for clarification, and to determine which requirements might directly effect your shop.

Here is a link: http://support.google.com/merchants/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=...

6. Tax & Shipping here:

It says, "You are required to use one of the ways above to specify tax and shipping in the US, and only shipping information in the UK, Germany and France."

You will have to decide what works best for you with respect to the shipping charges. How you handle your shipping charges to the designated countries will determine if your items will be in a Google Product feed. We have no control over how or what Google will accept, all we can do is give you the same information Google provides us which is what is stated on their site (see above link) and you will have to take it from there. 

Remember this is for a Google Product search only. A regular Google search works the same as always. If and when your items are indexed they will appear in a regular Google Search return.

Carol