What the actual F? (eBay craziness)

[Corduroyboy]

Recently sold a bike frame on eBay to go to Dubai and just received this odd message from the Global Shipping Programme:

“We're writing to inform you that your recent transaction sold through the Global Shipping Programme to ******* can't be completed.

The item in question has been classified as restricted. This could be due to import/delivery restrictions or eligibility requirements within the Global Shipping Programme. The item will not be sent on to its final destination and will not be returned to you.

Don’t worry! Your buyer will be notified and refunded automatically by eBay within 72 hours. You will retain the buyer’s original payment. At this time, the transaction is considered complete and no further action is needed.”

So the buyer gets their money back and I keep the money from the sale? Odd. Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[ishaw]

Re:

I had something similar with a rear shock. We both got refunded but according to the seller, they didn't get the item returned, they were told it was destroyed as it was restricted.

I've no reason to doubt the seller as I asked him if he would still sell it to me outside of the gsp but due to the above, he obviously couldn't. Gutted as it was a fairly rare item.

Oddly, I've bought and sold shocks and in all cases outside of the gsp. I or the buyer have received them when using standard postal services like royal mail. Ups etc. The restrictions seem only to apply to gsp/Pitney bowes and not in real life. And yes, I declare what is in the package on the customs form, as have the people I've bought from. In the cases I mention, country was USA.

I've had so many issues with the gsp I refuse to use it.

Everything I have sold and posted via gsp has been lost, the final straw was a set of forks I sold for £300. It took nearly 3 months to get them to refund me, and only after I threatened legal action through small claims court.

I believe the gsp provider is Pitney Bowes. EBay customer services can only message them and have to wait 72 hours for a response. If they don't get one, they do sweet fa proactively and you have to hound them to send another message, ad infinitum. There is no escalation path for them, they just wait, message, wait etc. I wasted literally a week of my time calling and messaging with no success until I resorted to the legal threat, then magically I was contacted by Pitney Bowes who finally admitted it was lost and refunded me.

Never again. In fact I barely use ebay to sell as the costs are high, PayPal fees stack up and its only worth selling if they are doing a max fee on sale offer. I still buy stuff, but haven't sold on there for some time due to all of the above. Plus, last time I sold a few things, buyers didn't pay. You can't even leave negative feedback for non payers despite the final sake bid supposedly binding. Its a bit of a joke really.

 

[Tootyred]

Does the global shipping programme deal with all the documentation for the export / import?
I worked for a company that sold milling machines all over the world and even sending spares is a minefield.

If the documentation is missing....destroyed on keyside at port.

If the documentation has the wrong boxes ticked.....destroyed on keyside at port.

Does item exactly match wording and terms for use.....if not, yes you guessed it.......destroyed on keyside at port.

Has the packaging been fumigated to the required standard and does that packaging meet import standards for recycling for the chosen county ( Australia very tricky)......destroyed on keyside at port.

I can only assume thats the case or the import duty, taxes etc were not paid on time, correctly to the right office......bla bla bla.

Minefield.

 

[Tootyred]

Oh....and btw. Now's the time to buy anything you want for the next few years from our retrobike friends in Europe.....because as of January it will probably be taxed on top of a poor exchange rate.....oh and need paperwork....as our free trade agreements end. Fantastic ! (but apparently it's what the country wants!).

 

[FluffyChicken]

Tootyred, it'll be fine as we have China and our cheap goods and near free postage. Oh hang on, we've just told them to **** off at USA's request too.

 

[greencat]

Does the global shipping programme deal with all the documentation for the export / import?

That's the promise. I have sent about half a dozen things through it with no issue. Works well and all costs born by purchaser.

 

[Corduroyboy]

Re:

I wonder what happens to all these ‘restricted’ items? Are they really destroyed or auctioned off like anything MyHermes deems ‘undeliverable’? Looking into it a bit further it seems that valuable stuff is getting sucked into this black hole regularly!

 

[ishaw]

Re:

It does seem that way. I've lost quite a few items both bought and sold I'd consider rare and or valuable. Its why I won't use it anymore. You don't lose out financially but it can be a ball ache to get your money back, its more the loss of a perfectly good and scarce item. Ebay knows what you are selling so if it is really a restricted item, it shouldn't allow you to use the service.

 

[Woz]

Recently sold a bike frame on eBay to go to Dubai and just received this odd message from the Global Shipping Programme:

“We're writing to inform you that your recent transaction sold through the Global Shipping Programme to ******* can't be completed.

The item in question has been classified as restricted. This could be due to import/delivery restrictions or eligibility requirements within the Global Shipping Programme. The item will not be sent on to its final destination and will not be returned to you.

Don’t worry! Your buyer will be notified and refunded automatically by eBay within 72 hours. You will retain the buyer’s original payment. At this time, the transaction is considered complete and no further action is needed.”

So the buyer gets their money back and I keep the money from the sale? Odd. Anyone else had a similar experience?

...more like Pitney Bowels have lost it or screwed up the paper work.

Unless you packed the frame in newspaper with saucy page 3 girls there would be no reason for this; the UAE prohibited goods and restricted goods policies are open for everyone to see.

Prohibited and restricted goods are usually destroyed or kept in compound to assist with potential criminal investigation.

Otherwise +1. I've boycotted the GSP for many many many years now.