Selling/shipping of an illegal item..

[Beachkid23]

Which was a sterling silver bracelet with turquoise and red coral. And it sold for about $18. Through the global shipping program. I have no idea what made it illegal to ship it to whatever country went to. But I got an email through eBay and I will share with you. The buyer just contacted me and she is not happy but there's nothing I can do about it.

I remember hearing on the news that it was illegal to mail precious metals in different countries. For some reason I thought it was England but I'm not really sure I just remember hearing it on the news. So maybe that was it I don't know but here is the email I got.

Dear beachkid23,

We're writing to let you know that your recent shipment to buyer $&@@@@@?!%%^ couldn't be delivered because the shipment contained items that were found to be restricted for import to UK.

Small Sterling Silver Turquoise, Red Coral Stone Cuff Bracelet

To settle the transaction, we've sent the buyer an email explaining why the item couldn't be delivered, and we'll be issuing the buyer a refund. It may take a few days for the refund to appear in the buyer's account. You won't be responsible for reimbursing eBay for the refund. At this point, there's no further action necessary on your part and, as you've been paid, you should consider the transaction complete.

Remember: you're protected from negative feedback for undelivered items. As one of the benefits of Global Shipping Program, if your buyer files an item-not-received claim and leaves you negative or neutral feedback for undeliverable items, we will remove that negative or neutral feedback and will not count associated detailed seller ratings against your seller performance standards. If you find that you've received negative feedback as a result of this transaction, please let us know.

To avoid this situation in the future, check the Global Shipping Program guidelines. For your future transactions, we recommend you review the weight and dimension limits for items sold via the Global Shipping Program. Also, be sure to review the restricted categories and prohibited items that are not eligible for shipment through the Global Shipping Program.

If you have any questions or need further assistance , please contact eBay Customer Support

Thank you for selling on eBay and thank you for using the Global Shipping Program

* Yep I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to have precious metals mailed in the mail to them in their country. That's a bummer I would go out of business! If that was here!

 

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[Beachkid23]

This article explains more about it. That it is illegal to send precious metals gold silver coin's currency jewelry to France and in France. To discourage people treating any other currency amongst yourself besides what the government provides. And it came about in 2013. That sucks for them. And I hope it never happens in this country.

http://www.zerohedge.com/contribute...%80%9Ccoins-and-precious-metals%E2%80%9D-mail

There is probably a better article this one talks about halfway down the page. Just thought I would share global shipping program doesn't show me where the item is being sent to though I don't think.

 

[mojjax]

This may help - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...DZAA79nH7ZiiU8rAg&sig2=kbuiR1ow1RZfsb8s0cpg5Q

 

[gino22]

One of the many, many, many new trade laws that even seasoned lawyers would be clueless about off the top of their heads. Unbelievable they bothered for a $20 item.

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Wow..thats crazy.....considering 10 years ago you could buy jars of Chloroform on Ebay with no problem

 

[jerseyben]

What is going to happen with your item?

 

[Beachkid23]

What is going to happen with your item?

I'm assuming it's going to go to somebody who ever confiscated's collection. The letter said I got paid and eBay is reimbursing the seller and they will take care of that so nothing else is needed to be done. So it is gone.

 

[Baltimore]

I'm assuming it's going to go to somebody who ever confiscated's collection. The letter said I got paid and eBay is reimbursing the seller and they will take care of that so nothing else is needed to be done. So it is gone.

wow, what a conspiracy that would be! Some package inspector reports every precious metal package to france he can find, then when they ask him to destroy it he marks it as gone and adds some silver or gold to the pile at home. There's got to be safeguards against that, but It does seem strange that it just disappears. maybe when ebay refunds the buyer they count that as "buying" it and it becomes property of ebay. It'd be interesting to call them and ask, I wonder if they'd be transparent or dodgy about it. My guess is you wouldn't get far.

 

[Beachkid23]

wow, what a conspiracy that would be! Some package inspector reports every precious metal package to france he can find, then when they ask him to destroy it he marks it as gone and adds some silver or gold to the pile at home. There's got to be safeguards against that, but It does seem strange that it just disappears. maybe when ebay refunds the buyer they count that as "buying" it and it becomes property of ebay. It'd be interesting to call them and ask, I wonder if they'd be transparent or dodgy about it. My guess is you wouldn't get far.

The buyer said he had to pay an extra $15 in taxes in order to have it mailed to him. And he figures they knew A head a time they were going to block it still made him pay the tax and he won't get that back no matter what. But he said this was the first time he's had a problem with any of that but who knows.

 

[Joe777Cool]

That's crazy. I sold a complete set of peace dollars to a guy in the UK a month and a half ago. Sent it through GSP. No problems!!! Have sold coins to buyers in UK several times - now I will think twice.

 

[jerseyben]

I dont think we have all the facts in this case...

The OP said he shipped to the UK yet later on someone mentioned items being restricted to France. They are 2 different countries! So, BeachKid, which was it? France or the UK?

Also, I asked what will happen to the OP's item. The truth is that no one seems to know for sure. I find it strange that the letter did not indicate what would become of the item in question. Assuming some sort of conspiracy is just silly, IMO.

 

[diggummup]

Here is a list of prohibited items that cannot be shipped vis GSP in eBay. Most are a given, but a few leave a lot to be desired as far as the broad range they cover, I mean "fine art" and "dangerous goods," really? Why fine art and what defines a dangerous good? Also anytime I'm listing something that isn't allowed to be shipped via GSP, I will usually get an "alert" message while I'm listing the item, telling me that it is does not qualify for the GSP. Here is that list-

• Obscene material
  
  
• Child pornography
  
  
• Hate propaganda
  
  
• Narcotics (including controlled substances)
  
  
• Currency (including bank notes, stocks, bonds, coupons, credit cards, unused travelers checks, securities, certificates, and other negotiable items)
  
  
• Weapons (including firearms, knives, etc.)
  
  
• Tobacco
  
  
• Medical materials
  
  
• Biological specimens
  
  
• Perishable items
  
  
• Liquids, liquefiable substances, and powders
  
  
• Animals
  
  
• Human body parts
  
  
• Plants
  
  
• Batteries (with exception of those that come included with consumer electronics such as AA, C, Li-ion batteries)
  
  
• Radiological devices
  
  
• Dangerous goods
  
  
• Alcohol, including samples
  
  
• COD shipments
  
  
• Furs, fur clothing, fur-trimmed clothing
  
  
• Jewelry, gold or any other precious metals (whether manufactured or non-manufactured) that are subject to carrier and/or customs restrictions
  
  
• Live, replica, or inert munitions
  
  
• Fine arts
  
  
• Cosmetics (including perfume)
  
  
• Parcels that exceed maximum package size and/or weight limits imposed by global service provider.
  
  
• Any type of air, gas or liquid in a compressed container
  
  
• Lasers
  
  
• Radar busters
  
  
• Bows, crossbows, arrows
  
  
• Seeds
  
  
• Chemistry Sets
  
  
• Nutritional supplements, neutraceutical
  
  
• Plant fertilizers, nutrients
  
  
• Printer toners
  

 

[diggummup]

I dont think we have all the facts in this case...

The OP said he shipped to the UK yet later on someone mentioned items being restricted to France. They are 2 different countries! So, BeachKid, which was it? France or the UK?

Also, I asked what will happen to the OP's item. The truth is that no one seems to know for sure. I find it strange that the letter did not indicate what would become of the item in question. Assuming some sort of conspiracy is just silly, IMO.

I read the UK/France thing too. It doesn't really matter though. The item in question is prohibited in both countries via GSP. Here is what they say about what becomes of undeliverable items. It's considered "contrband" so it will be destroyed. Believe that and you'll believe anything.- Seller Content - GSP-UA-FAQs

• GSP Items purchased by your Buyer may be covered by an eBay Money Back Guarantee or PayPal Purchase Protection program, as described below. eBay and Pitney Bowes shall have no liability and shall have, in their discretion and in any manner that they prefer, the right to dispose of or liquidate Parcels (and their contents) that eBay or Pitney Bowes conclude are undeliverable, for whatever reason.
  eBay Money Back Guarantee. Your sales of GSP Items to Buyers on eBay.com are subject to the eBay Money Back Guarantee on eBay.com (formerly, eBay Buyer Protection). For eBay Money Back Guarantee cases in which eBay determines that a GSP Item sold by you was damaged or not received by your Buyer, eBay will review the case to determine whether you or Pitney Bowes should be responsible for the damage or non-delivery. In general, you will be responsible under the eBay Money Back Guarantee policy for the loss of, or damage to, a GSP Item until it is accepted at the U.S. Shipping Center or if the item has been returned to you from the U.S. Shipping Center. For example, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you will be held responsible for eBay Money Back Guarantee cases (whether or not a GSP Item can be repackaged or returned to you) where eBay finds that:
  1. A GSP Item that you sold was not received at the U.S. Shipping Center.
  2. A GSP Item that you sold was noted as damaged by the domestic carrier when received at the U.S. Shipping Center
  3. A GSP Item that you sold was found to be damaged upon opening a Parcel (as defined herein), as and if required, after receipt thereof at the U.S. Shipping Center.
  4. A Parcel contains the wrong or no GSP Item associated with the Buyer's order
  5. One or more of the following data points provided by you or associated with the GSP Item that you sold is incorrect or indeterminable (and it is not practicable for Pitney Bowes to correct):
     1. Country of Manufacture
     2. Item Category
     3. Item Title/Description
     4. “HS Classification Code”
     5. Item condition
     6. Weight of Parcel
     7. Dimensions of Parcel
  6. A Parcel is oversized and/or overweight and cannot be shipped through an upgraded service.
  7. A GSP Item that you sold requires destruction (e.g., contraband).
  However, subject to the foregoing you will not be responsible for the loss of, or damage to, a GSP Item after its acceptance at the U.S. Shipping Center. If eBay finds against you in a case stemming from your Buyer’s purchase of a GSP Item, the applicable coverage amount will include all Program Fees that your Buyer paid for the GSP Item in addition to the GSP Item price. However, you will only be responsible for the amount that has been paid to you by your Buyer consisting of the GSP Item price and the amount (if any) charged by you to ship the GSP Item to the U.S. Shipping Center.

 

[jerseyben]

It says "Jewelry, gold or any other precious metals (whether manufactured or non-manufactured) that are subject to carrier and/or customs restrictions".

So it was jewelry. It would have to be subject to customs restrictions for it to be automatically prohibited. Thus, the question remains, what are the customs restrictions that allowed this to happen? France or UK?

 

[diggummup]

It says "Jewelry, gold or any other precious metals (whether manufactured or non-manufactured) that are subject to carrier and/or customs restrictions".

So it was jewelry. It would have to be subject to customs restrictions for it to be automatically prohibited. Thus, the question remains, what are the customs restrictions that allowed this to happen? France or UK?

UK- Great Britain and Northern Ireland I guess it would fall under (prohibitions) "Coins; platinum, gold, or silver (manufactured or not); precious stones; jewels; and other valuable articles."

France- France Seems France is a little more lenient in the precious metals department anyway.
Restricted-
Gold coins or other articles of gold require that the addressee have a permit issued by the Bank of France (not required for gold-plated articles or for ornaments or jewelry containing only small amounts of gold and weighing 500 grams or less).

 

[trdhrdr007]

It's entirely possible the red coral is what was restricted.

 

[jerseyben]

UK- Great Britain and Northern Ireland I guess it would fall under (prohibitions) "Coins; platinum, gold, or silver (manufactured or not); precious stones; jewels; and other valuable articles."

France- France Seems France is a little more lenient in the precious metals department anyway.
Restricted-
Gold coins or other articles of gold require that the addressee have a permit issued by the Bank of France (not required for gold-plated articles or for ornaments or jewelry containing only small amounts of gold and weighing 500 grams or less).

Ok, that makes sense to me. My guess is that since the UK uses it own hallmarks, they want to keep their own system in tact and not have outside hallmarks compete and/or stop the spread of counterfeits. Again, just my opinion.

 

[dumpsterdiver]

It's entirely possible the red coral is what was restricted.

I was thinking the same thing and found this link. http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/Commercial-Wildlife-Jewelry.pdf

 

[Beachkid23]

Yeah I guess it could've been that too. And using the global shipping program you can't change the title on the listing which I've had so many people ask me but there's no way to do that so I don't know. I don't want to change my listings though I still need to be able to have everybody else know what I'm selling!

 

[mugsisme]

Yeah I guess it could've been that too. And using the global shipping program you can't change the title on the listing which I've had so many people ask me but there's no way to do that so I don't know. I don't want to change my listings though I still need to be able to have everybody else know what I'm selling!

I'm missing something. What does changing the title of the auction have to do with anything?

I sent an onyx bangle to the UK, no problems. Maybe it was the coral. Would be really interested to find out where the piece went.

Ebay has been heavily promoting the GSP. (They make a fortune off it.) Before I signed up, I kept getting messages to sign up. All my stuff is jewelry, and yet that category is in the list of things. Weird.