Internationally Shipped Item Returned By Ebay
Summary: abrushwithadventurellc shared a problem regarding an international shipping issue where a package sent to a buyer in Mexico was returned due to prohibited goods. Despite having previously shipped similar items without problems, the package was rejected at a U.S. consolidation center. Several participants, including stephenmorgan and others, offered advice on reviewing order details for contact information and suggested using eBay International Shipping (EIS) to avoid such issues. abrushwithadventurellc later confirmed that eBay is investigating the matter and that they might be eligible for a shipping refund. They decided to wait for the investigation results before deciding on a refund or re-shipment.
A buyer in Mexico purchase game piece items from me (I am in the US), and the package was just returned to me.
I looked at the tracking and it stated:
Aug 17, 2026 02:22 PM Your shipment is being returned due to issues encountered. Consolidation Center, United States
Aug 17, 2026 02:22 PM Your shipment contains prohibited goods. You may request a return or it will be liquidated. Consolidation Center, United States
Aug 17, 2026 02:22 PM Processing at Consolidation Center Consolidation Center, United States
Aug 11, 2026 08:30 AM Arrived at Consolidation Center. Shipment is being processed.CAROL STREAM, IL, CAROL STREAM, United States
I filled out an appropriate tariff code for these types of items and it has never been an issue before and I have shipped dozens of similar items in the past. I'm not sure what to do? I already lost $14 and it never went oversees, and I am reluctant to ship it again. Also there does not seem to be a way to talk to a live person in ebay world to help me sort that out, and or offer a shipping refund. Anybody encounter something like this before?
ryry-jj
·2 weeks agoMy take right now, is since you received the package back, and it never made it to the eIS hub or Mexico, you need to refund the buyer 100%. I think if you wait around for eBay to investigate and then step in, it will go doubly bad. You refund the buyer, and then soon eBay will send you the original funds the buyer paid
ryry-jj
·2 weeks agoStill some unknowns here....that tracking ESUS is for ESE, and the consolidation site at Carol Stream Il is not the eIS hub, is a USPS center....doesn't mean it wasn't going to the hub, but it never made it. But you cant use ESE for a direct international shipment...to me this is what it sound like you did, sent a ESE as international mail, thus rejected
abrushwithadventurellc
OP2 weeks agoOh, to clarify, the item was returned - it’s in my possession. eBay said I can refund the seller minus the shipping and then eBay would reimburse them the lost shipping.
We are going to give it 48 hrs to see what the investigation yields and then decide to refund or reship
abrushwithadventurellc
OP2 weeks agoThanks for the replies and the recommendation on only shipping EIS - I will adjust that. Now that said, even though the buyer choose Int’l first class, I am pretty sure I shipped it EIS - notice the ESU tracking number (I’m trying to verify). It was rejected at the consolidation center.
I did end up speaking to eBay and they are initiating and investigation - it should take 48 hrs.
I will look to see if I can find a content number for the consolidation center, too.
So some updates.
stephenmorgan
·2 weeks agoHave you looked at your Order Detail's? It will tell you what shipping method you use. Did you review the sample I provided to see all the information available to you?
1786davycrockett
·2 weeks ago@abrushwithadventurellc
If the item is returned to you, refund the buyer.
If the item is NOT returned to you, you will probably still need to refund the buyer.
Do not attempt to ship this item to Mexico again, as it is apparently on some "restricted item" list.
As @albertabrightalberta and @ryry-jj have mentioned, you should change your shipping method to eBay International Shipping (EIS), which may cost the buyer more, but protects the seller from unexpected returns and expenses, as well as "item not received" and "not as described" cases.
ryry-jj
·2 weeks agoAs far as the package goes, you need to decide what to do, do you want it back or have it liquidated? Since you didn't ship eIS, you are on your own to handle the shipping issue. You will need to refund the buyer as well. If you get it back, relist with eIS only and the buyers can buy again. Just know it could still have restrictions. To know why the item was restricted so you can avoid future problems...again, you need to find that out, no one else can help with that, either.
So many countries have restriction and regulation to follow, sellers can never know all of them to do it on their own. Yes some items may get through, but others get flagged. When just one is flagged, how many other sales to make it to cover the one that didn't?
Looking at your post, eIS would have cost just $3-4 more, small price for both to pay to avoid international messes/returns
albertabrightalberta
·2 weeks ago · Edited@abrushwithadventurellc
I checked one of your listings and you offer both direct international shipping as well as EIS.
I assume your buyer chose 1st class international?
Had you not offered that option, ebay would have handled the return of a disallowed item, refunded the buyer and you would have been able to keep the money.
I don't think you're going to get any help from ebay because you didn't use EIS. (I get that it would have been the buyer's decision but because you offered it, he probably opted for the cheaper alternative.)
My suggestion would be to offer EIS only.
stephenmorgan
·2 weeks agoNormally when you use eBay shipping there is a email address and a phone number for the shipping center. Look at your Order Details for this information. After 15 days some of the information will be deleted.
nigel_paul_wright7557
·2 weeks agoCountries are now being very touchy about imports and the number of rules and regs are ridiculous. They will fail items for the smallest reason.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 weeks ago@stephenmorgan That 'phone number' is of the buyer, NOT any 'shipping company'.
stephenmorgan
·2 weeks agoThat number is to eBay. I have called it to see who it is and talked with an eBay agent.
It makes sense that the contact information of who you are dealing with provides their contact information.
If you look up the order Details for an eBay International shipment the phone number should still be there but the email gets deleted after 15 days.