Prohibited goods return
I shipped lego minifigures to the uk all sealed in individual bags, and I got a notice that it was being returned because they were “prohibited goods†and i am confused on how to reship this and avoid this happening the second time around.
27 comments
krazzykats
·1 year agoHow is this type of grab bag listing not considered a "chance" type listing? I just don't understand.
There are over 11,000 listings with "grab bag" in the title and more than 79,000 listings for "mystery box." Comics, coins, figurines, gemstones, jewelry, makeup, books, just about every category has them.
Sellers using signpost pictures seem to have more problem transactions compared to sellers who post detailed lots showing exactly what a buyers will receive.
Most grab bag lots tend to be mostly disappointing for the purchaser.
á“šá˜á—¢
gurlcat
·1 year agoI honestly have no idea why it's a "rule" at all. They obviously don't even try to enforce it.
gurlcat
·1 year agoOMG, -here's a big problem. The OP listed these as NEW!
gurlcat
·1 year agoWell since the OP is obviously another one of these "please help" posters who never comes back to clarify needed information, I won't feel too "mean girl" by highlighting the very flawed concept of this listing.
I totally get how big of a conundrum it can be when you have a "bunch" of something and don't know what would be the wisest strategy for selling it -all one lot? individually? specifically-selected smaller lots? randomly-selected smaller lots (like "20 pieces randomly selected" or whatever)?
I believe the randomly-selected version is the poorest choice, because I think most buyers want to know exactly what they'll get, so most would just not buy in the first place. And among those who do buy, some could be disappointed enough with what they receive that they'll do a return, chargeback, and/or negative feedback.
But our OP took it to the next level, even randomizing the QUANTITY, with a possible range of nearly double (7 at least; 13 at most)! How did he even come up with those numbers? I see the words "Blind Grab" so did he do some experimental blind grabs to determine the range, or did he go ahead and bag up 10 blind grab bags, noted that they ranged from 7 to 13 minifigures, and when he got a sale he would also randomly grab which bag to send? Who on Earth would pay $59 for that much uncertainty?
And then .... I think of it from the minifigures point of view. Just look at the poor things! All lined up on their backs, gazing helplessly at the sky. And then along comes a GIANT who is blind apparently, because his giant hand repeatedly plummets down and grabs various numbers of them, with no regard for rank, who's-buddies-with-who, which side of The Force they're on, or anything! Oh the existential dread this listing is giving me. 😩
stephenmorgan
·1 year agoThat listing is eBay International Shipping and is not showing available to ship to the UK.
In order to ship it they must to have used a different Shipper other than eBay International Shipping.
ryry-jj
·1 year agoI was reading up on how to sell the opened toy to the UK, you need to provide documentation that the toy complies, either through self assessment, or third party and include that assessment documentation with the toy...fun stuff?
Ask Lego, they might have a form letter ready to go that states all their product comply with the UK law, copy it and place it in the box with each item you sell to the UK. But do not tell Lego you are a reseller, they don't like resellers, just say you have safety concerns.
As some have suggested, it might be best to list it as a collectible and not a toy. Might even put a tag on the item saying, "not a toy, collectible only, choking hazard"...a lot of gray area with open toys
stephenmorgan
·1 year agoWhen I learned of these new requirements for the UK I called Mattel and asked about it. They essentially stated that they are in compliance with their current toys and that they would not provide any certification of their old previously produced toys. They also followed up with an eMail with additional details about selling out of package toys.
I have not sold anything to the UK since.
zest34
·1 year agoIt might be due to Uk customs regulations regarding toys without original packaging or missing CE marking. I suggest checking Royal mail or UK border restrictions on such goods. Repacking them with clearer labeling and declaring them as collectible toys might help avoid issues next time.
ryry-jj
·1 year agoYou need to show that the toys complies with the UK safety standards in your listing. If they are opened and out of package this is tough to do. For new toys in package, the UK must see the UK/CA safety standard printed on the package. Stands for "United Kingdom Conformity Assessed" for safety in toys and environmental impact of the toy
krazzykats
·1 year agoJust avoid shipping Lego mini figs to the UK.
á“šá˜á—¢
gurlcat
·1 year ago@jqbricks You must be more clear on what you mean by "reship." We can't tell if you're talking about getting the item shipped back to you, or you wanting to ship to the same buyer again, or ship to some other future buyer.
-It would be a different answer for all 3 of those questions.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoYou can't.
The UK is blocking most toys from being imported.
richard1rst
·1 year agoIf they are in fact "prohibited goods" you CAN NOT reship them and avoid it happening again.
Did you ship them through eBay's international shipping program? Was the notice from eBay or from the UK?
And while I certainly do not condone Fraud or Perjury it raises an interesting question: If you labelled them "Figurines" instead of "Toys" - ??????????
gurlcat
·1 year agoThey were titled 'Minifigures' which is what Lego calls them, and they were listed in the correct category:
richard1rst
·1 year agoWell, I raised the thought because I sell a ton of figurines which are based on children's toys - (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, a large assortment of Disney characters, etc) and I have never had a problem shipping them with them listed (and specified as figurines on the customs forms) as figurines.
gurlcat
·1 year agoDid you set up the overseas shipping yourself, or was this an eBay International Shipping sale?
EDIT: I looked at the listing and I don't even see how the buyer made the purchase, because United Kingdom is NOT in the list of "Ships To:" countries.
reallynicestamps
·1 year agoI don't even see how the buyer made the purchase, because United Kingdom is NOT in the list of "Ships To:" countries.
FWIW- and noting that I ship from Canada although I list on dotCOM.
I ship World Wide and buyers who are not in countries that are actually Blocked see and buy my items all the time.
I had a sale to the Canary Islands* yesterday for example.
UK sales are the second most common destination for me after the USA, but I have never paid a premium to be seen there.
* It is possible they are a province of Portugal, although the Canaries are in the middle of the Atlantic, just a StPierre et Miquelon is both a department of France although located in the Gulf of St Lawrence.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoI looked at both listings and see the UK on both of them.
gurlcat
·1 year agoHow bizarre!
-On the most recently sold one for $175 (which eBay wouldn't allow me to open last night; kept doing the "Oops we looked everywhere" thing) - it does open for me today, but it says ships to "Worldwide" (no country list, so no way to see if UK is included). Does it show you the list?
But on the older one for $59, I see a country list and it's the same as last night -no United Kingdom. Here is the section that includes countries starting with 'U.' (FYI I checked and it doesn't include 'Great Britain' or 'England' either)
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoI didn't check the list, just the drop down menu.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoYesterday, I was seeing the UK on both listings in the drop down.
Tonight, the first one sold isn't showing the UK, but the second one is still.
gurlcat
·1 year agoBy "second one" you mean the most recent ($175) one? Okay I'm going to double check .....
........ still just says 'Worldwide' for me. SO WEIRD!
EDIT: -Disregard because I am an idiot who never noticed the pull-down menu at the top before (thank you @stephenmorgan for that screenshot!).
It makes me wonder if there's a reason for the different wording "Ships to" versus "Delivery to." Hmmm.
So, my best guess is the $175 one must be the one the OP was talking about. But @stephenmorgan how can you tell if the listing was EIS or not? The $175 one DOES include the UK in the Delivery To menu. Was that an EIS listing? If so, then it shouldn't have even shown the listing to UK buyers!
stephenmorgan
·1 year agoIt is on the listing.
On the Shipping you have to click on See Details and then select a country, any country besides the US and then it will show.
gurlcat
·1 year agoThank you!
And A-HA! The more recent lot was NOT an EIS sale, so the op had to arrange the overseas stuff himself, and will likely have to pay to get the box back to the U.S., right?
Oof, this right here is possibly the best example of why to stick with EIS only. If you don't know exactly what items or materials are not allowed entry into every country, you could be SIL when the package gets rejected.
stephenmorgan
·1 year agoThey used USPS Priority International Mail and that is why they were able to send it. By using USPS they assumed responsibility for everything being in compliance. It was not in compliance and that is why the UK rejected it.
If they would have used eBay International Shipping the shipping would not have been allowed.
I just wonder if the buyer talked the seller into using a different shipping service in order to make the sale. Likely every package is not inspected but this one was and got rejected.
buyselljack2016
·1 year agothere is a restriction on "toys" going to the UK
I do not have the reference for that, but someone my come in to link you to the prohibition
reallynicestamps
·1 year agohttps://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr
The shipment was Undeliverable.
You don't owe the buyer anything.
It is up to the importer/buyer to know the rules of their own country about imports.
Although frankly this sounds like a mistake somewhere along the line.
EBay does not require the seller to refund anything on Undeliverable shipments.
Most sellers will, when they get the shipment back, refund the selling price (only) less the shipping cost, packaging costs, insurance, or fees.
Meanwhile let the buyer know what has happened.
Do not reship without getting paid for the shipping service again. This is the buyer's responsibility not yours.