Questions about eBay International Shipping
Summary: junctionfinds is concerned about eBay's automatic enrollment in International Shipping, specifically about potential legal issues with selling vintage books internationally. They're seeking advice on handling different import laws and shared their experience opting out due to worries about items being prohibited in certain countries. bdmh-enterprises reassures that eBay automatically blocks unsuitable sales and refunds buyers if items are prohibited post-shipping, asserting strong seller protections are in place. Despite assurances, junctionfinds remains cautious and seeks further feedback on others’ experiences. stephenmorgan shares insights on how eBay blocking works, especially regarding toys and packaging regulations in specific countries.
I have some questions about eBay International Shipping.
eBay automatically enrolled me and switched my eligible listings to international shipping. I noticed the change and opted out.
The seller protections sound great: once an item reaches the domestic hub, eBay handles the international shipping, customs, returns, damage, etc. But I sell a lot of vintage books, magazines and other things. Some of it could be perfectly legal to sell in the U.S. but illegal to import into a particular country because of political, religious, LGBTQ, historical, or other content.
Are you researching import laws of every country where eBay makes your listings available?
Have any of you had eBay allow a buyer in another country to purchase your item, you shipped to the hub, and the hub or the receiving country then determine that the item was prohibited or illegal in the buyer’s country? What happened? Did you keep the sale and eBay refund the buyer, or did eBay take the refund from you? Was the item returned to you, confiscated, destroyed, or liquidated?
I’m an indie seller clearing out decades of accumulated stuff. With old books and magazines especially, I could easily have something containing material restricted somewhere else. I’m trying to understand how sellers realistically handle that before I decide whether to opt back into EIS.
Am I just looking for problems or avoiding them?
Thanks, Jennifer
junctionfinds
OP2 weeks agoThanks for the responses. Unlike what the AI summary seems to think, I am not reassured by this discussion. The fact that items can make it to the hub and then be stopped is part of my concern, not reassurance. I also don't want older or unusual items I sell ending up confiscated, liquidated, or potentially destroyed, even if I'm financially protected. So, at least for now, I won't be opting into eBay International Shipping.
stephenmorgan
·2 weeks agoeBay has a way to block many things to many countries and how they do it I do not know. Maybe it is with the item description properly filled out.
I know all the toys I have for sale are not eligible for EIS to Great Britain because of newer requirements on how the packages of toys must be labeled. It is not possible with older toys. If I were to fudge the description a little to trick eBay into believing they were properly labeled then maybe they may slip thru. If they did not slip thru I could understand eBay holding me accountable for trying to get around the rule.
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoIn most cases buyers will be automatically blocked from buying an item that can't be shipped to their country. If something slips through and gets caught at the hub, eBay will refund the buyer, you keep the sale and they will sell the item domestically through one of their liquidation companies (usually on eBay and often using an exact copy of your original listing).
eIS protections are rock solid. As long as your item is delivered to the hub, you keep the sale no matter what happens after. As far as the seller is concerned an eIS order is a domestic sale, you worry about none of the things that would be involved in normal international shipping.
junctionfinds
OP2 weeks agoThanks for responding. I'm no lawyer but this sure sounds like them saying if the item is illegal in that country that is the sellers responsibility.
This sounds like I am responsible for excluding some countries. Maybe it's worth changing my policy but I want to know more before eBay does pet tricks on my listings. They already opted me in without asking so my trust is a little bent. I was just hoping to get feedback on anyone who has had an item be rejected.
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoI have heard of many sellers complaining that eIS blocked and kept their item. None of them claimed their payment was taken. I suspect that would be more for those that attempt to purposely avoid restrictions through deception.
junctionfinds
OP2 weeks agoHere is a link to the eBay policy, see 4.
https://pages.ebay.com/internationalshippingprogram/seller/terms/?
They seem to be saying if the item sold does not comply with local laws that the seller is responsible even if you don't accept returns and don't get the item back.