Buyer requested I send an item (likely not allowed) to a prison. Suggestions on how to resolve?

[rookieoftheyear.com]

One of my items sold today.  It is a collection of small books/magazines.  The books are bound with staples.  Staples are prohibited at the facility to which I've been asked to ship the item.

Additionally, the books contain images of fantasy violence, such as combatants with weapons.  Even if the staples are removed, the shipment is likely to be rejected based solely on these images.

Lastly, the facility has rules regarding the source of books/magazines which inmates are permitted to receive via USPS.  They may be sent "only by the publisher, publication supplier, or bookstore."  I am none of these.

The buyer is new (zero feedback) and might not have thought to ask questions before clicking "Buy It Now."  However, they bought and paid.  How do I go about getting eBay to cancel this sale?  I don't want to send a package out, have it get returned, and potentially deal with additional issues in the future.

[nobody*s_perfect]

I would cancel the transaction, choosing "Problem with buyer's address."

[royalprincessdesigns]

I would think that you could cancel the purchase using problem with buyers address as the reason. 

[eleanor*rigby]

If you have verified to the best of your ability, and have faith in your research, I would think cancelling for "problem with buyer's address" would be justified.

You don't need to have eBay do that for you--you can cancel it yourself.

ETA:  You, as an eBay seller, may very well be considered a "bookstore." I would not factor that restriction in when trying to decide whether to ship the item.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Add me to the "cancel using problem with the buyer's address" choir.  This page will tell you how to cancel:  https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/cancelling-transaction?id=4136

[farmalljr]

Cancel it if you want to.

The buyer pays, I ship to the address provided. I don't ask questions or force what "I believe is right" on my buyers. I don't sell anything illegal. I have a record of who bought what and where it shipped. My bases are covered. 

I worry about my sales, not if the buyer might get themselves in hot water. 

[carolynnq · Accepted solution]

Yes, cancel with problem with buyer's address.

Even if it was a hardcover book of Disney stories, the prison would most likely return it. Most prisons only allow shipments of books to prisoners from Amazon (directly from Amazon, not shipped from 3rd party sellers), publishers, or bookstores like Barnes and Noble. 

Edited to add:

Here's a good link about shipping books to prisons.

https://www.sendbookstoinmates.com/ 

[janet9988]

The seller would lose money when the prison rejects the mail.

[popblox]

Just curious, but how do you know the item is being shipped to a prisoner and not to the warden or something? Does the address include a prisoner ID/number?

[eleanor*rigby]

To:  Ms. Popblox

         Prisoner #Born2Loose

         Women in Chains Correctional Facility

         999 LostMy Way

         Nowheresville, USA

[popblox]

How'd you know my prisoner ID??!

[theteamsetguy]

There are no such things as “Secrets” with internet. 😳

[eleanor*rigby]

My big sis always wanted to get a tattoo that said, "Born Too Loose." Had she ever been sent to prison, I think it would've made a good prison tat.

[katzrul15]

@rookieoftheyear.com 

We have unknowingly sold to an inmate, only to have the item opened and returned to us, with zero care in re-packing it and have to refund an item in full that was no longer in the same sale-able condition.  We've had it happen on here and on Amazon as a 3rd party seller.  Inmates try to hide their addy, so if you have one that you clearly know is to a prison, cancel the sale as the others have suggested.

Prisons only accept items from the merchants direct and many only allow Amazon for items other than books.  Some of our FBA items end up at a Federal prison from time to time and it is noted on the reports we get.  We recently sold colored ping pong balls to a federal one in Terre Haute, attn Chaplain.  I guess they play ping pong during services.  😎

[rookieoftheyear.com]

The buyer informed me the item would be, "...shipped to an incarcerated individual..."