eBay

rookieoftheyear.com · ‎11-01-2021

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.

maxine*j · ‎11-02-2021

@rookieoftheyear.com wrote:
The buyer informed me the item would be, "...shipped to an incarcerated individual..."

If you ship to the prison, it will be returned, with a fair amount of hassle.

If your buyer ships it, she will have it returned to her, with a fair amount of hassle, and you can be sure she will expect you to somehow make it good.

Just cancel, using "problem with address," as others have said.

=

rookieoftheyear.com · ‎11-02-2021

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

I discussed this with eBay and the sale has been cancelled. The CS rep with whom I chatted (literally...via chat) was quite helpful.

We covered (among other things) the possibility of negative or neutral feedback. They gave me a service number to use as a reference. In the event the buyer leaves such feedback, I may provide an eBay CS rep with that service number. They will, in turn, remove said feedback.

Overall, the help I've received from eBay and the community here has been tremendous. I appreciate all of you taking time out of your day to lend a hand.

Have a wonderful day.

kensgiftshop · ‎11-02-2021

@rookieoftheyear.com

Some prisons won't even take packages from places like Ebay.

Cancel the order as a problem with the buyer address.

Have a great day.

px_455 · ‎11-02-2021

If what I read is true then several things are also true, I was just reading that prisons will reject any eaby / amazon shipments regardless, and if such is the case then eaby shouldn't even allow those labels to be purchased / printed.

That being said, perhaps a phone call to the prison in question could help clarify the matters. Perhaps google the address and see if there is a phone number, also their web site (I believe most prisons have a web site) may provide clarity in ways of information as to what can / can not be sent to inmates.

Only after some clear and concise answers would I possibly consider cancelling for reason "problem with buyer's address."

maxine*j · ‎11-02-2021

@carolynnq wrote:
... 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...

Exactly. It's not the theme or illustrations and the like that the correctional facilities are worried about (although some do have restrictions on such content). Their concern is the stuff that can be slipped between the pages of a book, such as razor blades and other thin blades, drugs, cash, you-name-it. And they don't have the time to go through every book, page by page, to check for contraband.

rookieoftheyear.com · ‎11-02-2021

Thank you. I have checked their website. After reading the information posted there, I saw no reason to call. The used books in my eBay listing were going to be rejected by the facility.