How can I do with this situation?

[celinemelon]

Hi All,

I'm international seller and selling crocodile skin bags.

On 12 Oct I got order for 2 bags from 1 seller and I ship them together in 1 parcel on 13 Oct, I provided tracking to buyer.

On 5 Nov, buyer ask for refund for both, tracking shown the parcel stuck in custom since 22 Oct. (I stated on my items description that delivery time 14-30 days upon the situation eg. custom or something else)

I tried to contact CBP custom via email and provide evident to eBay.

But finally, eBay decided to refund to buyer 1 bag and give me money 1 bag on 19 Nov. 

As of now, the parcel was came out from custom and going to arrive buyer soon, maybe today or tomorrow.

I tried to tell eBay but eBay replied that decision was made and no change!

I also tried to connect with buyer but no response, what else I can do? Can anyone suggest pls?

P.S. I just knew that seller can't leave negative feedback to buyer, only positive feedback can leave..it's a ridiculous!

[vault_and_valor_emporium]

Unfortunately, eBay is not helpful in these types of situations. I would probably have to block the buyer and count the one item as a loss on the books. It's frustrating, I know. Depending on which country it is, you may want to consider removing it from your international reach. I wish I had more advice for you, but sometimes eBay ties our hands behind our backs and we sellers lose out. I hope you can recuperate the loss quickly.

[dryophelia]

@celinemelon 

Even if eBay allowed it, there is ZERO reasons to blame your buyer. They were patient. When the eBay Money Back Guarantee was about to expire, they contacted you. Very reasonable.

[celinemelon]

What they patient for? Tracking also show it was stucked in Custom since 22 Oct and I also stated on my items description too that delivery period will be 14-30 days!!

Are you reading my message clearly??

[celinemelon]

I hope I can do it soon. Appreciate your message.

[caldreamer]

I am very surprised that EBAY paid you for 1 bag.   EBAY does not have a way to get money from customer if items arrive late and customer was already refunded.   Suggest you contact customer and ask them to send money to your PayPal or other account.

EBAY holds Seller responsible if item gets lost/doesn't arrive on time or damaged in the mail.   If customer opens "did not receive item or damaged item" you will be forced to give them a full refund (purchase price + shipping). 

Beware...there are many scammers on EBAY who will try to get items for free.   EBAY will NOT protect you if you get scammed.  

[dbfolks166mt]

     Missing a couple of key pieces of information. What was the expected delivery date of the items? Did the buyer open an official return through eBay for INR or did they just message you and you independently refunded?

     What country did this ship to? There is a well known scam where the buyer leaves the items hung up in customs waiting on the payment of the customs fees until after the estimated delivery date is passed, files an INR and once refunded pays the customs fees and the items are delivered. 

[celinemelon]

I tried to contact buyer (international call & message via Whatsapp) but no any response. T T 

[celinemelon]

As i stated on my listing items that delivery period will be 14-30 days upon the situation eg. Custom or something else (that I can't control once I ship it out).

The country that I ship to, for this case, is USA.

Per my past experience, shipping to USA is about 7-14 days only but this time is stucked in custom 1 month+.

Buyer open the cases that item was not arrived and firstly eBay decide to refund all to buyer and I appeal the cases and got money only 1 bag back.

[a_c_green]

---

@celinemelon wrote:

I'm international seller and selling crocodile skin bags.

[...]

The country that I ship to, for this case, is USA.

---

According to this article from the US Customs and Border Protection, crocodile skins are one of their most common confiscations: 

"Among the detained products, crocodile skulls, jerky, belts, wallets, taxidermy baby crocodiles, turtle skulls, skins, kangaroo meat, tails, ears, elephant toenails, exotic butterflies, peacock feathers, seashells, coral, sea cucumbers, shark cartilages, sand sea lion oil gel caps."

Ref: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/contraband-turtle-skulls-crocodile-skins-kangaroo-m... 

[bennotbill]

Maybe it varies in different countries but don't most countries customs require that crocodile skin bags come with the relevant CITES certificates. That's if they even allow it.

Is this why the bags are stuck in customs?

[12345jamesstamps]

I believe that is illegal to import into the USA. And probably will not be received.

Not sure if any other purchases made it through customs but sounds like this was one didn't make it.

.

Some items do get 'x-ray' as I got this on a package from the Netherlands.

[dbfolks166mt]

@celinemelon wrote:

I'm international seller and selling crocodile skin bags.

[...]

The country that I ship to, for this case, is USA.

According to this article from the US Customs and Border Protection, crocodile skins are one of their most common confiscations: 

"Among the detained products, crocodile skulls, jerky, belts, wallets, taxidermy baby crocodiles, turtle skulls, skins, kangaroo meat, tails, ears, elephant toenails, exotic butterflies, peacock feathers, seashells, coral, sea cucumbers, shark cartilages, sand sea lion oil gel caps."

Ref: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/contraband-turtle-skulls-crocodile-skins-kangaroo-m... 

     Thanks I forgot the croc's are protected it's the gator that is not. Probably the reason they got detained initially but can't figure out why the OP said they finally cleared customs. Exotic leather goods sourced from foreign wildlife require an import license from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Leather sourced from protected species is subject to further regulation. 

[dbfolks166mt]

As i stated on my listing items that delivery period will be 14-30 days upon the situation eg. Custom or something else (that I can't control once I ship it out).

The country that I ship to, for this case, is USA.

Per my past experience, shipping to USA is about 7-14 days only but this time is stucked in custom 1 month+.

Buyer open the cases that item was not arrived and firstly eBay decide to refund all to buyer and I appeal the cases and got money only 1 bag back.

     Others have already replied regarding the export/import of Croc products into the US. I am actually surprised customs released these to the buyer and did not just simply seize them. While you can export Croc items into the US it requires a special license and additional approvals. 

     Given the risk you may want to consider removing USA as one of your ship to destinations. 

[celinemelon]

I'm not sure for that.

But I already checked that buyer state can receive the items.

Croc bags is limited in some USA state.