Item destroyed by Customs after declared "counterfeit"

[buynshop3000]

Hi All

A buyer clims his item was not delivered because it was "destroyed" by local Customs (European)

after they declared it as  "counterfeit". 

Did anyone here encounter any such event? because to me it doesn't sound possible or even legal. 

Is there any Ebay regulation in such a case?

I asked my buyer to send me proof of his claim.

meanwhile would like to prepare myself for the next step

Thank you!

David

[southern*sweet*tea]

Is there any notation to that effect on the tracking?

[missjen831]

If the buyer files an INR you will have to refund the buyer because you don’t have proof of delivery. Same with PayPal. 

[cb-boards]

Never heard of it before.  Where in Europe was it supposed to be delivered to?  If it is a country w/ tracking (such as the UK and France) then the tracking out to indicate whether it has been delivered or if is undeliverable.  If undeliverable, I believe the post office uses a variety of codes to indicate why not...such as bad address for example so I would think there would be some sort of a code for an item seized/destroyed by customs. 

It sounds a little suspicious to me so I think you are doing the right thing by asking for some sort of evidence from customsdeclaring it as a counterfeit.

[cb-boards]

Should have elaborated...not all countries in Europe, Norway being one for example, have full tracking. But all international shipments have at the very least a number for the customs form that has some tracking functionalities although not full tracking.

So I would think that even a country that does not provide full tracking info, such as Norway, there would still most likely be some sort of an update w/ the info that was provided to indicate that it was destroyed by customs for being "counterfeit."

[*madison · Accepted solution]

I don't know if the buyer is lying, but I do know some European countries at customs will destroy items if they have decided they are fake.

[chrysylys]

Yes, it's possible.  US Customs will destroy them.

You should be able to contact the agency and get verification from them.

[thallidguy]

Law enforcement is supposed to destroy counterfeit items when seized. Why wouldn't customs?

Why is it so difficult to believe that customs would confiscate it? They're supposed to be the first line of defense against counterfeits coming into the country.

A counterfeit item isn't even supposed to exist. Why would customs return it to sender?

[rosie247]

I've heard of this happening with counterfit handbags. 

[goodluckselling]

If you ship through eBay GSP (Pitney Bowes) they also inspect packages for illegal shipments and destroy things. 

Good Luck Selling!

[buynshop3000]

My understanding is the customs do not have the knowledge to differenciate between real and fake items. We are not talking expensive items here. 50$ worth tops. 

[buynshop3000]

tracking indeed shows item is in customs. So in that respect it corresponds buyers' claim

[buynshop3000]

no

[missjen831]

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@buynshop3000 wrote:

My understanding is the customs do not have the knowledge to differenciate between real and fake items. We are not talking expensive items here. 50$ worth tops. 

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Um.......yes they do have the knowledge. Its part of their job.

[thallidguy]

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@buynshop3000 wrote:

My understanding is the customs do not have the knowledge to differenciate between real and fake items. We are not talking expensive items here. 50$ worth tops. 

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Then your understanding is bizzarely incorrect.

A counterfeit is a counterfeit. The value matters only in the likelihood of officials dealing with it — is it time efficient for them? It doesn't matter at all regarding whether or not it is their theoretical duty to deal with it.