Jan 2025 - US-UK shipping get-arounds and domestic sales

[toyfinder]

Tiny business here, but I noticed a significant drop in sales, particularly international sales, throughout 2024 and now into 2025. The UK is my biggest purchaser of international items and I'm getting ready to list more dolls and action figures, both of which exclude the UK from eIS, apparently due to UK shipping bans in those categories.

MY QUESTION:

What are y'all doing to get around this and how is your get-around affecting your domestic sales?

I've considered recategorizing a lot of my items as the majority of buyers tend to be adult collectors (I can recategorize them as collectibles in order for UK to be includes on approved eIS list), but I'm concerned that the recategorization could cause my listings to not show up in some searches and therefore limit my sales, especially domestic sales.

What are your thoughts / experiences on this?

[kensgiftshop]

I don't think there is any getting around it.

They won't make it through customs, no matter how you categorize or ship them.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Are they new items where the new restrictions apply or vintage?

[klhmdg]

I dont think that putting them in a different category to get around the block will help.

I would think once the item gets to the EIS hub it will be denied.

If not there then it will gets caught in customs.

You could try to figure out the UK/EU requirements and ship the item yourself.

Leave EIS out and take your chances.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I've sent toys to UK directly since the restrictions and not had any issues (yet).