eBay

modelsforu · ‎08-30-2021

I shipped an item to a buyer in Slovenia and it was returned to me two months later with a sticker on it with the box checked, "Refused by Customs".

The buyer paid for the item via Paypal. I used ebay to purchase a shipping label and it's address was auto-populated.

What is my responsibility? Isn't the buyer responsible for a correct shipping address?

I have no idea why it came back to me with the "refused" sticker.

Can anyone help shed light on what may have happened and what I am to do?

I have inboxed the buyer so that they are aware the package came back to me.

Thanks

gracieallen01 · ‎08-30-2021

Because the buyer pays for something doesn't mean that Customs will, or has to, let it into the country. It doesn't have to be a problem with the address - it may be the contents. It would probably be polite to refund the buyer.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

inceptions · ‎08-30-2021

Customs refused the package. There was nothing said about the buyer's address. It's possible the item you shipped isn't allowed to be imported into Slovenia.

You can refund the buyer for the purchase price, not including shipping.

Inceptions
Volunteer Community Mentor, buying and selling on eBay since 2004

bigdeals.etc · ‎08-30-2021

Yea my initial thought was because of the item contents, not the buyers address.

What was the item?

kensgiftshop · ‎08-30-2021

@modelsforu

Doesn't look like you can ship toys there.

https://crossborder.fedex.com/us/assets/prohibited-restricted/slovenia/index.shtml

Have a great day.

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

It was a Matchbox toy. It was shipped via the US Postal Service and I noticed that I forgot to sign and date the label's customs declaration.

The package went from my local post office, then made it to the San Francisco International distribution center - as all other international shipment have gone - as I live on the west coast.

That is when tracking showed it left that distribution system and bounced around the USA from west coast to east coast and at one point sitting at a post office for a month. Eventually it ended up as "delivered" but delivered back to me. Other than the refused by yellow customs sticker (which I am guessing may have been applied in the USA) it came came back with no further explanation.

This is why I am now leaning to the return being caused by my not signing and dating the customs declaration on the label.

I have paid for a new label, signed and dated it, and it is on it's way again. This will be a test I guess to see if it makes it there. It has been a bit expensive to pay for shipping out of pocket this time but we will see what happens.

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

Would this apply to the USPS too?

The label was purchased directly through ebay.

See my reply to another poster for what I may think happened.

Feel free to add thoughts. Thanks.

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

Thanks for the reply. See my other response. Hope this isn't a learning lesson for me.

If something isnt allowed by a country, how would I know this when a bidder wins an auction?

Shipping to other countries always makes me nervous due to lack of experience with it.

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

Thanks for the reply, See one of my other responses that may give added clues.

Hope I didn't make a mistake by resending.

reallynicestamps · ‎08-31-2021

You will not be required by eBay to refund the buyer. This is an Undeliverable Item.

UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...

This is the part I'm referring to

Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item 

Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer -Not covered T
The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup -Not covered 
The buyer provided an invalid or incorrect address at checkout -Not covered
I don't know how to do screenshots. There is a LOT of information on that page.

If the buyer asks for a refund, in my opinion you owe him his payment LESS all your shipping costs, including unrefunded eBay and Paypal fees.
However, he can only Dispute( through eBay) for 30 days after the last estimated date for delivery (since there was no delivery).

He can of course, go to his card or to Paypal for 180 days from payment.

reallynicestamps · ‎08-31-2021

refused by yellow customs sticker (which I am guessing may have been applied in the USA)

If it is only in English, that would be likely.

If it is in Slovenian (which uses a form of the Latin alphabet) .. ..

return being caused by my not signing and dating the customs declaration on the label.

Probably not.

The customs refusal would be on imports and done in Slovenia.

Most countries don't care what you export if it is legal in that country.

For example, we can sell Kinder Eggs here in Canada to an American customer, but the USA does not allow them to be imported.

It would be more important that the customs label indicate what is in the package than signing and dating (although that is required, the customs officer is busy).

FWIW the HS Code for toys 950300 .

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

So it appears that I should not have resent the package and most likely it will come back to me again (?)

modelsforu · ‎08-31-2021

Yes, the yellow label is only in English.

Not that is matters but I wonder why the package left the international distribution center and bounce around the USA for two months before being returned to me.

stephenmorgan · ‎08-31-2021

@modelsforu wrote:
I shipped an item to a buyer in Slovenia and it was returned to me two months later with a sticker on it with the box checked, "Refused by Customs".

Full enforcement of Import Rules across the European Union was to start July 16, 2021.

Did you Matchbox Vehicle meet Import Requirements? I see some of the ones you currently have listed may not meet the requirements.

Did you package appear to be opened and resealed? If not then maybe it was returned because you did not complete the Customs form.

bigdeals.etc · ‎09-01-2021

@modelsforu wrote:
Thanks for the reply. See my other response. Hope this isn't a learning lesson for me.
If something isnt allowed by a country, how would I know this when a bidder wins an auction?
Shipping to other countries always makes me nervous due to lack of experience with it.

That’s the problem… you can’t know. And even if you did, you can’t stop a Slovenian to snipe bid and win this auction. I believe it’s really up to the buyer to know and be responsible for this. But sadly their ignorance often pushes the burden to the seller. Sorry this happened to you. It’s pretty unavoidable.