Why did my GSP item get rejected, and what happens to such items?

[gurlcat]

So, I've been doing GSP for several months now, LOVE the sales boost and how easy it is, but I've finally had my first snag with it.  Well, it didn't result in anything really bad for me or the buyer, but it's confusing.  I received an email from ebay stating that the item was restricted and therefore undeliverable. It said THEY (ebay) were refunding the buyer and I would not receive the item back.  I'll give more details, but please keep in mind I'm asking two questions:
What made this order undeliverable?
What do they do with undeliverable items, if they don't return them to the seller?
Details: This was a mixed, used, costume jewelry lot.  The buyer was Russian (for some reason Russians LOVE my stuff), but I just (now) noticed, her profile says she just made the account the SAME DAY she bought this item, July 20th, and has no feedbacks as of today.  So....yeah.  Also, I didn't include item weight in the listing, just knowing I would ship it in a padded flat rate envelope, so weight doesn't usually matter, since most my buyers are in the USPS delivery area. I've also (now) seen that "Wholesale lots, collections" are the last item on the list of restricted for GSP, so that seems the most likely reason.  But I'm pretty sure this isn't the first mixed lot I've sold like this through the GSP, and without the weight stated.  For all I know, this lot could have included just one piece that had some kind of content specifically prohibited to enter Russia or something. 
I just don't get why ebay wouldn't want to be more specific when they inform a seller that this has happened, so that he/she can avoid it happening repeatedly.  I mean, if THEY'RE paying the refunds, isn't it in their interest to correct seller cluelessness?   Heck, why even send this message to the seller, since it prompts no immediate actions, and no future changes in behavior? 
And I guess I technically have no reason to care what they did with the jewelry, since as far as I'm concerned this was a successful SALE, period.  But I can't help but be intensely curious, especially imagining much more valuable items that get rejected.  Do they just throw them away?  Let facility employees claim them?  Donate them?  --Man, if they donate to some Goodwill or Salvation Army or whatever in Erlanger Kentucky, just imagine being a reseller with THAT source, ha! 

[donsdetour]

got an item number of what you sold??

with out the description and to be able to look at such: their is no way to say what the restricted item or items was for that country shipped to.

[pjcdn2005]

They have been rejecting quite a few items lately, often there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.  I think that sometimes they will say it is restricted 'just in case' it is restricted.

I don't know if they are still doing this but in the past, a 3rd party would relist the item on ebay with  shipping just within the US.

[48hrs-clothing]

Re: What made this order undeliverable?

Could be down to tariff headings issues for a mix lot of Jewellery  as each item may have had a different tariff heading and may have been a concern to GSP or postal service not suitable / failing to meet GSP criteria.

Re: What do they do with undeliverable items, if they don't return them to the seller?

GSP will sell these to a local trader as in their wisdom it is easier/ cheaper for them to do this instead of paying postage to return the item to seller.

Seller  may also expect or demand reimbursement of their original postage 

[gurlcat]

It was item number  124816658644
And A-HA!  I DID weight that one, put it right in the title, and in the description (imperial and metric, specifically for international folks, ha!). 

[pjcdn2005]

Seller may also expect or demand reimbursement of their original postage

The seller isn't refunding anyone so they aren't out any money.

The buyer is being refunded in full by the gsp.

[gurlcat]

LOL seriously?  So I could literally see THIS lot for sale when I'm looking at lots to buy for inventory?  Do they even reshoot the photos or just use the sellers'? 

[slippinjimmy]

---

@gurlcat wrote:

It was item number  124816658644
And A-HA!  I DID weight that one, put it right in the title, and in the description (imperial and metric, specifically for international folks, ha!). 

---

Look at the list of restricted items for GSP (scroll down)

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/global-shipping-program?id...

Perhaps it's this "Wholesale & Bulk Lots"

[gurlcat]

Did you not read my original post?  

[toysaver]

Russia | Postal Explorer (usps.com)

The following items are prohibited when sent to or from the address of private individuals for needs that are not related to company activities.

Scrap and waste from ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Nonmanufactured precious metals, precious metal scrap and waste, ores and concentrated precious metal products, and primary products containing precious metals.

Mineral substances (nonmanufactured natural stones).........

[pjcdn2005]

The listing was in collections/lots so if that's why it was blocked, ebay really should automatically block listings in that category.  It's even more frustrating for a buyer to find out that they won't be receiving their purchase.

[pjcdn2005]

I've been told that they do use the seller's pics and information.

[gurlcat]

Um yeah they should TOTALLY automate that mess, especially if it's a whole-system restricted item, regardless of delivery location!  And heck yeah it would be frustrating for the buyer!  Now, in this case I strongly suspect that 'Anastasia' didn't just happen to make this purchase on "her" very first day of ebay membership by sheer coincidence.  But then again, I'm not really sure what would be the point of starting new accounts just to have the delivery rejected regardless, and if there's no punishment for buying something that the system doesn't STOP them from buying.  
Wait. A. Min. Ute.  
What if...... what if they buy something with some kind of stolen bank account and then get the money back. Nope, nope, nope, that wouldn't work either, since it would just be returned to the same bank account.  Hmmmm......

[gurlcat]

So, maybe I'm overthinking, wouldn't be the first time, but is there not something inherently wrong with a platform having the authority to intervene in the transport of goods AND sell those goods themselves?  Like what would stop them from rejecting an item just because it sold for a really underpriced amount, and then sell it for its' higher, 'gettable' amount, and make a profit?  

[slippinjimmy]

They have the authority because you gave it to them, it's all part of the GSP agreement that you agreed to abide by when you offered GSP.

eBay is not "selling it for themselves", Pitney-Bowes who operates the GSP program has to do something with the items that they cannot ship, they need the ability to recoup the money they refunded to the buyer on your behalf.

Would you prefer they return the item to you (you would have to pay the return shipping) and make you refund the buyer for the total amount they paid?

As far as reselling an underpriced item for a "profit", no different than if the buyer you sold to thought it was a bargain and resold it because they could  get more money for it.

Remember that once you have paid the item no longer is yours, it belongs to the buyer who paid for it.

If anyone would be upset it would be the buyer who while they got a refund didn't get the item they wanted and this happened because the seller (you) didn't comply with the GSP restrictions.

As for blocking these sales, that would only work if all sellers were 100% accurate when they picked the Categories to list in. Sellers don't, they list in the wrong Category all the time and if one Category was blocked they would just list in a different Category that wasn't blocked.