eBay

crypto-man · ‎10-19-2022

Ten weeks ago I purchased some rubber toys from Italy. They never arrived. The tracking number shows that it is still in Italy. I got a hold of the seller and he gets back to me to inform me that he does not know where my package is. He had just got some sort of notification from US customs that the package had lithium batteries in it. I did not buy lithium batteries, the toys do not use batteries, and he claims he did not ship batteries. Apparently customs has blocked my toys from entry into the country and they are on the way back to Italy. Shipping on this package was around $50.

I talked to my local post office about this and he said that something similar just happened to a local seller. They shipped 4 boxes of stuffed animals out of the country and they were all sent back with claims that there were lithium batteries. There were no lithium batteries used there either.

What the heck is going on with US customs claiming all toys have lithium batteries and rejecting them? How wide spread is this problem??

wastingtime101 · ‎10-19-2022

Did you ask the seller how they filled out the customs form and what HTS code they used?

That's the first thing I would check & attempt to rule out as the issue.

GLORIOUS!

soh.maryl · ‎10-19-2022

Are you aware of eBay's Money Back Guarantee for buyers?

12345jamesstamps · ‎10-19-2022

Seller probably did something wrong in the customs form...so if you don't have the toys...how do you know one toy doesn't have a battery...just curious.

And it could be the packaging also: for example...mailing a box of clothes but the box saids wine on the outside...that will be returned just because it saids wine on box although there is no wine in it.

stephenmorgan · ‎10-19-2022

@12345jamesstamps wrote:
And it could be the packaging also: for example...mailing a box of clothes but the box saids wine on the outside...that will be returned just because it saids wine on box although there is no wine in it.

That is a good point. If they reused a box and it was marked UN3481, that could be reason to deny entry.

crypto-man · ‎10-20-2022

More than 60 days have passed and correct me if I am wrong, but ebay would take the money from the seller if they refunded me. Something that I did not want to force against the seller's will because he has done nothing wrong.

crypto-man · ‎10-20-2022

I have purchased many toys like these from other sellers. They definitely do not have batteries. Good point that the packaging the seller used could have images of batteries on the outside.