Global Shipping Program and eBay problem with shipping

[lsst]

I won an auction for a tea caddy on June 13, 2017 and paid  immediately with Pay Pal.

The seller is in the UK and I am in the United States.

In My eBay it showed item shipped on June 14, 2017.

Fast forward to June 21, 2017.

I get an email from eBay stating the item had shipped. It gave  an international tracking and domestic tracking number.

One minute later, I get an email from the GSP stating the item is restricted and will not be shipped.

( This is an antique tea caddy over 100 years old and not on the GSP restricted list.)

At the same time, I receive an email from PayPal stating I won my dispute from the seller and have been refunded.  ( I had no dispute with the seller)

On My eBay, it now states I have not paid for this item. I paid immediately after I won on June 13, 2017.

I then received an email from eBay with the listing and a Pay Now option.

I called eBay and the representative was as confused as me and stated that yes, it is showing now that I have not paid for the item and she added a note so that It would not be a strike against me.( I have not done anything wrong.)

I have e-mailed the seller to see what has happened on his end. It is the middle of the night there so I know it may be a while before I hear from him.

Has anyone one else had this happen to him or her?

I bought a tea caddy from another UK seller a few weeks ago and it went throigh GSP with no problems.

[lsst]

This is the tracking information on the eBay order page:

Time and date Place Message Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 7:33 PM Alfreton , Derbyshire Undeliverable - Item restricted at Global Shipping Center

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 12:17 PM Alfreton , Derbyshire Delay at Global Shipping Center - Item Restricted Saturday, Jun 17, 2017 4:49 PM Alfreton , Derbyshire Delay at Global Shipping Center - Special Handling Review

Saturday, Jun 17, 2017 4:49 PM Alfreton , Derbyshire Processing at Global Shipping Center

Thursday, Jun 15, 2017 9:30 AM N/A Tracking Details Uploaded

[postingid2017]

I am not sure what the material of the recent tea caddy that you purchased which could be why it did not make it through GSP.  I know certain items/materials are restricted to some countries for import.

Since you were refunded, that is why it is showing as unpaid and not for nothing the stupid eBay CSR should know that.  How can you get a "strike" for non-payment when you paid and were refunded?  

Sorry for the second paragraph if I sound obnoxious - it is not you, it is for the CSR that told you that 😞  

[lsst]

The CSR was clueless.

The seller sent a very nice reply:

Dear *****,

Really sorry that the parcel has been held,

As you are aware the parcel was shipped through the EBay Global Shipping programme, all i see is the address to ship the item to the UK shipping Hub in Northampton UP with your name and EBay purchase ref.

Once it arrives there they make arrangements to onward ship to you and it becomes their responsability, the advantage is that the item is insured for loss or damage.

On the odd occasion customs do withhold the item for no real apparant reason, it looks like this is what has happened here, in which case the Global shipping people will make a full refund to you.

I have no direct contact with these guys, and can only follow it up with EBay customer services from this side but from experience they do not really know what the reason for withholding the parcel or where it actually is.

If you say that the item is showing not paid then it looks like they have already refunded your payment, as it shows as paid from my side.

Once aagain apologies for inconvienence and dissapointment.

[tarpedge · Accepted solution]

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@lsst wrote:

The seller sent a very nice reply:

I have no direct contact with these guys, and can only follow it up with EBay customer services from this side but from experience they do not really know what the reason for withholding the parcel or where it actually is.

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So it sounds like this seller has experience with the issue.

The seller should by now have a clue what to not list for GSP. Or buy a clue.

[raabaa1]

I have a similar problem 

I bought a small pen holder that we believe belongs to my family on eBay and it’s DEFINITELY not a restricted item and they held it up 

and when I call ebay they say they have no way of helping me and this is a global shipping issue and there Is no way I can contact global shipping and then apparently they have no way to contact global shipping either which I find silly 

I really want this pen holder as I think it belongs to my family and it has sentimental value and i fee like I have no recourse 

anyone know anyone at eBay who can fix this problem and get me my item back 

[missjen831]

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@raabaa1wrote:

I have a similar problem 

I bought a small pen holder that we believe belongs to my family on eBay and it’s DEFINITELY not a restricted item and they held it up 

and when I call ebay they say they have no way of helping me and this is a global shipping issue and there Is no way I can contact global shipping and then apparently they have no way to contact global shipping either which I find silly 

I really want this pen holder as I think it belongs to my family and it has sentimental value and i fee like I have no recourse 

anyone know anyone at eBay who can fix this problem and get me my item back 

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Not gonna happen. They either destroyed the pen or sold it within the US.