Can anyone tell me what is happening with eBay this time.

koldgold

koldgold

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Funny things happen on eBay from time to time. Some sellers on eBay list postage costs, for a single knife; thinking their shipping a car.
Now I find it hard to buy on eBay, because the seller is using eBay's "NEW POSTAGE SYSTEM" that will not ship Internationally; to Australia.
When I eMail the seller, their replies are; "I will ship to Australia, and do not know why you are being blocked by eBay." :confused::confused:

This is a reply from a seller today: "I'm sorry to say I can not export this item. It is forbidden by law. Regards, Wayne" :confused::confused::confused:
The auction is still running, and I will not post it now. However, I will post it soon. KG.
 
I'm not sure of the details, but I have successfuly posted to Australia many times. The price has gone up over the years. I do not think eBay makes it easy to understand how to correctly list an item and specify overseas shipping. When you list, you can specify which countries you will ship to. I'd bet the problem is seller error, or you trying to bid on an item the seller did not intend to ship overseas. There are valid reasons why some sellers choose not to.
 
I know the item he is talking about and it is not illegal to export here or import in Australia. In contrast, I won a knife for $35 with $6.95 shipping. I had a suspicion it would not fit in that size box (1985 Scrim SC502 in factory gift box). It didn't. It cost the seller $10.50 to ship to me. With nary a complaint. I noted his seller's export remark but still don't understand it. Sometimes it is eBay's screwy policies and how they present them to sellers. And sometimes it is screwey sellers.
 
The high shipping charge is one of the oldest ebay tricks. They sell the item at well below it's actual value, but then listing a shipping price that is incredibly high. They are counting on the person paying attention to the cheap price, rather than the total with shipping. It's a way to scam a few extra dollars.

Edit - I was just looking over ebay's policies, and it really hurt my head. I can see how some would just rather not ship overseas. Apparently, in 2009, some organization in the UK ordered a bunch of knives from ebay, including some that were illegal under their laws at the time. They received them, then promptly showed the authorities what had happened. I guess ebay tightened down their rules following that incident.

Given the state of Australia's knife laws, I'm sure your average part time seller is not aware of all of them, nor do they want to take the risk. That's just my opinion.
 
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If I were to sell knives I too would not want to sell out of the states just due to the inconvenience and higher cost of shipping. I never even thought about the laws. Know I am going to have to look up the knife laws in Australia. Make me wonder.
Sorry to hear about you're ebay problems, hopefully you can work them out.

Wow, just looked up the Australian Laws. Between their gun laws and knife laws. I do not think I would enjoy living there. Never would of thunk it.
 
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This is not about Australian Knife and gun laws; this is about eBay.

The sellers want to sell to Australian Buyers;
ebay’s “NEW GLOBLE SHIPPING SERVICE” is the problem. I have NO problems with sellers that use United States Postal Service.

As for our knife laws:
Australian Customs will let most knives in to Australia, without even looking at them.
They will not let any knife in, which open with a button or centrifugal force. (Flick knife etc.)
I can import most guns and most knives;
Australians need a licence to have or use a gun, and we would have to apply to import a gun or a restricted knife.

In the last 20 years, I have never had a problem with United States Postal Service.
I did have a small problem with Customs; over a restricted knife. It took Customs about a week to let me pick it up.
 
thawk said:
That makes this issue clearer. I always shipped using USPS Priority Mail, and I printed my own shipping labels. I am completely unfamiliar with eBay's new "Global Shipping Program".

EBAY GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM

USING THE PROGRAM
Click to expand...

I have never had a problem with sellers that use United States Postal Service.
Over the years I have found USPS First Class as good or better then USPS Priority.
Sellers that fill in the Customs form saying: “KNIFE” No rubbish like “Gift or Sample”

Australian Customs are very good if the paper-work is filled in correctly!
Ebay is the problem, and sellers that use their Postal Service are losing money every day.

[/B][/B]
 
Likewise eBay tells sellers that transactions can only be completed using Paypal. And some, particularly new sellers, take that as gospel. Older sellers know what is what and gladly accept other methods of payment. I don't know for certain, but I do believe it would be unlawful for them to demand that buyers and sellers use their financial transfer system and only that system. Interstate commerce, regulations etc.
 
I live in Australia as well and am wondering if flippers (unassisted) can be imported as some flippers work by depressing or pushing the flipper and others need to be pulled. I think the biggest issue we face is that it comes down to the subjective opinion and subsequent decision of the individual Customs Officer. I know about the wrist flick test they apply to one handed opening knives but when one buys over the internet it is impossible to know if the blade will deploy with just a flick of the wrist.

I managed to purchase a flipper from China but the vendor warned me about the risk of seizure which I thought was a nice touch. I think some vendors could care less about our laws as long as they receive payment and from my limited experience most vendors warn customers that it is up to them to know their country's laws which I think is reasonable.
 
I have been a full time seller on Ebay since 2002.

I believe it in this case it may be about EBay's 'Global Shipping' program which is an option offered to sellers, seller ships to a 'hub' in the U.S. (run by Pitney Bowes), they do all the international paper work/customs etc.and they pay the international shipping, it gets a tracking # plus if anything happens to the package it's EBay's responsibility, not the sellers.

There are several issues with the 'Global Shipping' option, one being it's not offered for every country, especially countries that tend to be problematic, though I know many sellers that utilize the program, I personally don't use it and never will.
I have at least five dozen countries on my block list which stops them bidding on my items.
EBay also has an exclusion list of countries within their optional 'Global Shipping' program.

To the countries that I do ship to.... There is a mandatory $13.00 additional charge for "registered" mail in addition to the USPS First Class Airmail postage charge.

The # on the customs form is "not" considered a dedicated tracking number by either USPS, EBay or Paypal.... Only "registered mail" gets a tracking number, if a seller ships to a country and does not have a tracking #, if the item gets lost or robed by the countries often dishonest postal system/s..... The seller has to refund the $$ paid for the item back to the buyer.

To the countries outside the U.S. I do ship to, I NEVER use EBay's 'Global Shipping' and the additional 'Registered Mail' charge is mandatory.
 
chambelona59 said:
To the countries outside the U.S. I do ship to, I NEVER use EBay's 'Global Shipping' and the additional 'Registered Mail' charge is mandatory.
Click to expand...

Listen to the man! Registered mail gets signed for every time it changes hands, within the mail system and on delivery. If it disappears, the last person who signed for it, pays for it.
 
The list of Prohibited Items for EBay's Global Shipping Service includes "knives". Therefore, even attempting to use the Global Shipping Service is a violation of EBay Policy.
 
Dave64 said:
I live in Australia as well and am wondering if flippers (unassisted) can be imported as some flippers work by depressing or pushing the flipper and others need to be pulled. I think the biggest issue we face is that it comes down to the subjective opinion and subsequent decision of the individual Customs Officer. I know about the wrist flick test they apply to one handed opening knives but when one buys over the internet it is impossible to know if the blade will deploy with just a flick of the wrist.

I managed to purchase a flipper from China but the vendor warned me about the risk of seizure which I thought was a nice touch. I think some vendors could care less about our laws as long as they receive payment and from my limited experience most vendors warn customers that it is up to them to know their country's laws which I think is reasonable.
Click to expand...
All flippers are banned imports. That is not open to interpretation, since the word "flipper" is used.
Here is a link to the Regulation: http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...GFVBRYmhsgPmD5DOflYqRgw&bvm=bv.72197243,d.dGc

Open Schedule 13, right at the bottom. Scroll through to part 2, about 25% of the way in, & start reading.
 
Everyone please make sure you do not use eBays Global Shipping Program to ship human body parts. :thumbup:
 
Section 14 specifically mentions 'flippers'. Bummer. Thanks for the clarification though mtangent. I would love to know if you know of any stores in Australia or venues where I could find such difficult to find items as they are often not illegal to buy or possess just import. Cheers.
 
Strange, I sold a watch on ebay a couple of days ago and listed shipping to the USA only, and yet I had some guy from Italy bid on it. Needless to say I had to cancel his bids and block him.

I refuse to ever deal internationally. I will not buy from or sell to anyone who isn't located in the United States. It's not worth the hassle to me.
 
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