Ebay Restricted item?

[Iridescentone]

I'm fairly certain eBay isn't exposing itself to scam risk here, just not sure how they do it. a) They certainly don't seem to mind auctions ridiculously inflated prices, that's for sure. I'm betting they do some sort of value assessment on the item to prevent scams - b) but only when it's their money at risk, of course.

a) It's none of ebay's business how much private sellers ask for their personal property. Who would want a third party telling you how much your stuff is worth to you? I'm for letting the free market correct itself. It always does, and it's always right.

b) Of course ebay would assess a value when it's "their money". Same as you and I do when it's "our money".....every time we sell something. Wut?

 

[StayLow]

a) It's none of ebay's business how much private sellers ask for their personal property. Who would want a third party telling you how much your stuff is worth to you? I'm for letting the free market correct itself. It always does, and it's always right.

b) Of course ebay would assess a value when it's "their money". Same as you and I do when it's "our money".....every time we sell something. Wut?

True.

Further, "we" don't even mind on TB when people pay ridiculous amounts for something or conspicuously overspend. It's actually against the rules to comment on prices (negatively) in For Sale threads while hyping posts such as "great deal, can't believe this is still here!" on stuff at times listed far above eBay average sales prices is totally OK, and the majority of the site is dedicated to overspending in general.

We shouldn't be casting stones.

 

[bholder]

a) It's none of ebay's business how much private sellers ask for their personal property. Who would want a third party telling you how much your stuff is worth to you? I'm for letting the free market correct itself. It always does, and it's always right.

b) Of course ebay would assess a value when it's "their money". Same as you and I do when it's "our money".....every time we sell something. Wut?

Fair point. What really fries me about eBay is that they won't enforce their own rules on sellers, though, especially for scammers with artificially low auction prices but ridiculously inflated shipping charges. I remember seeing a cat tree not that long ago that had a BIN of about $15 and then $150 shipping and handling - when I complained to eBay, you want to know what they did? Absolutely nothing, the scammers are still out there. When they won't enforce their own rules, I think that's a problem (admittedly, a different case than this).

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I'd wager the art of the scam even precedes prostitution as the oldest profession. The difference being back then you would have your hand cut off or be stoned to death for punishment.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

NO they wouldn't make you smoke..........sheesh..you kids,

 

[Iridescentone]

Fair point. What really fries me about eBay is that they won't enforce their own rules on sellers, though, especially for scammers with artificially low auction prices but ridiculously inflated shipping charges. I remember seeing a cat tree not that long ago that had a BIN of about $15 and then $150 shipping and handling - when I complained to eBay, you want to know what they did? Absolutely nothing, the scammers are still out there. When they won't enforce their own rules, I think that's a problem (admittedly, a different case than this).

What exactly are the rules re item price vs shipping fees?

 

[Jeff Scott]

What exactly are the rules re item price vs shipping fees?

And, how do ebay's fees relate to both.

 

[bholder]

I don't recall what the rules are regarding shipping fees, but I remember reporting obvious rule violations and nothing being done about it. At least I was able to cancel my bid without getting dinged though.

 

[Teijo K.]

Sorry to re-inject the "F" word into a conjecture fest, but "fact" is that per my call to eBay detailed previously in the thread eBay does NOT restrict shipping based on manufacturer/brand.

Brands protect their own distributers and pricing by prohibiting distribution to territories covered by a different distributor. Most, perhaps all, major brands do this. Mesa, Fender, etc. etc. etc. etc.

eBay doesn't do it for them, and used or modified items don't apply in any case.

Another fact: a simple call takes less time than typing up a bunch of misleading make-believe.

I came to the same conclusion about eBay myself, and that is exactly why I wrote "at first " in the beginning. And the other part about the distribution protection is exactly what I have been saying all the time, I don't really understand what you are going on about here.

 

[bholder]

Another fact: a simple call takes less time than typing up a bunch of misleading make-believe.

Other people have also asked directly via phone call and gotten different answers, a point that has been made several times already. The primary source of the misleading make-believe seems to be eBay.

 

[Teijo K.]

Other people have also asked directly via phone call and gotten different answers, a point that has been made several times already. The primary source of the misleading make-believe seems to be eBay.

As someone who answers to a phone in my own work, I think that the problem there might just be, that the low level employees actually answering to your calls do not know the answers. They are mostly there to answer simple questions that really most of the calls are about. Anything more complicated and it is total hit and miss who happens to answer that particular call. So really calling to a low pay receptionists about anything complicated and expecting to hear facts is a bit of a... I don't know.

Still I don't think it's so much about the instrument companies. I mean while they can say that Sweetwater isn't allowed to sell Rickenbackers to Finland, I don't believe there is a legal way of stopping someone selling his or her used Rickenbacker to anywhere he/she wants to.

Why this keeps happening in ebay is a mystery, but I don't think it's about that. It was my first gut feeling about it, but after just a minute of thinking about it... nah.

 

[StayLow]

Other people have also asked directly via phone call and gotten different answers, a point that has been made several times already. The primary source of the misleading make-believe seems to be eBay.

Which underscores my point. This thread is a grand conjecture.

For my part, I was adamant that the eBay person be certain and I believe they were.

More germane is that what I posted correlates with basic common sense. Most other posts? Not so much.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Still I don't think it's so much about the instrument companies. I mean while they can say that Sweetwater isn't allowed to sell Rickenbackers to Finland, I don't believe there is a legal way of stopping someone selling his or her used Rickenbacker to anywhere he/she wants to...

Correct. Authorized dealers/distributors selling new instruments have specific guidelines they must follow. Individuals selling secondhand instruments are under no such obligations.

 

[bucephylus]

Well no progress today but even in the worst case scenario nobody loses money ...

Hmmm

Is this "Global Shipping Center" affiliated with eBay? I'm not familiar with that business.

In any case, I would make a prime pest of myself demanding a tracking number from eBay. That's the ONLY way you can hold them accountable. This kind of situation just reeks of a snatch and grab somewhere far enough down the line that "Customer Service" decides to just shovel it under the rug rather than deal with it. Keep the pressure up. Something doesn't smell right.

 

[Glazenn]

Just an assumption here. As the Shipping Center in Erlanger, KY., is owned and managed by Pitney Bowes, it's possible that a particular Pitney Bowes policy or initiative has affected the RIC bass, and they have just informed ebay that the bass has been confiscated according to their own rules, without giving evidence of the reason why (what ebay exactly did with their correspondence with the seller and possibly the buyer too).

 

[guy n. cognito]

This should be titled the Grand Conjecture Thread.

I've received items marked "Fragile" in various countries via eBay's Global Shipping Program, and have a pet peeve with people making stuff up out of the blue then slagging companies and posting proclamations on what people should or shouldn't do based on said unfounded conjecture.

So I spent two minutes out of curiosity to call eBay's quite excellent Customer Service Dept. to confirm: There's NO restriction on boxes marked "Fragile" or "Glass" nor are there any restrictions based on the manufacturer.

In cases of non-shipping, both sides are made whole and it varies whether the seller gets to keep the money from the sale OR the item is returned. NOT both.

There ARE restrictions in some countries on certain woods which are commonly used in furniture items, musical instruments, etc..

Info here: Link Removed

OK ... here's the deal ...

The Global Shipping Program will NOT ship a package marked FRAGILE or GLASS

I shipped it in the box from the manufacturer that said both of those words

I suppose if one wants to assume that an actual response from an actual question on an actual rejected sale is irrational or "made up". To me, the reason given for an actual rejection would seem to trump the hypothetical answer given by a random CS rep.

 

[Ric5]

So today I made a second call to ebay ... still trying to get the bass back

 

[Ric5]

Ebay's Global Shipping program

 

[Nephilymbass]

So I sold a bass on ebay and then I got this message ...

View attachment 2764856

Happened to me when I sold my Conklin to a buyer overseas. They did still pay me.

 

[Ric5]

Ok ... this is what Ebay is saying ... or perhaps I should say ... Global Shipping Program


Concerning the Rickenbacker Bass; item 332362357013 (OREUSA11033938388GB) SR# 1-130853870417


Hello Jeff,


Thank you for contacting eBay regarding the Rickenbacker Bass; item 332362357013, you sold recently. I understand that you have some concerns about what happened to the shipment of the bass through our Global Shipping Program. My name is Bear and I would be more than happy to look into this with you.


I looked into this and I found that we could not deliver this item to you because your item has parts or pieces made with Wood. Items made with certain types of wood, particularly the rose wood used in many fret boards, are restricted for import by CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Please understand that our shipping partners need to abide by all customs laws and we did not intend for this to happen. Because of this, our shipping partners will refund your customer out of their pocket and then liquidate the item in order to recoup some of their losses. You'll be keeping the payment for this and it won't be returned to you


The good news is that this is actually a protection for both you and your customer, we do not want any customs or shipping company questioning you on the product. It's also a rare circumstance as we try to block these from being listed through the Global Shipping Program.


I wish your customer would have received the bass instead of this outcome, it looks like a fine instrument. I assure you we make the best attempt to deliver packages and avoid this.


Thank you for your understanding in the difficult situation.


Have a wonderful day, and thanks for choosing eBay!


Bear P

Global Shipping Specialist