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Unusual eBay situation. Has this happened to anyone else?
nencoin
Posts: 1,342 ✭✭✭✭
We sold two coins to a buyer in Australia. We shipped them to the address eBay provided, which is an eBay international forwarding hub. We then get this email from them:
_We wanted to let you know that unfortunately this item could not be shipped internationally. As a result, your order can’t be fulfilled. This could be due to import restrictions or eligibility requirements. You get to keep the sale and we’ve issued a refund to your buyer. _
The buyer got refunded, we still got paid, and eBay kept the coins. What? Why not just return them? What is eBay going to do with the coins? Has anyone else experienced this?
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I think eBay was just jealous and wanted the coins for themselves
In all seriousness, country laws wherever the coins may probably prohibit the coins from going anywhere, at least for the time being. Whether this issue will be resolved or not is way far out of my understanding but maybe they're either in a period of holding or screening. Might reaching out to eBay work?
"Another day, another Collectors Universe forum scrolling session."
- Someone, probably
Just be happy they didn't take your money and keep your coins.
Curious. Looking forward to the reason. Which I am sure will be arriving soon.
We did. Two different people here spoke to them in terms of getting our coins back:
when she spoke to me it seemed like that definitely wasn't going to happen.. when she spoke to mike she made it seem like a possibility
she kept emphasizing dont worry you are fully covered you will get your money back
So no clue what's going to happen and still no why.
Once your shipment is accepted at the eBay transshipment hub you are 100% out of the transaction (unless fraud is involved). eBay is fully responsible for completion of the transaction. eBay basically owns the shipment.
If the shipment is lost, undeliverable, refused, returned, SNAD, or most any other reason eBay takes full responsibility for fulfilling the transaction. Your involvement ends when the package is delivered to the shipping hub. This is one of the big pluses of the eBay International Shipping program.
So, you want to keep the 100% refund, and you want the coins back?
That seems unlike you.
You basically got an insurance payout. You get the money and the insurer gets the goods.
I'd love to know where ebay sells off the stuff they acquire in the process. There are probably some great deals to be had.
I was thinking that too. Insurance and storage aren't free. I'd be happy to rip it... I mean make a fair offer on it. I wonder if they would agree to 10-20% off the amount they would net after eBay fees were removed.
He didn’t say that he wants to keep both the refund and the coins.
I think he was just asking why the coins weren’t returned by eBay, rather than issuing the refund.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I read this as them preferring to have the coins back instead of the payment.
Seems unusual since the payment works out the same as a sale in the books. Unless they think the coins will sell higher in a second auction attempt. That just seems like more work than needed.
Collector, occasional seller
This happens and Ebay takes the hit. I've heard people say they see the items turn up later from wholesale auction type situations.
I've had it happen several times outside of coins.
I am grateful I misread his statement.
Thank you for the clarification.
I heard from eBay last week that due to new rules from the EU international shipments had new requirements.
I have had this happen 4 = 5 times, albeit not with coins.
Classic auto parts. Mostly EU countries that cannot differentiate between Cadmium and Zinc plating. If it gets to the EU. the item is seized and destroyed, and Ebay and the Forwarder take a hit forshipping unauthorized or undeclared items. Sweden is the worst, others do not care. My of my friends had a shipment to Australia seized and destroyed for being too dirty. _
Sort of. After shipping eBay informed me fraudulent buyer and not to ship. Money was locked down in my account and listing removed, seller account deleted. Attempted delivery to undeliverable address and later returned. eBay eventually released proceeds in the account.
I’m guessing that you meant “buyer account deleted.” instead of “seller account deleted.”
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Absolutely. I wish I could get such good terms for my domestic shipments.
I wonder if the issue is in how customs categories were filled out? I vaguely remember having an issue with using “coins” (customs thinking the item was currency/spendable money) but then changing it to some form of collectibles/antiques to get it to work. It’s been a while since I shipped coins internationally, and an even longer time since I sold on eBay.
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Successful B/S/T transactions with: bigjpst, Crusty, MasonG, dcarr, justindan, Gothat3rs, ms71
I had a similar case where ebay refunded the buyer who claimed no receipt , then also paid me for the coin ($600 plus). About a month later, I received a stellar feedback from that buyer (Japan) for a most beautiful coin.
So, I have no clue how eBay’s international shipping works, but someone got paid for a great coin. And someone got a coin.
Ebay userID "8ten1944" is one of the wholesalers that Ebay uses to resell confiscated items.
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
Were the coins Russian by chance??? I also sell Russian lacquer miniatures and no longer ship internationally because of the confiscation issue. Ebay is grabbing Russian items at the International Shipping hub and doing exactly as you described. The items are relisted by seller 8ten1944 a few weeks after the confiscation.
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
that's good news, you don't have to wait for your coins to be returned and go through the hassle of selling them again. Cudos to ebay.
In this case I'd rather have the coins back. The customer messaged us saying he was still interested in them. If we had them back, perhaps he could have figured out a different way to buy them through eBay again, maybe a friend with a U.S. eBay account. It just seems silly to me that eBay can't spend the $5 to mail them back to us versus buying them. For what purpose?
These were not rare or unique coins, but in a different scenario, what if they were? A unique pattern sells on eBay. The collector is excited to own it, the seller was excited to own it and now happy it's found a good home. But eBay decides for whatever reason they can't ship it overseas, and then decides not to return it to the seller. The seller, at least certainly if it was me, is 100% going to want that coin back instead of the money.
Yes, they indeed were Russian coins!
Wow.
i was on an auction today that provided an import waning for us buyers. it was only for special duties on the presumably russian made antique, but still. crazy stuff happening with russia items and usa transactions
and you didn't get a reason why, so you can prevent the problem? unreal.
Maybe he's also selling all of the pens they confiscated from us! Lol.
I am not necessarily surprised by your reaction, but then again, if you wanted the coin instead of the money then why did you sell it? 🤔
To be honest, I'm a little surprised that ebay even notified you as the seller. You got paid. It's the buyer they needed to make whole.
There's nothing you can do. You ship the coins to eBay, they ship them to the buyer. It's eBay that has to do something (or not) to prevent the problem.
I sold a coin to an international buyer who was not happy with it and wanted to return it for a refund. eBay refunded the buyer and I kept the money. Initially, I was disappointed I wouldn't get the coin back but then, after thinking about it, getting it back for what purpose? To list and sell again? I'll take the money.
eBay relisted ?
At what price point?
One time I bought a lot of mostly US pocket change from the UK. There was a 1914-D Lincoln hidden in there, and it appeared UNC, or AU cleaned at the very least. In possibly the most unlucky event of my life, the coins never made it past the US eBay hub.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
Actually, the insurance payout sometimes works better than the auction result.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I don't understand the desire to do extra work to meet the same or less. When I sell something, it's because I prefer cash to the item.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I appreciate your humor, but the washing of the transaction into the system and then the item reappearing in the same venue is shady, at least. So essentially, no one should care because everyone feeds from the same trough.
What’s shady about it?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
"sorry we can't complete your transaction on ebay"
also ebay
"buy our ebay listing of an item we couldn't complete the ebay transaction for"
eBay sucks.
The likely reason that the transaction couldn’t be completed has been provided.
The seller received full payment for the item and I doubt that this policy is a money maker for eBay.
It doesn’t sound shady to me, though it does seem to have its drawbacks.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
actually we deduced it without 100% certainty it was due to it being russia items.
ebay has provided no reasoning on their end
The post office also sells items that they end up owning. I agree with you. There's nothing remotely shady about it. I can't believe people would rather get the item returned so they have to go their the trouble of selling it again. It's theater of the absurd.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Like they want to buy it at the full sale price so they have to go through the trouble of selling it. Whatever the problem was, they did the seller a FAVOR
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
eBay sucks.> @jmlanzaf said:
That can't be possible. eBay sucks.
Lol. It's bizarre.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
WWHAD?
Nicholas II "Monument" Rouble 1898-AГ MS61 PCGS, St. Petersburg mint, KM-Y61, Bit-323 (R). Mintage: 5,000. Struck to commemorate the unveiling of the monument to Alexander II in Moscow. A tempting specimen in this fine Mint-State grade, with gentle autumnal russet toning nestled within the recesses.
Metal: Silver
Weight: 19.996g
ASW: 0.5786oz
Mintage: 5000 est.
Note: Due to increasing international regulations regarding tariffs, sanctions, and import restrictions on this lot, additional duties or other restrictions may apply to this lot. Heritage requires all Russian-made items that are shipped internationally to have shipping instructions on file. If you purchase this lot and would like it shipped internationally, you will be emailed our shipping instructions to review and sign after the auction, acknowledging your understanding of the applicable duties, regulations, and responsibilities associated with shipping Russian-made items internationally.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/russia/russia-nicholas-ii-monument-rouble-1898-a-ms61-pcgs-/a/3136-30102.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515
Let me simplify , as I read it.
Example : you buy coin from me. I send it to you overseas. It gets intercepted and confiscated. ebay gives you your money back and gives me my money back. That’s not shady at all. The fact that a third person now has it listed for sale on ebay seems a bit shady to me. Or did I read the OP follow up post incorrectly ? > @nencoin said:
Again, why would that be shady? Either that is an eBay account used to sell the material they PURCHASE when paying insurance claims OR it is the account of someone they sell the material they PURCHASED when paying an insurance claim. eBay wasn't going to keep the items forever. USPS, FedEx etc all resell items they end up owning.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Huh????
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire