EBay Keeping Unsent Item

[roylo27]

Hi. I’ll try keep this short. 

I purchased a particular vintage (40 years old) Ni-Cd battery from overseas. It’s rare, very collectable and in new condition as this was, it is impossible to find another the same. 
This is not a dangerous Lipo battery. It’s Ni-cd, small only 1200mah and about 16cm long by 5cm. These are sent all over the world everyday. 

The seller sent item to EBay for them to take care of shipping. 
I get a message a week later that item cannot be sent because of battery restrictions and I’m being refunded. 
Turns out Seller got his payment and EBay are not sending the item back to the seller. It will be kept by EBay shipping. 
I have a big problem with EBay doing this and not returning the item. 
I know the seller.  We wanted to keep this item ownership between us. Also, it is irreplaceable and we want it back. 
I have contacted EBay and they will not send it back. 
How do we know someone at EBay shipping didn’t fancy the item for themselves and simply marked it as not sendable?

looking for advice on what we can do. 

[roylo27]

You sound like you agree with this rule EBay has about keeping people’s belongings. 

[sugar249]

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@roylo27 wrote:

You sound like you agree with this rule EBay has about keeping people’s belongings. 

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I do,  not sure how you expect them to return an item which breaches the rules.   

You use a service, you play by their rules

[roylo27]

The seller managed to send it to EBay so why can’t they send it back?

[springyzone]

I think your problem is not with ebay itself. I could be wrong here but it sounds as if you may have bought from USA & the seller used the global shipping program, which isn't actually ebay as far as I know. I think it is a 3rd party where ebay outsources the postage.

GSP is notorious for being difficult to deal with. At least on these boards it is. 

The fact your seller sent it to them doesn't mean they will post it back as according to them, they have deemed it an item that should not be posted internationally.

That may not actually be the case but you are unlikely to change their mind. Plus he has not lost any money.

Your seller may be able to arrange to collect it back in person. I have my doubts on that but if he lives anywhere close, he could try to arrange it.  But I doubt he would want to. Yes, I can see this would be so frustrating if you had a valuable or rare item confiscated. The trouble is you have both been compensated. The seller was willing to sell and he has been allowed to keep his payment so this does not really affect him. He is probably disappointed you missed out, but otherwise it is case closed.

I think I did read here a while back that the GSP centre auctions confiscated items off. It might be worth you keeping an eye on their auctions or finding out when these are, although they may not be willing to sell to you if international postage is involved. If you know the seller well, maybe you could arrange to have it sent to him if it did come up for auction and then arrange for it to be posted privately to you.

[springyzone]

PS there is also the possibility the item has already been destroyed if they deem it unable to be sent via any post at all.

[roylo27]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes it was being sent from US to Australia. 
Even if they deemed it not able to be sent internationally, which is questionable itself, it could still be sent back to the seller locally just as the seller sent it to them. 

They should at least give the seller an option to pay for return shipping back to him. 
Everyone makes mistakes. EBay simply keeping the item just seems wrong. 

[*sons_n_daughters*]

So what you're saying is, if someone tries to send drugs through the mail and they are confiscated, they should be sent back to the seller?

What part of this is NOT ebay don't you understand? It's Pitney Bowes rules. They have a very long list of items they refuse to ship, and you'd be surprised the amount of every day, not electric, musical instruments on there. Not to mention butter knifes, most cutlery in fact.

You can shake your head, wave your fist and roll your eyes as much as you like, but you aren't getting the batteries, nor is the seller getting them back. Period. Pitney Bowes will sell them, like they do all the other items they confiscate. 

[kh-jean]

Hi everyone,

This discussion has gotten a bit heated. Please remember that, while it is fine to disagree with others, discussion should always remain friendly and respectful as required by the Community Guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[roylo27]

Wow, so much anger why?

I think I’m done discussing here with responses like this. 

[sugar249]

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@roylo27 wrote:

Wow, so much anger why?

I think I’m done discussing here with responses like this. 

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I couldnt see any anger in there from S_N_D,  just a statement of fact.

I think the problem is you havent liked any of the answers provided,

It's simple really,  when the seller signed up to GSP they agreed to their terms and conditions,  just because you  admit you didnt read the T&C's,  doesnt suddenly make it that they have to bend to your way of thinking. 

If you have a problem go back to the seller who used that postal method without reading the T&C's.   Don't blame Ebay or other forum members, blame the seller.  The power was and always will be in the buyer and sellers hands,  if you read the T&C's.  In particular in this case where you admit you had some cosy deal with the seller.