GPS - Frustration with this stupid system

[howie696]

I buy leather working tools and knifes usually vintage or interesting, they are permitted by our customs

BUT NOT BY GPS

They stopped a transaction and are refunding the money, when I complained this is what I got back

Hello ,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the Leather Al Stohlman Small Round Knife (251331896781) you recently purchased. I understand our shipping hub contacted you to let you know that they would be refunding you because they are not able to forward that item on. I recognize that this is a frustrating situation. While this item may be authorized to be imported into your country, it is not eligible to be shipped through the Global Shipping Program. We have very specific agreements in place with customs in each of the countries we ship to, and while they may not object to having these items imported in general, they have asked them not to go through our expedited customs clearance process. For this reason we have had to cancel delivery of this item and issue you a refund.

I understand that you have yet to receive the refund that was promised so I have submitted a request to get the full refund of $54.57USD issued to your account. You will see this refund in no more than 5-7 days.

Thank you for being a great member of eBay since 1999 and for your understanding in this less than ideal situation. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Regards,

Erin S.
eBay Global Shipping Team

So they make their own rules and are ridiculously expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[patchoo78]

I don't know what your complaint is... You got a refund, so just buy the tools from someone who doesn't use GPS

[howie696]

The tool is scarce

its rude and inconvenient to both me and the seller

if you cant see that as a problem dont reply

[*crikey*mate*]

Elephant in the thread.

Spoiler

I don't think it's a GPS problem, to be honest.

[lyndal1838]

I agree with howie.  It is not up to a shipping service to decide what they will and will not ship.

If an item is legal to be imported into a country and a seller is agreeable to sell to that country then the shipping service should forward the item....that is what they are being paid to do....and paid very well too.

I also buy second hand/used collectables and would be furious if a shipping company refused to ship....it is not as though I can just go to the next shop and get another one.  It may be months or years before another one turns up on ebay.

[*crikey*mate*]

hang on, wouldn't it be up to the owners of the company/business to decide what they will and won't ship? (within the boundaries of the law)

Isn't that kinda like telling a store owner that even though they own the shop, that they have no control over what they sell?

Or if I own a car/house/thingamybob/whatchamacallit, that other people can tell me what to do with it?

[howie696]

You are missing the point

The seller is happy to sell to me, he has shipped the item to Pitney Bowes for forwarding as per the GPS system, they have unpacked it and decided to return it to the seller and ask PP to refund me

the seller will sell it to me and not use GPS when he gets it back

[*crikey*mate*]

I got the point. But Pitney Bowes is using a Global Shipping Program (GSP), not a Global Positioning System(GPS).

However I still stand by the statement that as the owners of the company, they can decide what they will and won't carry (within the bounds of the law). If they don't want to, there is nothing anyone can do to make them. I guess they have done up their business plan and a pro/con list and made the decision not to provide their service for the type of thing that you are after and are prepared to lose the business for that.

Just like we have to get used to what Aus Post will and won't carry, it seems that US sellers (and now us) will have to learn what PB won't carry.

I am sorry that it has inconvenienced you though. I do agree that it is frustrating and inconvenient and that it does seem silly, but I guess they have their reasons for that decision.

On the bright side, if the seller is no longer going through GSP, your postage costs should reduce.

[lyndal1838]

Sorry crikey, I don't agree.  If Pitney Bowes wants to provide a service and get paid very well to provide that service then they should be prepared to ship any goods that the seller wants to ship to anywhere that it is legal to send the goods.  They are obviously aware of the rules for each country as part of their service involves collecting and paying the Customs/import duties if applicable.

It is great that they can alert a seller to the fact that certain goods will be confiscated, but not right that they can refuse to ship legal items.

[foxette-in-sox]

There are so many complaints re Pitney Bowes that I'm surprised they don't have their own dedicated board.

Howie,that is good that the seller will send to you directly.