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 Replies: 10 / Views: 3,630 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
Last month I sent an ancient Roman coin to a buyer in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China. I used ebay's shipping and paid the international rate that gave me a U.S. Customs tracking number. The coin's tracking ended when it arrived in Chicago a day after I mailed it, but that was a month ago. The buyer contacted me today that the coin has not arrived at Chinese customs. I'm going to go to my local post office on Monday to have them check with Chicago, but I'm not holding out much hope. It was a $110 coin. Does the fact I used ebay's shipping give me any coverage for part of the cost of the coin if it's lost, or am I out of luck should I have to refund the buyer? I haven't dealt with this problem before on international shipments using ebay shipping. Guess I've been lucky so far. Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
I'm going to say you're probably out of luck. From what I read (quickly, just now) online, US customs tracking numbers are not the proper tracking numbers to use for international shipments...that most the time they are only scanned in the US and not where you'd want it (the country shipped to). As far as being covered for using ebay's shipping...no, I don't think so. Unless you shipped it to their global shipping processing center, as then if something happens I'm fairly certain they side with you. However, I'm not entirely sure on any of the above, so don't take my comments as reliable. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7618 Posts |
You cannot use ebay's Global Shipping Program for coins and currency. It is one their excluded categories. |
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Valued Member
China
171 Posts |
Living in China, I can tell you that the postal system can be insanely slow out here. I have waited over a month for a simple letter. Also, I make it a point to insist that nothing is written on the package about the contents to deter slippery-fingered postal workers from stealing the package. That's why I can't stand custom declarations on the outside of a package. I usually get things sent to my Canadian address.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I ordered a $10 blue tooth speaker from Amazon in early June of last year that was shipped from China and it arrived in mid-August. I would honestly give it three months before I would call it lost if your buyer can tolerate the wait. "Debbie" (obviously not her name) in customer service for the seller said basically that China Post could be incredibly slow sometimes. Edited by KenKat
05/09/2015 10:39 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I went to my local post office but was told there's nothing they can do to track the missing package, not even here in the U.S., so I can't even be sure it ever left Chicago for China.
The U.S. Customs tracking number is a pretty useless thing unless the package is going to the UK or Canada is what the person at the post office told me.
The buyer said he'd be willing to wait two more weeks to see if the package arrives, but it's looking like I'm most likely out the money.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7618 Posts |
Just another reason to not sell, or ship to, international destinations. Until ebay can give Sellers some reassurance regarding international shipments for coins and currency this will continue to happen, It happenened to me a couple of years ago and I quit selling internationally because of it. ebay customer service called me and asked "why?" When I told them the rep started blabbing off about the Global Shipping Program (which was new at that time). I then reminded the rep that the GSP is fine and dandy but the catsgories I sell in is excluded from participation. She said "thank you" and ended the conversation. Far as I know, things are still the same. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
This is the first coin I've had gone missing shipping overseas in my 5+ years of selling, but I think I will remove China from the places I ship.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
946 Posts |
This is why I only ship to the USA. Don't even want to get involved with shipping stuff out of country. Then for all my hard work and effort at keeping my customers happy, ill send the one package somewhere and it wont get there and they will leave a negative feedback. AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
too many scammers from China, I only ship with registered mail to China, and buyer has to pay $15 to cover the cost.
selling only to US a lot easier.
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Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
I used ebay's Global Shipping Program to mail a coin to Canada. Their website restricts "virtual currency", not all currency. I sold the coin, was paid by ebay, mailed the coin to their center in Kentucky, and they mailed the coin to the buyer. No problems at all. And if the coin is lost ebay becomes responsible. I mistakenly thought that the Global Shipping Program mails to all countries (except those that are politically sensitive) but I was wrong when I sold a coin to a guy in Albania and learned that Albania is NOT on the list.....yet. Luckily the shipping wasn't much and he got the coin because after it leaves the US, God know where it might end up since tracking ends after it leaves the country. Now I copy all of the countries that the Global Shipping Program ships to and put it in my listings. Steve S. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 3,630 |
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Posted 05/08/2015 10:52 pm
