Global Priority Shipping Stops an Auction Sale!

Last month I purchased a WWI gas mask through a well known online auction site. The mask was a British mask but was issued to a US dough boy and was located in the US. It was pricey, but I wanted the piece, so I bid and paid the GPS duty and fees. The situation became a problem after the seller sent the mask to the third party for processing. This outfit cancelled the sale and sent me a robo mail letting me know I would receive a refund in 24 hours! After I still hadn't received my refund in the time promised, I sent 3 or 4 emails that went unanswered. It took over a week to get my money back and only after I complained to the money transfer wing of the auction company, who eventually sent me the refund ..... I have been in touch with the seller and she has not had the mask returned to her. I ended up finding out that the third party cancelled the sale because the mask may have been exposed to chemicals during the war and it was declared "Hazardous Waste" . Since then, the seller told me she was paid the amount I had bid on the mask. It appears that the mask was then destroyed due to safety concerns ..... At this point, I'm not sure I would bid on any WWI item located in the US. Using the third parties logic, a pair of pants, tunic, hat, or even a badge could have been exposed to gas in 1917 so these could also be classified as hazardous waste as well !! Another thing I forgot to mention, the mask had a record of use tag attached. It had never been used in a drill let alone had it been exposed to gas .....

Ypres

Think of the children!

Seriously though, that is unreal.

Wow! I am not a fan of GPS. Now one more reason to avoid sellers who are using that system.

What a pity, you knew that the laws Canadian prevents the import of these objects?
You can buy a new gas mask  , and it will not cross customs. As weapons, knives, cartridge of ammunition, lighters, bullet-jacket , etc.

But uniform and webbing has no concerns there.

This is borderline insane. With all that has been happening lately with eBay and their arbitrary rules, I cannot figure out how on earth they are still growing in size. Un-frigging-believable.

Global Shipping has raised it's ugly head in the UK.......

This is the first time I have seen this for a shipment from the UK......

I think that ebay is slowly imploding........

Here is the item from Scotland......

Glengarry-Hat-UK-From-The-Boer-War-1899-1902-/281492104400

Mike

This transpired today. The auction in question is for 5 pieces of cloth which could easily be mailed with a padded envelope for around $3.

Hi, This listing quotes the shipping as approx $13 US. Plus  I am going to be charged import fees of approx $10 if I win?  You are kidding right? I have shipped similar packages of cloth to addresses all over the US for about $3 and without import fees. Ebay's global shipping is going to end my bidding on goods from sellers using that system.

- krukut
                 
GROUP OF 5 WW2 CANADIAN SHOULDER TABS & PATCHES
GROUP OF 5 WW2 CANADIAN SHOULDER TABS & PATCHES
Item Id: 361118495578

The answer:
I will only ship outside the USA using ebay global shipping - Because of paypal I have lost too many things because I could not prove delivery- as for customs that's a Canadian problem

And though I shouldn't have, I sent a rejonder:

Well, that is certainly the vendors choice. The costs added by the exhorbidant shipping fees plus the import fees are too high. This is not just customs duty. It is a fee added for processing the lot by P-B and ebay. On top of it, these are Canadian insignia that if a Canadian should buy them are not subject to duties. They are being returned to Canada. But by opting for Global shipping they are tagged with that fee.
Having clarified this, I will not be bidding on lots that use a system that is exhorbidant in the amount of fees that are charged to the buyer. Most Canadians that I know who use ebay are opting not to bid on lots that are using GPS.
Thanks for your response, and good luck selling those titles.

It is a useless system. An odd choice for an auction company who, you would think, would want to maximize the amount bid on an item so they could cash in on the commission at the end of sale. Since the import charge increases with the amount you bid, it would just encourage you to bid less or avoid bidding at all. It reminds me of the time I phoned a Canadian auction to place a phone bid, I was told not to bother since another collector placed a huge buy bid on the item .... I wonder whether the consignor would have agreed with that approach since my bid, even if I lost the item, would have raised his return .... come to think of it the auction company would have made more as well. Needless to say, I don't consign anything with them anymore.... Collectors need to sell directly to each other! Anyone have some Pattern 13 web for sale ?

Ypres