Recently I sold a flute on Ebay and mailed the flute to Ireland via Ebay’s prearranged Global Shipping Center. This morning I received a note:
I believe the crux of the problem is; Customs believes the flute is made of Blackwood. But the flute is in fact made of Cocobolo and I stated so in my Ebay listing.“Dear Jordan,
We are writing to inform you that your recent Global Shipping Center transaction cannot be completed.
The item was stopped at the Global Shipping Center, and has been restricted from international shipment. The item will not be shipped forward to its final destination.
No further action is needed at this time. We’ve let your buyer know why the item couldn’t be delivered.
Under the terms of the Global Shipping Program your buyer will be refunded automatically, and you are entitled to keep the proceeds from the transaction. “
I was surprised at the inexpensive postage through the Global Shipping Center (same price as domestic) and the brevity of their customs declaration form. {I only needed to state the origin (United Kingdom) of the flute and certify it was not restricted, all other info was automatically filled in from Ebay.}
I am offered no recourse in the matter and have no way to contact the Customs House in Ireland or the Global Shipping Center.
As the message states, I do get to keep my proceeds and the buyer receives a refund. I suspect this may change as the Global Shipping Center will seek to recoup their loss. I will post any further information.
But what is to become of the flute? I presume it will be destroyed.