eBay no longer allow Swiss Watches to be shipped from the US to Europe...

I was trying to make an offer on an eBay item yesterday. Regular stuff, checked that all was well with shipment policies and so on.

From the ad:

Postage and packaging
Item location: Palm City, Florida, United States
Postage to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Sweden, Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, Croatia, Republic of, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica

************************************************************************************
As I have address both in the UK and Norway I felt sure, but this time no:

So I contacted eBay customer support for a chat....... I was AMAZED!


Anant Vijay

Welcome to eBay Live help, my name is Anant. How may I assist you today?

Anant Vijay

Hello [ME]!

[ME]

Hi! I am having trouble to make a bid for this item. Why?
My location is on the list of approved shipment destinations.

[ME]

This is the error I am getting: We are sorry but the item you selected may not be purchased due to Seller shipping restrictions, country specific import/export or other relevant restrictions.
{e45827-779732x}

[ME]

Please note: I have postal addresses in both Norway and in the UK. Tried to set either one.

Anant Vijay

I am sorry to learn that you are unable to bid on an item as you are getting as error.

[ME]

So what can I do or what is the problem?

Anant Vijay

Let me check it quickly for you to assist you further.

Anant Vijay

Let me check it once to provide you the possible resolution.

Anant Vijay

I appreciate your patience.

Anant Vijay

Thank you for waiting.

Anant Vijay

I have checked the item and due to some import restrictions you are not able to purchase the item from our UK site.

[ME]

Hi, I tried from eBay.com as well. Same result.

Anant Vijay

I would suggest you to go to our US site that is www.ebay.com and purchase the item from that site.

[ME]


We are sorry but the item you selected may not be purchased due to Seller shipping restrictions, country specific import/export or other relevant restrictions.
{e45827-779732x}

Anant Vijay

Thanks for the confirmation.

Anant Vijay

Thanks for the details.

Anant Vijay

I am sorry but you this item has certain import restrictions.

Anant Vijay

I would suggest you to contact your import and exprort department.

Anant Vijay

You can search for other similar items also.

[ME]

I am not taking that as an answer. There is certainly something wrong with your bidding system.

Anant Vijay

As you know restrictons can be on brand or other features.

[ME]

Please check my profile. I am a relatively active collector. There are no import ban on swiss watches to EEC countries. Believe me!

Anant Vijay

This is not due to biddng but it is due to bidding restrictions.

Anant Vijay

sorry import restrictions.

[ME]

Then please tell me what restrictions are applied for this item. It can not be brand, county or product.

[ME]

The seller should also be contacted as he is not getting the potential buyers he is hoping for!

Anant Vijay

And for the reason, you need to get in tocuh with the Norway Import/ Export Department for the details, as it is not allowed in Norway and they would be able to explain you the reason

[ME]

There are no import restrictions to Europe on Swiss made watches. Please do not play that card.

[ME]

I have also tried using my UK address. The same result.

Anant Vijay

[ME], you may try changing your address and purchasing an item.

[ME]

I am actually using my UK address as my normal "primary" address. That was the first time I saw the issue.

Anant Vijay

I have checked your account and can confirm that your primary shipping address is of Norway.

Anant Vijay

I would suggest you to change your primary postage address to UK.

Anant Vijay

Shall I guide you to change it to UK?

[ME]

Tried it. I changed it to my UK address. Then tried it from ebay.co.uk and ebay.com. It does not work! Same error!!

[ME]

eBay.de likewise

Anant Vijay

I can confirm that right now your registered address and primary postage address both is of Norway.

[ME]

Can I send you my screen shot?
Primary postage address:Your main postage address for purchases
[MY ADDRESS]
United Kingdom

Anant Vijay

I appreciate your efforts sending the screenshot.

Anant Vijay

Let me investigate more about the issue.

Anant Vijay

I appreciate your patience.

Anant Vijay

[ME], thank you for waiting.

Anant Vijay

I've consulted experts team for this issue, as per the team, the item is listed on US site using the Global Shipping Programme. That particular brand is suppose to be not allowed to post from US to your location due to certain Import/Exports Law. This brand is also not allowed to post in UK as well. Rest assured, there is no such issue with your eBay account. There is one solution available.

[ME]

So the Global Shipping Programme is not sending European made watches to Europe?
That is a good one! LOVL!

Anant Vijay

You may advice the seller to revise their listing and remove the Global Shipping Programme tick from the sell your item page and offer the postage for your country using the International shipping service.

Anant Vijay

I am sorry but due to certain import/exports law, it's not allowed (GSP).

[ME]

As the seller has listed it for shipment to loads of European countries, and then bidders in this region is not able to bid on it I think you in all honesty should inform the seller yourself?

Anant Vijay

If you wish then I can send out an email to the seller on behalf of you and aslo offer them an option.

[ME]

I hope it is ok that I post a transcript of this conversation in internet fora?
I am sure there will be some concerns.

Anant Vijay

We don't mind.

[ME]

I think you should contact the seller as he is not getting what he obviously thinks from eBay!

Anant Vijay

Global Shipping Programme is not mandatory for the seller, it's upto them whether they wish to opt in or opt out. If they opt it then they will have to handover the item at Local Logistic center with their country and Logistic Team (Pitney Bowes) will post an item at the Buyer's location. In this option, the seller needs not require to visit custom office and need not require to do any documentation, all would be done via Pitney Bowes.

Anant Vijay

And according to the country specific law, this item may not be allowed and not passing the Import/export laws hence our system not allowing you to order this item.

Anant Vijay

If you wish to know the details then you will contact your custom department for the same.

Anant Vijay

It's been awhile since I've heard from you, I'm just checking to see if we're still connected?

[ME]

Hi,
I have given up. Thanks for your effort. I am very much surprised by your obvious neglect in trying to aid your members in conducting their business.

Chat Session Ended, Goodbye. (5010)

I have just contacted the seller and informed him he is being had by eBay. I have means of ordering using a US account, but it really complicates stuff.... We will see what comes up!

I'm not surprised. The customer service rep is reading from a script. They wouldn't know a watch from a witch.

I suspect that the issue might not be the watch itself but the leather band. Most countries have restrictions on importation of certain leather goods under the CITES treaty. Norway would seem to be one of the stricter countries on this issue.

I've seen some of the larger auction houses refuse to ship watches on their original watchbands due to this law.

Just another excuse for US sellers to not want to do business outside the country. Too much hassle and our domestic market is large enough to just not have to deal with foreign laws.

Our laws are ridiculous enough.
gatorcpa

I tried my UK and German shipping addresses as well. They are obviously just as strict.....
The seller specifically listed that he would like to ship to Europe. Not much help when eBay blocks all his bids.....
I am still following the item, and it is really low priced.

Maybe it's just another hidden "Buy American" program...... Swiss watches? Yes! We have no bananas. How about a Hamilton Sir?

Today's Hamilton is no more American than Omega or Longines. All are Swatch brands made in Switzerland (with some parts in China).

There are a very few specially brands (RGM comes to mind) that are designed and built here anymore. Shinola might get there when they start building Ronda movements here, which I understand is the eventual plan.

gatorcpa

Please read first part of op. He specified shipment internationally as ok. The problem is that eBay GSP blocks bids from the same countries!!!

I'm actually sad on the sellers part. He thinks and perhaps even pay for an international listing.

I have that option already. Just more of a hassle. 😀

I just realized something.

There was a post here not too long ago that discussed the fact that some listing on eBay Germany are just not visible on the US eBay site. You could go to eBay.de and see them, but not on the default eBay.com site.

I'm now wondering if this has more to do with EU VAT regulations. Sellers are supposed to collect VAT from inside EU buyers and pay it over. I know that there have been battles between eBay and some countries' tax authorities as to whether eBay is considered an agent for the seller. If so, and assuming that eBay has a physical location within the country in question, they might have reached a legal settlement to restrict certain listings and to not allow then to be viewed outside of the EU.

When it comes to business, there is generally a logical explanation for everything...if you have all the information.

Which I admit, I do not.
gatorcpa

I think I might have found the issue.....😵‍💫
The seller is listing the watch band material as being "Crocodile". It is actually "Crocodile Calf" which is basically stamped cow hide.
It makes sense as trade in certain materials, such as crocodile products, are heavily restricted since crocs are on the endangered spices list.
So much for bragging in your original post.
The shit is that this eBay CS guy could not tell why it was blocked, just that it was.
Also interesting that eBay is (obviously) blocking export without informing the seller.

😬