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

codice86
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Northernman Northernman
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.

😬

I don't think it has to do with the straps, I think that they are including watches in the "Jewellery, gold or any other precious metals" category in the prohibited item list of the Global Shipping Programme (http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/buy/shipping-globally.html#prohibited).

But I agree that most sellers are probably not aware that by using the eBay Global Shipping Programme they are effectively blocking international bidders
 
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Stewart H
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I don't think that is the issue Anders. I had the same problem buying an Omega part that was listed using the Global Shipping rip-off. In the end a very kind gentleman, in the US, on this site bought it and sent it to me. Once again a big "thanks" to that member. 👍

My conclusion is that eBay think that everything with the word "watch" in its description is a Rolex.
 
Frunkinator
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It's funny but not surprised. When I shipped out a watch to Australia a few weeks at the USPS, the teller informed me "watches" could not be shipped internationally express mail. Then she read me the area and showed me only within the states.
So I said ok let me have the customs form back and added the word "PARTS" after the word watch.
Done and done!
 
gatorcpa
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I don't think this is an eBay issue. Most world governments are anti-free trade.

Because they can't control or or tax it.
gatorcpa
 
Northernman
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
I don't think this is an eBay issue. Most world governments are anti-free trade.

Because they can't control or or tax it.
gatorcpa
Been purchasing the odd piece from the U.S. on eBay earlier. First time I have this. GSP sucks!
+1 on free-trade!
 
lenny
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Frunkinator Frunkinator
...So I said ok let me have the customs form back and added the word "PARTS" after the word watch.
Done and done!

Be careful, their insurance will not cover you if anything happens to it. That's why you need 3rd party insurance and/or to use priority international.
 
gee_cee
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Northernman Northernman
..since crocs are on the endangered spices list.

I'm quite partial to a pinch of snow leopard paprika myself..
 
Northernman
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lenny lenny
Be careful, their insurance will not cover you if anything happens to it. That's why you need 3rd party insurance and/or to use priority international.
I don't pay for this kind of insurance.
Mark the shipment as defective and low value, pack well and enjoy.
If it was be too valuable I would have it picked up in person. Not in the PP world yet so no problem.
😀
Edited:
 
gatorcpa
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Northernman Northernman
Mark the shipment as defective and lie value, pack well and enjoy.
Sorry, I can never recommend this method in any way, shape or form. It is technically illegal to falsify US Customs forms.

It is highly unlikely that the Feds will show up at your door. There is a good discussion of the ramifications of this practice here:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/9044449/

However, one either has respect for the law or they do not.
gatorcpa
 
Northernman
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Sorry, I can never recommend this method in any way, shape or form. It is technically illegal to falsify US Customs forms.

It is highly unlikely that the Feds will show up at your door. There is a good discussion of the ramifications of this practice here:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/9044449/

However, one either has respect for the law or they do not.
gatorcpa
Hi Gator.
I do understand and follow your point of view.
Technically it is also illegal to drive over the speed limit.
In urban areas I do my best to comply, however on open country roads, with not a single soul in sight, I must admit I sometimes goes a tad above.
Breaking the law is never right, but it is sometimes less wrong than other.
 
gatorcpa
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Northernman Northernman
Breaking the law is never right, but it is sometimes less wrong than other.
Not when it's someone else that may have to pay the price.

The USPS people don't know the law. I suspect the average U.S. customs officer doesn't know it either. Any wonder why many Americans won't ship overseas?

IMO, discussions like this need to be offline. A private transaction should be kept that way.
gatorcpa
 
Pahawi
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Not when it's someone else that may have to pay the price.

I’ve just received two sets of the “Timely Wrist Calendar” shown in another thread here, and although with the correct amount and description on the shipping papers, the custom guys failed to collect. Since the whole community will suffer from the missing $20 in play, should I contact the custom dept., asking them to charge me the amount? The right answer is yes, but I wonder how many actually would do it......
 
Northernman
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Not when it's someone else that may have to pay the price.

The USPS people don't know the law. I suspect the average U.S. customs officer doesn't know it either. Any wonder why many Americans won't ship overseas?

IMO, discussions like this need to be offline. A private transaction should be kept that way.
gatorcpa
No actual transaction mentioned in this thread. Purely a principle oriented discussion on my side.
 
gatorcpa
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Pahawi Pahawi
Since the whole community will suffer from the missing $20 in play, should I contact the custom dept., asking them to charge me the amount? The right answer is yes, but I wonder how many actually would do it......

You are both missing my point entirely.

By not declaring properly, you are putting the buyer at risk, not yourselves.

I don't know the customs laws, or the penalties for breaking them, in other countries, so I would rather not put a potential buyer at risk unilaterally.

If two competent individuals wish to make a different arrangement in private, that's OK with me. Whatever floats your boats, just leave the rest of us out of it.

If you both want to flaunt the deed in public, as in, "look what I did and you can too", that's where I draw the line.

gatorcpa
 
Stewart H
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IMO, @gatorcpa is spot on. This conversation should be conducted between the buyer and the seller, not in the public domain. There are ways to mitigate the possible duties and they are for the buyer to pay extra for the carrier of their choice. From a UK buyer's perspective, that is, not Fedex, nor USPS. Fedex collect the customs duty and USPS hand over to Royal Mail at the UK entry - and Royal Mail will collect the duty plus a handing charge of £8.00.

There is no guarantee that other carriers won't involve you with charges but if you are buying from outside of exempt boarders, then it really is pot-luck.
 
Northernman
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The only issues still standing is that.
A) Watches are normally exempt from all practical means of insurance when being sent using normal carriers. (Read the small print).
B) They are relatively easily stolen in transit. Not all posties nor customs people are good apples. Perhaps a very good reason why they refuse to insure watches in the first place?
C) Due to A and B. Declaring as defective and low value reduces risk on both sides of a trade.

As for customs there is, at least over here, possible to contact the threasury after receipt of a shipment to pay additional fees and taxes if one feels obligated to.
 
gatorcpa
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A) True.

B) Also true.

C) No practical way to fix A and B, still be within the law and also insured.

I know that there is a private insurance company (I forgot the name) that will insure jewelry for the trade. They have arranged with many countries postal services to act as customs brokers and pass on duties where applicable. They also handle the declarations as well.

I guess if you sell enough, they'll take you on.
gatorcpa
 
STANDY
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I am with Gator, Stewart H not the place on a forum to advise or talk about skirting federal laws. I have seen people( in my line of work ) prosecuted for a false declaration at a international level
 
hondaman
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Northernman Northernman
The only issues still standing is that.
A) Watches are normally exempt from all practical means of insurance when being sent using normal carriers. (Read the small print).
B) They are relatively easily stolen in transit. Not all posties nor customs people are good apples. Perhaps a very good reason why they refuse to insure watches in the first place?
C) Due to A and B. Declaring as defective and low value reduces risk on both sides of a trade.

I didn't know this. So the best practice for sending a watch to another forum member in the US is to send it uninsured and priority mail?
 
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