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New to me. Ebay G.S.P issue UK/UE post Brexit.

smitty190373
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So this just happened. The short story is, I sold an item on Ebay in mid December via the GSP that was destined to Italy. Buyer paid, I shipped to the GSP centre in Staffordshire, item was dispatched to Italy the day after.

Roll forward to December 31st/Brexit deadline and I received an email from Ebay stating 'Your item was undeliverable and your buyer has now been fully refunded'. That was basically it.

I sent an email to Ebay asking for a better explanation of the situation and was sent this reply. It seems either Ebay or their insurer now actually own the watch and will disperse of it as they wish. I have kept all money form the sale, and the buyer has been fully refunded. I have another watch in the GSP system that was also sent to Italy on December 15th with a value of just under £1500. Seems like this could be a costly process.

Here is the transcript with the full explanation from Ebay.

Screen Shot 2021-01-04 at 11.41.18.png
Edited:
 
lexieb007
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The GSP has been a costly dog for purchasers (partic when buying from sellers in the US) for years - adding huge cost to shipping and transactions.

Hopefully just another nail in the coffin of this most monopolistic of arrangements.

I always prefer to have things shipped by other means if the seller will agree.
 
crl848
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They didn't put that on the side of the bus back in 2016.
 
size11s
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I don't understand the eBay response. What "restrictions" have prevented Pitney Bowes from forwarding the watch to the buyer, they seem to be talking about delays rather than restrictions? Surely they aren't cancelling and refunding the transaction due to not being able to fulfil delivery date assurances of the GSP??
 
lexieb007
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^ Yes..."Buyer paid, I shipped to the GSP centre in Staffordshire, item was dispatched to Italy the day after." That was mid December... so is this not paper work, red tape and other problems on the European side?
 
smitty190373
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size11s size11s
I don't understand the eBay response. What "restrictions" have prevented Pitney Bowes from forwarding the watch to the buyer, they seem to be talking about delays rather than restrictions? Surely they aren't cancelling and refunding the transaction due to not being able to fulfil delivery date assurances of the GSP??


You have as much information as me.

'Pitney Bowes confirm they could not ship the item forward due to carrier limitations during the Christmas / New Year Interim period. This was due to Brexit and transport changes being put into place by the carriers during this short period'.

I wasn't able to reply to their response.
 
size11s
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Madness!? I hope that your buyer is seeing where the fault lies and not blaming you in any way. Good luck with your other watch.
 
lexieb007
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smitty190373 smitty190373
You have as much information as me.

'Pitney Bowes confirm they could not ship the item forward due to carrier limitations during the Christmas / New Year Interim period. This was due to Brexit and transport changes being put into place by the carriers during this short period'.

I wasn't able to reply to their response.
At what location did the tracking stop?
 
lexieb007
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What would stop goods leaving England (if it wasn't now requirements on the other side)?...interesting how everyone in the press seems to be blaming the UK on all this.. I never seem to be hearing that it's European paper work etc (on the other side) that is "the problem"?
 
smitty190373
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lexieb007 lexieb007
So the goods never left England....

I am not sure. That was the last point of trace but I am not sure if the item was blocked from leaving the UK, or entering the EU.

Either way an item could not be delivered to its EU destination from the UK.
 
lexieb007
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smitty190373 smitty190373
I am not sure. That was the last point of trace but I am not sure if the item was blocked from leaving the UK, or entering the EU.

Either way an item could not be delivered to its EU destination from the UK.
Well sure... but why would Britain be wanting to block any trade or goods leaving the country...to any destination.. particularly Europe? Wouldn't make sense. Particularly post Brexit... 😀
 
Dries
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I'd be fuming if I were that buyer.

On what basis can they possibly appropriate goods which they are meant to be delivering? Sure, there have been 'restrictions' due to the 48hr ban from the French around that date but how does that justify anything? A delay is normal but in what universe is this an acceptable response?
 
neilfrancis
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This happened to the vendor (and me) when I bought an Elvis Presley penknife from the USA. I was refunded, so I guess was the seller, and someone at ebay has a knife that I intended to give as a birthday gift.

I don't think it's a Brexit-related thing. Rather, that GSP scheme that ebay provide is a massive handicap to collecting/buying. I now never bid on anything being shipped through it, and it p***** me off no end.
 
size11s
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Could it be a tritium/radiation issue? I thought only radium on watches was causing problems but I don't really keep up with these things.
 
redzer007
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Many UK ports were under severe pressure over the xmas period, lots of stuff got stuck in ports and did not move, also lots of stuff could not be landed and ended up going back on the boat
 
smitty190373
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neilfrancis neilfrancis
This happened to the vendor (and me) when I bought an Elvis Presley penknife from the USA. I was refunded, so I guess was the seller, and someone at ebay has a knife that I intended to give as a birthday gift.

I don't think it's a Brexit-related thing. Rather, that GSP scheme that ebay provide is a massive handicap to collecting/buying. I now never bid on anything being shipped through it, and it p***** me off no end.

Even though that sounds like a wonderful item, it's also probably on the banned list, same as firearms, CS gas etc etc. I've never had a problem with the GSP, it has always worked well for me, up until now.


size11s size11s
Could it be a tritium/radiation issue? I thought only radium on watches was causing problems but I don't really keep up with these things.

Unlikely imo, I've bought and sold dozens of vintage watches through GSP previously and the lume material was never an issue on any of them.
 
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