Hello,This is my first post. I wanted it to be something interesting like a 'fettle' with photos. But it's not (sorry) I'm more than a bit disappointed with 'big brother'. I just received a msg from ebay stating that they would be giving me a full refund on an item (a coleman 228 lantern) that is 'restricted' under the global shipping program for import to the UK. LOL . Has anyone else experienced this? I'm concerned now about a very nice unrestored coleman quicklite lantern that I have also bought through ebay from the usa. Stephen
do what others do don't tell the post office whats really inside the box ;that's what i do when i sell lanterns ;what they don't know what hurt them 'even the seller 'i have done it for years
Hi and welcome. At least you got your money back, I heard that if Royal Mail get their hands on the lamps and stoves they destroy them without refunding. I have sent a couple of stoves recently and I have labeled them as flushed and degassed. They both got delivered safely but they were only sent to the UK. They asked me in the post office what was in the parcels and I just said stoves without gas. I don't think they understood what stove meant though. Life's getting to be no fun anymore.
Oh yes - members have had experience of mailing problems: [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/4010 [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/5153
Thank you for all the replies. I have not got the refund yet, they say I should have it within 72 hours. I shall just have to see what happens about the quicklite, I really am/was looking forwards to receiving that one. Regards
Hello. An update for you all. I have checked my Paypal account and two refunds are there. The first is for the ebay auction price of the lantern, and is shown as a refund from the seller. I do not know if Paypal has done this without the sellers knowledge. The second looks like it is a refund of the shipping fees from a shipping agent. I may be wrong, but it looks to me like the shipping agent in the US took a look at the lantern and decided it was on their 'we don't ship things like this list'. Stepheng
Welcome aboard! Postal problems are becoming much more common now and in my opinion it's better to use private couriers, Jeff.
Hello Stephen, as you will have seen via the first link which Derek posted, I also had a postal problem, but Conny did eventually get his lamp. Check out the link below, Jeff. http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/3880
Thank you Terry, for that link, very interesting . So the main thing to remember is to NOT USE the ebay Global Shipping Program, but do use, for example, UPS/interparcel combination. Stepheng
I have said that I am concerned about the coleman quicklite that I have purchased through ebay.com. Well I have checked the shipping option that the seller is using and it is USPS, is this the same as UPS ?
As a seller, yes. I suspect any seller of anything that may have had fuel of any sort in it at any time in the past who selects, inadvertently or otherwise, the eBay GSP is opting for the kiss of death. As a buyer of such items, trading with someone who will be using the eBay GSP is opting for the KOD. I don't know about the USPS / UPS thing but I suspect the use of any courier at all means you will most likely get your item...
OK, I now know the difference between UPS and USPS. Thanks. Well, 'my' quicklite is in the hands of USPS. Its been six days so far and still no tracking info when I 'click on' the USPS tracker. I do not feel very good about this, just have to wait and see. Wish me luck. Stepheng
Well, it probably 'was' - I presume their jurisdiction ends when they deliver it to Customs at the port or airport. It's the same with Royal Mail, although some people prefer to believe they're responsible for every package every inch of the way to the delivery address. Six days isn't necessarily anything to worry about. I've had stuff from the USA quicker (3 days is the quickest so far) but also much slower. My last parcel from there took about 2 weeks including 3 days just to get from one side of Florida to the other. I suspect we Brits tend to underestimate just how big the USA is and the distances involved. I presume it'll also depend on other factors such as which service the seller has paid for and how far away the nearest International airport is. I feel confident you'll get your item...
David, thank you for the encouragement. AN UPDATE. I have had some communication with the seller of the 228 lantern. Paypal have now taken two payments out of his account, the sale price of the lantern and the shipping cost, without his authority. So now the poor fellow has no lantern, since it has not been returned to him, and no money. This state of affairs just cannot be right. I have put the seller in the direction of this forum and post. I hope that he can join in with this discussion and that maybe we can help him. Stepheng
There is a KL80 stopped at the Ezeiza (Buenos Aires) airport because used stuff is forbidden to import here: first time in many years of trading lamps. The complete story is much longer but we still couldn't solve it.
UPDATE. The seller has got back to me. Ebay have told him that as I have now been refunded the shipper now owns the lantern. The seller is not getting the lantern back and has had money removed from his account. Is it legal to take money from an account?. The seller is confused and does not know what to do. Does the shipper legally own the lantern ?. I bought it on a 'buy-it-now' ebay sale. I did not ask for a refund, so surely I am the legal owner? What do people think? What can be suggested to the seller to help him ? Regards Stepheng
Your seller needs to get in touch with Ebay and start a case with their resolution centre. Amongst the long list of prohibited items at this end (UK) any gas container even empty cannot be transported. We know that a Kerosene/Paraffin container is of little danger when empty and vented purged of any vapours. But the postal services do not see it through our eyes. They visualise a heated container - possibly in a fire - with former contents becoming more akin to a bomb. Health and safety prevent them from accepting such items. Clearly from recent posts, the situation has accelerated against carrying such items, as they used to be carried with little or no problem. It's big brother getting very picky I'm afraid. But to have the seller lose not just the item, but the value as sold is phosphorous in the wound. I'd be seeking legal advice and going through the small print with a fine toothed comb. Chances are though, they will have created enough small print to seal their case. Another nail in both the collectors coffin and the postal services. Ultimately this would lead to buying what you can see and touch, and carrying it away personally.
Bit of a necro-post here (and a long overdue return to the land of pressurised lamps after an enforced absence) to note that I have just had a lamp sent through from eastern europe by airmail with petrol in it! Kind of a bit of a shock that the seller posted it like that, but proof that sometimes things still get through!
Beats me at times. My Son-in-law purchased 5l of weedkiller from an online seller (trade), and it got delivered by Royal Mail. All taped up in black plastic, but very obviously a plastic container with liquid in. Yet such an item is forbidden to be sent through the post. Nowadays we routinely get asked what's in the parcel by counter staff at Post Offices, they are not allowed to take anything with batteries in either - even AAA's - but such frequently get sent, and of course you can buy batteries online - which get delivered by Royal Mail!
