eBay "liquidated" my antique blade!

adamb · Yesterday, 04:27 AM

Hi all, it turns out I made a rookie error by allowing an item (antique keris) I purchased on eBay from the US to be sent to me in Australia using the ebay international shipping service. It didn't even make it out of the US; it was en route to me via DHL when it got to the Melrose Park facility in Illinois, after which the "Item [was] liquidated".

The seller was very helpful and did their best to liaise with eBay customer service, but to no avail; in the end we were both fully refunded, but from what I can gather, the whereabouts of the keris itself remain unknown to eBay.

According to eBay, the item may have been "liquidated" because US customs authority deemed it illegal to import weapons into Australia.

Does anyone have any advice/insight they can share?

What would have happened to the keris? Is there any chance of ever getting it? It is horrifying to think US customs would have actually destroyed it, as the term "liquidated" seems to imply.

Much appreciated

Tim Simmons · Yesterday, 06:18 AM

Sorry to hear this story. I would no longer import large blades into the UK these dsys just to risky with custom and the laws here. Gone are the days of free trade and customs union which we had in the EU. Life was so much richer and simple then.

.

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 07:22 AM

In Australia knife import laws depend on both Australian federal law and state law, in NSW there is no real problem at all, although individual uneducated officers can sometimes cause difficulty, but in some other states problems can legitimately occur. I do not know the Queensland state knife laws, but it is certain that some knives are restricted & some knives are outright banned. Keris do not fall into either category.

The first thing that needs to be done for safe import into Australia is to be able to satisfy the relevant state laws in respect of the police test --- genuine reason, hobby, collector, whatever --- then you need to obtain a B709B & a B709 --- forms that permit import & possession, usually from the Firearms Registry, these days available online.

Try searching "Queensland Knife Law:- importing knives into Queensland Australia". Betcha AI comes up with a pretty good response.

Its really just a process to be worked through, no big deal at all. But I'll bet the enlightened officials in Illinois do not have any idea that such a process even exists.

Sajen · Yesterday, 09:55 AM

This one was also confiscated by this weird Global-Shipping-Program: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=minasbad
When I am interested in something from ebay US sellers I always make sure that the seller don't use this system but in the meanwhile nearly all use this system, so ebay US is out of the game for me. Germany doesn't have any restrictions when it comes to swords, whether they are antique or not but these people seem to think differently. I have no clue what they are doing with the confiscicated blades!
I noticed that when the words "sword" or "dagger" is used in the description it's impossible to ship it with the GSP but when it is described as "knife" it is ok for them, for example I received this Thai knife: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=Thai without any problems with the GSP.

Ian · Yesterday, 12:39 PM

This is now the fourth or fifth example I know of when edged weapons being shipped from the U.S. have (according to eBay) been confiscated by U.S. Customs. The legal basis for such confiscation has not been disclosed by Customs or eBay. This has never occurred for any other auction items that I have had shipped from the U.S., nor for any direct sales by individuals in the U.S. It is unique, as best I know, to eBay's Global Shipping Plan.

EBay has been remarkably unhelpful and uninformative about their Global Shipping Program's policies with regard to shipping edged weapons.

If thinking of buying an edged weapon on eBay I always contact the seller and ask them not to use the eBay Global Shipping option. This means revising their listing. Some are willing to do this, others will not. Some of those who will not say they trust eBay to protect their interests. Having dealt with eBay for more than 30 years, I can only say that trusting eBay is asking for trouble.

If you happen to be an eBay seller and want to sell edged weapons to customers overseas be very suspicious of using the Global Shipping Program the eBay wants you to use. For me, the cheapest and best option to ship overseas is to use Australia Post. From the U.S., the cheapest and best option to ship to Australia is via the US Postal Service. I've never had an issue with the USPS.

Ian.

JeffS · Yesterday, 02:29 PM

Keep your eye on Ebay, there are companies that sell these confiscated items on Ebay using the original photos and description and price structure - it may pop up again.

Sajen · Yesterday, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

Keep your eye on Ebay, there are companies that sell these confiscated items on Ebay using the original photos and description and price structure - it may pop up again.

Hi Jeff,

I never noticed this, I know that you can't post it here at the forum regarding the forum rules but can you show me examples by pm?

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · Yesterday, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

This is now the fourth or fifth example I know of when edged weapons being shipped from the U.S. have (according to eBay) been confiscated by U.S. Customs. The legal basis for such confiscation has not been disclosed by Customs or eBay. This has never occurred for any other auction items that I have had shipped from the U.S., nor for any direct sales by individuals in the U.S. It is unique, as best I know, to eBay's Global Shipping Plan.

EBay has been remarkably unhelpful and uninformative about their Global Shipping Program's policies with regard to shipping edged weapons.

If thinking of buying an edged weapon on eBay I always contact the seller and ask them not to use the eBay Global Shipping option. This means revising their listing. Some are willing to do this, others will not. Some of those who will not say they trust eBay to protect their interests. Having dealt with eBay for more than 30 years, I can only say that trusting eBay is asking for trouble.

If you happen to be an eBay seller and want to sell edged weapons to customers overseas be very suspicious of using the Global Shipping Program the eBay wants you to use. For me, the cheapest and best option to ship overseas is to use Australia Post. From the U.S., the cheapest and best option to ship to Australia is via the US Postal Service. I've never had an issue with the USPS.

I always ask myself from where they take their information!

For example there are only a few exceptions what's not allowed to import to Germany (for example balisongs and push daggers) but had this problem with this weird GSP several times, for example with this minasbad which got confiscated and a Luzon bolo I bought not long ago from an US seller, both items would have passed German customs without any problems.

They seem to be very uninformed!!

Rafngard · Yesterday, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

I never noticed this, I know that you can't post it here at the forum regarding the forum rules but can you show me examples by pm?

I am also curious about this.

Thanks,
Leif

kahnjar1 · Yesterday, 08:30 PM

It has been quite some time since I imported anything from the US but I NEVER would use the Global Shipping offered by Ebay as I found it too expensive and also unreliable. I always used USPS which never gave me any trouble and was always cheaper. Some sellers who use Global will not send by any other means but it is always a good idea to ask if they will send USPS.
Stu

werecow · Yesterday, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafngard

I am also curious about this.

Thanks,
Leif

Me three.

tom22 · Yesterday, 09:31 PM

Ive sold two fijian clubs on ebay from the uk to the us , both through the global shipping program and both were seized , both me and the buyer were refunded , and then three weeks later they turned up on ebay again ,and still had my original photos and description , after reporting this numerous times to ebay nothing happened and eventually they sold ,
they were expensive clubs too ,one sold for £2400 ,
Ive never trusted ebay since ,
scandals

Interested Party · Yesterday, 09:44 PM

I had a Sumatran keris disappear on eBay 2 years ago. The blade was ok. The silver sleave on the sheath was beat up, but I really wanted the north Java hilt! I'm still sad and pissed! They sent me a WWII German bayonet instead and tried to claim ignorance. Scandals!

Bryce · Yesterday, 10:00 PM

G'day Adam,
I am a fellow Queenslander. I don't know how you were even able to complete the purchase on Ebay. Buying anything even vaguely related to edged weapons (even books) on Ebay is now a nightmare and requires lots of back and forth with the seller to remove any mention of the word knife/sword. It has been a few years now, but the last three times I bought swords from the US they never made it out of the country. I have given up buying anything from the US now.
Cheers,
Bryce

Sajen · Yesterday, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom22

Ive sold two fijian clubs on ebay from the uk to the us , both through the global shipping program and both were seized , both me and the buyer were refunded , and then three weeks later they turned up on ebay again ,and still had my original photos and description , after reporting this numerous times to ebay nothing happened and eventually they sold ,
they were expensive clubs too ,one sold for £2400 ,
Ive never trusted ebay since ,
scandals

Hello Tom,

Who was the seller when the confiscicated clubs turned up again? And was international shipping offered?

Regards,
Detlef

werecow · Yesterday, 11:28 PM

Do we have any indication that the sellers actually had the seized items? Or did they just copy the ad in an attempt to scam buyers?

A. G. Maisey · Today, 03:49 AM

I've been a bit puzzled by the eBay use of the word "liquidated".

In financial & asset management terms it means converting an item into cash --- more to it than this, but we're not at a seminar here.

So I decided to ask AI what eBay means when they use the term "liquidated".

Here is the answer:-

When eBay’s Global Shipping Program (GSP) or International Shipping advises an item has been "liquidated," it means the item was deemed ineligible for international transport at their hub, and rather than being returned to you, it was seized and sent to a third party to be resold or destroyed. This typically occurs due to customs issues, unexpected restrictions, or logistics errors.
Key Aspects of "Liquidated" in GSP/International Shipping
• Item Disposal: Liquidated items are generally not returned to the seller. They are sold, recycled, or destroyed by the logistics provider (Pitney Bowes) that manages the hub.
• Failed Export/Import: Despite the item appearing legal to you, the hub may have identified a restriction, hazardous material designation (e.g., restricted materials, aerosols), or a logistical bottleneck, leading to rejection.
• Your Protection: If tracking confirms the item reached the Kentucky hub (or equivalent center), you are protected. eBay takes responsibility for the item from that point forward, often issuing a refund to the buyer without deducting the amount from you.
• Action Required: Monitor the case and keep the tracking proof showing the item was delivered to the hub. If the buyer contacts you, direct them to contact eBay Customer Support directly for a refund through the GSP program.
Essentially, the item was confiscated, and you should be covered for the sale amount if the tracking shows it arrived at the hub.

So it would seem that it is not a very good idea to trust eBay whether one is a buyer or a seller.

Personally, I never liked eBay much and never sold the type of things that this Forum is concerned with on eBay, nor did I buy from eBay. Ever.

adamb · Today, 06:57 AM

I don't suppose any VS forumite here is an American lawyer or has a good understanding of US law around this sort of thing?

adamb · Today, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce

G'day Adam,
I am a fellow Queenslander. I don't know how you were even able to complete the purchase on Ebay. Buying anything even vaguely related to edged weapons (even books) on Ebay is now a nightmare and requires lots of back and forth with the seller to remove any mention of the word knife/sword. It has been a few years now, but the last three times I bought swords from the US they never made it out of the country. I have given up buying anything from the US now.
Cheers,
Bryce

G'day Bryce, now that you mention it, I remember one time I was unable to purchase or bid on another edged weapon (again, a keris) on eBay from a seller in New South Wales; as with you, eBay would not allow me to complete the purchase. From memory, however, there was no issue of this kind with actually purchasing the US keris on eBay. I can't explain why, but I did acquire a US address through a freight forwarding service and updated my ebay account accordingly, so maybe that helped (although I used my Australian address as shipping address in that instance).

A. G. Maisey · Today, 08:19 AM

Adam, I have no knowledge of American law, in respect of this matter we are discussing, or in any other matter. However, I would put money on it that eBay is acting in accordance with agreed terms that give the shipper --- Pitney Bowes --- the legal right to dispose of any items that they consider to be unable to be imported into the destination country. It will be buried somewhere in the small print, you can bet on it. Effectively, when you signed up for the service you handed over all your rights to eBay/Pitney Bowes. Betcha.

Yesterday, 04:27 AM	#1
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 70	eBay "liquidated" my antique blade! Hi all, it turns out I made a rookie error by allowing an item (antique keris) I purchased on eBay from the US to be sent to me in Australia using the ebay international shipping service. It didn't even make it out of the US; it was en route to me via DHL when it got to the Melrose Park facility in Illinois, after which the "Item [was] liquidated". The seller was very helpful and did their best to liaise with eBay customer service, but to no avail; in the end we were both fully refunded, but from what I can gather, the whereabouts of the keris itself remain unknown to eBay. According to eBay, the item may have been "liquidated" because US customs authority deemed it illegal to import weapons into Australia. Does anyone have any advice/insight they can share? What would have happened to the keris? Is there any chance of ever getting it? It is horrifying to think US customs would have actually destroyed it, as the term "liquidated" seems to imply. Much appreciated

Yesterday, 07:22 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,212	In Australia knife import laws depend on both Australian federal law and state law, in NSW there is no real problem at all, although individual uneducated officers can sometimes cause difficulty, but in some other states problems can legitimately occur. I do not know the Queensland state knife laws, but it is certain that some knives are restricted & some knives are outright banned. Keris do not fall into either category. The first thing that needs to be done for safe import into Australia is to be able to satisfy the relevant state laws in respect of the police test --- genuine reason, hobby, collector, whatever --- then you need to obtain a B709B & a B709 --- forms that permit import & possession, usually from the Firearms Registry, these days available online. Try searching "Queensland Knife Law:- importing knives into Queensland Australia". Betcha AI comes up with a pretty good response. Its really just a process to be worked through, no big deal at all. But I'll bet the enlightened officials in Illinois do not have any idea that such a process even exists. Last edited by A. G. Maisey; Yesterday at 12:35 PM.

Yesterday, 09:55 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,744	This one was also confiscated by this weird Global-Shipping-Program: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=minasbad When I am interested in something from ebay US sellers I always make sure that the seller don't use this system but in the meanwhile nearly all use this system, so ebay US is out of the game for me. Germany doesn't have any restrictions when it comes to swords, whether they are antique or not but these people seem to think differently. I have no clue what they are doing with the confiscicated blades! I noticed that when the words "sword" or "dagger" is used in the description it's impossible to ship it with the GSP but when it is described as "knife" it is ok for them, for example I received this Thai knife: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=Thai without any problems with the GSP. Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; Yesterday at 03:29 PM.

Yesterday, 09:31 PM	#12
tom22 Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 34	me too Ive sold two fijian clubs on ebay from the uk to the us , both through the global shipping program and both were seized , both me and the buyer were refunded , and then three weeks later they turned up on ebay again ,and still had my original photos and description , after reporting this numerous times to ebay nothing happened and eventually they sold , they were expensive clubs too ,one sold for £2400 , Ive never trusted ebay since , scandals

Yesterday, 06:18 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,987	Sorry to hear this story. I would no longer import large blades into the UK these dsys just to risky with custom and the laws here. Gone are the days of free trade and customs union which we had in the EU. Life was so much richer and simple then. .

Yesterday, 12:39 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,714	This is now the fourth or fifth example I know of when edged weapons being shipped from the U.S. have (according to eBay) been confiscated by U.S. Customs. The legal basis for such confiscation has not been disclosed by Customs or eBay. This has never occurred for any other auction items that I have had shipped from the U.S., nor for any direct sales by individuals in the U.S. It is unique, as best I know, to eBay's Global Shipping Plan. EBay has been remarkably unhelpful and uninformative about their Global Shipping Program's policies with regard to shipping edged weapons. If thinking of buying an edged weapon on eBay I always contact the seller and ask them not to use the eBay Global Shipping option. This means revising their listing. Some are willing to do this, others will not. Some of those who will not say they trust eBay to protect their interests. Having dealt with eBay for more than 30 years, I can only say that trusting eBay is asking for trouble. If you happen to be an eBay seller and want to sell edged weapons to customers overseas be very suspicious of using the Global Shipping Program the eBay wants you to use. For me, the cheapest and best option to ship overseas is to use Australia Post. From the U.S., the cheapest and best option to ship to Australia is via the US Postal Service. I've never had an issue with the USPS. Ian.

Yesterday, 02:29 PM	#6
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 461	Keep your eye on Ebay, there are companies that sell these confiscated items on Ebay using the original photos and description and price structure - it may pop up again.

Yesterday, 08:30 PM	#10
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,831	It has been quite some time since I imported anything from the US but I NEVER would use the Global Shipping offered by Ebay as I found it too expensive and also unreliable. I always used USPS which never gave me any trouble and was always cheaper. Some sellers who use Global will not send by any other means but it is always a good idea to ask if they will send USPS. Stu

Yesterday, 09:44 PM	#13
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 532	I had a Sumatran keris disappear on eBay 2 years ago. The blade was ok. The silver sleave on the sheath was beat up, but I really wanted the north Java hilt! I'm still sad and pissed! They sent me a WWII German bayonet instead and tried to claim ignorance. Scandals!

Yesterday, 10:00 PM	#14
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 202	G'day Adam, I am a fellow Queenslander. I don't know how you were even able to complete the purchase on Ebay. Buying anything even vaguely related to edged weapons (even books) on Ebay is now a nightmare and requires lots of back and forth with the seller to remove any mention of the word knife/sword. It has been a few years now, but the last three times I bought swords from the US they never made it out of the country. I have given up buying anything from the US now. Cheers, Bryce

Yesterday, 11:28 PM	#16
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 678	Do we have any indication that the sellers actually had the seized items? Or did they just copy the ad in an attempt to scam buyers?

Today, 03:49 AM	#17
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,212	I've been a bit puzzled by the eBay use of the word "liquidated". In financial & asset management terms it means converting an item into cash --- more to it than this, but we're not at a seminar here. So I decided to ask AI what eBay means when they use the term "liquidated". Here is the answer:- When eBay’s Global Shipping Program (GSP) or International Shipping advises an item has been "liquidated," it means the item was deemed ineligible for international transport at their hub, and rather than being returned to you, it was seized and sent to a third party to be resold or destroyed. This typically occurs due to customs issues, unexpected restrictions, or logistics errors. Key Aspects of "Liquidated" in GSP/International Shipping • Item Disposal: Liquidated items are generally not returned to the seller. They are sold, recycled, or destroyed by the logistics provider (Pitney Bowes) that manages the hub. • Failed Export/Import: Despite the item appearing legal to you, the hub may have identified a restriction, hazardous material designation (e.g., restricted materials, aerosols), or a logistical bottleneck, leading to rejection. • Your Protection: If tracking confirms the item reached the Kentucky hub (or equivalent center), you are protected. eBay takes responsibility for the item from that point forward, often issuing a refund to the buyer without deducting the amount from you. • Action Required: Monitor the case and keep the tracking proof showing the item was delivered to the hub. If the buyer contacts you, direct them to contact eBay Customer Support directly for a refund through the GSP program. Essentially, the item was confiscated, and you should be covered for the sale amount if the tracking shows it arrived at the hub. So it would seem that it is not a very good idea to trust eBay whether one is a buyer or a seller. Personally, I never liked eBay much and never sold the type of things that this Forum is concerned with on eBay, nor did I buy from eBay. Ever.

Today, 06:57 AM	#18
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 70	I don't suppose any VS forumite here is an American lawyer or has a good understanding of US law around this sort of thing?

Today, 08:19 AM	#20
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,212	Adam, I have no knowledge of American law, in respect of this matter we are discussing, or in any other matter. However, I would put money on it that eBay is acting in accordance with agreed terms that give the shipper --- Pitney Bowes --- the legal right to dispose of any items that they consider to be unable to be imported into the destination country. It will be buried somewhere in the small print, you can bet on it. Effectively, when you signed up for the service you handed over all your rights to eBay/Pitney Bowes. Betcha.