I'm a dumb Ebay seller...

[woodstock]

Hello! This is my first post so please be nice to me

I just posted 3 nail polishes to Germany (very, very well wrapped, loads of bubble, in their boxes, etc) and I didn't realise they may be prohibited. What are the chances of them getting there? Is it true RM scans all parcels?

I have just sold a perfume to the USA and now am concerned about whether to ship or not.

Sorry if this has been asked already - I did search for previous posts but didn't seen any obvious ones.

Many thanks in advance!

[harry84]

Nail varnishes and perfumes are considered Dangerous Goods and prohibited in International Mail.

Don't send the perfume to the USA. You're wasting your time and money.

Your nail polishes will most likely never reach Germany. They will probably be destroyed. You may get the empty packaging back, you may not. Did you put a Return Address on the package?

In any event, you cannot unfortunately claim for loss as the items should not have been sent. Refund your buyer and put it down to experience. But don't send that perfume!

Search International Prohibited Items on RM website for more info :)

[woodstock]

Thank you Harry84. Yes, I did put a return address on the box. Do you think it might get returned? What are the chances of the parcel being destroyed? Is there any way I can contact RM to check the status and ask for it to be returned? I know that sounds a stupid question but I would rather that than RM destroying. Thanks again!

[harry84]

Thank you Harry84. Yes, I did put a return address on the box. Do you think it might get returned? What are the chances of the parcel being destroyed? Is there any way I can contact RM to check the status and ask for it to be returned? I know that sounds a stupid question but I would rather that than RM destroying. Thanks again!

You may get the empty packaging back and/or a letter saying that the items were in contravention of Dangerous Goods regs and have been destroyed. Practically zero chance you will receive the polishes back - they are destroyed as if Royal Mail were to send them back to you they would need to be correctly labelled to travel back in the system, which is significant work.

I doubt very much you will have any joy with Royal Mail, especially if you sent on a non-tracked service (i.e. not International Signed For or Airsure). It may sound harsh, but you're likely to get little sympathy from them. You posted goods that are not allowed to be posted and as such Royal Mail reserve the right to do as they wish with them without compensating you in any way. Up to you, but I'd suggest refunding your buyer and chalking up to experience.

Did you post at the Post Office? If so did they ask you the contents? Either way, Post Offices have signs at the counters now showing the Dangerous Goods regs and it is also available on Royal Mail's website.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Prohibited goods - personal customers
Items you cannot send in the post

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/ ... mers_0.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We want to ensure the mail is safe for everyone.
Many everyday items, such as aerosols, nail varnish
and perfumes are considered dangerous goods under
transport legislation.
From 14th January 2013, we are implementing
additional controls to ensure that prohibited goods
do not enter our International networks.

You are responsible for checking whether or not an
item is prohibited or restricted. If you send prohibited
goods or restricted goods such as lithium batteries
connected to equipment (and you do not comply with
the relevant restrictions), Royal Mail and Parcelforce
Worldwide may deal with the goods as we see fit
including destroying or disposing of the relevant items.
If you have any queries or for further advice visit:
http://www.royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and
http://www.royalmail.com/restrictedgoods" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Flammable liquids
(including acetone, certain alcoholic beverages, benzene,
petroleum, lighter fluid, solvent-based paint thinners
and removers, certain perfumes and aftershaves,
varnishes including nail varnish or polish, enamels
and certain adhesives).

Nail varnish or nail polish
because they are flammable.

[dre33dd]

i bought my daughter a whole load of nail varnish off ebay from china...arrived no problem....

[harry84]

i bought my daughter a whole load of nail varnish off ebay from china...arrived no problem....

The regs apply to goods going OUT of the UK by airmail.

[woodstock]

I posted using Airsure. I called RM customer services this morning to see if they could help. A nice, friendly man told me that my parcel appears to have cleared Heathrow (not updated yet on RM tracking). Will German post intercept? Not sure how it works after it arrives in Germany....

I have told the US buyer that I can't ship my perfume - haven't heard back. Gutted really but I'm not willing to have RM destroy perfectly good things. Guess i'll have to stick to the UK. sigh

[harry84]

If its gone through heathrow then you may have got lucky...

Not sure whether Germans will object as I am not familiar on their rules.

Others on the forum should be able to confirm who delivers in Germany. I'd guess GLS but Airsure is sometimes different as it is a premium product.

Really poor the PO didn't ask you re contents though, especially for an Airsure package.

What does it say on http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; when you enter the number?

[woodstock]

To be honest, communicating with the PO lady was a bit of a struggle (English not her first language). I also posted as the office was closing and she seemed to be in a bit of a rush.

the website says: Your item, posted on 06/06/13 with reference LY897892543GB has been received at our international mail centre and is being made ready for despatch overseas.

This is all a bit nerve-wracking! Not sure if I'm cut out for this

[harry84]

To be honest, communicating with the PO lady was a bit of a struggle (English not her first language). I also posted as the office was closing and she seemed to be in a bit of a rush.

the website says: Your item, posted on 06/06/13 with reference LY897892543GB has been received at our international mail centre and is being made ready for despatch overseas.

This is all a bit nerve-wracking! Not sure if I'm cut out for this

Bad news I'm afraid. Tracking at http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (the link I posted earlier, more detailed than regular tracking), gives the following:

08/06/13 12:13 DESPATCHABLE TODO NOT FLY - NRC HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC
06/06/13 19:59 DESPATCHABLE TOHWDC AIRSURE LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTR
06/06/13 19:14 COLLECTED LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTR
06/06/13 17:57 ACCEPTED AT POL 43/44 Albemarle W1S 4DS

This means your item has been picked up by scanners as prohibited (i.e. Do Not Fly). It is on its way to the National Returns Centre in Belfast (NRC) where it will be opened to confirm that the goods are prohibited. It is at this point your goods will probably be destroyed and a letter sent to you advising you of this, possibly (or maybe not) along with the empty packaging.

You may wish to follow up again with RM but this parcel is not going to Germany any time soon. I was honestly surprised by your earlier post that suggested it had got through because the rules are applied very strictly (as, for safety, they have to be).

Sorry I couldn't bring you better news.

[woodstock]

Bugger. Thanks for looking into this for me. is there anything I can do to get it back? Probably not but thought I'd ask the question. Ugh

[harry84]

Bugger. Thanks for looking into this for me. is there anything I can do to get it back? Probably not but thought I'd ask the question. Ugh

A pleasure

You can try calling Royal Mail but I'd be very surprised if you see those polishes again.

I'd refund your buyer and chalk up to experience. You shouldn't necessarily be put off by this, you just need to do a bit of homework first. Royal Mail has guides on its website for what can and cannot be carried in UK and Intl mail. TruBlu has linked you to one of them above, I believe.

Best of luck!