Problems with the new list of EU countries and shipping
Summary: lotzofuniquegoodies discussed a glitch with eBay's shipping options, where a customer from Germany was allowed to pay for an unavailable Canada Post service. The only alternative was a much more expensive FedEx option. sapphyres-designer-jewellery suggested checking alternative shipping methods to avoid canceling the order, while marnotom! argued that it’s the seller’s responsibility to ensure workable shipping methods. lotzofuniquegoodies insisted that eBay should not present unavailable discounted options, suggesting more active communication and adjustments should come from eBay and couriers. The discussion highlighted eBay's challenges in managing shipping logistics, especially regarding international restrictions.
@devon@ebay
I received a best offer for an item this morning. I accepted. Turns out the customer is in Germany. They paid and have chosen CP Tracked ($17.90). Not eIS. Problem being eBay labels is blocking that service . The ONLY service available is Fedex Intl Economy. ($87.90). A substantial difference. This is an eBay glitch, allowing buyers to pay for an inactive service. If I cancel the order the entire payment will be removed from my processed funds. It doesn't happen as a straight reversal. Those funds won't go back to my cleared funds for several days. Any ideas on how to proceed? The item in question is either a toy or a collectible depending on your perspective.
Selected
Canada Post Tracked Packet - International (Non-US) 17.90
Default available option:
FedEx International Economy 87.21
This happened to another seller recently and was reported here. Buyer paid for CP. Default only option was UPS. Substantially more that what buyer paid.
As per a post from beginning of July the sale with CP should never have been approved. Germany is on the blocked list.
marnotom!
·2 weeks ago · EditedUnpopular opinion: It's not eBay's job to monitor sellers' shipping policies. The seller chooses their shipping methods and it's up to them to ensure that they're still workable.
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP2 weeks agoeBay should be relatively often contact with the couriers they have discounts in affect and enabling disabling on the fly.
In my situation and another's (they posted about UPS being the switch to) buyer was allowed to pay for the discounted CP option from invoice. Sellers are NOT able to purchase those labels from eBay. Discounted shipping options should have been turned off by ebay when CP made their announcements. This has been a known issue with CP's USA tracked since August 2025. Simple solution. Don't send invoices to buyers with inactive services. Problem solved. Then buyer and seller can discuss and work out a solution vs this backwards dung show that we now have.
marnotom!
·2 weeks agoI'm a bit confused by your post. First you're saying that eBay shouldn't post discounted shipping options that no longer exist (good point), but then you state that invoices with inactive services shouldn't be issued.
Canada Post is still an active service. It's just that it's not available to certain EU countries at the moment. I don't think eBay's coding is sophisticated enough to enable blocks on particular countries just for one shipping method. In other words, it wouldn't be able to block Germany based on Canada Post's restriction without Germany being blocked as a shipping destination for other shipping methods as well.
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP1 week ago · EditedHasn't eBay put blocks on shipping to Israel during the war? Those blocks would have been as per CP and couriers. They've had blocks for other countries like Cuba etc for years.
I would suggest eBay shouldn't be selling services (let buyers pay for services) that don't exist. Seems like a bit of bait and switch. You would feel the same if this happened to you as a seller. It is comparative to buyers selling items that they don't physically have in their possession. Even drop shippers have rules they must abide by.
marnotom!
·1 week ago · EditedAnd as you just said, those blocks affected all carriers. This is strictly a Canada Post issue. As others have noted, services such as Chit Chats and Stallion are still useable for shipping to Germany, and you yourself found that FedEx was still an option. My point is that, as far as I know, anyway, eBay can't block specific carriers for specific destinations. (eIS is something quite different and doesn't apply here.)
The eBay announcement on this suggests that the service is still available to purchase elsewhere, although I'll grant that it really doesn't do a fat lot of good if Canada Post won't actually accept the item for mailing.
When you first read the announcement when it came out, how did you think it would affect your shipping policy? All it says is that eBay's disabled the purchasing of Canada Post shipping services to the EU. It doesn't say that eBay's taken any other measures.
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP1 week ago · EditedI don't use shipping policies. I use what was available at the time the listing was created. To let buyers pay for a discounted service (via eBay) that isn't actually available is wrong. What in programming terms should have taken place once CP, for the time being, has discontinued ANY service, those services should have been deactivated by eBay directly. Starting at the Discounted Calculator Tool...moving to invoicing and ending with eBay label creation. Then, if and when CP re-allows their use they could be reactivated. You don't advertise a service you are unable to provide.
IF eBay is unable to disable a service (they removed small Lite Packet Tracked to USA years ago, then advise sellers. As a basic courtesy.
john_koenig99
·2 weeks agoI'd cancel the sale for such low value item, unless the buyer REALLY wants the toy and is willing to pay the difference in shipping. This is a result of the recent EU changes in duty collection (no more de minimis) .
sapphyres-designer-jewellery
·2 weeks agoI'd be checking other ways to ship, Chit Chats, Stallion, or purchasing directly from CP (online, it's cheaper with a business account).
I do everything to avoid cancelling a sale.
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP2 weeks ago · EditedI do too when it comes to cancelling. It is not covered by their short list of reasons. Chit Chats/Stallion are not in easy access for me. I have a Business Account with CP but only level 1. Still is nowhere near what what the customer paid for. Order value is 10.00. This is an eBay glitch that they've caused and refused to address.
sapphyres-designer-jewellery
·2 weeks agoI'm at a level 1 discount (or whatever the lowest is), you might be able to ship small packet air. I get that has no tracking, but if the order value is $10 the shipping they paid for should cover the untracked option (and don't splurge for tracked packet).
regs43
·2 weeks agoDid you not get the email today about Canada Post level 4 discount? If so it was finally activated on my account at midnight
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP2 weeks ago@regs43 So far no email but all moot according to below.
Germany is on the no fly list based on the link in post 1 from June 30th from CP.
Still in the same status checking right now.
I just tested CP and it is currently down for maintenance.
If you test with eBay's calculator tool without a zipcode you get this message. Sorry, we could not find a shipping service that met all the criteria. Please edit the package or address details, and try again. and get the fedex expensive option.
If you test again with calculator tool with a zip you get the CP options.
With eBay labels you only see the Fedex option.
Customer paid for CP tracked.