Customs problem

I won a pair of handcuffs on eBay from England, but they were confiscated by the British government. The seller was refunded the price of the cuffs, and I was also given a full refund through PayPal and eBay. Anyone else have this problem? Has it really come to this? And what’s going to happen to them? The seller doesn’t get them back but gets compensated for the money. Does this mean there’s going to be a whole bunch of handcuffs in a customs office in England somewhere?


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Wow did not know we had a problem exporting out but nothing would surprise me we have some odd laws. I hope at the very least they end up in a museum or a auction and not in the scrap bin. All i can say to anyone sending in the future maybe putting antique or something to that affect would make them look at them in a different light.


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I've never heard of imported cuffs into the the USA being confiscated. Did the seller declare and tell the truth on your package? This is is only thing comes to my mind as this is only an issue on the usa exporting side to another country because of a UN handcuff treaty. I know GB in not part of the EU anymore but there are some export laws banning some of the newer restraints from europe.

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spidydenver1234 wrote:I've never heard of imported cuffs into the the USA being confiscated. Did the seller declare and tell the truth on your package? This is is only thing comes to my mind as this is only an issue on the usa exporting side to another country because of a UN handcuff treaty. I know GB in not part of the EU anymore but there are some export laws banning some of the newer restraints from europe.

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eBay actually refunded my money before the seller even knew there was a problem. So it’s even odder.


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Out of curiosity what was the restraint?

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Ariochmagician wrote:

spidydenver1234 wrote:I've never heard of imported cuffs into the the USA being confiscated. Did the seller declare and tell the truth on your package? This is is only thing comes to my mind as this is only an issue on the usa exporting side to another country because of a UN handcuff treaty. I know GB in not part of the EU anymore but there are some export laws banning some of the newer restraints from europe.

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eBay actually refunded my money before the seller even knew there was a problem. So it’s even odder.


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Click to expand...

Very odd


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I've had my share of issues getting cuffs sent to me from UK and USA. 
As far as I know, it is only leg irons which have keys that are banned from UK export. 
Antique restraints without keys is not a problem, even sending to Australia. The eBay Global Shipping Program will confiscate handcuffs with keys being sent to Australia from UK. Technically eBay ban sending any restraints to Australia because they are illegal in one State, BUT, if they are posted to my State they are not confiscated AND I have had apologies from Customs for doing so.
You really need to press eBay to tell you why they were confiscated, so we can all know any new rules.
My biggest issue is I can send cuffs to you in USA but you won't post to me, and I understand why. Thanks to the few who will, and those who have an export license. No names.
I never buy cuffs being sent through Global Shipping Program.
I always ask them to be labelled Old Locks, Manacles or Fetters.
You just need to be creative without lying and not break any laws.
Paul

Ariochmagician wrote:I won a pair of handcuffs on eBay from England, but they were confiscated by the British government. The seller was refunded the price of the cuffs, and I was also given a full refund through PayPal and eBay. Anyone else have this problem? Has it really come to this? And what’s going to happen to them? The seller doesn’t get them back but gets compensated for the money. Does this mean there’s going to be a whole bunch of handcuffs in a customs office in England somewhere?


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Here’s what they said


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Why do they need a handcuff treaty???


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I talked about this on the forum, many years ago. I have had probably a dozen cuffs grabbed,  that were coming to me, for England and Germany, mainly. In the post i had for it, no one else had had any issue. Ive been having this issue with Ebay for at least ten years now. The one thing they have in coming is they were all shipped through "Ebay Global Shipping Program." For some reason, they find it necessary to grab restraints leaving some foreign countries? As long as it is shipped beside the global shipping program, and labeled like "antique lock" , they seem to go just fine. Ebay has even added a clause in their contract that makes it against their rules to ask a seller to "lie" on the customs forms. I was told by Ebay, during one of my inquiries, that asking someone to more a "less specific description of the item, to them, is considered lying."  Although, i have done that several times and havent been stopped, yet. (Knock on wood) Ebay needs to revisit the legal rules for import/export and revise their Global Shipping Programs policies. As far as I know, Australia is blocked for sending anything restraint related. The U.K. is blocked from sending any leg irons or receiving any leg irons. And the U..S. puts a restriction on the sales and purchase of medical restraints.
-Richard Knip-

Here are a part of the Regulations as it pertains to sending restraints from US to Canada. Canada is exempt.

Code of Federal Regulations
Title 15 - Commerce and Foreign Trade
Volume: 2Date: 2017-01-01Original Date: 2017-01-01Title: PART 774 - THE COMMERCE CONTROL LISTContext: Title 15 - Commerce and Foreign Trade. Subtitle B - Regulations Relating to Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued). CHAPTER VII - BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. SUBCHAPTER C - EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS.
Pt. 774PART 774—THE COMMERCE CONTROL LISTSec.

Law enforcement restraint devices, including leg irons, shackles, and handcuffs; straight jackets; stun cuffs; shock belts; shock sleeves; multipoint restraint devices such as restraint chairs; and “specially designed” “parts,” “components” and “accessories,” n.e.s. 0A982License RequirementsReason for Control: CCControl(s): CC applies to entire entry. A license is required for ALL destinations, except Canada, regardless of end-use. Accordingly, a column specific to this control does not appear on the Commerce Country Chart. (See part 742 of the EAR for additional information.)List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a description of all license exceptions)LVS: N/AGBS: N/ACIV: N/AList of Items ControlledRelated Controls:Thumbcuffs and fingercuffs are classified under ECCN 0A983, “specially designed” implements of torture. Restraint devices that electronically monitor or report the location of confined persons for law enforcement or penal reasons are controlled under ECCN 3A981.Related Definitions: N/A

I remember when trading cuffs around the world was fun and easy. It pains me to see how globalization has led to new rules everywhere, usually cutting back our rights. 
If you wish to file a complaint against USPS, you need to have a US address. That's how much they care about international customers. A shoebox to Europe used to be $13, now it's like $70. 
Beats me how a shipping company can just confiscate your stuff on questionable grounds. They're all the same now: auction site, payment service, shipping company. The most despicable thing is that, buying internationally, you don't even get to choose between the seller shipping directly to you, or using the global shipping option. The seller just thinks he's shipping to you directly, but he ships to a warehouse. 
The bay's customer service is among the worst of the worst. They don't even do written complaints, because that would leave a paper trail for legal action. My satisfaction with their service is 0/10.

Richard, when you say "Australia is blocked for sending anything restraint related" you mean from USA. 
From almost everywhere else in the world "antique handcuffs" without keys are okay to send to any State in Australia. That is why I sometimes buy a handcuff and get a key from Ian. All handcuffs with keys are legal in every State except New South Wales, hence eBay will not ship them to anywhere in Australia. Hope that makes sense even if it is stupid. Technically I could get a handcuff sent from the UK and have the key sent separately. Calling a handcuff a shackle or a manacle, and a leg iron a fetter is totally truthful. Old locks is less so, but works every time unless it is through GSP. 
Germany were looking at changing the rules, and I don't remember what happened, so won't comment. 
It is getting harder and more expensive to post these things. I've just received a dozen antique Darby keys from UK. The lady is selling them for a very knowledgeable old collector. I've not bid on the individual keys they still have for sale though. It's cheaper in bulk.
Paul

My 2 cents:
I had the same problem getting a pair of recent Hiatt hinged handcuffs from the U.K. to my place in Germany last year. The British ebay seller shipped them via eBay Global Shipping Program and it went exactly the same as Ariochmagician described:
I got my money back and the handcuffs vanished anywhere else.
From the legal point of view there was no problem, because EU customs regulations for the U.K. stay in place until the end of 2020. It seems like eBay doesn't care about their customers as long as there are any potential problems with the authorities to avoid in advance...
Björn

I had a problem that I talked about in a previous post on this topic.  I bought a nice pair of old cuffs with key from a seller in England in late February.  He shipped them by Royal Mail, Registered.  Expected delivery was March 24, 2020.  No cuffs, so I emailed the seller if he had tracking data on the shipment.  He then sent me the tracking number and it was also posted on the listing.  Checking the tracking I found the last scan was March 1, when they were released from Customs in New York.   I called the Post Office several times and let the seller know what's happening.  I then waited several weeks and no update in the tracking.

I then went through the process of filing a claim with eBay.  In my emails to the seller and eBay, I stated the seller was not to blame since the package did get through Customs and was in the PO system.  Ebay refunded my money and said the seller had not provided the tracking data and that was the problem.  I don't know it the seller got a refunded, I hope he did but I doubt it.  Not having the tracking data was not the problem. 

Ron 

Anyone know what the fine is for exporting a restraint out of the USA without the export license? Seems like a law that would rarely be inforced.

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Restraints were labelled as "weapons of torture", due to them being used on a terrorists video, back around the late 70s, early 90s. Chinese leg irons as well as Hiatt Leg Irons were used in the video. The U.K., subsequently, barred the import/export of leg irons and the U.S. restricted restraints, in general. U.S and Canada can still send restraints back and forth , as noted above. I would image the fines and related punishments would be substantial,  due to the classification given to restraints. I always kind of chuckle when a site online will not sell cuffs to me, because I am not affiliated with Law Enforcement. I can get the same cuff from many online sources as well as local gun shops and surplus stores! I guess it helps some people sleep at night, knowing they were able to keep 1 more pair of cuffs off the streets. I know i feel safer, because of it! LOL!

The comment about Australia being blocked was from a police supply website in Australia that I tried to purchase from. He refused to sell to me. I asked if I could have it sent to someone in Australia then? He again said no and added that it was illegal to import/export cuffs from Australia, anyway. I never looked it up, just took his word for it.
-Richard Knip-

I just purchased 2 keys on Ebay today. This is the warning message I swas given during checkout. This is something they most have have just started recently? I havent gotten one of these before.
-Richard Knip-

For a key Richard wow? Key to crown jewels or what? Just more control over people. Quite ridiculous for a key import ban when there a master locksmiths that can make a key. I guess Chubbs would be the exception and a few others.

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Yep two keys. An old style Spanish handcuff key and an old style Peerless key. What is really strange is to see this message when it is shipping from the United States, to the United States! LOL! Im not even importing them!
-Richard Knip-

Everything that I have purchased overseas wether china, europe or The land of OZ has never showed up to my door in a time frame of less than 30 to 40 days, sometimes two months. I rarely make purchases because of it. Drives me crazy waiting. Guess I'm a little unlucky when it comes to overseas purchases. I had shirt on flea bay through the global shipment system take 6 weeks to arrive in OZ that I sold.

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Oh wow! That seems like a very long time for delivery. I guess i have almost always had luck. One time around Christmas, a package coming to me from Russia, was put aboard a ship. It took 2 months for me to get it. But thats the longest I have had to wait on an overseas package. Most are between 2 weeks to a month.
-Richard Knip-

Anyone know if you can bring cuffs from the us to the uk in luggage of you was on holiday or would this class as export and need a license?


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Hi,
If I travel to the US by car, train or bus, I don't go thru American customs on the way home. You zip right pass them until you get to Canadian Customs. And handcuffs in Canada are OK. The question, it seems to me, is what happens when you fly home and the Xray machine detects metal in your suitcase. The airlines security guys will examine your luggage. Do these people call in Customs officers at JFK? What if you are flying home on a British airline? They know that handcuffs are legal in the UK. Would they call in the American customs officers?
Mike

Worth reading ...

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-07 ... -17236.htm

Most definitely. If its federal it's a felony charge.

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So may as well walk through customs with them on my wrists then basically.


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Hello,
I read the hyperlink provided by Guest above relating to Humane Restraint company. I entered the word "Canada" and it appears several times. Always as "other than Canada" it is illegal to send restraints to any other part of the world. So, since there is no problem sending stuff from US to Canada, and Canada has no export prohibitions, it is obvious that you need a friend in Canada to receive your parcel from the US and then your Canadian friend can mail it to you from Canada.
Mike

Just happened to me. Same, eBay Global Shopping Program. Shipping UK -> USA. Same email, refund, Antique cuffs not being returned to the seller.
I contacted support, and after an hour of arguing and getting the run around.. "It's a prohibited items per ebay policy".. no it's not, look at your policy.... "oh, then it's restricted by the US govenment", "no its not".. finally, I got them to agree to put me in touch with someone at their Global Shipping Program, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Where do they legally get away with destroying antiques ?

I just received two separate packages from England and it only took two weeks.  My other package from March is still lost and it was registered, etc.  The ports of entry were Chicago and Miami for the two I just received and the lost one was New York.

Ron

Ebay makes up their own rules as the go. Buying something abroad? You'll have to use global shipping, they won't even give you a choice anymore. The seller doesn't even realize he's shipping abroad, that's why you get receipts for several payments. Once an item was lost in the mail in global shipping, and they tried to wiggle out of their responsibility.

Terrible, terrible company policies and terrible service. Revenue is the only thing that counts for them. No more customer support in writing means no paper trail. All they try to do is brush you off on the phone. Paybuddy works the same way - profit, profit, profit. Been disappointed there half a dozen times over the last 20 years, I think. I try to avoid it wherever possible.

I had won a set of antique/vuntage Hiatt comealongs/nippers that made it here to the USA from Britain, but got confiscated here at US customs. My State frowns on any such do-dads, but I didn't think that this set of obsolete collectable nippers would raise any flags. But, just like your situation, the nippers were confiscated, but neither side lost their money. Still, it did annoy me that such an item would be withheld.

Jimmy. Which State is confiscating cuffs? (even nippers that don't lock) If US Customs took them, that's a Federal issue I would think, or is it at local level with local laws??? 

I have a feeling it was the State that was behind it. I don't know exactly where it was decided, but I do know that the tracking was fine, up until it arrived stateside, so it was not a problem with it leaving Great Britain.