eBay Order Seized by Australian Border Force

Godric on 15/02/2017 - 18:39

Hi Friends how are we?

I've recently placed an order on eBay for 2 Karambit knives that mimic CSGO skins from over-seas, now i have a received a letter from Australian Border Force saying that they have been seized and will be confiscated.

However i have previously created an order for the exact same item just different skin and i received it just from (also shipped from over-seas). These items are also available off eBay from within Australia.

Is there anything i can do to retrieve the items?

I find it odd that they allow it through one time and not the next.

Thanks friends!

General Discussion

Comments

  • bluesky on 15/02/2017 - 18:48
    +6

    If you manage to get the first one, it is most likely because it slipped through the net; not because they allowed a prohibited item. I doubt there is anything you can do to get them back.

    I could not even get a mosquito zapper through customs a while back. Although, I found out I could buy here at specific shops! :-) So it is really strange sometimes, which items are OK and which are not.

    • Godric on 15/02/2017 - 19:01
      +1

      Surely they can empathize with Australians the need to have a Mosquito zapper!

      But yes it is strange : (

    • Diji1 on 15/02/2017 - 20:23
      +3

      it slipped through the net

      Meaning it was in the 95% of parcels not checked by anything.

  • zappy32 on 15/02/2017 - 18:51

    https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Impo/Proh/firearms-and-weapon…

    Karambits are listed as "Items that are or might be subject to control" or as the typo earlier on the page states "items that night and might not be".

    • Godric on 15/02/2017 - 19:02

      Thanks for the link, maybe you can cash in on that spelling error you've identified hah!

  • trustnoone on 15/02/2017 - 18:54

    I am not a lawyer whatsoever!! So don't take my word on this (maybe a proper person will know). As far as I know, knives arn't allowed to be brought over to Aus from overseas, so definitely the other one would've just slipped through. But I /think/ swords can, which again I think has to be over 40cm otherwise its classed as a knife?

    Australia post may not want to bring it over though since it could be deemed as dangerous goods? But I know nothing in that area. It might also depend on state laws as well?

    But yeah no knives from what I understand. Edit I was told this very many years ago so it may have changed a lot since.

    • Godric on 15/02/2017 - 19:04

      If they aren't allowed though, why are so many sellers allowing Australians to purchase? Surely they've had some sort of approval to ship these items to Aus (Or maybe not i'm no expert).

      I just find it odd that I've received these items before from overseas and was with in the last 12 months

      • Diji1 on 15/02/2017 - 20:24

        The sellers aren't in a jurisdiction where Australia's idiotic laws apply.

    • cwongtech on 16/02/2017 - 11:21
      +1

      Its knives that are easy to open with one hand (spring assisted or flick-open knives), concealed knives (like in an umbrella or walking cane), or intimidating knives (stupid reason).

      Not all knives, or that would include every kitchen knife ever made.
      I find it stupid because it's the difference between one second and two seconds to open a knife.

      • iamw0man on 16/02/2017 - 11:42

        #notallknives

  • supnigs super skids on 15/02/2017 - 18:57

    So what do you do with that dangerous weapon anyway?

    • Godric on 15/02/2017 - 19:01

      As in the game, I collect them then sit them on a vertical stand.

  • 2jzzzz on 15/02/2017 - 18:58
    +1

    Yes, technically called a trench knife and is a prohibited import.

    https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Impo/Proh/Firearms-and-weapon…

    27 & 28 Trench Knives & Parts •official purposes test
    •specified purposes test
    •dealer test
    •returned goods test

  • captobvious on 15/02/2017 - 19:39

    If you have a collectors licence you can apply for a permit to import.

  • airal3rt on 15/02/2017 - 19:44

    Australian customs is just a lotto draw, obviously there is a magnitude greater of packages than they can thoroughly inspect so sometimes prohibited items will slip through. On the occasions it does get seized though that's just the price you pay for gambling, there's no way you can get the items back.

    Sellers don't care whether the goods they are selling are legal in your country, you're the one taking responsibility for them once you choose to import prohibited items.

  • Nice one baby on 15/02/2017 - 21:20
    -1

    Write them a nice letter asking if they could please review their decision.
    Maybe advise them that the knife is to be used as a rescue knife while kayaking (if that's why you might need one with a finger hole).
    It probably sounds like it's just dependant on what mode they are in.
    Can't hurt to try your luck.

  • garetz on 15/02/2017 - 23:17
    -1

    Your lucky they didn't fine you in addition to confiscation.

    • Godric on 16/02/2017 - 07:39

      O, really? Can you source me a link where this is standard practice bearing in mind this scenario?

  • Baysew on 16/02/2017 - 11:38

    Can you get your money back via eBay / Paypal?

    What are the rules in this circumstance.

    • Godric on 16/02/2017 - 18:41

      Yeah the seller on eBay have organized the refund

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