Governments should set up a task force

[canuckbid]

I think the governments should get together and setup a task force. Spend a few million dollars and order something from everyone selling online. Then they could check for illegal or knock off items. Also if the seller shipped as a "gift" or is legally selling and shipping their items. Impose big fines and take away their ability to sell online. How many sellers buy stuff from China to resell? Some is legal and some is not. It would clean up the market place big tme I think. Same as on ebid. If you ship items as a gift you are no better than the criminals that put the illegal goods on the market in the first place. My thoughts alone of course which usually come under attack. That does not bother me.


edit: The legal items they could resell through a legit outlet to recoup some of the money spent.

[Rubysafira]

If you ship items as a gift you are no better than the criminals that put the illegal goods on the market in the first place.

Really?

Hmmm, then I guess I'm a criminal since I just recently sent bookcovers to an Ebidder here and marked 'gift' on the Custom Form BECAUSE the Postal clerk and Manager, who happened to be standing there, said that I should.
I would also like to point out that they saw the contents of the package since I didn't seal it up until I arrived there.
I told them that many are under this dilusion that marking a small item as 'gift' is against the law. They had a good laugh over that.
When you want to learn the facts of something...don't follow 'beliefs and assumptions' but ask the source.

[canuckbid]

Sounds like those postal workers are part of the problem then also. I do not make the laws. I read some of them though. I could see sending a family member something as a gift or a friend. Selling online to strangers then marking it as a gift? Yup, you are doing an illegal activity.

edit: That's the law in Canada. I can not speak for the USA

[TiasTreasures]

Hmmm. . . . that's not what the postal office clerk told me. When I sold my first item to an overseas customer, she helped me fill out the customs form. She said never to mark it as a gift, because that's an illegal way to bypass customs.

[Rubysafira]

Sounds like those postal workers are part of the problem then also. I do not make the laws. I read some of them though. I could see sending a family member something as a gift or a friend. Selling online to starngers then marking it as a gift? Yup, you are doing an illegal activity.

Canuck, I did too before I asked and the term 'gift' on the USPS own website which has far many workers than just the two is vague at best.

And I meant Postal Inspector lol not manager.

Again...ask if you are not sure. That's the best advice to give anyone.

[canuckbid]

I think they had better enlighten some of those postal workers then. Custom forms are made for a reason. I'm sure if they ever did set up a task force half of the sellers online would be gone and it would make it a better place for legit sellers. That's the problem nowadays. Any one can make up a listing and throw it online without kowing the rules.

[Rubysafira]

Hmmm. . . . that's not what the postal office clerk told me. When I sold my first item to an overseas customer, she helped me fill out the customs form. She said never to mark it as a gift, because that's an illegal way to bypass customs.

Then our very own governments contradict the very things they have in place.

Doesn't really surprise me. LOL

[Rubysafira]

LOL Ebid broke the law too and must be criminals because they sent me my pen & car decal sticker from the UK and marked the custom form as 'gift'.

[canuckbid]

I do not expect "postal workers" to be up on the law. As a seller doing legal business one should know the laws. Pleading ignorance is not a defence that would stand up in a court room.

[canuckbid]

Did you pay for them Rubysafira? If not then they were a gift.