Buyee holding Koshirae

[Jrbjag]

Has anyone had a situation similar to the one I'm in below?

 

They've found a reason to sequester my koshirae because it has a wooden sword insert inside it.  I don't know whether to laugh, cry or shout - but I'm definitely surprised by this!!

Best,

John

 

[Alex A]

Ridiculous predicament yet again 

 

Hope its sorted soon. 

[Ray Singer]

As mentioned in direct discussion, I believe they are confused with overall length of the kogatana vs just the length of the cutting edge. A typical kogatana would be under 15cm (and should not require an export process or cause any other shipment issues). Regardless, I likewise hope it is resolved for you soon.

http://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html 

[PNSSHOGUN]

All I can say is good luck, despite the high premiums they charge the customer service is woeful and anything deemed "difficult" will go around in circles.

[Jrbjag]

Hi Ray - surprisingly, it's not the kogatana they're concerned with, it's the wooden insert 

[Ray Singer]

2 minutes ago, Jrbjag said:

Hi Ray - surprisingly, it's not the kogatana they're concerned with, it's the wooden insert 

 

My mistake, I didn't catch (or would have imagined) that they were referring to the tsunagi. So strange. 

[Sansei]

This is like getting "poked in the eye with a sharp stick" by the vendor . I guess it would be bearable if the koshirae is worth all the hassle. Otherwise, find another comparable item from a different seller.

[Jrbjag]

Sansei - when you win an auction item through Buyee, you own it.

 

Options are muddle through or dispose of the item you've paid for.

[Sansei]

59 minutes ago, Jrbjag said:

Sansei - when you win an auction item through Buyee, you own it.

 

Options are muddle through or dispose of the item you've paid for.

 

[Alex A]

Maybe just tell them to keep the tsunagi, if it becomes a weirder issue that is

[Ray Singer]

21 minutes ago, Alex A said:

Maybe just tell them to keep the tsunagi, if it becomes a weirder issue that is

 

That is an excellent recommendation, and making a tsunagi for hirazukuri blade is not a big undertaking. I will assist with this if the tsunagi continues to be an issue, or Josiah Boomershine and John Tirado are excellent domestic resources for tsunagi (and shirasaya). 

[Rivkin]

Unfortunately its not uncommon in Japan to get into problems just because someone got a whiff-feeling something "inappropriate" or "potentially illegal" goes on. Which often comes up when "weapons" are involved.

My experience was that the best thing is to give an address of someone in Japan with a message that it needs to be send to an "expert on the matter" who will then deal with it.

"Convincing" by matter of arguments can work but can also be surprisingly difficult.

What did work at times is appealing to "expert" or "government" opinion. By the same token a person is being fearful of violating some often semi-unknown to them regulation, they'll fear violating the rules as set by experts or authorities.

[Surfson]

I have had problems with several koshirae getting stuck (no pun intended) with Buyee for various reasons, or no reason at all.  They will sometimes give you the choice of paying storage or to have them destroy the item.  Their communications are often either bad or non existent.  

 

My solution to this problem was fairly direct. I have canceled payment (through Paypal or the credit card company) on more than one occasion, which puts them in a bind.  They don't mind holding a "stuck" item if you own it, but once they own it, they suddenly get motivated to solve the problem.  I hope this helps.  

[Jrbjag]

Thanks Robert.  If I run into future issues I'll be quicker to jump to this as a solution.  I've had chargebacks make the situation worse as TOS with services like this typically leave the buyer in a very weak position.  Good to know this might save frustration.

 

Ultimately logic prevailed in this case and Buyee decided items weren't prohibited.  They did hit me with storage, and won't refund, but I'm going to just roll with it a $1/day.

 

With your description I could see some of your holds potentially being related to a 3rd party (eg. customs).

Were the holds always a Buyee policy situation, where the "help" needed was just them pulling their head from the sand - or have you needed to motivate them to help with 3rd parties? 

Best,

John

[Surfson]

Sometimes Buyee is worse than customs, since they appoint themselves as arbiters of the process.  Many times, they just wouldn't advance the koshirae without explanation.   Once they started giving me the option of destruction or payment of storage, I had to play hardball.  I have a friend who has had this happen to him many times.  

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes, Bob has the right play. Don't even bother trying to get a refund from them, take it straight to paypal/bank. Buyee customer service tried to get me to cancel the paypal refund, absolutely disgraceful conduct.

[Dave R]

 This  has always put me off "Buyee", so I rather boringly stick with dealers I know on Ebay.

[Surfson]

I have gotten some wonderful koshirae on Buyee/Yahoo.  Although years ago, I was able to buy great, mounted swords straight out of the woodwork on ebay, the last few years, the good ones are very rare.