Due to export control restrictions, international shipping is not permitted for this item

[hogfather88]

I'm listing a WWII German Helmet and got the message, "Due to export control restrictions, international shipping is not permitted for this item. Please select domestic shipping only for this item. Please see our International Trading Policy for more information."

I looked at the policy, and it mentions only import restrictions, so I'm not understanding whay I'm not allowed to sell this ovderseas. After all, it wasn't even made here... I found on Wikipedia that eBay prevents selling of Nazi regalia, but as the helmet carries no insignia, I'm not seeing why that should be a problem?

Does anyone know why this might be, as the restriction seems likely to significantly reduce my market, and the likely selling price?

TIA

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

Does anyone know why this might be

Correctly speaking, this isn't export control restrictions, it's import control restrictions in other countries. It boils down to the same thing: you can't list certain items for international delivery.

Germany, for example, has very strict prohibitions over the sale of nazi era memorabilia. EBay has to respect this. The same principle Works in reverse: US sellers are not allowed to list firearms for sale in the UK.

[hogfather88 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for that; I hadn't appreciated that anyone would consider an old helmet contentious, but so be it...

[john1297576]

As papso says, it may be overkill, but think about it.

You sell your Helmet, the buyer s in a Country that does not allow the import of such items. It gets seized and destroyed by Customs, buyer opens a Not Received Case and you have to refund.

No Helmet No Money, is it worth it??

[hogfather88]

Thanks for that; I guess I have been naive about what is considered memorabilia

[papso22]

Because some countries don't allow these to be imported, eBay stops them being exported. EBay always uses a hammer to crack a nut, it protects them legally.

[hogfather88]

Thanks for that; I guess it's a catch-all, and even items which (I believe) aren't contentious, fall into the same category. I'll just have to live with it