Ebay seller sent item with asbestos in it

[loadsmorebargains]

I bought a theatrical lamp from an eBay seller, it has arrived with a power cable fitted that has white asbestos in it.

I can't return it, because that would entail it being posted, which would be against most if not all courier and postal service policies on prohibited items, and I suspect illegal too.

What do I do from here?

[clute21]

Unlikely Asbestos as it is not suitable for cable insulation.
More likely pyro cable.

Qoute from wikiepedia.

Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable is a variety of electrical cable made from copper conductors inside a copper sheath, insulated by inorganic magnesium oxide powder. The name is often abbreviated to MICC or MI cable, and colloquially known as pyro (because the original manufacturer and vendor for this product in the UK was a company called Pyrotenax). A similar product sheathed with metals other than copper is called mineral insulated metal sheathed

[loadsmorebargains]

Thanks for this information.

Sadly, it's not relevant.  Also, it's significantly incorrect.  Asbestos was historically used widely as an electrical insulator for a long period of time due to the fact that it is an excellent insulator, with high heat-resistance.

Theatre lights used a lot of asbestos-clad power cables, and also a lot of the isolating washers in lamps are asbestos compounds too. This unit has the original power cable from manufacture, which DOES contain asbestos. I haven't checked the isolating washer under the lamp plate yet.

So, going back to the original question... what do I do about it?

[papso22]

Perhaps you should have expected it might contain asbestos then? There is also now a question of whether it was actually not as described at all. If you still think it was, you either find a courier who will take it, or persuade eBay that it is dangerous to return. There is something in the MBG about that.

[legalmedical7]

Exposure Of EBay Contd.Part Two. 27.11.20.
Today we spent another hour talking to the 'Customer Services'. They used the usual waffle. They made unrealistic suggestions all based on us aggreived buyer having to solve the issue of their seller sending wrong items here then refusing to communicate. All the communications we attempted are met with robot like responses by staff that are incapable of logical reason. The calls we made have cost that firm more money than if they had just refunded the £18.00. But theres worse to come. Since the end of 2019 EBay have changed their policy. Prior to that date they were buyer biased and any bad selling resulted in refunds. They have now become seller orientated. In order to enforce the new policy they shifted their cust services to N Ireland from Asia. Theres reasons for that and one of those is, the Asian people are more reasonable and generous on average, and could not be easily persuaded to hoodwink the public. The people in N Ireland cant be trusted and we know that because we are experienced in Irish Affairs.The EBay staff just keep repeating what they have been instructed to do. This is a mirror image of what we have experienced in Govt Depts in the UK.. The woman we spoke to refused to give any of the following details- Surname. Address. Post Code. EMail. Owners EMail and Name. She insisted that the victim buyer has to do all the remedial work in getting a refund, not the irresponsible seller.She said that under the circumstances we had to return the faulty item by paying a Courier to deliver it to the evasive seller. She stated that we ourselves had to bear the cost of that. We asked her to ask the seller to co operate but instead of spending a few minutes doing that she went on arguing in a machine like way. We could not return the wrong item under EBay conditions cos we have three redundant printers and the people we know dont have printers either. Also the Post Office is about two hour round trip on foot as our vehicle is disabled too. We have had virus which stated in Nov 2019 yet Ebay still insist we walk to that Post Office thro built up area. Wealso have hole in side of house left by drunk builder and we are trying to cope with a hoat of problems caused by two teachers who did cover ups prior to selling this place.We can get no response from any health org inUK or any HM MP or anyone else incl media. The UK is out of control. EBay are promoting Charities and that system we looked into and found crrptn everywhere which aligns with Govt squandering of billions.. The Govt are behind that system because it prevents any criticism of the Govt. The same reasoning applies to Religion and of course Art. Sport.. Drama. Education.Its about being re elected by a clueless uncaring public. The issue is a mirror image of Germany 1933 re Students. Universities.Greed. Obeying Authority.Corrupt Press. 2.5 Million people are reporting as having watched just one out of 100s violent films on the internet yet 1000 our mails ignored or destroyed. every Political Org we investigated is corrupt. This is a sick Europe which of course existed before any virus. That virus is the destiny not a disaster. Evidence of that is contained within the statement made by EEC- 'Nothing Can Be Done About Corruption or The Death Threats Made To You By The HM Courts or The Police Violence or the 30.000 Avoid Deaths Caused By The Mental Health Scam' This statement was uttered three times and the last time the spokes person was the Ombudswoman O Reliiy who of course is from Cent Ireland. She is reported as turning up at meetings in 'High Heels and Backless Frock'.She is of course the product of University Corruption and pretends to be a 'Lawyer'. Our 1000 pp evidence was shown to BBC. They said- 'Hide The Evidence Abroad'. The antics we observe are of course Mental Health smptoms but dont try to convince the WHO will you. Like the Police told us- 'Do You Wanna Visit' ? EBay say they deeply care about Virus issues. Its a pack of lies.Most of this text relates to pre virus dates but theres updates too.

[tsmgmd]

First things first. 

Have you contacted the seller. 

Is the seller a business. 

If the seller is a business surely it should have been Pact tested before sale. 

[rusticrye]

Some types of asbestos can be sent through the post - it isn't all dangerous. Check out Royal Mail's website for full information.

You shouldn't use a vintage lamp with its original cabling anyway. I suggest you contact an electrician to get it rewired.

@loadsmorebargains