Some weeks ago a Russian bidder bought quite a few of my eBay coins.
Posted off, well packaged -some forum members know that I do that very securely.
Message received some time later from buyer that Russian Customs service had refused the coins entry. Like most countries Russia has restrictions on importing currency by post but, usually collector type coins are allowed in. I have sent coins there before without problem.
Anyway, they arrived back today and very rattly package. Coins were all in taped up plastic bags wrapped in bubble wrap and taped again. Most had been opened and loose coins shoved back in the box, which was taped up with packaging tape with Russian writing on it. Lots of stickers added including one from Australia post to say they re-wrapped damaged package package on entry to Australia.
A tax sticker was one showing a return ("renvoi" which my dictionary says "returned unopened") and a forwarding fee. However no charge levied to me when they were delivered back.
Here is what arrived back here.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10055/Russian_customs.JPG)
Now to sort them out and see if any missing -weight seems about right though.
Russia is now the second country on my eBay countries I will not post to (after Qatar).
I will refund the payment but buyer can wear the postage cost (significant) and I will have to wear the eBay and PayPal fees.
Jeff
Have posted there a lot if times. They are slow but everything sent has got there
Another place that I had trouble with many years ago was East Germany.
I was in a stamp circuit were one receives stsamps and a list of names and addresses. You remove your name, add another to the bottom of the list and send x number of stamps to the name on the top of the list.
Well things went well until I sent this gent a current stamp catalogue and a pile of stamps, used and mint. He never received them nor did I get them back.
Several years later, he wrote to me stating that the "State had confiscated the items as being not in the interest to the State. Any more such gifts etc would mean court and jail time". I then ceased sending any more to the gent.
Geez Jeff, it looks like it's been run over with a mower!!
I sent something recently to Moscow without incident. I wasn't comfortable about it though. I made some big changes to my international posting rules on ebay after that having not realised that simply not having an international postage rate (checked box no international postage) didn't actually mean I wouldn't ship there, I had to specify each country in the exclusions and then adjust every listing manually. At least that's what ebay told me to do.
Sorry Jeff, what a pain in the butt.
Yes, we have always had "will not post worldwide" (or whatever wording eBay uses) on our listings but that does not show up at all for bidders.