Comments about the Global Shipping Program

[kalvin@ebay.com]

Feel free to share your thoughts about the Global Shipping Program here. 

A few questions to get the ball rolling:

• What has worked well for you with the Global Shipping Program?
• Any ideas to help improve the experience for Canadian buyers?
• What has deterred you from buying items offered using the Global Shipping Program?
• How have you managed to search for items outside the program?

Please try & keep the comments constructive 🙂

If you have any questions about the program, please post them here.

[pierrelebel]

"There is no duties or tax on used items in Canada "

You have been misinformed.

My sister lives in Alberta.  If you go to Value Village - a used clothing retailer with many locations in Alberta - you will be charged 5% GST because that is the law across Canada.

When GSP charges an "import charge" for items priced at more than Cdn$20 it includes:

1) GST or HST based on province of buyer (5% in your case)

2) duty if applicable (mostly on goods not manufactured in North America)

3) a service charge of about $4/$5 (less than Canada Post $9.95)

That said, GSP should be avoided by most Canadians in most instances.  It is not "buyer friendly".

[reallynicestamps]

Always first check to see if you can find what you want in Canada (under Item Location on the left side of the page), 

otherwise skip those listings which say,

Customs services and international tracking provided  

when scrolling through listings.  Those are the GSP items, so pass them by if you don't want them and find other sellers 

not using it.  

It should be noted that the Customs services and international tracking provided  does not appear on mobile screens.

It is a good idea when shopping on a mobile phone to add the items that interest you to your Watch List and revisit them as a more complete description when you can use a laptop or desktop.

[slickemslick]

The GSP causes me to miss out on a lot of items I am interested in because I want to avoid the necessary higher cost. Also, even for items purchased moments apart in auctions; they will not combine shipping.

It's a horrible system, victimizing buyers from outside the US.

I think what I hate most though is how some sellers have been duped by ebay nto thinking the need the GSP for legal reasons, or because they aren't smart enough to navigate ebay's resolution system and thing GSP protects them, when really they are just lazy.

Pitney Bowes, when delivering will abandon a package just anywhere; in plain view on a busy street, in the recycling bin, with the garbage.

I will not buy knowingly from sellers using GSP. Sad, cause I miss out on a lot of great items, but there is no reason for ebay to be skimming like that and calling it "Import Fees or duties". Lies.

[reallynicestamps]

Most of the Canadian eBay community would agree with your post.

This bit bothers me:

Pitney Bowes, when delivering will abandon a package just anywhere; in plain view on a busy street, in the recycling bin, with the garbage.

First PB doesn't deliver anything.

They act as customs brokers and as freight forwarders.

Deliveries are actually made by Canada Post (usually) or a courier (CanPar is often mentioned.)

If you have had a parcel stolen after delivery there are steps you can take.

First, complain to the actual delivery company. The normal practice is for carriers to leave a Notice of where and when you can pick up your parcel. Bring photo ID btw, they won't give it to just anybody.

The postmaster (at the post office, not the postal outlet) wants to be sure that her employees are doing their jobs correctly and that theft after delivery does not occur.

Second, file a Dispute with eBay asking that you be referred to a GSP specialist. PB will refund in full, without asking for a return of the Not As Described merchandise.

Third, file a police report of the theft. The police probably won't do much immediately, but they can add it to their files and see where there are increases in porch theft allowing them more scope in their investigation. Also eBay may want the police report number.

But if you are just repeating gossip, say so.

[chimera148]

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@coolcatcarm wrote:

 The problem with GSP is that I'm getting charged duties and tax on used clothing items. There is no duties or tax on used items in Canada and furthermore I live in Alberta where there is no provincial sales tax on even new items.  

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Yes,  some goods and even new childrens and babies clothing are provincial sales tax exempt, varying by province. This link may help :

www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-3-6-eng.html

[pierrelebel]

That link is for collection of Provincial Sales Tax.  There is no such thing in Alberta, the only Canadian province without a PST component.

It does not change the fact used clothing is taxable in Canada under GST as if it were new..

[sewmike]

GSP has delayed my shipments dramatically. I am presently waiting on 4 individual shipments that are now 8 days at GSP for,processing. To reinforce the inefficiency of this system a non-GSP part ordered same day as the others was delivered yesterday. eBay should eliminate this program or start refunding our money. 

[speedster993]

I have ordered several items and have had them shipped using the Global Shipping program. I have also ordered many items and have had them shipped by normal mail, not using the Global shipping program.  Being from Canada and purchasing most of my items south of the border, this program is worst thing that Ebay could have implemented. The item now take far longer to get to me, almost double the shipping time. I think as a buyer, we should be given a choice as to how we want our items shipped instead of having no option other than to use the Global Shipping Program. It may work for some, but has not worked for me, not even once!

[speedster993]

As well the GSP has increased my costs on purchases and no longer allows me the ability to track my item once it leaves the US and gets into Canada. I am all for scraping this program and having it back to the way it used to be. Either that or I will become a loyal Amazon Canada customer, take your pick Ebay!

[crassmtl]

I will not put much effort explaining what  you sbould already know. Itss a joke. Actually, prewtty much illegal in quebec according to laws. diuble the time, false information , repacking like **bleep** so.ething that dosent need to be repack, charging 48 dollara fir two stamps. After 3 days, it status goes delivered and you cant rate it  the realuty is that its juat aarrived a dspacch center.. now not enough that we do t have accea to any payment plans , now you want to force selling at low cost?  I wish a mouvement put iyaelf up, to have a place that really focus on bein an intermediaire. Not a money making machine  paying pple peanuts in india to pretend having customer service, havning rules that dint work. And not answeri g ,like  here.   Really lame, as the new app by the way. And you might be tempted like other customer service ,not giving people the right to be angry, and pretending repeting over and over again the same thing as an answer is constructive

 You must be the type that o e day 2+2 makes 4 , depending id you feel like it.  

[3islanders]

...are they threatening sellers in some way that they HAVE to use GSP?

I recently looked at a collectible item I might have liked to buy if not for the 25% extra fees on it, and the listing said buyers must agree with and participate in GSP, and do not e-mail the seller asking for any other shipping arrangement.  Almost sounded like s/he was scared to even contemplate it.

I don't understand why shipping out of the USA is so complicated that so many people can't seem to do it, or are scared to try it, and are getting duped into this program.

Now I'm also looking at cameras, and for what I'm looking for, it looks like just about every USA listing has GSP on it, and with very few Canadian listings, it limits my options to next to nothing.

...just venting... after 270 pages of mostly-complaint, clearly they don't care what we think....

[pocomocomputing]

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@3islanders wrote:

...are they threatening sellers in some way that they HAVE to use GSP?

I recently looked at a collectible item I might have liked to buy if not for the 25% extra fees on it, and the listing said buyers must agree with and participate in GSP, and do not e-mail the seller asking for any other shipping arrangement.  Almost sounded like s/he was scared to even contemplate it.

I don't understand why shipping out of the USA is so complicated that so many people can't seem to do it, or are scared to try it, and are getting duped into this program.

Now I'm also looking at cameras, and for what I'm looking for, it looks like just about every USA listing has GSP on it, and with very few Canadian listings, it limits my options to next to nothing.

...just venting... after 270 pages of mostly-complaint, clearly they don't care what we think....

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For USA (and UK) sellers, the GSP is international selling Utopia! Just ship domestically to the Pitney Bowes shipping center in Kentucky and much less responsibility. No issues with the item being lost, stolen, damaged on the international shipping portion. It is ideal for USA (and UK) sellers who want minimal trouble with international shipping, perceived or real. GSP refunds for many issues and seller keeps their sale and shipping to Kentucky.

If they had a GSP here in Canada, I know I would try it if all I had to do was ship the item to Toronto and not have to worry about the international shipping portion. Not for all items but definitely for some items.

I dislike the GSP from a buying view but I like it from a selling view.

[speedster993]

The GSP system on Ebay is a joke, it has added shipping time, expenses and impatience to the whole experience of buying from Ebay. I used to order items from Ebay consistently. I have cut way back ever since they introduced this scam system they call Global Shipping Program. Whoever came up with this idea needs to be fired. I can count on one hand the amount of times I have been charged duties and taxes buying from the U.S and shipping to Canada with the old system. What this new system does for Canadians interested in buying from U.S. sellers is that it forces you to pay duties and taxes that governments may not feel necessary to collect or let it slide. My question is if the government is willing to let it go, what makes Ebay think they are above the government and force us to pay this in order to buy products from them? Remember this Ebay, it is only because of your customers, both buyers and sellers, that you even have a company. Start messing with the people that have got you to where you are and your ship can sink just as fast as it started floating. . Your creating a type of communistic buying experience that doesn't give a buyer the choice that they feel most comfortable with. Go take some lesson from Amazon where they are truly dedicated to customer service. They give you all kinds of shipping choices. That's the way it should be!

[3islanders]

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@pocomocomputing wrote:

If they had a GSP here in Canada, I know I would try it if all I had to do was ship the item to Toronto and not have to worry about the international shipping portion. Not for all items but definitely for some items.

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Geez, can you imagine.  I wouldn't do it just on principle because I hate the stupid thing from the buyer's side, ... BUT... how would they ever manage the shipping costs?  It would be gouging like you'd never seen.  Given that a little light packet can go to the USA for about $5-8, and the same item from Toronto to the east coast is $16 ... buyers would be paying crazy Canada Post domestic rates PLUS the fees etc. for a GSP program to ship internationally.  We think the fees are bad now?  That would be the worst ever.

I recently called off a sale (facebook sales group) because two small items valued at $6 would have cost the seller $16 to ship to me, when she can send them to the States for less than half that.  The seller was equally appalled.

I'd rather just ship it internationally myself, rather than soaking buyers any more for shipping.

[pocomocomputing]

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@3islanders wrote:

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@pocomocomputing wrote:

If they had a GSP here in Canada, I know I would try it if all I had to do was ship the item to Toronto and not have to worry about the international shipping portion. Not for all items but definitely for some items.

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Geez, can you imagine.  I wouldn't do it just on principle because I hate the stupid thing from the buyer's side, ... BUT... how would they ever manage the shipping costs?  It would be gouging like you'd never seen.  Given that a little light packet can go to the USA for about $5-8, and the same item from Toronto to the east coast is $16 ... buyers would be paying crazy Canada Post domestic rates PLUS the fees etc. for a GSP program to ship internationally.  We think the fees are bad now?  That would be the worst ever.

I recently called off a sale (facebook sales group) because two small items valued at $6 would have cost the seller $16 to ship to me, when she can send them to the States for less than half that.  The seller was equally appalled.

I'd rather just ship it internationally myself, rather than soaking buyers any more for shipping.

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Just like the USA GSP, a Canada GSP is not for small light inexpensive items. It would work better for Canada because Canada Post high rates for international shipping.

Did you look at the rates for shipping Internationally (exclude USA) for 1 KG $38.34 to $46.61 Can$ for Small Packet with no insurance or tracking. Tracked Packet 1 kg with tacking and $100 insurance $50-$65. Ouch!

If I can ship to Toronto (assume GSP center would be there) 1 kg with PayPal labels is $12-$13 with tracking. Then I don't have to care about the how and why and how much to ship Internationally. I do not have to worry about false Item Not Received claims like I have with $40 shipping cost for Small Packet and no.

A Canada GSP program would work and open up expensive items ($100 or more) weighing 1 kg or more for international buyers. I can't list these items because the loss of one item would be a big hit for me with just the shipping cost alone.

But using the Canada GSP to ship to the USA would be as bad as USA sellers using the GSP for Canada. GSP may work better for other International sites.

Of course, it depends on what the GSP charges would be for an international buyer and if it is attractive for them to buy.

[femmefan1946]

I do not have to worry about false Item Not Received claims like I have with $40 shipping cost for Small Packet and no.

Better than a GSP program would be a return by Canada Post to the automatic $100 insurance on Small Packet Domestic and International against loss or damage in transit.

If Canada Post were serious about moving from a letter based system, which is a dying proposition, back to a parcel based system, which is growing with internet commerce, they could do worse than revisiting that decision.

I wonder what percentage of their income on Small Packet sales went to payouts on insurance.  Certainly it wasn't on staff, because it seems to me I always got the same clerk when I had to make a (rare) claim. Dolly in New Brunswick, btw. Great service.

[pocomocomputing]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

I do not have to worry about false Item Not Received claims like I have with $40 shipping cost for Small Packet and no.

Better than a GSP program would be a return by Canada Post to the automatic $100 insurance on Small Packet Domestic and International against loss or damage in transit.

If Canada Post were serious about moving from a letter based system, which is a dying proposition, back to a parcel based system, which is growing with internet commerce, they could do worse than revisiting that decision.

I wonder what percentage of their income on Small Packet sales went to payouts on insurance.  Certainly it wasn't on staff, because it seems to me I always got the same clerk when I had to make a (rare) claim. Dolly in New Brunswick, btw. Great service.

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A seller can buy insurance from a third party for many countries for under $2 per $100.

But if CP did have insurance still on Small Packet, you would still be open to potential defects for item not arriving and bad reputation visibility with a neg on your record if the buyer left one. With GSP you are free from all that too. Just get the item to the GSP center and most seller responsibility for the sale is done.

I really think a GSP Canada would be a good tool for some sellers and some items. I think it could be not much more than shipping Canada Post Small Packet International (1-2 kg) or Tracked Packet (1 kg-2kg) plus the cost of shipping to Toronto ($10-$15). Again, not for the USA, shipping cost for tracked services is cheap enough to use directly with Canada Post and the $800 exemption makes no need for customs services.

[afantiques]

and the $800 exemption makes no need for customs services.

Not quite how it works. Even if no money was due the items would still need customs clearance.

I am pretty sure to Canadian market would be too small to make the GSP workable economically for the operators.

Britain got a branch GSP because the infrastructure already existed, because all GSP (US) items entered Europe through the British depot anyway.

[pocomocomputing]

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@afantiques wrote:

and the $800 exemption makes no need for customs services.

Not quite how it works. Even if no money was due the items would still need customs clearance.

I am pretty sure to Canadian market would be too small to make the GSP workable economically for the operators.

Britain got a branch GSP because the infrastructure already existed, because all GSP (US) items entered Europe through the British depot anyway.

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Wording was poor on the custom services. What I meant was because there is no national sales tax or VAT in the USA, to add a large amount to the Customs and Import charges.

I do realize the Canada market would be too small. But because of the high costs of shipping internationally (exclude USA) for 1+ kg items, it might work.

[old_yukoner]

I recently purchased an uninterruptible power supply thru an Ebay seller who indicated the shipping would be international priority post.

It took 21 calendar days to travel 2258 road miles (3634 km) . They charged me approx $15 US for the shipping costs and about $12 US for import duty. The package first had to travel to the Global Shipping center in Kentucky (about 4 days for that trip) then it sat at the Global shipping center for 4 days before it resumed its travel across the US / Canada border ! A few hours to clear customs in Mississauga then started heading back west via Canada post. Pitney Bowes changed the shipping method from international priority to Expedite ground ! For those not familiar Expedite ground is a commercial rate postal method that is only slightly faster (supposed to be 1 or 2 days faster) than normal standard post. Canada post's cheapest rate.

When I finally got the unit it was damaged . Not significantly and it does function but the damage is noticeable and looks like it was dropped !

A few days after I ordered this purchase and I noticed that it wasn't coming northwest from the seller but rather heading east, I realized (from past experience with sellers using Pitney Bowes) that my purchase was going to take some time to arrive.

I went back on line and ordered a better model (same manufacture) from Amazon who didn't charge me for shipping. I arrived at my door 122 hours from the time I placed my order. To be fair I do have to say that it only had to travel 1497 road miles (2409 Km) .

The Ebay unit had to travel 1.5 times further but it took 7 times longer and suffered damage.

Pitney Bowes has changed my original shipping method on 3 different occasions to the cheaper mode . I paid for faster modes but they pocket the difference and ship cheaper.

Like many many others I am now going to avoid sellers using the GLOBAL SHIPPING CENTER.  I will buy from Amazon where possible