@robertqc2017 wrote:
The responses I receive is anything goes as long as the parcel reaches the Kentucky warehouse. Doesn't Ebay have a quality standard for procedures which sellers MUST follow to ship with the GSP?
If not, another reason why to dislike the GSP..
I might not go so far as to say "anything goes" but sellers are allowed to choose the shipping method to get the item to the GSP warehouse in Kentucky. Some sellers use a courier. Once it gets to Kentucky by courier, that's the end of that.
At the GSP plant, the item is checked to make sure people are not mailing gasoline or something worse, and from there all these parcels are forwarded on, in this case your item will ride with other Canada-bound orders.
Once it gets handed over to Canada, it will most likely be carried with Canada Post, unless it is unusually big and heavy, then it will most likely be delivered with CanPar.
Items coming via the GSP often do take longer that those mailed directly through the postal system. And I agree that there would not likely have been any import charges if it had been sent in the mail. That is only because it costs too much to assess for every item under about $100, but that is all very UNofficial.
Any item from outside Canada may be assessed for charges, because in reality our government has set a limit of $20 and anything over $20 (meaning a Canadian $20) is subject to charges. This link will show you what I mean,
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html
The GSP, and any item you buy that is shipped directly with a courier, like UPS, DHL, FedEX, etc, will cause you to pay any charges owing. The GSP charges you upfront when you buy initially. Couriers charge you on your doorstep.
Some have really high brokerage fees, like UPS and their $25, and DHL with their $15. It is annoying to buyers to pay $15 in paperwork fees when they only owe $2.35 in tax. If and when Canada Post assesses your item, they charge $10 (9,95 actually). The GSP only charges about $5, or so people say, but we can't know because the details are all hidden.
Tracking a package sent by the GSP is sketchy at best. Some say you can click the tracking number in your Purchase History, and a pop-up window should give you updated information with a second tracking # once it has left Kentucky. That may or may not work. You can try any number you have here, but this is a new link and no one has yet come forward to say if it is any good or not,
https://parceltracking.pb.com/app/#/dashboard/
When you buy a GSP item, think of a relay race. The seller (first runner) sends the package (the baton) to the second runner (Kentucky), who then passes the package to the next runner who takes it over the border and passes it to Canada Post who runs with it to you.
If you are still troubled by some specific thing, you may be able to get better answers from Pitney-Bowes. Anyone else who has had to call them or even email, has reported back that they were treated very well and the whole experience was very helpful.
http://www.pitneybowes.com/ca/en/contact/contactus-email-us-canada-en.html
