Global shipping programme

[bettyburbs]

I just ordered a pair of used boots which with the shipping cost and the Global shipping programme cost were going to be over $90 to send to me in Toronto from New Jersey! 

I wrote to the seller to ask her to opt out.  She said she did, and when I looked at the listing, it appeared that she had opted out of the stupid Global shipping plan.  I paid $36 for "mailing",  then today UPS arrived wanting $55 more!! 

Not sure if i should complain to her or ebay?

It appears that there was a misunderstanding somewhere.

A. Trent

[pierrelebel]

"Not sure if i should complain to her or ebay?    It appears that there was a misunderstanding somewhere."

Like many Canadian buyers, you correctly asked your seller to ship to you directly instead of using the Global Shipping Program which is not very "buyer friendly".

You paid for the item and you paid for direct shipping to you.

However, somewhere you may have forgotten to ask your seller what method of shipping was being used for that $36.

You now know that the seller used UPS ground (cheapest) instead of using USPS (postal service)

Whenever goods are valued at Cdn$ 20 or more, UPS (like all other carriers) must calculate the taxes (GST/HST/PST) payable in addition to a brokerage fee, COD fee and disbursement fee.  It often adds up to a lot.

If coming through USPS and Canada Post, Canada Customs may have levied taxes on the parcel (exactly the same taxes as UPS) but Canada Post would have charged only $9.95 brokerage fee (with no other fee).

eBay has nothing to do with it and there is nothing for you to complain to eBay for.

Whether you should blame the seller or not depends on the agreement you reached with the seller.  Was there a definitive statement that the boots would be shipped by USPS (postal service) for $36 or was it just an assumption?

" It appears that there was a misunderstanding somewhere.""

You got that right.  The question is: is there someone to blame? Or just one of those things?

[reallynicestamps]

Buyers are sometimes surprised to learn that couriers MUST charge appropriate duty and sales tax on purchases over $20 CDN (about $18USD)

They are even more shocked to discover that the much-maligned and detested GSP is actually one of the cheapest couriers shipping into Canada. 

Most couriers charge $25 or more for 'customs brokerage'.  Pitney Bowes which runs the GSP charges around $5. 

In theory Canada Post should also be charging duty and tax, and when they do they add a $9.95 service fee for their trouble.

In fact CPO and CBSA have made the sensible decision not to assess low-value parcels when it is obvious that the money collected would be less than the cost of collecting. 

[maximus7001]

This is neither the sellers fault or ebays fault. The seller had no way of knowing what UPS does to Canadians. Did you specify shipping needed to be USPS and not UPS? You can refuse the package and broker it yourself (you need to tell them you are going to broker it). If you pay for it at the door then you are SOL.

[altenhe]

I am in Canada and I never buy anything that is to be shipped by UPS or the fraudulent Global Shipping scam that eBay has adopted.  I will buy items that are shipped by USPS or Fed-Ex.....but absolutely NOTHING to be shipped by UPS or "Global Shipping".  Nothing but a scam.