eBay

jt-libra · ‎08-11-2014

A few of the sellers I purchased items from a year ago are now all selling through the GSP and the cost of shipping has pretty much doubled. For one of the items, the shipping has gone from $13 to $25.

They were all good sellers, easy to deal with and their products were good quality.

I've never asked a seller to ship outside of the GSP but I know some people have, with limited success. I don't want to be unreasonable but I am considering doing this. But, first, I wanted to find out if any of you have done this and what the general response was.

I didn't post on Buyer Central because I'm familiar with the people who generally post on this board and who may have some knowledge of issues this request may raise, that I don't know about.

Thanks.

rose-dee · ‎08-12-2014

Hi 'jt' -- I've done this on a couple of occasions, especially if I was purchasing something where the GSP might almost double the overall cost.

I would always contact the seller in advance of actually purchasing the item, and ask if it would be possible for them to "opt out" of the GSP for that listing. Often it means explaining the GSP from our end, because honestly, U.S. sellers have been sold such a bill of goods by eBay where the GSP is concerned that many of them don't even know exactly what the GSP is, let alone how to get out of it.

I had one poor seller who would have liked to accommodate me but just couldn't figure out from his end how to opt out for the one listing. He had absolutely no idea what the GSP would mean for me as a buyer (in fact, believe it or not, he didn't even know what the GSP was -- he said it was simply presented to him when he listed as a sort of "fait accompli"). He was shocked and apologetic when I told him what the total cost would be for me. In the end, I paid the outrageous GSP shipping amount because it was getting to be such a problem from his side to try to list the item with ordinary USPS shipping. It was something I couldn't find elsewhere, so I resigned myself to paying the price.

Another seller understood the GSP (somewhat) and managed to opt out for the particular item I was interested in (she may have had to re-list it, I can't recall).

I think the key thing in approaching U.S. sellers about this is to try to explain concisely and clearly what the GSP means from our end (and to be very polite and friendly about it -- I make it plain that it's Pitney-Bowes who is making all the extra money off this scheme, and probably eBay too). I explain that the majority of items under about $100 get through to Canada without any tax at all, whereas the GSP always adds the tax, a Pitney-Bowes processing fee, plus an extra shipping charge. I usually show them the calculation for the particular item from my end so they can see how the charges break down. Most are appalled when they see the reality.

I have also on occasion sent a link to the GSP discussion thread on the .ca board and suggested the seller might want to briefly peruse it to get an idea of how Canadian buyers are experiencing the GSP.

Bottom line -- I think it's definitely worth a try, although I see that the Fall Seller Update just announced may change all that by making the GSP opt-in mandatory for all US sellers. Many then just won't want to bother fussing around with the occasional Canadian who wants to circumvent the system, which I'm sure is precisely what eBay/Pitney-Bowes hopes. Best of luck!

pierrelebel · ‎08-12-2014

" by making the GSP opt-in mandatory for all US sellers. "

Actually, it is not what the changes mean.

The reference is "opting out" of the new suggested shipping method (priority International), not the program itself.

I think it will be best to wait until we get all the detailed information from eBay (later today).

mdf_jersey · ‎08-12-2014

I don't want to be unreasonable but I am considering doing this.

Most definitely yes. Sellers in the U.S want to sell there items like anyone else. They will opt out of the GSP, for a sale

11canadianchick · ‎08-12-2014

jt-libra · ‎08-12-2014

I thought there were no replies to my question because I usually get e-mails from eBay when there are updates to a post, but I didn't this time and just now read your comments.

I think you're right, rose-dee, that most sellers have no idea what the implications of the program are to Canadians and, unfortunately, even if they were willing to accommodate us, may have difficulty opting out for specific sales. I have no doubt that you were able to explain in detail how this program affects us (since you're extremely articulate ), but I only wish that U.S. sellers collectively could be made aware of this.

But, as jersey states, I'm sure many of them would want the additional sales .... so there's no harm in asking.

(I'm having so many connection problems with the boards the last couple of days .... on every browser I try. I've typed and lost this message three times.)

katlover1952 · ‎08-13-2014

I have had some success when asking sellers if they would ship to Canada outside the Global Shipping program. I too politely explain just how much extra this costs us and that usually on items coming through the mail from the US we pay no taxes or duties and that shipping is extra when they use this method. I do agree most of them do not understand it at all. Some simply don't care - Canada is after all a small part of their market. I do know that once you place a bid there does not seem to be any way for them to change the shipping cost.
I have an advantage in that I live near the US border and so can have items shipped to an address in North Dakota. They usually have no problem doing that. I usually just avoid the sellers that use GPS but sometimes there is something you really want and that is when I ask. I would say that about 50% of them will try to accommodate you, at least that has been my experience.

jt-libra · ‎08-13-2014

@katlover1952 wrote:
I live near the US border and so can have items shipped to an address in North Dakota. They usually have no problem doing that. I usually just avoid the sellers that use GPS but sometimes there is something you really want and that is when I ask. I would say that about 50% of them will try to accommodate you, at least that has been my experience.

That's good to know. I've been bypassing the sellers who use the GSP but, occasionally, I see items I've purchased before; I know the seller is reliable and the products are good quality, and I would like to buy from them again. So I'll ask .... all they can do is say no or not reply at all 🙂

mater721 · ‎08-20-2014

"They will opt out of the GSP, for a sale"

Some may, but not all. Many queries about shipping change have gone unanswered. For one item I asked to be shipped USPS First class seller indicated too heavy. I found exact same item from another seller, who did agree to allow First Class shipping - ended up being very reasonable. It's hit-and-miss with mostly misses so far.