eBay

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-13-2013

Hi,

I'm about to buy an item using the global shipping program - I'm in Canada - but the listing states that the fee shown is just an estimate and it will be confirmed at checkout. That's fine, but should I expect much or any difference when I commit to buy? It's a big deal for me as I only transfer as much money to my Papal account as needed, and I wouldn't like to be short on funds when I finally go through checkout and have to wait to transfer more before I can send full payment.

So, for those that have used this program, is the quoted fee usually the same when you complete?

Thank you

marnotom! · ‎08-15-2013

@adamcarlseventyfive wrote:

Well, in that case, I don't know what I'm talking about! 🙂

Side note: I just went ahead with the purchase and there was no change in the import charge. It was the same as it was initially quoted on the listing. If this sale works out as it should, the GSP will have worked in my favor, giving me a lower cost all around.

Good to know, Adamcarl. Keep us posted.

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-15-2013

I'll try post an update in a couple weeks when the order arrives.

Thanks!

chimera148 · ‎08-15-2013

@lady.stark wrote:
@chimera148 wrote:
You could search "Global Shipping says zero import" for a report.
??
I don't understand your comment.... what do you mean by that?

Just for clarification. The OP's post.

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Global-Shipping-says-zero-import-when-looking-at-item/td-...

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-16-2013

Hi again,

As noted, I bought the item in question and am now waiting for it to arrive. However, I got notification today that it has been shipped but it states it's via FedEx Ground. As far as I know FedEx charges ~$20 to import anything to Canada under normal circumstances; it's their "policy" I believe. So should I still expect to pay that fee, or does the GSP work all those details out so there really is "No additional import charges at delivery!" as they claim?

pierrelebel · ‎08-16-2013

"As far as I know FedEx charges ~$20 to import anything to Canada"

Do NOT worry about it. There should be no charge

marnotom! · ‎08-16-2013

@adamcarlseventyfive wrote:
Hi again,

As noted, I bought the item in question and am now waiting for it to arrive. However, I got notification today that it has been shipped but it states it's via FedEx Ground. As far as I know FedEx charges ~$20 to import anything to Canada under normal circumstances; it's their "policy" I believe. So should I still expect to pay that fee, or does the GSP work all those details out so there really is "No additional import charges at delivery!" as they claim?

This is a bit of a murky question. I've read of a few users who claimed that FedEx tried to double-dip on taxes, etc. owing on a GSP shipment, but I've received no answers to my questions about how they tried to do that. I think you're going to have to be our first reliable guinea pig on this one.

My understanding is that FedEx shouldn't be collecting COD charges from the importer such as taxes on a shipment that has already had brokerage arrangements made for it. If they do, it should be a matter of refusing to pay them and they'll end up reverting to the exporter, in this case the Global Shipping Center.

Again, keep us posted.

pjcdn2005 · ‎08-16-2013

Since you just purchased the item yesterday, the notice you received about Fed Ex likely means that the seller is sending the item to Kentucky by Fed Ex. That doesn't mean that PB will send it from Kentucky to you by the same method.

marnotom! · ‎08-16-2013

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
Since you just purchased the item yesterday, the notice you received about Fed Ex likely means that the seller is sending the item to Kentucky by Fed Ex. That doesn't mean that PB will send it from Kentucky to you by the same method.

Ah, good point. I was confusing this sale with another one that's been closely documented on the discussion boards.

I thought it was a bit odd that FedEx would be shipping the item from Kentucky, quite frankly...

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-17-2013

Ok, I didn't think of that, but it does make sense. Now I just have to wait...

lady.stark · ‎08-17-2013

@pierrelebel wrote:
Let me highjack that one!

If you have both a bank account and a credit card linked to your PayPal account, the payment may be charged to your bank account and credited to the seller account immediately because it is backed by the credit card. In such instance, it is not an e-check.

Thanks Pierre for highjacking 😉

adamcarlseventyfive, I'm glad that the quoted price was what you ended up paying. If you can save a few bucks, it's great. It shows that GSP has it's place in some instances.

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-18-2013

Thought I'd update really quick with the tracking details. It looks as if the FedEx shipment I mentioned earlier was to the GSP facility as someone suggested.

My tracking info reads as follows:

-In Transit-Picked up

Aug-15-13

-In Transit-Arrived at FedEx location

Aug-16-13

-In Transit-Left FedEx origin facility

Aug-16-13

-In Transit-Arrived at FedEx location

Aug-16-13

-In Transit-Departed FedEx location

Aug-16-13

-In Transit-Arrived at FedEx location

Aug-16-13

-In Transit-At local FedEx facility

Aug-17-13

-Arrived at US shipping Center

Aug-17-13

-Processing at US Shipping Center

Aug-17-13

-Customs Documentation and Labeling

Aug-17-13

-Shipped from US Shipping Center to International Destination

Aug-17-13

-This shipment has been transferred to Canada Post for delivery to the final destination

That's all that's showing right now...

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-27-2013

Update:

Received my package today and was NOT charged anything on delivery. It came via regular mail and I just picked it up. So, in this case the GSP worked to my advantage.

i*m-still-here · ‎08-27-2013

adam, I'm glad you received your item and it sounds like you're satisfied. That's good.

I'm curious to know if you think that the package was opened en route.

Was the package sealed with that rubbery brown tape?

Was there any paperwork inside from the seller? Some sellers don't include paperwork but most ido.

Sometimes it's just a thankyou note.

Just Wonderin".???

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-27-2013

There was a few bits of paper inside the box; I think a couple were just like flyer type things for the business/store I bought from, but one was a slip about returning the item if necessary.

It didn't look to have been opened. The box was just cardboard, not wrapped, and when I removed the tape myself to open it, the cardboard outer layer, sorta like paper, tore off with the tape. So if it had been opened before there would have likely been the same sort of damage to the box - unless someone was very very careful what they were doing. There didn't look to be multiple rounds of tape on there either. Why do you ask about it being opened?

i*m-still-here · ‎08-27-2013

There's been some question about whether GSP packages are getting opened en route.

I've received two.

The first was suspicious and the second was opened..................... either that or the seller was lying but I believe the seller.

In any case, my item arrived safely but that was lucky.

I bought a $40 item and it cost me another $50 to receive it............... ($90 in total) and I'll never be happy with that............. but I bought it knowing the cost before I pusehd the button so what can I say?

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-27-2013

What would the reason be to open the packages? Some sort of security issue, or for documentation purposes?

I will say that my item was in 2 boxes. I bought a power window regulator with power motor for my car which came in it's own box. That box was shipped in a much larger box that was at least double the size and filled with stuffing to stop it shifting about. I wonder if the seller put it in the second box, or if they just sent the smaller box to the GSP and they put it in the second box from there? I'm not sure why it was put in another box at all, since it would have been just as easy to ship as it was. I'm just glad to have what I ordered now, of course. The can put it in a dozen boxes, like those Russian nesting dolls, but as long as I get it I'll be happy!

That $90 item is a bitter pill, I agree. When I was looking for import info I found out that some things have an import rate higher than others. I think car parts are 5-6%, which makes sense given the import fee I was charged. If you bought something with a really high import rate, perhaps that could explain the high cost? The biggest question there though, is whether or not you would have been charged had the item shipped normally without the GSP?

i*m-still-here · ‎08-28-2013

Since you don't know if the seller shipped in two boxes or one, it's not possible to know for sure if the GSP made that change.

However. it would make sense if they did because it's much less expensive to ship one box than it is to ship two boxes when shipping via Expedited within Canada.

The reason they would open packages is the same.

There is no security issue and for some reason P-B does not include documentation.

In fact, in my case they removed all the seller's paperwork as well.

In other words, it seems that they are bundling and/or repacking to bring weight down and thus make extra money because shipping was paid by you and me for heavier items (and in your case possibility two items).

My package weighed under 250 grams. Taxes would have been roughly $6. The rest of the money went towards shipping and extra fees for processing.

Import taxes are simply your provincial taxes which vary from Province to Province and I think always less than 15%.

(Years ago I used to import items and was required to pay duty as well on some items, but that's another story...... :).)

pierrelebel · ‎08-28-2013

"Import taxes are simply your provincial taxes which vary from Province to Province and I think always less than 15%."

Taxes calculated by Canada Customs or on behalf of Canada Customs include duty (if applicable) and all consumption taxes (GST/HST/PST) as applicable. The tax rates vary from a low of 5% (GST only) in AB to 15% (HST) in NS.

While - thanks to NAFTA - there is generally no duty for items manufactured in the USA, there may be duty charged on some items coming from the USA if made overseas.

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎08-28-2013

Sorry you got stuck with such a massive fee.

Seems like people are either getting a good result from the GSP or a really bad result. Mine was good and I ended up paying less for shipping and import than most sellers not using the GSP were quoting for shipping alone. I can't argue with that, but I think it's clear that some things still need streamlining. It's a double edged sword with eBay at the best of times. Great deal, terrible shipping & fees to get it. Add in the GSP and it gets even more murky.