The New IMPORT CHARGE TO CANADA???

[patrick_the_loner]

I just had a trying experience with 2 E bay  sellers, it is not their fault but this new darn Import Charge to Canadians is a farce..If the Americans need money badly just put a gun to my face and take it not bleed the main source of the E Bay sellers income. As I am a member since  Jan-7-08 I have bought a lot of different items and I may be forced to go elsewhere to buy. And from what I have read in the discussion board a lot more Canadians are doing the same...DON'T  E BAY  CARE ABOUT IT'S MEMBERS???????..The US postal service is to darn high to send items here to Canada??? What happened to that FREE TRADE WE HAD ( OR DID WE ??????? )  Yeah Right

You buy an item from E.Bay for $25.00 US and the shipping charges are sometimes double the price and now this so called     IMPORT CHARGE  NOW AH  YOU THINK THAT CANADIANS ARE STUPID WERE NOT WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE US ECONOMY...........WE HERE IT EVERY DAY,,,WHY SHOULD WE CANADIANS AND LOYAL E BAY MEMBERS PAY FOR YOUR DEBT YOU DID IT NOT US,

GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE WE ALL WERE HAPPY THEN AND E.BAY SELLERS DID VERY WELL...  Thank You   A LOYAL E.BAY BUYER

[pierrelebel]

Good morning Gerry.

You are absolutely right.  Importing Diecast & Toy Vehicles from the USA ($20/$50 range) is getting more expensive.  Postal rates in the USA have gone up. It has nothing to do with the American government deficit.  The problem is that USPS is losing money.

The same is true on the other side on the coin.  Canadian sellers shipping to the USA are also facing much higher shipping costs as Canada Post also raised their rates.

The "Free Trade Agreement (FTA)" has nothing to do with it.  It never suggested "free shipping" between Canada and the USA.  FTA covers tariffs (duty rates), not shipping, not taxes.

Now, the relatively new "Global Shipping Program (GSP)" available to US sellers wishing to ship outside their country makes things much more expensive for Canadian buyers of relatively low priced items (under $50).  Even the staff at eBay.ca did confirm the problem. For the time being, it is best for Canadian buyers to avoid purchasing items where the eBay listings shows "import charges" (GSP).  This is a program managed by Pitney Bowes on behalf of some American sellers. You can find information on this program (from the US perspective) here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.html 

The alternative is to ask the seller to offer the item(s) without GSP. Some may accept, some will not.  You still have to pay USPS increased shipping but you avoid the Pitney Bowes charges.  Taxes (GST/HST/PST) and Canada Post brokerage fees ($9.95) may still be charged for items valued at more than Cdn$20.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html#c1 

And no, unfortunately, things will never be as "cheap" as they used to be.  The "good old days" are behind us.  Nothing eBay, USPS, Canada Post or anyone can do about it.

Good Luck.

[pierrelebel]

I should add there is another aspect to the higher shipping cost that is relatively new.

Many sellers (not all), on both sides of the border, no longer make an attempt to offer the lowest shipping charge possible, to benefit the buyer. Instead they use a more expensive shipping method protecting themselves against loss and possible abuse or fraud.

More sellers seem to feel it is more important to be "protected" than to generate a higher volume of business. 

Sellers are aware of the eBay/PayPal Protection Policy: http://pages.ebay.com/paypal/seller/index.html 

More specifically: "Use a shipping method that provides tracking information and/or valid delivery confirmation to the address in the PayPal transaction details or eBay order details page." 

And that, my friend, partially explains the problem of high and ever growing shipping costs.

[stevephinn2012]

Another aspect that is not mentioned is EBAY is taking 11% of every dime that seller charge for shipping. so those (like me) that were not making a CENT off of shipping now had to raise my shipping costs by at least 11% just to cover what ebay is charging!!

so now instead of charging $10 for shipping I have to charge $11.25

[pocomocomputing]

@stephinn2012

Minor correction to your post.

eBay FVF rates since May 1, 2013 are 10% for non-stores and from 9% to 4% for stores depending on the eBay listing category. The shipping FVF uses these rates. The 11% was from the old FVF rate structure for specific categories.

[portfelt]

As if any of that import charge is going back to Canada Customs. Not! I've only been charged customs duties on 2 items out of hundreds that I purchased from US sellers over the years. Tell US sellers you will not buy from them if they are enrolled in the Global Ripoff Program. Buy Canadian!

[pierrelebel]

"that import charge is going back to Canada Customs. Not"

Actually, any tax (GST/HST/PST) collected by Pitney Bowes under the program is remitted to the Canadian government.  Like many US goods and services providers, Pitney Bowes is registered with CRA to collect and remit taxes. That by itself is not a problem.

[i*m-still-here]

Ebay has completely confused everyone with the relentless push/pull back and forth re the cost of shipping.

They want to control every transaction and have positioned themselves so that they are now required to police sellers, and this is the result.

The GSP is a prime example of ebay's confusion over the issue.

On the one hand sellers are rewarded for low shipping costs and punished for high costs by the ebay system (DSRs etc.), but on the other seller are expected to ship with tracking and so the item arrives yesterday.

The two are at odds with one another.

You can't have it both ways.

The GSP goes against everything ebay has been training sellers to do:  Ship fast, at the lowest cost possible, and in a way that encourages buyers to return and buy more.

The GSP is a complete and total about face by ebay.

Of course we're all wondering:  What the Heck?????

Who owed P-B what to allow them to muck around in all these transactions?

[marnotom!]

I should add there is another aspect to the higher shipping cost that is relatively new.

Many sellers (not all), on both sides of the border, no longer make an attempt to offer the lowest shipping charge possible, to benefit the buyer. Instead they use a more expensive shipping method protecting themselves against loss and possible abuse or fraud.

More sellers seem to feel it is more important to be "protected" than to generate a higher volume of business. 

Sellers are aware of the eBay/PayPal Protection Policy: http://pages.ebay.com/paypal/seller/index.html 

More specifically: "Use a shipping method that provides tracking information and/or valid delivery confirmation to the address in the PayPal transaction details or eBay order details page." 

And that, my friend, partially explains the problem of high and ever growing shipping costs.

I would add that there are U.S. sellers out there who send their international shipments tracked up the wazoo, unaware that the "send 90% or more of your items with tracking" requirement to maintain Top Rated Seller status does not apply to international shipments.

[marnotom!]

The GSP is a complete and total about face by ebay.

Of course we're all wondering:  What the Heck?????

Who owed P-B what to allow them to muck around in all these transactions?

I'm not sure if it's a total "about face".  I think the GSP has its place.  I would much rather see U.S. sellers use the GSP than FedEx's or UPS's ground (standard) services to Canada as the taxes are pre-paid and the processing charges seem to be a lot more reasonable.

What I don't like so much is how poorly communicated this new program has been to both sellers and those who would be on the receiving end of a GSP shipment, and what appears to be rather sneaky ways to get sellers to try it out.

[i*m-still-here]

Hi marnotom!.  No, I understand what DSRs are.   Forget about the way buyer's view the ratings.  The point of the DSR system was (is?) to get sellers to sell the way ebay wants them to.

It's a reward/punishment system designed to control sellers, and it's very effective.

Ebay has worked very very hard to encourage fast shipping, low shipping costs, easy returns, and a pleasant buyer experience.

For the most part, the GSP ensures that none of these will occur.

I agree:  It is a step above couriers.

At least the GSP is out in the open about costs.

Couriers should be used very very carefully with the full informed consent of everyone involved.

The GSP does that............. or at least is makes an effort.

Perhaps it encourages some sellers to offer international shipping who would not do so otherwise.

Perhaps it's better than courier services.

Thing is:  Almost No One Cares.

Bottom Line:  Some sellers simply should not ship internationally and the GSP is not the answer.

[chimera148]

Bottom Line:  Some sellers simply should not ship internationally and the GSP is not the answer.

Trouble is the GSP seems to be being promoted to sellers as the "easy peasy in your face" way to ship internationally, whereas it would save a lot of problems if it was promoted as an alternative to FedEx or UPS. Maybe the GSP uses FedEx or USP to handle some of their packages.

It seems new sellers are especially vulnerable to getting into the GSP, that actually works against their sales, and then find they have trouble opting out of the program.

[chimera148]

Hi marno, I'm having some difficulty replying to your post on the .com threads, they won't come up consistently. Will do so when I can. Thanks

[i*m-still-here]

Yes, so true:

The sellers using the GSP are new-comers and jaded old-timers who are really crusty and very difficult to deal with.

It's easy to get out of unless the item has bids.

Then it's a total PITA, but it can be dome with a lot of extra effort.

[chimera148]

Yes, i've found new sellers having difficulty opting out. It might be a good topic in the International Trading forum on .com.

[chimera148]

..... and as you say even +10 year US sellers with 1000s of feedback are having problems getting out.

[chimera148]

Some sellers are having difficulties opting out even though the items have to bids. My understanding is that if a buyer makes a bid , they have then entered into a contract with the GSP.

[chimera148]

edit, should read -  even though the items have no bids

[bm13821382]

What i cant believe is how ebay has sucke itemd everyone into the gsp and tracked shipping rules. if you uses usps and walk into the post office and mail to canada some parcels and envelopes can be shipped as low as 7.00. that is with the proper paper work and value for customs. the item will go through customs with no problem. if they want you to pay hst on an item canada postwill hold the item and send you a notice at no charge. then you go in and pay the hst and receive the item. to bring a company to do the paper work is ridiculous and costly.

as long as you fill in the paperwork yourself and declare a value is all you need to do.

to buy a 30 dollar sportscard from the u.s. is as follows

shipping  11.00

import fee  8.00

for the ebay pencil pushers reading this the total is 19.00

ebay takes 1.90

 so a 30 dollar item now cost 49.00

i do feel sorry the sellers in the u.s. some items that sell well in canada will now go at a lower price from less bidders. and most of you will have a sales drop of 15-20 %.

and to the bigwigs at ebay whothought of this program please give me a call but i know you guys never talk to the people who pay your wages

[pierrelebel]

" if you uses usps and walk into the post office and mail to canada some parcels and envelopes can be shipped as low as 7.00"

That is correct.

Yet many US sellers do NOT want to ship outside their country without protection as outlined in an earlier post. They could ship at low cost but elect not to do so without protection.

The same is true for Canadian sellers shipping to the USA.  Many insist in using expensive shipping methods to protect themselves in case of claim.

The GSP simply compounds that problem.