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I know, it seems unfair when Canadians have to pay a foreign exchange conversion when purchasing from other Canadians.
However, you have to look at it from the Canadian seller's perspective.
Most items offered on eBay are purchased by Americans or buyers from overseas dealing in US$. It is therefore a logical step for most Canadian sellers to list in US$. For many years eBay has advised sellers that listing in US$ gives a better chance to complete a transaction.
Once an item is listed in US$, the system automatically charges the buyer in US$ (regardless of buyer's country) and payment is transmitted by PayPal from buyer to seller in US$.
On the other hand, many Canadian sellers will offer Canadian buyers to settle the transaction in equivalent Cdn$. Check the listing to see if the seller offers such option and/or ask the seller.
As far as shipping charge, you were aware of the charge before buying. Whether the price was $25 with free shipping or $5 with $20 shipping or $10 with $15 shipping does not really matter, does it? You made the purchasing decision on the basis of $25 including shipping.
"Any idea where I can find this option pierrelebel? "
It is not something offered by eBay or PayPal.
A Canadian seller would have to note it in the listing (many do) and, following a purchase in US$, send the buyer a manual PayPal invoice in Cdn$ equivalent. An eBay invoice cannot be used since the currency cannot be changed.
Upon receipt of PayPal payment in Cdn$, the seller would have to manually adjust the transaction to reflect the fact payment has been received.
"I do not believe the seller from the USA is at fault"
Actually, often the seller is at fault: he should not have listed low priced items using GSP.
"Could it be that some do not know that GSP is added to their listing?"
That could have been true a year ago or even earlier this year.
However, I suspect sellers, in most instances, do know by now what they are doing.
On the other hand, I believe eBay is largely to blame for the lack of education: eBay has never taken the time to properly advise American sellers when it was appropriate and when it was not appropriate to use GSP.
While sellers now have the tools to exempt specific countries - such as Canada - from GSP, eBay has not done enough to adequately monitor sellers using the program.
eBay should have in place tools preventing American sellers from using GSP when not appropriate - low value items easily sent by mail for example.
