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BORsbk8OHQ~~_7.JPG "seniorgrognard"){kind=avatar}
"what I mean is that if you are a US seller, would you opt into this insane GSP?"
No, as stated above, I would not. Not because it is "insane" or "bogus" or "scam" as it is not. The program would be of no interest to me since I know and understand how to export goods out of the country.
"if you don't understand how we feel,"..."It seems to me that you are almost always opposite of many of us"
I do not know who "we" is. If you take the time to read every post in this thread and the many other threads on the subject, you will find that I am not a favour of the program as it applies to most Canadian buyers. Even the staff at eBay.ca acknowledged GSP is not suitable for Canadian buyers in most low value transactions.
However, unwarranted claims by some posters that the program is "bogus", "insane", "scam", "illegal", "higher fees collected by eBay" etc... take away much of the credibility from these "vent and rave" posts.
Claims such as "make eBay happy because they get more higher final value fees on the shipping costs " ignore reality. Think about it: eBay collects FVF based on domestic shipping charge, NOT the international shipping charge. About half the transactions have no domestic shipping charge (so-called "free shipping" - shipping included in selling price - domestically).
Generally, I am in favour of these "vent and rave" posts. There are good. Everyone needs to let some steam out from time to time. However, it works best when based on reality, on facts.
The reality with the GSP is simple and not unique. Hundreds of large American exporters (LL Bean for example) use it: collection of Canadian consumer taxes (GST/HST/PST) at time of payment allowing for pre-clearance at Canada Customs, resulting in fewer delays. That is the good side. On the other hand, since officers for Canada Customs often let goods enter Canada through the postal system without taxes being charged and collected, Canadian buyers end up paying more than they would if the taxes had not been collected.
The problem would not exist if the folks at Canada Customs did their job properly and collected the appropriate amount of taxes on every parcel entering Canada with a value of $20 or more. Sometimes, I wish they did. And none of that has to do with eBay.
The problem would not exist if the folks at Canada Customs did their job properly and collected the appropriate amount of taxes on every parcel entering Canada with a value of $20 or more. Sometimes, I wish they did. And none of that has to do with eBay.
Even better, thinking as a buyer/importer, would be raising the bar so that shipped parcels are free of duty/sales tax if they are under $200, which I understand is the situation for cross-border shoppers.
Of course as a seller, I wouldn't like this very much. 
"...would be raising the bar so that shipped parcels are free of duty/sales tax if they are under $200,"
Whenever the federal government visits this issue, they face huge opposition from the Canadian retail industry and its millions of employees across Canada.
While the avoidance of taxes (GST/HST/PST) would make it attractive for Canadian buyers to purchase from Americans, it would result in matching lower sales by Canadian retailers leading to massive lay-offs of low-paying retail jobs.
On the other hand, since governments (federal and provincial) are running annual deficits, the millions of tax dollars not collected from Canadian consumers on imported goods would have to be replaced by other tax revenues coming from Canadian taxpayers.
"Apparently eBay must have sneaked GSP into some of his listings without his permission. "
I do not believe that for a second. There are plenty of problems on eBay without creating new ones.
@Anonymous wrote:I saw something that I really want to buy and contacted US seller with GSP if he would opt out of GSP. He was so puzzled as to what is GSP!! I noticed that not all of his listings has GSP. Apparently eBay must have sneaked GSP into some of his listings without his permission. I have some US sellers telling me that they didn't opt into GSP in the first place.
Other sellers are reporting the same problem, random GSP listings.
With the seller mentioned below, I checked the completed listings.
One {#390638535301} gives the normal indication that the GSP is used, "Customs services and international tracking provided".
Yet when the listing is opened it shows "USPS Priority Mail Express International", no mention of the GSP.
"To Pierre, I am truly sorry you don't belive me. "
Please read my message again. I did not state I did not believe you. I simply question the conclusion you reached based on assumptions.
I did some research into this and found that this $10.99 is charged by Canada Post on ALL processing for mail delivery
on eBay purchases 
I will no longer buy anything from sellers that have the Global Ripping, I mean Shipping, service set up.
"I did some research into this and found that this $10.99 is charged by Canada Post on ALL processing for mail delivery
on eBay purchases"
???
In addition to taxes and duty (if applicable) Canada Post charges a flat $9.95 on all parcels cleared through Canada Customs for which taxes and/or duty have to be collected. It has nothing to do with eBay or anyone else selling online.
For more factual information, please check the official government website:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html
"Global Ripping, I mean Shipping,"
is something entirely different and has nothing to do with the $9.95 service charge (administration, brokerage) charged by Canada Post.
To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, I should add that Canada Post does NOT charge $9.95 service charge for items sent by American sellers through GSP (Global Shipping Program).
The service charge is included with duty and taxes in "import charges" paid to Pitney Bowes
