why is my package being so strange?

[justinxfan2013]

i ordered a mobile phone from ebay on March 3. Estimated shipping date is march 16-24. i understand that the package is being sent through the global shipping program. ive encountered weird problems with my package over the last few days.

1. the seller stated that the phone would ship within 24 hours of sale. after 24 hours, i still didnt receive the email from ebay saying your package has shipped. i contacted the seller and apologized and gave me a tracking number, which was a valid USPS number. 

2. the USPS tracking status is stuck at "Your shipment was accepted/picked up at 2:33 pm on March 4, 2016 in BULLARD, TX 75757." the tracking hasnt moved since then.

3. on march 12 ebay sent me a email saying my package has shipped, and they sent me a link to track my package. the link directs to ebay tracking system with a tracking code starting with UPBAA. I understand that this is a special number for use with pitney bowes. i assumed that the USPS tracking system was broken and it indeed delivered it to erlanger facility without updating tracking info.

4. ebay tracking status shows that the package has been "Shipped from the Global Shipping Center to International Destination" on march 11. no more updates have been provided since then. this is what the full tracking history looks like:

Time and date	Place	Message
Friday, Mar 11, 2016 10:24 AM	Erlanger ,Kentucky	Shipped from the Global Shipping Center to International Destination
Thursday, Mar 10, 2016 12:55 PM	Erlanger ,Kentucky	Customs Documentation and Labeling
Tuesday, Mar 8, 2016 8:57 PM	Erlanger ,Kentucky	Processing at Global Shipping Center

estimated delivery date still shows march 16-24. im worried that my package has been lost due to the irregularities involved with this shipping. what is going on??

i thoight this program was supposed to be beneficial to the buyer??

[aubreyclay56]

well in a nut shell if you order anything from an unfortunate global shipping seller you will have problems you seriously need too pay attenshion to the posts on here pb is ruining ebay and if you can avoid it it is posted so manny times they charge big money for nothing other than trouble please look at who uses this extra middleman,they are a scam to make extra money

[justinxfan2013]

yeah i started to read more about gsp after i bought my item. lesson learned, will not buy anything using gsp ever, unless im forced to. However, could you provide any insight into what is going on?

[dmil8030]

Hello 'justinxfan', 

<<  a mobile phone . . shipping date is march 16-24.  . . .through the global shipping program.>>

Those "weird problems" you mention are really pretty regular for GSP items.  So annoying and unsettling are these apparent oddities that most people avoid buying from GSP sellers, and either find a seller not using the program, or ask the GSP seller to ship to Canada using plain old reliable First Class mail, -- which is fast, tracked, and affordable.  

But none of that helps you now.  As it is currently the 15th -- waaayy too early to worry about non-arrival.  When you buy on ebay you have 30 days from the last date of delivery to file a claim for 'Item Not Received'.

That means if the last date is March 24, you have 30 days after March 24th in which to file a claim on ebay:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/buy/item-not-received.html#timeframes

Even if you miss that ebay deadline, paypal provides 180 days (nearly 6 months) from when you paid to file your claim for an item that did not show up:

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full#13

So there is lots of time and you are well and surely covered.  

What matters now is that your item is clearly on its way.  However irritating you find this long and circuitous route, - you will finally get your item.  Those "irregularities" are quite common, so you need not worry about it.   If it is too big to fit in your mail box and you are not at home when it arrives, you will be left a notice card about where to pick it up at a local postal outlet.  Most small lightweight items get handed off to Canada Post.  

If you are truly troubled by the lack of a tracking number, you can try calling Pitney Bowes with all the transaction numbers (ie, that UPBAA for example) and ask if someone there can offer you a tracking number that really works and a place to use it.  Some folks have had success with this.  But you are right that the tracking aspect buyers are promised is untrue and not forthcoming.  It is a false and empty promise, and that infuriates a lot of users. 

<< i thoight this program was supposed to be beneficial to the buyer??>>

Oh, haHaheeHaa. . . . whatever made you think a thing like that? 

[justinxfan2013]

thank you! some good info appreciate it.

[justinxfan2013]

so unfortunately, I emailed the seller about a similar product and I said if I were to buy this could i buy this without using GSP and the seller replied no we can't because "We only offer the program as it is the only way we are covered do to constant issues before the program."
Is that true what kind of things does GSP do to benefit the seller?
I will not buy from this seller anymore because they refuse to use regular shipping. It's a shame because they had some great prices on mobile phones.

[dmil8030]

Hello again, 'justinxfan', 

<< I emailed the seller . . . could i buy this without using GSP and the seller replied. . . "We only offer the program as it is the only way we are covered due to constant issues before the program."
Is that true what kind of things does GSP do to benefit the seller?>>

The GSP was pushed as a panacea for all problems, yet for buyers it seems to cause more than it solves.  It is really  a seller protection program.  In short, -- all a seller has to do is mail the item with tracking to Kentucky, and after that it is no longer his problem.  Any negative feedback as a result can be removed (sellers really like that part) and if the item arrives at the buyer damaged, Pitney Bowes makes the refund and not the seller.  

From the point of view of a seller, -- What's not to like?

Have a look at this link showing how the GSP was being marketed to sellers.  Golly, it's just about the best thing online:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/global-shipping-program/index.html

Click on some of the Frequently Asked Questions, and you will see blurbs like this one in the How To's:  

"The Global Shipping Program generally protects sellers in cases where the item is lost or damaged during the international leg of the trip. Once a GSP item reaches the Global Shipping Center, the seller has performed his or her role in the transaction; the Program will reimburse the buyer for all costs if the item is lost or damaged during international transit. The GSP also protects sellers by removing any neutral or negative feedback associated with international shipping on any GSP transaction"

Sellers are told that if they instead ship directly to the buyer, none of these protections will be available.

So it is not really difficult to understand the appeal of it for American sellers.  It's just that international buyers don't like it.   I have seen listings where the seller states "We only ship intenationally with the Global Shipping Program".  

At that point, all we can do is reverse-click out and find another seller.

[reallynicestamps]

i thoight this program was supposed to be beneficial to the buyer??

The Global Shipping Program is beneficial to the Seller who is protected against false claims of non-delvery, claims of slow shipping and complaints about import fees (national duty and sales taxes).

By providing these protections to the Seller, the Buyer has the opportunity to see many more items that nervous and xenophobic sellers previously would not ship internationally.

The GSP is also slightly cheaper on items over $100 than Canada Post's service fees.

Canada Post and CBSA have made the informal decision not to bother assessing most lower value items for Canadian duty and sales taxes.

These however are still a legal requirement for freight forwarders like GSP.

Couriers like UPS are also required to charge these import fees and charge much much higher ($25 up)service fees.