Comments about the Global Shipping Program

[kalvin@ebay.com]

Feel free to share your thoughts about the Global Shipping Program here. 

A few questions to get the ball rolling:

• What has worked well for you with the Global Shipping Program?
• Any ideas to help improve the experience for Canadian buyers?
• What has deterred you from buying items offered using the Global Shipping Program?
• How have you managed to search for items outside the program?

Please try & keep the comments constructive 🙂

If you have any questions about the program, please post them here.

[marnotom!]

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rick31797 wrote:.

if i wanted this item, bad enough, and had a choice of either using Ebay and GSP or driving and buying, i would probably spend the extra money and pick it up... because, the cheapest price is sometimes not better.. if i pick it up, i am guaranteed i will get it and it will come with a warranty and a money back guarantee.

The GSP, i will not be assured of getting it, if i get it it may be damaged, once i get it , its mine, and no warranty if its something that may fail.

You see it doesn't matter how good something is, If there is no trust in it, then its not much good.. as many others i have no trust in the GSP.. amen

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Surely those are things one should take into consideration when ordering something by mail, as well?

As for picking up the item in person, you're not guaranteed to get it as there's always a chance the store will burn down, you'll get broadsided by a freight truck, and so forth.  And not all items picked up in person have warranties.

Not saying that your concerns about the GSP are invalid, but they're not the exclusive domain of the GSP, either.

[bobenis]

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@pierrelebel wrote:

"What exactly is the discrepancy here?"

The "import charges" include GST/HST/PST (rate depends on province) and duty since the guitar is manufactured in Korea.  It does not matter if the guitar comes through GSP (Pitney Bowes) or is sent by mail and duty/taxes assessed by Canada Customs: the rates are the same.

Very few items coming from the USA have duty added at time of Canada Customs clearance.  This is one of them because it is not manufactured in the USA.

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Yes OK but my point was my tablet, which I am not aware of any tablet being made in Canada, The US, or Mexico thus import charges like the guitar and therefore what is the discrepancy in import charge pricing?

My Samsung tablet that was $450 was also made in Korea.

The charges on that were $33 and the guitar $59 at $265 and rising with each bid.

Also I see those charges being no different on items made in the USA, Canada, & Mexico.

And how can they determine what to charge in an active auction when they have NO CLUE where the item is made until AFTER it is sold and shipped to Pitney Bowes?

My tablet, thankfully, arrived this evening and they opened the box and tossed it back into a bubble envelope!!??

A tablet in a bubble envelope!!

The envelope was torn at both ends and the recycled paper padding was all over the place.

I will never buy another item via GSP...ever.

Ebay is just segregating and alienating their buyers outside of the US now.

[evilcalvin1]

As a long time ebay buyer the global shipping program has certainly caused me to put the brakes on many purchases and look else where. I resent doing business with anyone I feel is ripping me off and this is especially frustrating as I am a big fan of ebays convenience. Fortunately there are more and more companies becoming net savvy and offering more choices all the time. Hope you get this sorted soon.

[rick31797]

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@marnotom! wrote:

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rick31797 wrote:.

if i wanted this item, bad enough, and had a choice of either using Ebay and GSP or driving and buying, i would probably spend the extra money and pick it up... because, the cheapest price is sometimes not better.. if i pick it up, i am guaranteed i will get it and it will come with a warranty and a money back guarantee.

The GSP, i will not be assured of getting it, if i get it it may be damaged, once i get it , its mine, and no warranty if its something that may fail.

You see it doesn't matter how good something is, If there is no trust in it, then its not much good.. as many others i have no trust in the GSP.. amen

---

Surely those are things one should take into consideration when ordering something by mail, as well?

As for picking up the item in person, you're not guaranteed to get it as there's always a chance the store will burn down, you'll get broadsided by a freight truck, and so forth.  And not all items picked up in person have warranties.

Not saying that your concerns about the GSP are invalid, but they're not the exclusive domain of the GSP, either.

---

You forgot to mention i could get run over by a reindeer.

[rick31797]

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@bobenis wrote:

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@pierrelebel wrote:

"What exactly is the discrepancy here?"

The "import charges" include GST/HST/PST (rate depends on province) and duty since the guitar is manufactured in Korea.  It does not matter if the guitar comes through GSP (Pitney Bowes) or is sent by mail and duty/taxes assessed by Canada Customs: the rates are the same.

Very few items coming from the USA have duty added at time of Canada Customs clearance.  This is one of them because it is not manufactured in the USA.

---

Yes OK but my point was my tablet, which I am not aware of any tablet being made in Canada, The US, or Mexico thus import charges like the guitar and therefore what is the discrepancy in import charge pricing?

My Samsung tablet that was $450 was also made in Korea.

The charges on that were $33 and the guitar $59 at $265 and rising with each bid.

Also I see those charges being no different on items made in the USA, Canada, & Mexico.

And how can they determine what to charge in an active auction when they have NO CLUE where the item is made until AFTER it is sold and shipped to Pitney Bowes?

My tablet, thankfully, arrived this evening and they opened the box and tossed it back into a bubble envelope!!??

A tablet in a bubble envelope!!

The envelope was torn at both ends and the recycled paper padding was all over the place.

I will never buy another item via GSP...ever.

Ebay is just segregating and alienating their buyers outside of the US now.

---

so again we are another victim, that has got an item that is been repacked, they went from a box to a bubble envelope for an electronic item...it comes back to the thought, they are repacking to save money..we all know the shipping fees on a padded envelop would be much cheaper..

[bobenis]

Well that AND they shipped it expedited parcel when the auction CLEARLY states it is to be shipped via Priority International!

That is why they are taking so long to arrive!

We pay for and are told it will come Priority and they save money by sending it Expedited & adding a week to the shipping time!

Still waiting on the second tablet and it should be interesting to see how that one is repacked!

This one that came yesterday had major damage to what was a new box due to the bubble envelope and the convenient little coloured paper inside that said it was opened to check accessories and country of manufacturer....

Seems ebay is not having sellers tell Pitney that on the packing before they ship to them.

Merry Christmas everyone, especially those who didn't get the items in time for Christmas due to this GSP! =(

[marnotom!]

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@bobenis wrote:

Well that AND they shipped it expedited parcel when the auction CLEARLY states it is to be shipped via Priority International!

That is why they are taking so long to arrive!

We pay for and are told it will come Priority and they save money by sending it Expedited & adding a week to the shipping time!

Still waiting on the second tablet and it should be interesting to see how that one is repacked!

This one that came yesterday had major damage to what was a new box due to the bubble envelope and the convenient little coloured paper inside that said it was opened to check accessories and country of manufacturer....

Seems ebay is not having sellers tell Pitney that on the packing before they ship to them.

Merry Christmas everyone, especially those who didn't get the items in time for Christmas due to this GSP! =(

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"Expedited Parcel" is a Canada Post service for Canadian domestic parcel post.

"Priority International" is a US Postal Service term for international air parcel.

"International Priority Shipping" is the term used by the Global Shipping Program to describe its shipping service which is a catch-all, dog's breakfast of shipping methods that will vary according to the shipper or shippers contracted out to deliver the item.

My guess is that the big delay in the shipping of your item occurred at the Global Shipping Center as the item awaited inspection and assessment for customs purposes.

For what it's worth, I've noticed a big slowdown in the mail this year compared to last Christmas, likely due to cutbacks in the hiring of seasonal staff.

[Anonymous]

Agreed on the weight statement.

Although the point I guess I was attempting to make here is that GSP seems to over price things. GSP automatically sends all via International Priority Shipping (which seems to be one of the more expensive routes). For the small time buyer like me, this is just too much $ to fork out for buying a $4 item (example: average shipping rates using GSP seem to be around the $19 USD mark.. well that's just insane).

I recently asked a seller if they would send me an item "not" using GSP. The answer I got was unexpected "..what is GSP..." . Gee.. that really didn't instill much faith at that point. <grin>

[99black986]

My approach to the GSP rip-off is that I message the seller, I explain to them what a cash grab this program is, and request they send the item via USPS instead. Many have agreed to do this. If they don't then, providing I can get the item elsewhere, I refuse to do business with them and again explain why. If it is an item I need and can't get elsewhere then I buy it, pay the vig, and then post negative feedback to the seller when the item arrives. You want to buy into this program, fine, but kiss your 100% feedback rating goodbye.

[zigartenzewel]

ACCEPTED IN TRANSIT DELIVERED

Arrived at US shipping Center

Dec-19-13, 10:31 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

In Transit-Sorting Complete

Dec-19-13, 09:08 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

In Transit-Arrival at Post Office

Dec-19-13, 05:10 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

As you can see, the tracking I pay for is stupendous. It has "arrived" at US shipping ctre, and been "there", for 6 days. Wonderful. On top of the fact that the shipper sent the item  Dec 14th from California.  Then over to KY, then it'll go to Mississauga, then it'll go to Vancouver, then back to YYC.  Me? Cynical? Nah...Yes I know it's probably moving somewhere I'm just sayin' if the GSP is touted as great for us, have them explain why.

[femmefan1946]

GSP automatically sends all via International Priority Shipping (which seems to be one of the more expensive routes).

Yes, you'd think a company as big as PB would be sophisticated enough to realize that USPS First Class International includes delivery confirmation (at least to Canada) and can be used for up to four pounds of product.

Of course, if they base their fee on a percentage of the shipping cost, as they do with their meterage machines, it would make business sense for them to use the more expensive service.

PB does not get feedback on their shipping. Only the seller. Poor soul.

But most reports seem to show that the PB fee, for shipping to Canada which does involve costs, plus the cost of shipping within Canada plus a profit margin, is around $4-$5. And yes, that often does mean sub-contracting delivery to Canada Post although a few other companies (DHL?) have been reported.

Certainly, if you see something you need, and all the sellers use GSP, you can decide which seller to use by asking if they will ship outside the program. The way to do this is to have the seller invoice you directly through Paypal, quoting the eBay listing number. Remember his shipping charge will be higher than his domestic charge. 

And your item, if over $20, still may be charged duty, sales tax, and Canada Post's 'service fee' of $9.95, which is higher than that charged by PB.

You as a buyer have PP 's strong Buyer Protection as well as the cheaper shipping. The seller has a happy customer, who outbid other bidders, and PPs Seller Protection.

EBay sees this as being similar to paying by cash. And you avoid the GSP.

[femmefan1946]

There is a difference between 'tracking' and 'delivery confirmation'.

First, remember that both are useful to the seller in case of an Item Not Received Dispute, can show that the item has in fact been delivered.

Somewhere. Which is when the buyer loses the case.

The item may be on the neighbour's mantel, waiting to be brought over to your house. But the postie marked it , erroneously, as delivered. The buyer is out of luck. And of course, if the Dispute is a scam, the scammer will not win, since PP can see the Delivery Confirmaiton.

Which also means that for a buyer, DC is contra-indicated. Especially if your postal address is poorly supervised. I've had stuff stolen off my front porch, so even there is not secure. The most secure is a PO mail box address, since you have to sign to get your parcel with government issued photo ID.

But Delivery Confirmation only tells the buyer that the service has been purchased and later that it has been delivered to the buyer. Which he probably already knows. Other info (accepted for shipment, arrival in KY, crossing border, etc.) is added randomly. An item may show as being in KY for ten days, and be in your mailbox. When the postie gets back to the terminal, then she would mark it delivered.

Tracking follows and reports every stop the parcel makes. While this is cheaper in this day of barcodes, it is still more labour-intensive than Delivery Confirmation.

[bb_cool_stuff]

If it is an item and can't get elsewhere then I buy it, pay the vig, and then post negative feedback to the seller when the item arrives. You want to buy into this program, fine, but kiss your 100% feedback rating goodbye.

What a ridiculous statement.

Do you know these boards are monitored ?

Another addition to our Blocked List gang.

[marisafadavi]

This Christmas I made very few purchases from e-bay. USPS has raised its rates to Canada considerably. Some of the shipping charges are absurd; many times the cost of the item on sale. Of course, the Global Shipping Program (aka Global Shipping Cash Grab) has put me off purchasing anything from the U.S. as it seems to be ubiquitous. I will take the advice of some others on this blog who ask the seller to send the item by USPS. If they refuse there is no sale. The sellers lose and eBay loses. There are lots of good deals to be had elsewhere on the internet.

[portfelt]

The GSP is akin to a middleman taking a cut of the transaction with no benefit to the purchaser. The Canadian government agencies are also at fault here and deserve disdain from the buying public. Instead of legislating higher tax-free import charges to bring them inline with US rates our government allows a foreign entity to do the dirty work. They get the benefits without the public outcry that is diverted from them to another. Sop acting like sheep and bring this issue to the attention of your MP. 

[bobenis]

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@marnotom! wrote:

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@bobenis wrote:

Well that AND they shipped it expedited parcel when the auction CLEARLY states it is to be shipped via Priority International!

That is why they are taking so long to arrive!

We pay for and are told it will come Priority and they save money by sending it Expedited & adding a week to the shipping time!

Still waiting on the second tablet and it should be interesting to see how that one is repacked!

This one that came yesterday had major damage to what was a new box due to the bubble envelope and the convenient little coloured paper inside that said it was opened to check accessories and country of manufacturer....

Seems ebay is not having sellers tell Pitney that on the packing before they ship to them.

Merry Christmas everyone, especially those who didn't get the items in time for Christmas due to this GSP! =(

---

"Expedited Parcel" is a Canada Post service for Canadian domestic parcel post.

"Priority International" is a US Postal Service term for international air parcel.

"International Priority Shipping" is the term used by the Global Shipping Program to describe its shipping service which is a catch-all, dog's breakfast of shipping methods that will vary according to the shipper or shippers contracted out to deliver the item.

My guess is that the big delay in the shipping of your item occurred at the Global Shipping Center as the item awaited inspection and assessment for customs purposes.

For what it's worth, I've noticed a big slowdown in the mail this year compared to last Christmas, likely due to cutbacks in the hiring of seasonal staff.

---

Actually, USPS Priority is taken over by Canada Post and forwarded on via Xpresspost.

Expedited from USPS is taken over in Canada via CP's Expedited parcels ie the 2nd fastest out of all 3 methods.

So if it was supposed to be shipped Priority then it should have gone Xpresspost once in Canada but they tell us one thing and did another, to pocket more money on shipping.

[bobenis]

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@zigartenzewel wrote:

ACCEPTED IN TRANSIT DELIVERED

Arrived at US shipping Center

Dec-19-13, 10:31 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

In Transit-Sorting Complete

Dec-19-13, 09:08 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

In Transit-Arrival at Post Office

Dec-19-13, 05:10 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

As you can see, the tracking I pay for is stupendous. It has "arrived" at US shipping ctre, and been "there", for 6 days. Wonderful. On top of the fact that the shipper sent the item  Dec 14th from California.  Then over to KY, then it'll go to Mississauga, then it'll go to Vancouver, then back to YYC.  Me? Cynical? Nah...Yes I know it's probably moving somewhere I'm just sayin' if the GSP is touted as great for us, have them explain why.

---

Mine is in EXACTLY the same boat!

Also Priority is trackable via each stop and scan, expedite less and reg mail is essentially sent & out for delivery.

If they actually gave us the legit tracking numbers once shipped from KY to Canada, then we could SEE the real time stops and starts but unfortunately they give us something not traceable other than by Canada Post once it is out for delivery.

Mine via Canada Post says this (still not received, just info received...twice...5 days apart...!?):

2013/12/24	09:26	RICHMOND	Shipment information received at originating postal facility
2013/12/19	23:13	VANCOUVER	Electronic information submitted by shipper. Learn MoreThe shipper has created a shipping label for this item and has sent us electronic information. However, if no additional updates are showing in Track, it means we have not yet received the item. We will start tracking the item once it is provided to us. Please note that this scan event is recorded in Eastern Time (ET). All other events are displayed in their local time zone.

[afantiques]

The confusion between items sent by post and items sent through the GSP with its commercial bulk airfreight is persistent and endemic.

There have been so many posts from people that simply do not understand they are dealing with radically different delivery processes that it seems pointless to attempt any further explanations of how things work.

Comments where the misunderstanding seems wilful rather than simple confusion are not helping anyone.

[afantiques]

GSP automatically sends all via International Priority Shipping (which seems to be one of the more expensive routes).

Yes, you'd think a company as big as PB would be sophisticated enough to realize that USPS First Class International includes delivery confirmation (at least to Canada) and can be used for up to four pounds of product.

GSP items are not sent internationally by any postal method, although they may be delivered at destination by a postal service.

'International Priority Shipping' has nothing whatsoever to do with USPS Priority International Shipping, but the similarity of names is enough to sow confusion. Not calling it 'International Airfreight'  or similar is yet another poor design feature for the program.

If the confusable terms were chosen deliberately, then a murrain on them for the number of times posters have pointed out the difference.

[Anonymous]

If the confusable terms were chosen deliberately, then a murrain on them for the number of times posters have pointed out the difference.

So instead of clearly saying "its eBay not stating the correct terms in regards to GSP wordage", you choose to indicate it's all the posters issues. lol (of course my comments here & yours solve nothing in regards to the conversation about shipping charges)

So... perhaps those of you who are in the know about Shipping should create a detailed tutorial & submit it to eBay for possible inclusion for future/current sellers.