c!~~_7.JPG "kalvin@ebay.com"){kind=avatar}
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.
"The item was $200.00 US ( $216.60 CN), it came to my door and I paid import charges and handling fees of $38.26 CN."
This would suggest you paid exactly 13% HST (Ontario rate) plus Cdn$ 9.95 Canada Post fee. The item was assessed as "made in the USA" with no duty added.
"If I were to pay for an item from a seller in the US using the GSP, an item for 199.99 US (216.60 CN), I am asked to prepay import charges and handling charges of ($45.43 US)...... $49.54 CN."
This would suggest that a small percentage (around 6%) was added for duty to that specific listing because the seller did not indicate "made in the USA". Had the seller indicated the item was made in the USA, no duty would be levied. Only HST would have been calculated plus Pitney Bowes small handling fee (generally a bit less than Canada Post).
We all know that GSP is a flawed program from a Canadian perspective. There are very few instances when Canadian buyers would actually save money (except for very heavy items). However, that was never the goal of the program. Saving money for buyers never entered the equation.
GSP was and still is all about generating more sales on eBay by American sellers allowing them to sell outside the USA without the costs and risks perceived in exporting.
"they are forced to use this system.. Is this true?"
Not quite.
Sellers have the option to opt out, or to exempt a specific country (Canada for example), or to simply cancel the listing and relist it allowing direct shipment to you.
The problem is that many sellers do not want to be bothered or simply do not know how to proceed.
"Since the buyer pays for it, it should be their choice"
In a perfect world.... maybe.
However, in the real world, the seller owns the item and, as such, as the right to determine how he is willing to ship the item (directly or through GSP).
If buyers do not agree, and most Canadians do not agree with GSP, they have the option to hit the back button.
"The seller goes to the post office regardless."
You are thinking like a Canadian.
A very large number of American sellers use UPS or Fed-Ex, not the post office. They do not need to go anywhere. UPS and FedEx pick up daily. Their shipping rates for domestic (USA) shipments are generally competitive.
It is often difficult for Canadians to understand how Americans do business because they have a totally different environment.
Never seen anything so ridiculous in my life, I will never purchass anything from this program. NUMEROUS times I had to cancle trades because of these ridiculous charges.I had to pay all this extra money for what ? TO SHIP CARDS. I am very , very unhappy with this program. 
CANCLE THE PROGRAM PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
