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.
Hello 'billybishop',
Hmmm, not all that good at accepting life's irksome little irritants, are you. 
You do not have to believe anything anyone here tells you, -- no one can force you.
<<The GSP makes us pay it out twice over...the second portion(skim...) goes to them....>>
'Twice over'. Well, that's one way of looking at it. The costs are the very low shipping fee that the American seller
spends to mail it to Kentucky. State-to-state shipping is quite cheap.
Then, Pitney-Bowes unpacks, assesses, and repacks the item, and mails it to the buyer. They charge for this.
Disagreeable as it all is, there is nothing dodgy about it. We're not paying anyone twice, -- we're paying two
entities once each.
The GSP portion is not a 'skim', it's a charge.
<< the 'skim' reference was for less expensive items that normally incur no extra charges.>>
Perhaps some of the difficulty lies in your interpretation of "normally". For any item brought into Canada, we may be
charged duty and taxes. It's the law and is put there by our government, not some American shipping company.
Any item over $20 cdn in value may incur charges:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html
There is a rumour going around here that used goods are always exempt from duty. This is simply not true, so
any used item you buy could incur duty as well, depending what it is and where it is made:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d13/d13-10-1-eng.html
On lower priced items it is true that those sent through the postal system are not usually assessed. That is because
the amount of tax collected is less than the cost of shuffling it to where it is supposed to go. But that's Canada Post.
A company like Pitney-Bowes, just like courier companies, is required by law to add all applicable charges to any
amount over $20 cdn -- about $14 US these days.
Hate it all you want but it's the law.
<< There is no legitimate reason for GSP charges to be attached to these items>>
Perhaps some of the difficulty lies in your interpretation of the word "legitimate". Pitney-Bowes is a company that
charges for its services. If you believe these services to be shoddy and expensive, fine, you won't get much
argument about that. But all companies charge for their services and like couriers, P-B is required by law to charge
whatever taxes/duties are mandated to the country where the items are going.
The GSP is a good program for the American economy because it brings in more of the world's wealth to the US.
It is a good program for American sellers because all they have to do is send their items tracked to Kentucky and
then they can wash their hands of it. Whatever happens after that is not their problem.
Can you not see the appeal in that?
Like you, I think it is a horrible program. But we don't always get what we want in life. So you ought to take what
you have and make the best arrangement for yourself. That means when you see those low cost items you like to
buy, -- ask the seller if he will take the listing out of the GSP and mail it using First Class International.
You can tell him that First Class is tracked into Canada with Delivery Confirmation, and even show him this link so
he can see for himself how little it would cost (minus his costs for packaging materials, of course):
http://ircalc.usps.com/?country=10054
You will not get the GSP to go away. We all wish the was a 'No GSP' filter. I doubt we'll ever see one because all
but the newest newbie would use it, and what would be the point of the program then.
The GSP was never intended to help the international buyer. But it is here to stay, so find ways around it so that you
can continue to shop on ebay and get all those goodies you like so much.
Sometimes in life you have to help yourself first to get what you want. 
Thanks for reply too...I guess your reply and dmil8030's reply pretty much sums it up. The G-Men will find a way to get you in the end...Okay...now where is that country flea market with real people...I hope the GSP doesn't show up there and find a way of charging me to deliver an item to my car in the parking lot...
....Cheers!
The batman airplane instructions are, in my view, a splendid
candidate for inquiry as to other shipping options.
It is not an item I wish to buy,
____________________________________________________________________________________
You'd buy it if you had the original Aurora plastic model kit from the 60's that sells for $4-500 but were missing theoriginal instructions sheet...
Hello 'dasia143',
It's really a multi-part question, isn't it.
<<Are signatures are required for delivery of GSP items >>
GSP items are not unique regarding signatures, so the answer to this is that it depends on how the item is delivered,
-- what shipping company is used. Most little items are handed off to Canada Post so no, it is unlikely you would have to
sign for an item sent that way. Couriers, however, always want a signature.
Then there is the point about whether or not the seller requests a signature. Items over $750 USD in value are required
to have signature confirmation for the seller's protection. A seller can, of course, request it for an item of lesser value:
https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/security/seller-protection
<< ... and what happens if you're not home.>>
The post office will either leave the parcel on your doorstep or leave you a little card which you take to your local outlet.
Couriers don't leave parcels on doorsteps unless you have an agreement with them to do this.
The first time they call and get no answer, they leave a card indicating they will return the next business day.
If no answer the second time, you will have to sort out how to get to their depot to collect your item.
No one here, and for the matter of that not even the GSP seller, can tell you whether a relatively inexpensive item
will be forwarded with Canada Post, CanPar, or some other outfit. It varies. So even ebay cannot tell you for certain.
<< The lack of clarity on this is one of the main reasons I don't buy GSP items.>>
Oh, there's lots more reasons than that. 
. . . Excessively high shipping fees, import charges for low cost items,
poorly repackaged items with damage, broken items, missing pieces, delays, long circuitous routes, items delivered
to wrong addresses, . . . not to mention the colossal hassle of trying to get compensation for any problems.
I do hope, however, that you 'try' to get those sellers to mail the item to you directly with USPS. Even First Class mail
is not particularly cheap coming over the border, but the whole experience is sure to be better, safer, and yes, cheaper.
If enough sellers get requests for direct mail, they might consider at least offering that as an alternate to Canada if not
the rest of the world.
<< CanPar only has one depot very far from where I live, so I won't chance it.>>
I don't blame you a bit. See if you can't get those sellers to send the item to you through the post. If it is something
big and heavy it will have to come Priority, but that will fortunately provide you a tracking number so you can arrange
to have someone available to accept it on the day you know it is out for delivery. If you are sweet and kind, most
sellers will be happy to accommodate you. You can offer them this link:
http://ircalc.usps.com/?country=10054
<< the eBay apologists who tell you all the reasons why you should suck it up and find other ways to get your
collectibles must have their reasons for wanting to put a good face on the GSP, but I can't figure out what it is.>>
I say, - I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a post so much. I applaud your having the courage to say what you
think and the linguistic facility to express it so succinctly. What a deliciously savoury morsel that was.
<< . . I ... was greeted with similar hairsplitting arguments e.g. "Why are you complaining? Canada Post charges
$10 instead of PB's approx. $5 for customs processing. . . .>>
You realize, don't you, that it is pretty much two or three people continually propounding the same view over and over?
Me, I just ignore it. Sure, maybe Pitney-Bowes charges $5 in lieu of $10, - but would I choose to subject myself to the
frustration, not to mention the considerable risks, - over a measly 5 bucks?
Nope.
But in any forum we need a multiplicity of voices and views to keep it interesting and diverse. Just because the same
person keeps repeating the same thing does not therefore make it more right. It would be a sizable error to imagine
that this constitutes the majority opinion solely due to its frequency. Sometimes you have to use your own brains.
As for your keyboard sticker example, - sure, good reason to not to buy it. That seller likely either does not know
she is enrolled in the GSP or has no interest in selling outside the US so doesn't care how her items appear to
international buyers.
That said, if this was the only listing for that item, the thing to do is ask the seller if she would be willing to offer a
much cheaper rate to Canada and remove it from the GSP. You would explain in your request that the GSP causes
the item to cost you over $20 just to mail it. She likely offers 'free shipping' state-to-state and would be shocked
by the GSP cost. They usually are.
<<the “what would you expect—it’s a freight-forwarding program, you can’t always get what you want, etc.” type
responses that seem to dominate.>>
True, but as I say, -- don't confuse frequency with diversity. Moreover, -- you would not want to mistake posts from
sellers who rarely buy with people who do a lot of shopping online. Everyone has an opinion, but you have to do a
bit of sifting. The irony is that this system which they continually seem to endorse will be least likely to affect them.
It was like that from the beginning, -- as you seem to be aware. Those least likely to be affected by the program
were those most heartily praising its attributes. The real users who are having to endure this disaster (said not merely
because the program has been poorly executed but because the unreliability of it as well as the unnecessary expense
to consumers) rarely, though not without exception, have even a scintilla of tolerance for it. Their posts are plentiful,
often scathing, and not always very polite. Clearly most shoppers do not regard the GSP favourably.
<< ... not told they’re ill-informed, have been trying to get out of paying what is rightfully owed to the government, and so forth.>>
I understand your annoyance, I truly do. But would you not agree that people buying internationally need to be made
aware of Canada's $20 import limit? Many people sincerely have no idea of this until they are confronted with their
first request to pay charges. It would be derelict of anyone here to not mention this bit of loathsome information when
someone posts his outrage at being asked to pay more than he expected.
After all, it is not just through the GSP that we may have to pay import costs.
It is our good fortune as online shoppers that Canada Post handles most items and at the same time the costs are not often
tacked on. Shippers such as couriers and Pitney-Bowes are required to do it by law on every item. Until the law is changed
and we, too, can import up to $200 before charges kick in, -- these shipping companies have no choice.
No matter how much we don't like something or don't agree with it, -- there are things in this world and in life that we
must learn to live with.
<<It’s not feasible for me to buy collectibles from the USA anymore because so many are in the program, so I’ve given that up.>>
Whist I can't fault you for feeling that way, -- if you dig in your heels and choose not to buy at all it will ultimately be
you who loses out. That is why I continue to say, . . . Ask the seller to mail it directly.
Obviously you would not rail against the GSP in your request. That would be off-putting. But I have had really good luck
getting sellers to jump through hoops of flames for me. I am always very nice to them, even if they refuse my request.
Not difficult, as I like people and am always nice to everyone in real life.
Griping about that GSP won't make it go away. Throughout all human history nothing was every changed by a lot
of armchair grumbling. Change comes with action. If online shoppers the world over do not want that program
the thing to do is not use it. Buy from those not using the GSP, get those who are to ship directly. Get sellers to
eventually pull out of it.
I suppose futile grousing is the Canadian way. As the saying goes, - "Canadians don't protest, -- they complain."
Whining, however, will not effect change.
<<could it be they want people to accidentally buy the item with the $14 GSP shipping?>>
Yes!! Good heavens, yes! And what's more, people will - for all their complaining - continue to buy GSP items.
I am perennially dismayed that in spite of the pandemic disdain for the existence of the program, the fact is when
people simultaneously deplore it and continue to use it, -- there will never be any change. No one gets to have it
both ways.
<< the GSP is legal, but there is the letter of the law and the spirit, and I think the GSP is mean-spirited indeed.>>
It's expensive, but I don't see it as 'mean-spirited'. A company like that cannot bypass the law to offer Canadians
a break on the taxes. In addition to the charges required by our own country, the fees and charges set up by
Pitney-Bowes for themselves makes the items too expensive. The same way that the courier UPS charges very
high fees on top of the import charges for any international item they handle. People avoid UPS because it is too
expensive.
Clearly what bothers you most is the cost. Keeping that in mind you will best help yourself by searching, browsing,
and buying accordingly. There is no need to just not shop any more, - because you will lose out if you do that.
There is no need to lose out. Just put in some effort to save yourself as much money as possible.
I wish you a conscientiously continued collecting career.
