eBay

kalvin@ebay.com · ‎09-26-2013

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.

~Kalvin
eBay.ca Community Manager

kalvin@ebay.com

b_joules · ‎02-19-2016

As a Canadian buyer I really don't like it. From my experience without the program I have very rarely ever paid import fees on moderately priced items (say up to $100). With the program I pay import fees 100% of the time (even on purchases under $20 which are not subject to import fees for Canada).

No brainer, this is a big negative to Canadians buying in the US. I avoid vendors who use it like the plague.

chevolla78 · ‎02-19-2016

I to avoid GSP.

00nevermind00 · ‎02-20-2016

@b_joules wrote:
With the program I pay import fees 100% of the time (even on purchases under $20 which are not subject to import fees for Canada).

The Canadian dollar has sunk like a stone in the past year or so. This means that some items may be over the paltry 20-loony limit even if they are under $20 US.

The problem here is the $20 limit. It hasn't been raised since (I think) the early 80s. I know of nothing else that costs the same now as it did back then. The limit is unenforceable. If Customs were to assess each and every package that is over the limit, the backlog would be horrendous.

3islanders · ‎02-23-2016

Sorry if this question has already been asked, somewhere in the 5200+ previous comments... But do you guys know if sellers who list with GSP are now NOT ALLOWED to change the listing and sell outside of it? I found an item where the listing said the seller ONLY uses GSP and please don't ask them to ship outside of it because this is against eBay policy and they don't want to lose their selling privileges, or something like that. I think s/he is confusing requests for non-GSP shipping with "selling outside of eBay" and am just curious how this is being marketed to sellers to lead them to believe this... Sounds rather manipulative. I have messaged a couple of sellers in the past week with shipping questions and they had no idea what GSP looks like to Canadians.

marnotom! · ‎02-23-2016

@3islanders wrote:

Sorry if this question has already been asked, somewhere in the 5200+ previous comments... But do you guys know if sellers who list with GSP are now NOT ALLOWED to change the listing and sell outside of it? I found an item where the listing said the seller ONLY uses GSP and please don't ask them to ship outside of it because this is against eBay policy and they don't want to lose their selling privileges, or something like that.

As far as I know, it's not so much that sellers aren't allowed to change the listing as much as it's a matter of them not being able to change the listing after the GSP has been applied to it. The seller would have to cancel the listing and relist the item without the GSP attached to it. Some sellers may think that their inability to change a GSP listing has more sinister implications, but it doesn't.

Having said that, this may be Darwin in action, eBay-style. Do you really want to buy from a seller who can't figure out how to ship internationally properly?

afantiques · ‎02-24-2016

The seller can revise a GSP listing that has no bids or is an unbought BIN. Clearly this seller is simply clueless, like so many of them. It may be this seller is fed up with being asked to drop the GSP. This should be sending them a message that they are losing sales. Clearly it is not.

cflfan · ‎02-25-2016

I think its pretty obvious its a rip off My package has been waiting at the Global Center for over a week with no updates.I think its more for US sellers that don't know how to use normal International mail.

pjcdn2005 · ‎02-25-2016

It's for U.S. sellers who are uncomfortable about shipping internationally on their own.

The seller provides the tracking for the item up until it reaches the Kentucky center. From there, it's very common for the item to leave the center and tracking not be updated for a while. Their system regarding tracking doesn't seem to set up very well.

femmefan1946 · ‎02-25-2016

I think its more for US sellers that don't know how to use normal International mail.

Yep.

But it probably is on its way. There is no good reason for GSP/PB to allow the conveyor belt flow to slow or build up.

When it does arrive, if you are not home, the carrier will leave a notice in your mailbox where and when you can pick it up. Bring photo ID with your address.

gunnblade · ‎02-25-2016

Is the GSP mandatory now for all US sellers? I just tried buying some batteries that, when I purchased them, the sellers page listed them as available and willing and able to ship to Canada, with no mention of GSP on the page, and this morning, I received an email saying that because of the GSP, I will not receive my restricted items.

femmefan1946 · ‎02-25-2016

No, it is not mandatory although many sellers either think it is, or are too lazy to learn how to ship without it.

Are the batteries lithium?

There are restrictions on shipping those because, if I remember correctly, they explode or something.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/lithium-batteries-are-dangerous-goods-1162.html

00nevermind00 · ‎02-26-2016

@gunnblade wrote:
Is the GSP mandatory now for all US sellers? I just tried buying some batteries that, when I purchased them, the sellers page listed them as available and willing and able to ship to Canada, with no mention of GSP on the page, and this morning, I received an email saying that because of the GSP, I will not receive my restricted items.

Are you by any chance shopping on a smart phone? Use of the GSP by a seller can be quite difficult to spot when browsing on a phone. If you're looking to actually purchase something, you'd be much better off using a desktop or laptop computer to do your browsing.

majestyk · ‎02-27-2016

@3islanders wrote:
Sorry if this question has already been asked, somewhere in the 5200+ previous comments... But do you guys know if sellers who list with GSP are now NOT ALLOWED to change the listing and sell outside of it? I found an item where the listing said the seller ONLY uses GSP and please don't ask them to ship outside of it because this is against eBay policy and they don't want to lose their selling privileges, or something like that. I think s/he is confusing requests for non-GSP shipping with "selling outside of eBay" and am just curious how this is being marketed to sellers to lead them to believe this... Sounds rather manipulative. I have messaged a couple of sellers in the past week with shipping questions and they had no idea what GSP looks like to Canadians.

I emailed a seller not long ago, who was selling a cheap watch via GSP, and I mentioned to him that the shipping was nuts in relation to the cheap item he was selling. He emailed me back and told me that he did not mean to list that particular item using GSP and would take down the auction and relist it without GSP. And he did.

majestyk · ‎02-27-2016

@cflfan wrote:
I think its pretty obvious its a rip off My package has been waiting at the Global Center for over a week with no updates.I think its more for US sellers that don't know how to use normal International mail.

I get email updates 90% of the time. Every so often I don't but the item still arrives in the same amount of time.

majestyk · ‎02-27-2016

@femmefan1946 wrote:
No, it is not mandatory although many sellers either think it is, or are too lazy to learn how to ship without it.

Are the batteries lithium?
There are restrictions on shipping those because, if I remember correctly, they explode or something.
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/lithium-batteries-are-dangerous-goods-1162.html

I heard about this the other day for the first time. It makes me wonder... Why are the lithium batteries inside peoples wristwatches not exploding?

majestyk · ‎02-27-2016

@femmefan1946 wrote:
No, it is not mandatory although many sellers either think it is, or are too lazy to learn how to ship without it.

Are the batteries lithium?
There are restrictions on shipping those because, if I remember correctly, they explode or something.
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/lithium-batteries-are-dangerous-goods-1162.html

GSP is very enticing to US sellers, and I don't blame them for using it. Once their item is delivered to Pitney Bowes, their obligation has ended. They don't have to worry about customs or their package getting lost in a foreign country. That's a nice incentive.

afantiques · ‎02-28-2016

Why are the lithium batteries inside peoples wristwatches not exploding?

Wristwatch batteries are not lithium-ion.

The li-ion problem is one of those could happen in a blue moon problems.

People have run out of obvious dangers so they go looking for them.

mahler7575 · ‎02-28-2016

I just had my last run-in with this program. I have had to file damage claims in the past because of box cutters being run through rare books and now, an irreplaceable item has completely vanished. I called Ebay, PB and USPS (three days on the phone) inquiring about the item's whereabouts and I was issued a refund without my opening a case. I wanted some help with finding the item, not the refund.

queenezkimo · ‎02-29-2016

I just paid out my butt for these fees on two items that state combined shipping! How do I go about getting that shipping refunded to me?! That's $44 that I didn't have to pay when the seller said combined shipping, I am disappointed and they told me that they can't even issue partial refund, is there anything eBay can do about this?! *sigh*

Coming from experience, I sold a call of duty juggernog fridge new in box for $36 shipping including tracking so there's no way it costs that much to ship my two makeup sample lots. They're only powder or creams no bigger than a dime!

queenezkimo · ‎02-29-2016

Surprisingly you can change the listing info. Within 24 hrs left of an auction you opt out of GSP. I am peeved off and can I just call eBay and have them refund me the shipping charges? I feel scammed!