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.

[andyandted]

Plain and simple. Ebay doesn't care a fig what 26+ million Canadians may want. They are now to cater to Chinese businesses selling high volumes of "junk" and to their large American market. So in order for me to properly put in to words what Ebay thinks of the Canadian market please read the poem enclosed;

THE EBAY DOLDRUMS 

Why oh why ebay,  do you care so little?

We’re all a bit tired of playing second fiddle

We buy, we sell and you only take

Thinking of new policies that give you more money to make

We write and complain, and suggest a better way

But the execs are too busy to come out and play

How long can you stick to the status quo

You have made us stagnant instead of helping our business grow

We’re no longer happy at the back of the bus

C’mon eBay and talk, we have lots to discuss

Why oh whay eBay, do you care so little

We’re sick and tired of playing second fiddle

[00nevermind00]

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@queenezkimo wrote:
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!

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In order to benefit from combined shipping on GSP items, you have to put your items in a cart. Problem is, buyers don't know this because eBay doesn't tell them. Sellers don't know this either because eBay doesn't tell them either. Ebay sometimes doesn't even tell sellers that it has enrolled them into the GSP! They have done a really shameful job of marketing the program in a deceitful manner.

Very few items on eBay are truly unique. It often pays to be patient.

[gorilla-scales]

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@00nevermind00 wrote:

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@queenezkimo wrote:
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!

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In order to benefit from combined shipping on GSP items, you have to put your items in a cart. Problem is, buyers don't know this because eBay doesn't tell them. Sellers don't know this either because eBay doesn't tell them either. Ebay sometimes doesn't even tell sellers that it has enrolled them into the GSP! They have done a really shameful job of marketing the program in a deceitful manner.

Very few items on eBay are truly unique. It often pays to be patient.

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I was in GSP for a year without any problems.. recently they have removed me from the program without any notice or explanation. I cant even figure out how to find the setting for GSP anymore. Anybody know whats up with this?

[marnotom!]

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@gorilla-scales wrote:

I was in GSP for a year without any problems.. recently they have removed me from the program without any notice or explanation. I cant even figure out how to find the setting for GSP anymore. Anybody know whats up with this?

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The fact that you're listing in the "jewelry" category may have triggered an automated response from the GSP bot.

[afantiques]

Also being registered in Canada makes you ineligible

[marnotom!]

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@afantiques wrote:

Also being registered in Canada makes you ineligible

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Good catch.  That could be a problem.  😉

[2014.bohay]

I have purchased a number of items from ebay from USA vendors to be shipped to my address in Western Canada.   I don't mind so much if I purchase an item on the Atlantic coast of USA and the Global Shipping program ships it to Kentucky to be then internationally shipped to me VIA postal service to western Canada.  When I purchase something from the western coast USA and they ship it ground all the way to Kentucky which is on the eastern side of continent, shipping just to Kentucky from California takes about 8 days.   Then they ship it to me by postal service to western Canada.  That is nuts.  Both the postal service and the couriers all offer an easy to use service for international shipments between the USA and Canada.   In my opinion Ebay has lost touch or do not care about the Canadian market.  In the future I will be avoiding as much as possible USA vendors that use the Global shipping programs.

[reallynicestamps]

 Then they ship it to me by postal service to western Canada.  That is nuts.

Your basic premise is wrong.

It's a widely used method of shipping and distribution called the 'hub and spoke' system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoke%E2%80%93hub_distribution_paradigm

If you saw Castaway with Tom Hanks you saw how FedEx uses this. Every parcel goes to a central plant and then is moved in large quantities to smaller centres.

Canada Post and USPS use these too. The Gateway Terminal in Mississaugua processes 70% of all parcels mailed in Canada and its magnitude is impressive.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/transportation/behind-the-scenes-at-canada-posts-largest-proc...

With over 30 years in mail order, I allow 20 days for arrival for anywhere in North America (30 for Asia) and am rarely disappointed and usually pleased.

 In the future I will be avoiding as much as possible USA vendors that use the Global shipping programs.

Probably wise, it's a badly designed, badly implemented and badly run program that is not useful for any buyer or seller of items valued under $100 USD or four pounds in weight.

[fett2002]

I totally agree this GSP is scam and have heard nothing but negative results!!! 

I don't purchase as much these days due to the lousy Cdn dollar vs. the USd ...I will always contact buyer first and ask about shipping...

 If they Do not bother responding ( happens often) then I move on!!!

 If they have opted into this GPS SCAM I usually Do not bother even looking ,it's a real shame that some greedy companies like Ebutt take advantage of us...heck the call centre from Canada connects us to overseas Customer Service!!! I'm sure many lost their jobs and income when ebutt decided to out source this service.

 Ebutt has really changed over the years and all it is a money game to make some very richie riches ...more Rich !!!

there are other sites out there ...check around and always read the fine print!!!!

happy Collecting....??!!?!

[marnotom!]

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@fett2002 wrote:

I totally agree this GSP is scam and have heard nothing but negative results!!! 

If they [sellers] have opted into this GPS SCAM I usually Do not bother even looking ,it's a real shame that some greedy companies like Ebutt take advantage of us...heck the call centre from Canada connects us to overseas Customer Service!!! I'm sure many lost their jobs and income when ebutt decided to out source this service.

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Just curious.  Why do you think the GSP is a "scam"?  This term gets used a fair bit to describe the program, but not too many people actually provide insight into what they mean by this.

[reallynicestamps]

There is no point in using reason with persons who make childish * and vulgar 'jokes' out of names.

Facts are sticks and stones. Names...... well, we all know the schoolyard chants.

*Grade Three in this case, maybe lower.

[trepfra]

My experience with Global is all negative from the 2  to 2-1/2 times the shipping and no difference in delivery time except for slower in many cases

[terminalcity]

I've noticed this:

- Small ticket items (under $50): GSP truly sucks. A rip-off.

- Larger items, weight or price-wise: GSP is (and I hate to say this) OK. Having the duty taken care of is good.

There seems to also be a trend for US shippers to charge triple the actual cost of USPS, wich makes GSP a deal when you consider that via USPS you are going to get hit with duty/brokerage on top of whatever you paid the seller for USPS.

All in all, at least for me, the GSP seems like the lesser of two evils, but only on heavy and/or expensive items.

The real problem here is out terrible border policies. Write your MP to increase the $20 duty-free amount to $300 or $500. That would remove a lot of hassles, and put the GSP out of business.

[barrywilson]

I just placed my first order with this GSP. Chicago, to Kentucky, then to here. My biggest issue is the tracking. I need to know when it is coming to the house so I can have someone there to accept. I work 12 hr graveyards and I can't stay awake for the 8 day time span they give as estimated delivery dates.

[00nevermind00]

It is unlikely that you will be able to track your item.

The GSP marketing promises international tracking but the program doesn't deliver.  In my view, that is called false advertising but eBay seems to think that it's OK.

[dustcanblue]

If  an Item on eBay is to be ship by "Global Shipping Program"  I won't even bother bidding on the items. Never again. It's overprice unclear and slow. Maybe it's time to find other places to shop.

Robert

Very unsatisfied customer.

[gronk35]

Import charges on global shipping is a scam 

will never buy from a seller using this option ,  $91 import charges on a $30 item  made in USA, ridiculous.

This is also unlawfull as made in USA item are duty free under NAFTA,  Americans dont seem to care about this .

Have contacted sellers and they said they were unaware of other options for shipping internationally and have acknowledged that it is hurting their business, so Ebay has probably lied to them as well .

Scam , scam scam .

Avoid at all costs 

Listen up ebay 

[ravingmadbrit]

So 8 playing cards and 2 dice will cost £16.66 to ship

No they won't 

GSP has all but killed overseas trade 

Go ebay!

If only a REAL competior would arise 

[terminalcity]

Seeing as this thread is now 266 pages long, and the program hasn't changed, one could assume that the GSP must be very profitable for the parties on the receiving end of the fees.

[marnotom!]

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@gronk35 wrote:

Import charges on global shipping is a scam 

will never buy from a seller using this option ,  $91 import charges on a $30 item  made in USA, ridiculous.

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Item number?