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

arlene_v · ‎06-22-2015

I don't see that at all. I tried a couple of searches on .ca and I see the gsp sellers along with all of the other sellers. What specific searches are you seeing this on and do you have any extra parameters checked off?

Try 14k pocket watch as a search string on the .ca site ... using the default search and choosing AUCTIONS, and then filtering by Most recently listed .... I get 96 listings with not a single GSP listing among them.

On the .com site I get 193 listings, with the very first listing being a GSP listing ...and several others show on the same page.

Sorry I am a bit rushed for time and am going on a business trip but will back over the weekend.

I have replicated similar search results over and over just using the default search on both sites for various terms and repeatedly the GSP items don't show up on the .ca site.

00nevermind00 · ‎06-22-2015

@arlene_v wrote:

I don't see that at all. I tried a couple of searches on .ca and I see the gsp sellers along with all of the other sellers. What specific searches are you seeing this on and do you have any extra parameters checked off?
Try 14k pocket watch as a search string on the .ca site ... using the default search and choosing AUCTIONS, and then filtering by Most recently listed .... I get 96 listings with not a single GSP listing among them.

On the .com site I get 193 listings, with the very first listing being a GSP listing ...and several others show on the same page.

Sorry I am a bit rushed for time and am going on a business trip but will back over the weekend.

I have replicated similar search results over and over just using the default search on both sites for various terms and repeatedly the GSP items don't show up on the .ca site.

You can also try searching for "coffee maker". In order to weed out all the Asian sellers (since they are not relevant to this GSP-related query), you can set your search parameters to "North America". Then scroll down, down, down. You'll find absolutely no GSP items. This in a category that used to be shock-full of them.

If you search for a specific item number, it will appear even if it is a GSP item. But searching by key words will no longer return any GSP items on the .ca site. At least that's how things seem to be at the moment.

pjcdn2005 · ‎06-22-2015

Both the coffee maker and watch searches had the results that you both said they would. When I did a different search yesterday, I saw the gsp on .ca but today when I do the same search, the gsp listings are gone. That's quite bizarre.

00nevermind00 · ‎06-22-2015

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
Both the coffee maker and watch searches had the results that you both said they would. When I did a different search yesterday, I saw the gsp on .ca but today when I do the same search, the gsp listings are gone. That's quite bizarre.

What happens if you try those searches again today? For me (and it seems to be true for Arlene as well) GSP items were already gone from .ca searches yesterday.

GSP items still show up if you search on .com so make sure that you are on .ca if you don't want to see them. I sure would like to know if this is a permanent change or just another unannounced "test".

marnotom! · ‎06-22-2015

@arlene_v wrote:
In this thread on the US seller forum a seller shows an example of what info they receive re mailing an item purchased through the GSP.
http://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/quot-Opted-In-Again-quot-against-my-wishes-and-settings/m-p/241...

Interesting. A comment on that thread (from Larry of kariandlarrysales, with whom I worked a bit on determining some details of the GSP back in the day) suggests that the buyer's address showing up on a GSP sale may be a pretty recent development.

00nevermind00 · ‎06-23-2015

@marnotom! wrote:
Interesting. A comment on that thread (from Larry of kariandlarrysales, with whom I worked a bit on determining some details of the GSP back in the day) suggests that the buyer's address showing up on a GSP sale may be a pretty recent development.

If that piece of information is indeed now given to the seller, that's likely going to lead to many more GSP items being sent directly to buyers who will have paid all the GSP charges and who may have to pay customs charges again. That's sure to be a hit with buyers! (/sarcasm.) Given how many sellers and buyers still don't understand the program at all, this is going to be one big mess.

I would love to be a fly on the wall in those corner offices at eBay Inc. right now, because it sure looks like there is a lot of GSP tinkering going on at the moment. On the selling side, it seems that GSP sellers now have access to the buyer's address. And from reading the .com boards, it also looks like at least some undeliverable items are now being returned to the seller instead of being held for resale by whatever current ID the GSP people are using. I've also seen GSP sellers complain that money has been taken out of their Paypal account (rather than simply temporarily frozen) after a buyer opened a case. But I can't discount that they may simply be confused.

And on the buying side, the recent changes on .ca have now been extensively discussed. No "import charges" on items under C$50 (rather than the legal C$20) although it is still unclear whether they charges are waived (would eBay/PB actually eat those? unlikely!) or if they are being folded into the shipping price. But you now have to go to .com to find those GSP items, due to the other major change which is the apparent removal of all GSP items from searches on .ca.

These are major changes, not minor tweaks. Ebay owes its customers (who are the sellers and buyers on the site) the courtesy of letting them know what is going on. At least that's what you'd think.

downsizing2018 · ‎06-27-2015

I too have always avoided sellers who use the GSP - however I had a friend who wanted a $130.00 cape - she was unable to purchase the cape through a communication problem, and so asked me to buy it for her - and I agreed to. The seller used the GSP and the fees quoted were if I remember correctly $35.00.

Unfortunately I was unable to buy the cape for my friend because every time I tried to pay I got error messages telling me to contact the seller. I did contact the seller, and she had no idea how to fix the situation, told me flatly that she did not ship to Canada, and was going to report me for not paying for the item. I appealed and won the case against the seller for non payment, - but my point the seller enrolled in a plan and had no idea what it was, or how it operated, what the rates were.....

Definitely reinforced my choice to not buy for GSP'ers!

marnotom! · ‎06-27-2015

@sistersweird wrote:

I was unable to buy the cape for my friend because every time I tried to pay I got error messages telling me to contact the seller. I did contact the seller, and she had no idea how to fix the situation, told me flatly that she did not ship to Canada, and was going to report me for not paying for the item. I appealed and won the case against the seller for non payment, - but my point the seller enrolled in a plan and had no idea what it was, or how it operated, what the rates were.....

Definitely reinforced my choice to not buy for GSP'ers!

Strikes me as being yet another case of the GSP being used by a seller who had no idea that it was being applied to their listings. They may have opted into it through a misleading click-through when agreeing to an update to the .com terms of service.

I suspect this seller had their payment preferences set-up to block payments from PayPal users who do not hold U.S. accounts.

Sounds to me as though you and your friend were better off not dealing with what appears to be one of the scarier sellers out there.

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎06-27-2015

The tracking of items sold using the GSP is what I find more frustrating. Tracking just doesn't seem to get updated as it should - or at least how regular mail items tend to. I have an item sitting in KY right now and it's been there with no update since Tuesday... Perhaps it has moved on already, but I do worry there may be a problem...

Is it common to see items not updated for so long with the GSP? A straight USPS item is updated multiple times a day in my experience.

Also, when the program was first started I was getting emails from Canada Post saying the parcel has been transferred to them and was on its way to me once it had crossed the border. But the last 4 or 5 times using the GSP I've not get any correspondence from CP at all. Is this still a thing they do? Do we get any tracking details or updates now once items reach Canada?

reallynicestamps · ‎06-29-2015

But tracking is irrelevant to the buyer.

If the item does not turn up in a reasonable amount of time, open an Item Not Received Dispute.

If the seller (or the GSP) cannot prove that the item has been delivered, you are refunded.

The problem is when the item shows up a few days afterwards and the embarrassed buyer is left with the ethical dilemma of how to return the item to the seller (or the GSP) because he can't keep both the item and the money.

The real problem with the GSP is that sellers wanted to have the protection of tracking against dishonest or impatient buyers who made claims of non-delivery.

The GSP protects the seller against these claims, because he only has to show delivery to Kentucky, after which responsibility for delivery is taken by the GSP and their sub-contractors.

If you want cheaper shipping, don't demand tracking which does nothing to speed delivery, nothing to ensure delivery, and nothing to help you in a Dispute.

If your item doesn't show up within 20 days from purchase, open a Dispute and get your money back. Until then, accept that it will show up and relax.

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎06-29-2015

Tracking is certainly relevant to me when it's offered and I'm paying for it. Money back or no money back, I would just like to get my ordered items on time and as soon as possible. Having to mess about with refunds and lost packages is not a fun time and I'd rather not have to resort to that.

I did not "demand" tracking. I bought the item, tracking was part of the deal.

I don't really consider 6 days of not being updated on the status or location of the package tracking at all.

00nevermind00 · ‎06-29-2015

But tracking is irrelevant to the buyer.

Tracking is very relevant when the shipping method is advertised thus: "No additional import charges at delivery! Includes international tracking. Learn more." And it is even more relevant when one click on the "Learn more" link will reveal that the buyer can track his/her item from the beginning of its journey all the way to the end. If the buyer can't track the package, then the GSP is not delivering what it promised (is anyone here surprised? I didn't think so.)

The problem is when the item shows up a few days afterwards and the embarrassed buyer is left with the ethical dilemma of how to return the item to the seller (or the GSP) because he can't keep both the item and the money.

How can that be an ethical dilemma when that is precisely how the system is designed to operate? Why should the buyer be made to feel bad because of yet one more design flaw in a program that isn't exactly short on them? Would it be any better if the item was returned to the seller and if the seller also got a refund from PB?

Need I remind you of this other advertising claim by the program: "Fast and safe shipping"?

Considering how buyer unfriendly this program is in so many ways, any time a buyer can get a freebie (something which I'm sure doesn't happen all that often) I say more power to him/her! Don't forget that this is a program that doesn't refund overpayments, doesn't prevent sellers from listing items that can't be shipped on to the buyer, doesn't force sellers to include essential pieces of information such as the country of origin, advertises "international priority shipping" (in what looks like a deliberate attempt to confuse matters) but actually uses the cheapest possible service, and so on.

A plague on all their houses!

Anonymous · ‎06-29-2015

I have read through many of the comments here on the board. I too would like would like the fees that go to Pitney Bowes separated and so that I know how much my duties are. I deal in duties across the border in my job and I fine some of the duties that Canadians have been paying should not be charged. Not everything that is sold to Canadians have duties on them. I really don't think much research has been done, before they implemented the GSP. I it takes so much longer to get your item. I get things quicker when the seller sends it directly without using GSP. It's pretty bad when I can buy something in Washington and because seller is using GSP it has to travel all the way to Erlanger Kentucky just to come back this way again and so how that's faster. Definitely not.

idonline · ‎06-30-2015

So I purchased my first big ticket item last month, a used 2012 Mac Book Pro for a just over $2000. I selected the global shipping option for delivery and sent my payment through.

The seller had great feedback and had sold quite a few of these models, the item had an estimated delivery dates of 2-5 business days so I figured it would be 5 days being that the item was in California and I live in Vancouver BC Canada.

Once the payment cleared the seller shipped it on May 22 and the tracking number was provided, here is where the **bleep**ty part starts when you select the GSP. California is directly below British Columbia Canada (17hrs or 1750km away).

On May 26th it first appeared in Cincinnati Ohio (37hrs or 3965kms away from me) **bleep**??

I asked to see the tracking info on my package and this is what I got,

Arrived at Global Shipping Center

May-25-15, 07:25 AM, ERLANGER, KY 41025

In Transit-Arrived at USPS Facility

May-25-15, 01:48 AM, CINCINNATI, OH 45235

In Transit-Arrived at Hub

May-25-15, 00:48 AM, CINCINNATI, OH 45235

In Transit-Departed USPS Facility

May-23-15, 02:48 AM, LAS VEGAS, NV 89120

In Transit-Arrived at USPS Facility

May-22-15, 20:29 PM, LAS VEGAS, NV 89120

In Transit-Departed Post Office

May-22-15, 17:40 PM, PAHRUMP, NV 89048

In Transit-Acceptance

May-22-15, 16:39 PM, PAHRUMP, NV 89048

It went from Nevada to Ohio to Kentucky where it crossed the border into Canada into Mississauga then it disappeared. Neither the domestic nor the global tracking number could be found in the Canada Post tracking database. Day 6 nothing, day 10 nothing....16 days after I bought my dream laptop it arrived on the Monday after numerous emails to the seller about its where abouts. He replied with this"

Wait it gets better, I had prebooked a vacation and had to leave on the Saturday, two weeks after purchasing my item. I had to leave town and would be gone for three weeks and low and behold after I left the item was delivered to my post office on the Monday of the following week. (2-5 days my !) Make it a week for delivery I thought, its a US to Canada transaction (like the other 145 transactions I've made) but for it to take 16 days using ebays wonderful new shipping service???? Hell to the NO for any future purchases. They sent my purchase to Kentucky then it disappeared into Ontario, what a nerve racking experience.

DO NOT USE THE GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a long time member and more cautious buyer now.

IDonline

idonline · ‎06-30-2015

Even though it took two weeks plus a day to deliver my laptop, when it came to leaving feedback regarding the shipping I couldn't. The reason being was that the item was successfully delivered????

No disrespect to the seller but ebay has made a huge FAIL on the shipping side of things. Plus I can't warn others about my experience? Fail again.

arlene_v · ‎06-30-2015

It's too bad that buyers can't leave publically viewable feedback re the Global Shipping Program that is separate from the seller feedback.

It would help others to be warned in advance about the mediocre (at best) and slow service provided by this overhyped and overpriced shipping program if there were a way to review the GSP.

00nevermind00 · ‎06-30-2015

@idonline wrote:

you selected ebays global shipping so we have no control over the shipping system
we ship it to there hub then they ship it to you there was other shipping options you could have selected
for Canada which would have gotten to you alot faster than ebays global shipping
please let me know what the postal service says re holding it & if need be give me there number and i ask them not to ship it back

This is a common misconception among sellers. They often do not realize that when they select the GSP as a shipping option, it overrides any other option they may have for the GSP coutries. They think the buyer chose to use the GSP but the only choice a buyer has is to either go ahead and purchase with the GSP or hit the back button.

Yet another instance of the GSP not being explained properly to sellers. Was this done by accident or by design? I know what my answer to that question is. Especially since there are a number of sellers who don't even know that they are "offering" the GSP.

(As an aside, "offering the GSP" gets my vote for oxymoron of the year!)

adamcarlseventyfive · ‎06-30-2015

I contacted a seller several weeks ago about purchasing an item and asked if I could get regular USPS shipping rather than the offered GSP option. The guy said no problem, "just select the shipping option you want".... The only option available was the GSP, the USPS option that he thought was available vanished when started using the GSP.

GSP has it's place I guess, but it's difficult when even the sellers don't know how it works for their customers.

pjcdn2005 · ‎06-30-2015

Last night I was reading a post from a U.S. seller who also stated that he gave his buyers gsp as well as first class international options so I wonder how many other sellers believe that they are doing that.

chucksrevenge · ‎06-30-2015

I don't know if this has been answered anywhere, but I'm having a bad tracking issue. I've dealt with GSP several times with no issues (buying from the USA into Canada) and this time, once my package arrived in Erlanger, I stopped getting any tracking info. I have 0 info after UPS delivered it and it's been a week with no updates.

Has this happened to anyone and is there any way to find out where my package is?