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.

[plumbob123-123]

Not me, I see GSP, I'm out.

[marnotom!]

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@plumbob123-123 wrote:

Not me, I see GSP, I'm out.

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That's odd.  Both purchases you're on record as having made this month are GSP listings.  Did you and your seller work out how to get around it?

[portfelt]

You can complain to eBay all you like and your efforts will be fruitless. They have contractual obligations with  PB and cannot modify or cancel the deal without monetary compensation.  The real culprit here is our Federal government. The reality is that a $20 import ceiling is out of date and needs to be modified to bring it inline with US import exemptions of $200. The army of bureaucrats that is required to divert every parcel worth $20 and less than $100 is not worthwhile and would cost the government more money than it's worth. I can understand a Liberal government would opt for the status quo, but it's the PC's who are running the show. Write to your federal MP and voice your displeasure with the inaction on reforming the custom's requirements when importing from the USA.

[femmefan1946]

The address for your MP is

House of Commons

OTTAWA ON K1A 0A6

You don't need a stamp. Put OHMS where the stamp normally would be. This is called 'free franking' and the letters stand for On Her Majesty's Service.

[mikejavo]

Hopefully plumbob and the seller did find a way around it.  GSP is complete garbage.  USPS and Canada Post have never let me down in the past, so why do we need this nonsense now.  I just made my first and last "unwilling" GSP purchase, which is why I'm here, to get some answers by reading other people's horrible stories.  I hope people at eBay and GSP have been reading ALL 163 pages of this thread.

For me, $31 on a small purchase suddenly became $68 with all your minimal fees and DOUBLE shipping charges.

This is a complete rip off.  Sorry eBay, this is unacceptable, and not good at all for the community.  Buyers just have to be that much more aware, I wish I was.

[tesserac]

Just wanted to add my comments regarding the issues I've had with the GSP.

First, some background: I've been using eBay since 1999. I use to make between 8-10 purchases of over $50 a year (mostly related to computers and some of the stuff I collect), but this has gone down to 4-5 as items become available in Canada much more quickly than before.

Last summer, I had my first encounter with the Global Shipping Program after purchasing some relatively obscure collectibles (plastic miniatures for a discontinued wargame). I got hit with a $40 fee on top of the $75 I was expecting to pay for the items and shipping. Since then, I've drastically cut back on my eBay purchases -- I only do it when I've explored all the other possibilities. After a recent experience, I'm now considering cutting it out completely.

Why? Here's a message I sent to the seller after locating some out-of-print DVDs of Japanese films:

FYI, the Global Shipping Program (GSP) automatically adds shipping to the GSP processing center, import duties, federal taxes and provincial taxes, which will add about $35 to this item. Standard shipping to Canada should be in the $15-18 range."

----------------------------------------------------------------

Setting aside the fact this seller has no idea on how to treat customers, it illustrates how the GSP is HURTING eBay:

1) Lost sales on current items

2) Decline in future sales for a growing portion of non-U.S. users

I realize that the GSP is probably here to stay, at least for eBay users in the U.S.A. There is a simple solution, however. Either:

- Have new listings opt out of the GSP by default

- Make it easier for sellers to opt out of the GSP after a sale (no need to mutually cancel a listing, then relist without the GSP applied)

[mwc1942]

"That's odd.  Both purchases you're on record as having made this month are GSP listings." 

What appears odd is that I find just one purchase by plumbob123-123 for the month of May and secondly how you tell if the item was a GSP listing? 

[paulwk]

The GSP brings absolutely no value to the buyer. With the GSP it takes longer to receive the package. How do you call it when someone takes your money, but doesn't give anything in return? Please provide an option to the buyer to opt out from this program. I stopped buying from US based sellers because of this.

[walker0017]

mwc1942 wrote:

"That's odd.  Both purchases you're on record as having made this month are GSP listings." 

What appears odd is that I find just one purchase by plumbob123-123 for the month of May and secondly how you tell if the item was a GSP listing?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I wholly agree with you, I do not know where marnotom! got his information from as I also only see 1 purchase in May. But I guess from the way he carries on since he so experienced as a eBay buyer (2 purchases according to the official record) he must access to secret insider buying information.  🙂

[luminites]

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@mwc1942 wrote:

"That's odd.  Both purchases you're on record as having made this month are GSP listings." 

What appears odd is that I find just one purchase by plumbob123-123 for the month of May and secondly how you tell if the item was a GSP listing? 

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Advanced search by bidder (check "include completed listings"): 

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/ebayadvsearch/?_sofindtype=3&_kw=ebayadvsearch&_since=15&_sop=12&_ipg=50

You'll see the 2 purchases there.

[mwc1942]

"You'll see the 2 purchases there."

Never stop learning ............. thanks

[walker0017]

luminites wrote

Advanced search by bidder (check "include completed listings"): 

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/ebayadvsearch/?_sofindtype=3&_kw=ebayadvsearch&_since=15&_sop=12&_ipg=50

You'll see the 2 purchases there.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You may see 2 purchases but the date on the left is not really accurate as I looked up mine and it was giving an end date in June and mine was more detailed. His earlier of the two purchases show from that seller was made in 11 Oct last year according to  the basic list. It also seems to be that if you look up someone else's ID you will not get as accurate information as your own which makes sense to keep snoopers out. Either way he only made one purchase within the past month. If in doubt ask him directly. 

[luminites]

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@walker0017 wrote:

luminites wrote

Advanced search by bidder (check "include completed listings"): 

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/ebayadvsearch/?_sofindtype=3&_kw=ebayadvsearch&_since=15&_sop=12&_ipg=50

You'll see the 2 purchases there.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You may see 2 purchases but the date on the left is not really accurate as I looked up mine and it was giving an end date in June and mine was more detailed. His earlier of the two purchases show from that seller was made in 11 Oct last year according to  the basic list. It also seems to be that if you look up someone else's ID you will not get as accurate information as your own which makes sense to keep snoopers out. Either way he only made one purchase within the past month. If in doubt ask him directly. 

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The dates are accurate. The link only shows purchases for the last 30 days.

The Oct 11, 2013 transaction was a different transaction. The seller only leaves feedback after the buyer does -- and plumbob hasn't left feedback for the most recent purchase.

Before receiving the Oct 11, 2013 feedback, plumbob left the seller feedback on Sept 30. If you look at the seller's feedback profile, you'll see the Sept 30 feedback on page 6 along with the item's title ("pin stripe...") -- which isn't the same as the May 17, 2014 purchase ("511..."). So that's 2 purchases for this month.

[walker0017]

luminites wrote:

The dates are accurate. The link only shows purchases for the last 30 days.

The Oct 11, 2013 transaction was a different transaction. The seller only leaves feedback after the buyer does -- and plumbob hasn't left feedback for the most recent purchase.

Before receiving the Oct 11, 2013 feedback, plumbob left the seller feedback on Sept 30. If you look at the seller's feedback profile, you'll see the Sept 30 feedback on page 6 along with the item's title ("pin stripe...") -- which isn't the same as the May 17, 2014 purchase ("511..."). So that's 2 purchases for this month.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ok, so why the disconnect between that page and the one that comes up when you select his profile and choose last month. Just for a check pull up mine and tell me how many categories are listed and how many purchases I have made in the last 30 days.

[luminites]

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@walker0017 wrote:

@luminites wrote:

The dates are accurate. The link only shows purchases for the last 30 days.

The Oct 11, 2013 transaction was a different transaction. The seller only leaves feedback after the buyer does -- and plumbob hasn't left feedback for the most recent purchase.

Before receiving the Oct 11, 2013 feedback, plumbob left the seller feedback on Sept 30. If you look at the seller's feedback profile, you'll see the Sept 30 feedback on page 6 along with the item's title ("pin stripe...") -- which isn't the same as the May 17, 2014 purchase ("511..."). So that's 2 purchases for this month.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ok, so why the disconnect between that page and the one that comes up when you select his profile and choose last month. Just for a check pull up mine and tell me how many categories are listed and how many purchases I have made in the last 30 days.

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Ok, so why the disconnect between that page and the one that comes up when you select his profile and choose last month. 

What disconnect? Are you referring to his feedback profile? Plumbob hasn't left feedback for the May 17 transaction, which is why the seller hasn't left any feedback for him. The seller leaves feedback after his buyer does.

Just for a check pull up mine and tell me how many categories are listed and how many purchases I have made in the last 30 days.

8 purchases from non-private listings. Private listings will not show up when you do a search by bidder, so you may have more than 8 purchases.

Coins & Paper Money 
Toys & Hobbies

I didn't include the subcategories.

[walker0017]

luminites wrote:

8 purchases from non-private listings. Private listings will not show up when you do a search by bidder, so you may have more than 8 purchases.

Coins & Paper Money 
Toys & Hobbies

I didn't include the subcategories.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There were actually only 7 I did for the last month, but the headings were Item, Start, End, Price, Title, High Bidder and Seller which was also different from his information. It could be also as you state based upon feedback dates so who knows.

[mwc1942]

"Either way he only made one purchase within the past month. "

We both learned something tonight:

1. "luminites" is right, there were 2 purchases in May, just confirmed again.

2. "manrnotom!" was also correct and not surprised, have been corrected more than once by him.

Glad "luminites" replied first to set the record straight or "marnotom!" would have done it to me again .....  and to you.

[luminites]

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@walker0017 wrote:

@luminites wrote:

8 purchases from non-private listings. Private listings will not show up when you do a search by bidder, so you may have more than 8 purchases.

Coins & Paper Money 
Toys & Hobbies

I didn't include the subcategories.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There were actually only 7 I did for the last month, but the headings were Item, Start, End, Price, Title, High Bidder and Seller which was also different from his information. It could be also as you state based upon feedback dates so who knows.

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It's not for the last month. It's for the last 30 days. That's why I see 8 -- your April 28 purchase:

0***7( 407)

US $19.95

1

28-Apr-14 12:21:21 EDT

[daddyphatsacks]

Item Total:		$25.00 USD
Sales Tax:
Shipping:		$3.00 USD
Seller discount or charges:		$0.00 USD
Total amount:		-$28.00 USD (equals -$31.29 CAD)

Riddle me this Pitney Bowes: This is what i paid for a cd sent from the states. Normally I wouldn't even get charged an import fee, but ill bite. Enter the government of Canada's Duty and Taxes estimator: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html

Enter the $31.29 CAD amount in there after selecting Electronics & Media, and Pre-recorded CDs, and NAFTA. What does the estimated duty say? For my province, it says $1.56.

Lets not even talk about being charged twice for shipping, removing the original sellers packaging to crush down and ship in the smallest form-factor (unprotected), and the annoyance of the added wait while your cd is shipped to the other side of the country, then shipped back the other way to me.... So what do I get charged from PB?

1	Import charges		$6.72 USD
Amount	$6.72 USD

[daddyphatsacks]

Another CD: Express Checkout Payment Sent Completed Details -$142.50 USD

Converted to CAD and put into the government of Canada's Duty and Taxes estimator: Your estimated duty and taxes are CAN $7.80.

What does PB charge me?
Express Checkout Payment Sent Completed Details -$35.75 USD
(including $15 shipping, after I already paid $3 to the seller, so $20.75 import fees)

Fraudulent Charges