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

bellyclava83 · ‎08-07-2015

Everyone who has been automatically enrolled in the GSP needs to be equally advised on how to remove themselves from is at the exact same time they have been forced to use this scheme. I as well refuse to purchase any items from any Seller enrolled in the "program" and would be surprised if the Seller is even aware they are enrolled. My previous experience with this was that I had won an action from a Seller using the GSP who wasn't even aware and before bidding we agreed that the shipping difference would be refunded... not the case... the shipping fees charged by Pitney Bowes we transferred to Pitney Bowes directly and only the final value of the auction was sent to the Seller. That said, the Seller and myself had to contact Pitney Bowes (not easy on purpose) and had to have the entire auction canceled to get a refund of the 20 - 30 dollar shipping charges taken away immediately by Pitney Bowes for a simple collectible card weighing a mere 4 grams. What my question is; if the Seller ships the item at their own costs and does not bring the item for shipping at a Pitney Bowes outlet, does Pitney Bowes keep the money for doing absolutely nothing...? Probably. Please take notice of the following instructions on OPTING-OUT OF THE GSP PROGRAM; Opting out If you opt out of the Global Shipping program, you must wait 24 hours before renewing your enrollment. To opt out of the Global Shipping Program: 1. Go to My eBay > Account > Site Preferences. 2. Click the Show link to the right of the Shipping Preferences section. 3. Click the Edit link to the right of Offer the Global Shipping Program. 4. Click Opt Out. 5. Review the information. If you still wish to opt out, click Continue to opt out. If you'd like to opt out of the Global Shipping Program but must wait 24 hours, you can still remove your active listings from the Global Shipping Program right away. To remove a single active listing from the Global Shipping Program: 1. Go to My eBay > Activity > Sell > Active. 2. Select the listing you'd like to change. 3. In the Edit drop-down menu, select Edit selected. 4. In the Add shipping details section, click the Edit selected policy link. 5. In the International shipping section of the Edit shipping policy dialogue box, clear the Send it to the US shipping center, and the rest will be taken care of for you box. 6. Save and confirm your changes. To remove all active listings from the Global Shipping Program: 1. Go to My eBay > Activity > Sell > Active. 2. In the Edit drop-down menu, select Edit all listings. 3. In Edit listings, select all of your listings by checking the box at the top of the left column. 4. In the Edit drop-down menu, select Shipping policy. 5. In the Edit business policies dialogue box, select Change to from the Shipping policy drop-down menu, and then click the edit link next to the shipping policy name. 6. In the International shipping area of the Edit shipping policy dialogue box, clear the Send it to the US shipping center, and the rest will be taken care of for you box. 7. Save, confirm, and submit your changes.

00nevermind00 · ‎08-07-2015

@marnotom! wrote:
I suspect that if you did deal with a GSP specialist, they'd refer you back to the buyer terms and conditions you agreed to, and part of those T&C is that you will not purchase ineligible items through the GSP.

Then why oh why are they allowing ineligible items to be sold through the GSP? As you said later in your post, it is stupid (a rather mild term, if you ask me) to put the onus on the buyer to even suspect that something listed with a program cannot actually be shipped through that same program.

Yet one more proof (as if it was needed! Ha!) that the GSP designers paid less than zero attention to the buyer when setting up this convoluted scheme.

marnotom! · ‎08-07-2015

@00nevermind00 wrote:
Then why oh why are they allowing ineligible items to be sold through the GSP? As you said later in your post, it is stupid (a rather mild term, if you ask me) to put the onus on the buyer to even suspect that something listed with a program cannot actually be shipped through that same program.

A few ideas come to mind:

1. The main idea behind the GSP is to make "international shipping as easy as domestic shipping." Sellers who use the GSP--particularly ones who aren't aware that they're enrolled in the program in the first place--and then have to check the "eligibility" of their items are going through extra hoops that aren't part of the domestic selling process.

1 (a): PitneyBowes is probably concerned that sellers who discover through some sort of "ineligibility alert" that they're enrolled in the GSP would bail out of the program entirely and continue shipping within the United States (or UK) only. Instead those sellers find out after they've shipped the item to Kentucky and a peeved buyer contacts them a week or so later. Not sure if this improves matters any for the seller or PitneyBowes, though.

2. There are just too many loopholes and variations for the listing of items for the GSP to catch them all automatically, assuming that PB's software is compatible with eBay's. A Mickey Mouse switchblade listed under "Collectibles -> Disney" might be missed by the GSP, whereas a GI Joe non-functioning miniature toy rifle might be flagged by the GSP if it's listed in an unexpected category.

I think we've seen in the past how poorly categorized items can get assessed for duty incorrectly. I suspect that PitneyBowes has given up trying to weed out ineligible items on the basis of category listings and simply goes by keywords instead. It also spares Global Shipping Center staff or contractees from making extensive judgement calls (that they may not be qualified to make) on the items they process.

happy_pitbull · ‎08-07-2015

@00nevermind00 wrote:
Very discouraging news for all those of us who wish (pray) for a way to filter out GSP items from our searches. From today's Weekly Chat on the .com boards:

WHERE is ebay getting their data from?? I have yet to find a place on ebay where I can leave feedback on my GSP experiences. EVERYONE I know in Canada, who shops on ebay, will NOT buy from sellers who use GSP.

There are many reasons.... from my experiences alone :

1) tracking sucks and is pretty much non existant once the item enters Canada. Once it enters Canada, you wont see it tracked again until it reaches you.

2) Puts the price up a LOT for unnecessary shipping and import fees that one wouldnt even normally get charged.

3) MOST importantly- they do NOT repack the items carefully, or even as well as the shipper had them packed. Double boxed fragile collectibles are boxed back up in a single box, and of course arrive broken. Sure, I get my money back, but I would much rather have had the item, that is now gone forever thanks to their (GSP's) lazy ways !!

I know first hand the sloppy ways in which they repack their items... I see their packages coming into Canada... all with their big white and blue global shipping stickers stuck to them.... and EVERY SINGLE ONE has been slit open, and re-taped , and NOT neatly. Its looks like someone took a blunt object and tore these open at random spots on the package.. not a nice clean slit along an edge, nope, a ragged messy slit where the package was torn open, so the item could be inspected, then it was taped back up with cheap packing tape. All their parcels are horrible looking, and messy. Some have even been only partially closed back up, with items close to falling out. Flimsy boxes also... and I even seen one that didnt have the new shipping label attached, but rather had the GSP address where it initially went to be repacked..... this then has to be SENT back, and who knows when the buyer ever gets it, if ever.

I will never buy from a seller using GSP.... and wish Ebay would LISTEN to the customers complaints. I guess most items arrive undamaged and in once piece, but most items bought arent fragile and therefor ebay doesnt see a whole lot of refunds ... so thats why ebay doesnt see the mess GSP is making of peoples packages. They are a VERY sloppy company, and cut corners to make big bucks.

I think everyone who uses GSP should take pics of their package before they open it, just to record the condition the package was in. And also, ask the seller to photograph the package right before they mail it out, so then the before and after condition can be compared.

This is one package I had gotten... wasnt repacked like the seller had it at all.......

From the pics you can see how well is was taped, and packed... and yes, the item arrived destroyed....

GSP is a joke... and ebay is totally in the dark the sloppy kind of work they do.

circlingtime · ‎08-09-2015

I often end up searching outside of eBay for a similar item when a seller has import charges. I go to Etsy or search the Internet. Is this what eBay intends? To drive buyers away from eBay?? Because that's what is happening for me. I find Etsy to be far superior to eBay in so many ways. eBay needs to step up their game.

I only like eBay for the Chinese sellers now, they don't have import charges.

I've also been having problems today with the GSP not combining the total cost on multiple items. In my purchase history, it shows the combined shipping total, but when I want to check out, it wants to charge full shipping on every item. And the seller can't change it.

Get rid of the GSP, eBay, or you'll be losing a customer. I will takes business to Etsy, or the Internet. Anywhere but here. eBay has way too many problems and glitches, and their mobile app is way behind Etsy's.

marnotom! · ‎08-09-2015

@circlingtime wrote:

I often end up searching outside of eBay for a similar item when a seller has import charges. I go to Etsy or search the Internet. Is this what eBay intends? To drive buyers away from eBay?? Because that's what is happening for me. I find Etsy to be far superior to eBay in so many ways. eBay needs to step up their game.

What's the overall price difference for the types of items for which you shop? The type of stuff I look for on eBay tends to be two to three times as expensive on Etsy and Amazon, even with shipping and import charges factored in for the eBay listings.

circlingtime · ‎08-09-2015

This is coming from the .com website where they feed the American sellers **bleep** to make them believe the GSP is a good thing. This sounds to me like a typical business tactic to cover up what's really going on. Many Canadian sellers have stated that their international sales have gone up since the GSP, which shows that other countries don't like it either. The reason they had to expand is because they duped so many American sellers into using it. I don't believe anything eBay says, they are a psychopathic corporation.

circlingtime · ‎08-09-2015

Some items or categories can be more expensive, but I always do my research and have often found it cheaper elsewhere. Example from today - starfish, sea urchins and sea shells.
But when I say this about Etsy, doesn't involve price comparison with China sellers, only on American products that can only be found from US sellers.

ripplinbuckethead · ‎08-11-2015

Found this thread while looking for info on the current feelings toward GSP. (I am Canadian and will never buy from a seller who uses it)

245 pages and nearly 2 years later and...looks like everything is exactly the same as it was in 2013. Lots of hatred, frustration and confusion over the program, with very little response from eBay and its representatives. I've also found throughout this time that many U.S. sellers have no idea how unfair GSP is to their potential Canadian customers when I let them know. (partly their own fault, partly eBay's)

Shipping prices have always killed some deals for me here, but ever since GSP was introduced, it went from 'buy, buy, dead, buy, buy' to 'dead, dead, dead, dead, dead...'

mater721 · ‎08-11-2015

"Shipping prices have always killed some deals for me here, but ever since GSP was introduced, it went from 'buy, buy, dead, buy, buy' to 'dead, dead, dead, dead, dead...'"

Hey, that's not true! There might be one "buy" in there...

jjjzahn · ‎08-13-2015

The Global Shipping Program has increased shipping costs dramatically. Things that normally cost 6 or 7 GBP now have a shipping fee of over 13 GBP. ... So, a $14 shipping cost has now risen to almost $26. Shipping a small item worth about $6 or $7 is now not worth it to buy from any global market. It also seems that sellers, once they chose to ship through the GSP, cannot change shipping arrangements.

I do hope that negative comments, concerning GSP, begin to appear in feedback until sellers recognize that GSP is hurting their business. I have switched to sellers offering direct shipping rather than those using GSP.

pierrelebel · ‎08-13-2015

"I do hope that negative comments, concerning GSP, begin to appear in feedback..."

They will be removed immediately by eBay.

That is not the purpose of feedback. Anyone having a problem with an eBay policy should take it with eBay, not punish an innocent seller..

Buyers not wishing to use GSP should simply hit the back button and look elsewhere or, if they have some time to spare, contact the seller and ask of the item could be listed without GSP.

ripplinbuckethead · ‎08-13-2015

"I do hope that negative comments, concerning GSP, begin to appear in feedback until sellers recognize that GSP is hurting their business."

As long as it's very clearly explained (and doesn't get removed by eBay), so they don't think 'but you bought the item from me anyway, so it can't be that bad.' 😛 Might be good in such cases to also send them a private message to explain the comment in more detail.

Really, it's just a shame that we have to do any of this at all...

oragex · ‎08-14-2015

Two listings from the same seller. The exact same item, two listing prices, two shipping prices. The Global Shipping Program charges depend on the item value.

oragex · ‎08-14-2015

and the second listing

pierrelebel · ‎08-14-2015

" The Global Shipping Program charges depend on the item value."

That is correct.

If you import an item for US$20 Canada Customs will charge you less tax than if you import the same item for $30

The "import charge" is a combination of the tax (GST or HST) and brokerage fee (about $4/$5)

marnotom! · ‎08-14-2015

@hystria wrote:

Two listings from the same seller. The exact same item, two listing prices, two shipping prices. The Global Shipping Program charges depend on the item value.

While the import charges are dependent on the item's value, the shipping charges are not. I checked both listings and the seller's charges for shipping within the United States are different, not just the item price. Don't forget that when you purchase a GSP item, you're paying for two sets of shipping charges: the one the seller charges for shipping the item to the Global Shipping Center, and the one that Pitney Bowes charges for shipping that item from the Shipping Center to you.

tch_ca · ‎08-16-2015

I will not buy from ANY seller that uses the GSP. It is a complete ripoff as far as handling fees, taxes and shipping cost. I let EVERY seller who uses the program know it. HERE IS HOW TO OPT OUT.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.html#opt_out

pierrelebel · ‎08-17-2015

We all know by now how GSP works -using Pitney Bowes to consolidate shipments, prepay taxes and brokerage fee and arrange final delivery. Not meant for low priced goods.

If one keeps looking on eBay you will find other well known and well respected American sellers who also prepay taxes and brokerage fee and arrange delivery to Canada (no PO box) through Fed-Ex (Replacement Ltd comes to mind). And yes, Canadian buyers love the service.

tmluk · ‎08-18-2015

This is my first ebay buying experience with Global Shipping Program. My feedback - it is definitely not appropriate for low-price items (i.e. less than CD$50 or so). The total shipping+handling+tax+duty cost me twice what it should. Why am I paying tax and duty on items I am not supposed to pay!!! Furthermore, the shipping time is more than two weeks for a small packet shipment.

I went through the process because I needed the item and liked to try what GSP is all about. Knowing what it is now, I am avoiding all sellers with GSP only option. I am out.