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

pierrelebel · ‎01-13-2014

"Such inconsistencies lead me to avoid the GSP. I would advise others to do likewise."

Most Canadian buyers have reached the same conclusion, for similar and different reasons.

arlene_v · ‎01-13-2014

As long as you don't use the GSP you can appeal that charge should it erroneously be applied

@pierrelebel wrote:
"When it comes to taxes and duty I prefer to trust my own government agency"

I agree in principal.

However, how do you explain that same agency telling us there is 13% tax in Ontario (HST) and 5% tax (GST) on basic food when we all know basic grocery (bread, vegetables, etc) are GST/HST tax exempt?

!

kxeron · ‎01-13-2014

@pierrelebel wrote:
"When it comes to taxes and duty I prefer to trust my own government agency"

I agree in principal.

However, how do you explain that same agency telling us there is 13% tax in Ontario (HST) and 5% tax (GST) on basic food when we all know basic grocery (bread, vegetables, etc) are GST/HST tax exempt?

If you read my previous post, this is a case of trusting computers' abilities too much. I see computers as a tool, the accuracy of the tool is how well it is designed, to trust it absolutely is like trusting a hammer to never fail — for all you know the head of that hammer can fly off at any time, the handle may split or otherwise fail. Computers and the software therein has many parts, parts that can and do fail (in fact, the majority of failures of computers aren't crashes, but rather output of bad figures)

This is why you can't trust calculators beyond just an estimate and that any official process or procedure must be followed along to determine the real charges and so forth. The CRA and CBSA both know the process well, but even their online tools can be subject to flaws due to the nature of software. Software is programmed in logic structures, often times in those rules of logic there can be things omitted like possible exceptions, etc.

This is why again, software needs a venue always to be challenged and people smart enough to challenge it and not take say, an eBay invoice as an absolute truth of the universe or even an online CBSA calculator to be an absolute truth.

marnotom! · ‎01-13-2014

@mater721 wrote:

What was the driving force behind this program? I honestly cannot believe it was Canadian buyers requesting this to "make shopping easier". The 2nd and third paragraph of the GSP description made me laugh.

Not sure what description you're referring to, but the idea behind the GSP was to make international shipping seem as straightforward as domestic shipping for US sellers who either haven't figured out how to do it themselves, don't want to do it themselves, or figure that it's some cesspool of things waiting to bite you just below the tailbone.

What you're likely reading is some marketing hype which may be true in some circumstances. Larger, more-expensive items may see a cost benefit when shipped through the GSP versus the postal system (scroll up a ways to see my links to the coffee maker listings) but the rub is that most international buyers don't buy larger items on eBay.

The fact is, just about any premium shipping service is going to be expensive for small, modestly-priced items that are viable to ship as oversized letters (First Class International / Small Packet). That's just the nature of the beast.

mater721 · ‎01-13-2014

I appreciate your response to my questions re: bid vs buy. So it may be possible that I am charged an extra $4 on an item of <$20 value? An extra 20% cost? If it works out that way, I certainly consider that gouging. Multiply that by a bunch of purchases each year, and it adds up. Any info on how this program was initiated?

Regarding Canada Border Services – in all the purchases (not a lot I know, but…) I have made on ebay, I have never been charged duty. Never. So my chances of being charged duty go from (maybe… see “may not bother”) to 100%. My “argument” revolves around probability of cost going up, not what is subject to what.

In short, it is very unlikely I will buy from sellers using GSP because on probabilities (and experience) my costs will go up.

arlene_v · ‎01-13-2014

@mater721 wrote:

Regarding Canada Border Services – in all the purchases (not a lot I know, but…) I have made on ebay, I have never been charged duty. Never. So my chances of being charged duty go from (maybe… see “may not bother”) to 100%. My “argument” revolves around probability of cost going up, not what is subject to what.

In short, it is very unlikely I will buy from sellers using GSP because on probabilities (and experience) my costs will go up.

Spot on!

Not only will you pay tax 100% of the time on any eligible item over $20, you will likely also be charged duty on items that may or may not be subject to duty (depending on which sites you wish to believe!)

Basically you are guaranteed to be on the losing end of every possible grey area, 100% of the time, with no recourse to appeal.

How is that for a fun shopping experience!

Way to go Ebay!!

marnotom! · ‎01-13-2014

@mater721 wrote:

I appreciate your response to my questions re: bid vs buy. So it may be possible that I am charged an extra $4 on an item of <$20 value? An extra 20% cost? If it works out that way, I certainly consider that gouging. Multiply that by a bunch of purchases each year, and it adds up. Any info on how this program was initiated?

Regarding Canada Border Services – in all the purchases (not a lot I know, but…) I have made on ebay, I have never been charged duty. Never. So my chances of being charged duty go from (maybe… see “may not bother”) to 100%. My “argument” revolves around probability of cost going up, not what is subject to what.

In short, it is very unlikely I will buy from sellers using GSP because on probabilities (and experience) my costs will go up.

As with any eBay purchase, though, it's a good idea to take the total cost into consideration and decide if it's still worth purchasing. When I lived in a very remote location, I tried sourcing on eBay some of the items I liked purchasing on my visits into civilization and concluded that the shipping price simply didn't make it cost-effective. You have to decide if the price of the item plus the shipping and import charges make sense as a whole.

What often makes the GSP a deal-breaker for smaller items is actually the seller's own price for shipping the item domestically, as the GSP shipping charges are actually the seller's charge for shipping the item to the Global Shipping Centre in Kentucky plus the charge for shipping the item from Kentucky to you. If a seller offers "free" domestic shipping, it can sometimes make a considerable difference. If you haven't already found my post comparing the two coffee maker listings, here they are:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm//321293485711

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/251365980862

As for the GSP adding costs for import/export clearance, if you haven't already read the GSP terms and conditions for buyers, you may wish to do so as it gives you some idea where that four bucks would be going. All I can say is that it's a bargain compared to what you'd get if you had an item shipped through services such as FedEx Ground or UPS Standard.

Having said that, when you get sellers of action figurines using the GSP, it strikes me that this seller hasn't done much if any international selling in their eBay careers and probably has other issues that would make me hesitant to do business with them. Also keep in mind that some sellers with GSP have accidentally opted into it and may have no idea how the program works.

rick31797 · ‎01-13-2014

@arlene_v wrote:
@mater721 wrote:

Regarding Canada Border Services – in all the purchases (not a lot I know, but…) I have made on ebay, I have never been charged duty. Never. So my chances of being charged duty go from (maybe… see “may not bother”) to 100%. My “argument” revolves around probability of cost going up, not what is subject to what.

In short, it is very unlikely I will buy from sellers using GSP because on probabilities (and experience) my costs will go up.
Spot on!

Not only will you pay tax 100% of the time on any eligible item over $20, you will likely also be charged duty on items that may or may not be subject to duty (depending on which sites you wish to believe!)

Basically you are guaranteed to be on the losing end of every possible grey area, 100% of the time, with no recourse to appeal.

How is that for a fun shopping experience!

Way to go Ebay!!

Well said and that's why i only buy from sellers NOT using GSP.I look at it this way.. the money i save by NOT using the GSP ,in a round about way ,can go toward the fees eBay and Pay pal take when i am selling.

rick31797 · ‎01-13-2014

Ebay is watching Arlene ..lol

arlene_v · ‎01-13-2014

LOL Rick!

Actually I have just received the item I ordered through the GSP last week.

Marno asked for an update and here it is:

Top marks for speedy shipping and tracking. It was by far the fastest and most efficient shipping I have ever had from the USA.

I cannot fault PBI on that score.

On the negative side: there was no invoice or any kind of documentation. No breakdown of charges, nothing.

Unfortunately that is a deal breaker for me ..... so I won't be using the GSP again for this reason.

Here are pics of the parcel before I opened it (personal info omitted)

It had been opened and resealed. This note was included.

I intend to leave pos feedback for the seller as I was satisfied with this purchase.

mater721 · ‎01-13-2014

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As for the GSP adding costs for import/export clearance, if you haven't already read the GSP terms and conditions for buyers, you may wish to do so as it gives you some idea where that four bucks would be going. All I can say is that it's a bargain compared to what you'd get if you had an item shipped through services such as FedEx Ground or UPS Standard.
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It really does not matter where that extra $4 is going. It is an extra cost to me I did not previously have, and thus will be a dis-incentive for me to bid.

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As with any eBay purchase, though, it's a good idea to take the total cost into consideration and decide if it's still worth purchasing. When I lived in a very remote location, I tried sourcing on eBay some of the items I liked purchasing on my visits into civilization and concluded that the shipping price simply didn't make it cost-effective. You have to decide if the price of the item plus the shipping and import charges make sense as a whole.

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I agree – I always take the total cost into account when making a decision to bid. Since the bulk of my purchases are relatively low-priced items, so far it has not made sense to go with sellers that use GSP. The cost is just too much for what I’m getting. Of course I may see exceptions on items I desperately want, and that have few bidders that are driving up the price. Unfortunately, this seems to be a rarity on the collectibles I target.

threenorns333 · ‎01-13-2014

i need to buy snow pants for my daughter.

the pants would cost me $13.

the shipping would be $17. okay, that's a bit of a hit bit it's doable - they're used but clearly in excellent condition and the total cost is $30.

but wait! there's more! another $10 more, to be exact, for import charges!

yeah, i don't think so. i've been a little more active on ebay lately but it's NOTHING to how active i've been on taobao and the majority of them ship for free!

threenorns333 · ‎01-13-2014

If I move to Alberta (it is so easy to move on the Internet) CBSA now wants 5% tax (GST). Does any of that make any sense to you?

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yes: ontario has 8% provincial sales tax, 5% GST - together, they make up the HST. if the item was GST exempt, it's HST exempt (by and large).

alberta has no provincial sales tax - only the 5% GST.

threenorns333 · ‎01-13-2014

well, there you go: Sears.ca and for $6 more than what the shipping plus the global fee plus the price of a used pair of snow pants, she gets a brand-new two-piece snow suit that'll be here in 3 days.

arlene_v · ‎01-13-2014

Threenorns, welcome to the forum! Glad you found your way here, believe me you are among like minded Ebay shoppers ..the posts here are overwhelmingly negative about this program.

... you might find your last post goes "poof" and disappears into the ether. I posted something similar this afternoon about an item that was for sale on another site for comparison and that happened to my post.

I am glad you found a brand new suit for your daughter and shopped local in the bargain!

I am still shopping on Ebay, only not buying any items listed under the GSP. It's bad news.

marnotom! · ‎01-13-2014

@threenorns333 wrote:

i need to buy snow pants for my daughter.

the pants would cost me $13.

the shipping would be $17. okay, that's a bit of a hit bit it's doable - they're used but clearly in excellent condition and the total cost is $30.

but wait! there's more! another $10 more, to be exact, for import charges!

I just looked up several listings for girls snow pants around the price that you mentioned and I couldn't find import charges on any of them. Do you have the item number handy?

horrorpunk · ‎01-14-2014

The Global Shipping Program makes it easier for buyers in some countries outside the US to purchase items from US sellers.

Hey eBay, how does this make it easier for buyers? Oh--it doesn't.

Bought a pair of pants for $28.80. Shipping with the global shipping program added $32.03 to the total. $60.83 for a $28 pair of pants. HEY, THANKS A LOT FOR THAT! Now I won't get charged duty for something that I wouldn't have got charged duty on if he just shipped it himself.

Between the GSP and the fact that the majority of people on eBay don't even bid on auctions anymore (everyone just watches and waits until the last second to bid) I'm just about done with you guys after 15 years.

But that's a whole other issue. This post is about the GSP, which I will just say offers nothing for the buyer. But with this thread at 72 pages now, I'm sure you guys at eBay know that.

arlene_v · ‎01-14-2014

I haven't spent much time looking at clothes here on Ebay but Threenorns post piqued my interest ....so this morning over my early cuppa have been idly looking at vintage cotton t-shirts made in the USA.

Once again in a five minute perusal of listings you find examples of identically priced items, both made of 100% cotton in the USA ...with a discrepancy in "import charges" listed under the GSP .

I'll let the numbers speak.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/370929052510?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/161197494839?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Now here's a USA made 100% cotton t-shirt that's priced at $45.00 (US) .. the "import charges" are less than the 2nd t-shirt linked to above that's $25 cheaper.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Sinful-by-Affliction-Los-Angeles-Womens-Size-S-T-Shirt-RN-127458-Cotton-/1310...

I was so pleased to read a post on the International Trade Forum on the .com site by one of the MODS (Bennett) indicating that Ebay is aware of the issue of "place of manufacture" .... and will work on this.

Ebay is listening!

Now it is up to PBI to fix this, ASAP!

yachtcrew4u · ‎01-15-2014

Hello Kalvin;

I am getting increasingly tired of the GSP. I contacted a seller re shipping on multiple items, ball caps. He quoted me $1 extra per extra item. When I purchased the items I was charged $5 extra per item. WHY?? Also, I have never had to pay duty or import charges on smaller items, $50 or less, now this Pitney Bowes charges me extras on every purchase.

I think I wll start taking my business elsewhere after 13 years of enjoying ebay. Guess I am just one customer so it won't matter too much to the huge ebay conglomerate.