Global Shipping Program/Pitney Bowes - Is it lost??

[jabby_collect]

Hi all,

I have an order I'm tracking with GSP and it hasn't updated since Sept 22. I've attached a pic of it. Is it lost for good? How long should this normally take? I'm worried because its now Oct 12. It's coming from US to Canada.

[reallynicestamps]

What date did eBay give you for delivery?  That is your Buyer Protection.

If the shipment has not arrived by then, you can go to the Resolution Centre at the bottom of this page, and open an Item Not Recieved Dispute.

State that this is a GSP shipment. The seller is not responsible for delivery at this point. You will be refunded .

And with GSP if the item shows up later (most Not Delivered problems are actually Late Delivery) the GSP does not want it back.

At the moment it is 22 days but that included weekends and the Thanksgiving holiday.

[marnotom!]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

At the moment it is 22 days but that included weekends and the Thanksgiving holiday.

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And Truth and Reconcilliation Day.

[marnotom!]

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@jabby_collect wrote:

I have an order I'm tracking with GSP and it hasn't updated since Sept 22. I've attached a pic of it. Is it lost for good? How long should this normally take? I'm worried because its now Oct 12. It's coming from US to Canada.

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It looks as though you're using one of the Pitney Bowes tracking sites here.  Is there a link above the "progress meter" that you can click to track the item on the Canadian carrier's website?

[jabby_collect]

Hi, it does not show a link on my screen. Last time I had "Intelcom" ship a package to me.

[marnotom!]

Hmm. Either the tracking information past Erlanger isn’t getting transmitted properly to Pitney Bowes or else there’s been a problem associated with the Canadian carrier.

There isn’t much you can do, unfortunately. Keep an eye on that last estimated delivery date and make a claim through the Money Back Guarantee for a refund if it hasn’t arrived by then, as per @reallynicestamps' suggestion. 🙁

[jabby_collect]

Hi all, it finally showed up after 31 days of no tracking update 👀. I was shocked it came, but I'm glad it did. Thanks for the help.

[marnotom!]

Thanks for letting us know, @jabby_collect. If you return to this thread and know what carrier handled the item in Canada, it would be helpful if you could share this information with us. Thanks!

[jabby_collect · Accepted solution]

It shipped and got picked up by Intelcom courier. I never did get the tracking number on eBay or in my e-mail like I normally do with GSP orders.. but that was what was on the label of the package. Came in a USPS box and well packed, but it sure did take a long time and I had zero updates on the tracking.. it also didn't even show that it cleared customs or anything else. Just went straight from 'Shipped from the Global Shipping Center to International Destination'  to 'Delivered'.

[marnotom!]

To be honest, I think that we buyers have been brainwashed into thinking that tracking is a huge benefit to us.  I know there's some people concerned about porch piracy who want to be at home the day the package arrives, but I think that's a band-aid solution to a bigger problem.  Tracking doesn't make the item arrive any faster or even guarantee its arrival.  Either you have your item or you don't, and tracking doesn't make a difference to that.  It may be of some use if your item doesn't arrive within the estimated timeframe, but even then, knowing that the last time it was scanned, it was in Kentucky, Kenora or Kamloops isn't going to change the fact that you do or don't have your item.  Having the item in your hands is the proof of delivery that you need, not something on a website.

[reallynicestamps]

If the concern is Porch Pirates, Canada Post has a new service called FlexDelivery which leaves a Notice at the door and you pick up at your local PO.

You have to sign up for it.
https://sso-osu.canadapost-postescanada.ca/pfe-pap/en/registration/personal?gclid=CjwKCAjwq9mLBhB2Ei...

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

If the concern is Porch Pirates, Canada Post has a new service called FlexDelivery which leaves a Notice at the door and you pick up at your local PO.

You have to sign up for it.
https://sso-osu.canadapost-postescanada.ca/pfe-pap/en/registration/personal?gclid=CjwKCAjwq9mLBhB2Ei...

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Flex Delivery is only an option when shipper uses a service that involves Canadapost. The Intelcom's, etc are what is causing the potenial of problem for buyers.

-Lotz

[marnotom!]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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Flex Delivery is only an option when shipper uses a service that involves Canadapost. The Intelcom's, etc are what is causing the potenial of problem for buyers.

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Reading the page that @reallynicestamps linked to, it appears that any shipper that can deliver to a post office box can direct an item to a FlexDelivery box.

As far as I know, the Global Shipping Program can still deliver items to Canadian post office boxes.  This would probably mean that the workers at the Global Shipping Center would eyeball the item's Canadian shipping address and make a call on the most appropriate carrier based on that address.  If Intelcom doesn't deliver to P.O. boxes, double win for the buyer.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@marnotom! wrote:

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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Flex Delivery is only an option when shipper uses a service that involves Canadapost. The Intelcom's, etc are what is causing the potenial of problem for buyers.

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Reading the page that @reallynicestamps linked to, it appears that any shipper that can deliver to a post office box can direct an item to a FlexDelivery box.

As far as I know, the Global Shipping Program can still deliver items to Canadian post office boxes.  This would probably mean that the workers at the Global Shipping Center would eyeball the item's Canadian shipping address and make a call on the most appropriate carrier based on that address.  If Intelcom doesn't deliver to P.O. boxes, double win for the buyer.

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I'm not convinced from a buyers perspective if something doesn't get delivered how it is a win. They just want their item in a safe responsible way. With no end surprises. If they have to  file a claim to get their original funds returned that can involve major hoops with no guarantees. 

-Lotz

[reallynicestamps]

Given that Intelcom has such a bad reputation, although slightly better than AppleExpress, the win might be that GSP/PB doesn't use it, but tries Canada Post instead? 

[theoldestfart]

I too am experiencing the same think with Intelcom Express. My GSP cleared Canada Customs on Oct 20th. Today is Oct 25th and the last update was the customs clearance event.  I only found out that Intelcom Express was supposedly delivering this item in Winnipeg AFTER I contact eBay chat who forwarded the issue to an eBay GSP rep. 

This item was last seen in Toronto 5 days ago and has until Nov 13th to hitchhike to Winnipeg HOPEFULLY  show up since it is a hard-to-find item.  If it doesn't then I have lost a whole month waiting for the item. I have purchased several GSP items and every one of them except this last one was handled by Canada Post and the tracking was reflecting in GSP tracking page.  At least with Canada Post if a delivery does not occur due to me not being in my apartment I can drive over to the nearest postal outlet the next day and pick the parcel up. With Intelcom there is always the chance of them delivering the item to someone else in error. 

I guess the bean counters at eBay decided to nix Canada Post and instead use Intelcom who reminds me of Dyanmex/TForce who use contract workers using their own vehicles to deliver parcels.  I had so much bad experience w Dynamex and Amazon that I had to battle with Amazon to deprioritize Dynamex from handling any of my Amazon deliveries.

I get sick and tired of eBay trotting out the eBay Money Back Guarantee with every interaction.  Loss of time waiting for an item that is needed for a specific purpose and frustration with having to butt heads w eBay is something I dread with each purchase on eBay.  

I have had an eBay account for 17+ years and the service has gone downhill over those 17 years.  So much so I avoid shopping on eBay and only use it as a last resort. 

[marnotom!]

Thanks, Stamps. Yes, that’s what I meant by “double win”: The buyer is insulated from porch theft, AND the item is possibly transported within Canada by a carrier other than Intelcom. Hopefully not Apple Express.

[marnotom!]

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@theoldestfart wrote:

I guess the bean counters at eBay decided to nix Canada Post and instead use Intelcom. . .

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I doubt eBay has much direct input into the carriers that are subcontracted by the operators of the Global Shipping Center, which in itself is a subcontracted operation of Pitney Bowes.  And I doubt that Canada Post has been "nixed" as a last mile carrier by Pitney Bowes or the subcontractor.  After all, there are scads of rural and remote locations not served by any carriers except Canada Post.

Interesting you bring up Amazon, though.  My wife buys a fair amount from there, and it's always interesting to see what carrier was responsible for getting an item to our front door.  It could be Canada Post, Intelcom, FedEx, UPS, and recently it appears that Canpar was added to the mix.

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@theoldestfart wrote:

I have had an eBay account for 17+ years and the service has gone downhill over those 17 years.  So much so I avoid shopping on eBay and only use it as a last resort. 

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If you're speaking from a buyer's perspective, surely that "service" is mostly performed by eBay sellers, not eBay itself.  Are you having a harder time finding sellers that believe in customer service?

[theoldestfart]

I doubt eBay has much direct input into the carriers that are subcontracted by the operators of the Global Shipping Center, which in itself is a subcontracted operation of Pitney Bowes.  And I doubt that Canada Post has been "nixed" as a last mile carrier by Pitney Bowes or the subcontractor.  After all, there are scads of rural and remote locations not served by any carriers except Canada Post.

I should have said the bean counters a Pitney Bowes made the choice of using Intelcom and perhaps nixed Canada Post whenever possible and instead use Intelcom. 

I had to battle with Amazon to deprioritize Dynamex/TForce so that they were not handling my Amazon purchases. I took almost a year of back and forth before Amazon finally started using another courier.

If you're speaking from a buyer's perspective, surely that "service" is mostly performed by eBay sellers, not eBay itself.  Are you having a harder time finding sellers that believe in customer service?

From a buyer's perspective:

1) I find that eBay plethora of shipping programs for sellers is not clearly spelled out for the buyer's so that it is clear before we even buy an item whose hands are going to be handling our shipment. 

2)  I see sellers charging what I deem an excessive amount for shipping and eBay is fine with that. 

3) If I see another eBay rep mention eBay Money Back Guarantee I will scream.  If this item does not show up I will have lost a month from date of purchase. The item is hard to find so finding a replacement is not going to next to impossible. Getting my money back is one thing but these other 2 points is something that apparently escapes the c-suite execs at eBay especially if the refund was due to a low-cost courier (selected by a contractor aka Pitney Bowes)  losing or delivering the item to the wrong address.

4) I have had protracted "discussions" with eBay representatives on Twitter regarding clarification on shipping services or other matters and it is like talking to the wall most times. 

5) Instead of having a pleasurable experience like it was when I first started buying on eBay all those years ago. I have to dissect each listing for an item I am interested in and try to read between the lines to see what the seller is not telling me or what is wrong with the listing.

It has become a battle every time I purchase something off eBay particularly from the US.  

I have ordered items off of AliExpress paid less shipping for them and received them faster than a shipment on eBay from someone in the US.

[marnotom!]

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@theoldestfart wrote:

It has become a battle every time I purchase something off eBay particularly from the US.  

I have ordered items off of AliExpress paid less shipping for them and received them faster than a shipment on eBay from someone in the US.

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Seventeen years ago, Dubya was President and 9/11 was still pretty fresh in the American collective psyche.

The insular nature of the United States had a different quality then than it does now, but it was undergoing a transformation.

I think a lot of the problems you're running into when purchasing from the United States isn't excusively an eBay thing.  The nature of eBay's "faciliator" role limits what it can do to smooth bumps out because the site's selling model is reliant on almost-direct buyer-seller contact.

While the nature of Canada's trade relationship with the United States has evolved since the Second World War and broken down a lot of economic barriers, I don't think it's done much to refine our cultural, political or sociological relations.  Canada is still misunderstood (if it's understood at all) and many Americans just see us as living shoulder-to-shoulder with the northern indigenous peoples because ten months of the year we've got ice and snow on the ground.

Canada doesn't figure too prominently in most Americans' eBay sales.  If you're purchasing from the United States, your sale is a drop in the bucket compared to the domestic sales that vendor gets.  Most eBay sellers in the US can do quite nicely selling strictly domestically.  Sales to Canada and other international destinations are considered an afterthought at worst, a public service at best.

Then there's the nuts and bolts of shipping from the US to Canada, such as the fact that shipping to Canada has skyrocketed in price over the past seventeen years, that some US sellers regard sales to countries other than their own with a lot of suspicion and won't send anything untracked out of the country, and so forth.

Yes, buying from the US has become more difficult, but I don't think it's strictly an eBay thang.