Questions about the Global Shipping Program

[kalvin@ebay.com]

Do you have questions about the Global Shipping Program? Please post here & I'll do my best to track those answers down for you!

If you have any comments about the program, use this forum instead.

Thanks,

[reallynicestamps]

Duty is decided by Revenue Canada and collected by the Canadian Border Services Agency, or by their designated agents. This could be a courier like UPS and there are archived threads hundreds if not thousands of posts long objecting to that. In the case of the Global Shipping Program, the agent is Pitney Bowes, who then subcontract actual shipping to either a postal agency or to a courier.

Here is a tax and duty estimator from the CBSA website.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/mobile/est-cal-eng.html

Note the part about tax.

Sales tax on a $285 item could be as high as $47. depending on your province and the current rate of exchange. If the item was not manufactured in a NAFTA signatory (and that is manufactured not purchased) then use the link to work out the duty.  Pitney Bowes seems to charge about $5 to assess the duty and tax and to reship the item from their US plant to your doorstep in Canada.

While CBSA and Canada Post are lax about collecting the tax and duty, they really are due on imports. Commercial operations like UPS and PB ignore these at their peril.

[happycruising]

I can understand paying import fees for a new item, however, import fees for something that is used is unreasonable. How do I get this removed?

[marnotom!]

Currently, new and used items are subject to sales tax as per the province in which these items are being sold.

Exceptions may be made for items sold through charitable organizations.

Since taxes make up the bulk of "import charges," you'd have to see a change in tax laws on personal imports in order to get import charges removed from an item sold through the Global Shipping Program.

[afantiques]

Pitney Bowes seems to charge about $5 to assess the duty and tax and to reship the item from their US plant to your doorstep in Canada.

The $5 does not cover reshipping,just the customs paperwork. I really do not know why you persist in saying this, since it is not correct. Unless it is a wind up., since I have commented on this half a dozen times.

The international shipping charge is a separate charge.

[pjcdn2005]

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@roda218 wrote:

I noticed that some some USA sellers show only a shipping charge. Is an import charge also a requirement now? I was satisfied just paying the Canada customs duty taxes when items were delivered to my door. I didn't have to pay a USA import broker more than I normally what I have to pay.

Is $59 US the normal import fee for an item worth $285.00 US?

Is an import fee adjusted after an item is purchased?

Thank you,

Wayne K.   Canada

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Only listings that are shipping with the global shipping program charge import fees.

The import charge amount depends upon the item, the cost and your location.

When bidding on an auction the import fee can change as import fees are based on the amount paid for the item at the end of the auction. For fixed price listings it is possible that the import charge will change after purchase but I think that is fairly rare.

[cash333666]

I am also confused and disgusted with these so called "import fees". From my understanding the seller charges shipping fees so that they can ship the item to a so called global shipping depot then e bay charges shipping/"import fees" for the global shipping scam depot to ship it to canada....is this really what is happening???? So not only are they charging double shipping, extending the shipping time, which is already ridiculous,they are charging "duty and taxes" on used items??? Wonder what they are charging for processing? I can say that as soon as I see an ad with this charge I stop looking and refuse to buy. There are many other sites without this money grab 3rd part rip off scam. eBay should become a us bank with the way they are going.....

[slvrseeker]

I totally agree with you on this, I wish ebay would include a feature to exclude these items from search results. It's funny how one seller can ship you an item, say a dvd, from California to Ontario for about $4, but use this service and it cost about $16 to $25. WOW, talk about a scam.

[splattii]

Hi,

   If Canada Customs gives me a letter saying there is no duty or tax on a package coming into Canada because the contents are exempt from taxes, but I've been charged duties and fees by Endica, who I do a charge back?  Do I make a claim against the seller, Ebay or Endica?

Thanks

[afantiques]

Endica has nothing to do with GSP items. Neither does the seller have any connection with the import charges.

The import charges are not just for taxes, they also cover preparing the paperwork for the item, and managing shipping. Just waht goes to what is not clear.

You may also find the item is not tax exempt, more details are needed.

By purchaseing a GSP item you are deemed to agree to GSP trerms and conditions. These indemnify ebay/Pitney Bowes from any such claim.

Still, best of luck with it. You'll need deep pockets.

[toby_le_pue]

Is this an actual case or just an ""If it happens case""

Don't see anything in your purchase history lately that

was shipped by GSP.

[marnotom!]

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@toby_le_pue wrote:

Is this an actual case or just an ""If it happens case""

Don't see anything in your purchase history lately that

was shipped by GSP.

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I'm guessing that this is a very hypothetical situation.  I don't know of any circumstances where Canada Border Services would send out "letters" declaring that an item they inspected was free of taxes and duty.

[afantiques]

I am also confused and disgusted with these so called "import fees".

They really are 'Import Fees'

From my understanding the seller charges shipping fees so that they can ship the item to a so called global shipping depot

It really is a 'Global Shipping Depot'

then ebay charges shipping/"import fees" for the global shipping scam depot to ship it to Canada....is this really what is happening????

Yes.

So not only are they charging double shipping, extending the shipping time,

It would only extend the shipping time if both legs of the shipping were done at the same speed. A taxi to JFK and a plane ride will get you to LAX faster than a taxi all the way. Faster GSP customs clearance can mean a shorter overall time, although there is no guarantee of this.

which is already ridiculous,they are charging "duty and taxes" on used items???

Used or new are equally taxable.

Wonder what they are charging for processing?

About $5, it seems.

.....

[reallynicestamps]

afantiques  - You're making sense again. You might want to look into that. 

[bennett4612]

Hi ace_4420

As usual the Community has provided some very excellent and helpful information (thanks all). I'll add a little more info here -- hope it helps. 

With a GSP transaction, buyers see estimated fees on the listing (usually quite accurate) and actual fees on the checkout page. Sellers can see actual fees on the View Order Details page. 

Not sure what the deal is with the costume jewelry example. It could be eligibility based. You can learn more about that here -- http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.html

And lastly, if there are specific transactions you need help with please feel free to send me a Private Message. Include transaction #, item #, + eBay user id and email address used. 

Thanks

---Bennett

[chimera148]

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@bennett4612 wrote:

With a GSP transaction, buyers see estimated fees on the listing (usually quite accurate) and actual fees on the checkout page. Sellers can see actual fees on the View Order Details page. 

Thanks

---Bennett

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Bennett,

Trouble is sometimes the GSP and charges are not that obvious.

On this item , #191072125402, the GSP doesn't show up till you ask the seller about shipping.

I'm wondering why the charges don't show before "Commit to Buy" on the BIN feature. Thanks

[pjcdn2005]

chimera, How do you know that particular listing is going through gsp?  Are you guessing that it is because of the ship to locations or did you click on commit to buy and saw gsp costs?

[chimera148]

I went to "Ask a question" near the listing bottom, then clicked "Shipping".

That was the only indication I got that it is a GSP listing.

This isn't all that common, but I've noticed other similar listings over the last 6 months.

No GSP costs show up at all, but I didn't "Commit to Buy".

I don't know if you could back out after clicking "Commit to Buy".

[chimera148]

Reading the bottom line on that page makes it look like I'd be committed.

"By clicking Commit to Buy, you are agreeing to and entering into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller ... "

[chimera148]

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@pjcdn2005 wrote:

chimera, How do you know that particular listing is going through gsp?  Are you guessing that it is because of the ship to locations or did you click on commit to buy and saw gsp costs?

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