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,

[00nevermind00]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

how do I track my PKG from there 

You don't .

And that's a good thing.

The USPS tracking was only from the seller to the GSP facility in Kentucky. It is used to prove that the seller did ship and that the item was received.

From KY, it will be put on a truck with hundreds of other parcels, shipped to Canada "in bond". Any tracking at this point is completely internal to Pitney Bowes.

Once in Canada it is given to a Canadian shipper who will deliver it for Pitney Bowes.

Because there is no tracking number, if your parcel goes missing or is late, just file an Item Not Received dispute. PB will refund you in full. If the item turns up later, you will not be required to return it as you would if the seller were shipping directly to you.  PB doesn't want a bunch of random parcels building up.

Tracking may be an emotional need for a buyer, but it only benefits the seller. And the buyer pays for the seller's benefit.

The Paypal and eBay Buyer Protection policies are what helps the buyer, if there is a problem. And for free.

All that being said, there have been very very few reports of shipments being later than the usual 15 to 20 days and of those the buyer/importer seems to be getting prompt refunds.

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The tracking can be of benefit to the buyer. If I am waiting for a heavy and/or bulky item to be delivered to me, I prefer to be home when it arrives. That way I won't have to schlep all the way across town during office hours in order to pick it up. I recently purchased a new TV online (on a Canadian non-eBay site). I was very happy to have very good tracking on it because I was able to be home on the day it was delivered.

Besides, "international tracking" is one of the few selling points the GSP masterminds could come up with for the buyers who, it should be noted again, pay all the fees in order to make things easy and "safe" for the sellers. So they ARE paying for international tracking. But they're not getting it. That, in itself, is a pretty good metaphor of everything that is wrong with this program for the buyers.

[pjcdn2005]

You don't .

And that's a good thing.

The USPS tracking was only from the seller to the GSP facility in Kentucky. It is used to prove that the seller did ship and that the item was received.

From KY, it will be put on a truck with hundreds of other parcels, shipped to Canada "in bond". Any tracking at this point is completely internal to Pitney Bowes.

There have been situations when a gsp buyer did not receive the second tracking number that they need in order to track a package after Kentucky but in most cases, that number is provided and it is not for PB internal use only.

All GSP listings state that international tracking is provided and that is why people expect to receive it. 

[nudibranch4569]

as far as i know canada doesnt have the dreaded global shipping program

[reallynicestamps]

Only US sellers are so scared of shipping internationally that they need the comfort of the Global Shipping Program.

As a confident Canadian seller, just mail directly with Canada Post. Use Paypal shipping labels to get the small discount off the PO counter shipping cost.

ALWAYS use Air Mail when shipping overseas. This is much more important than tracking and insurance, but most international air mail services include those too.

[femmefan1946]

If I am waiting for a heavy and/or bulky item to be delivered to me, I prefer to be home when it arrives.

That's valid. But I don't see why anyone should get her knickers in a twist over a $10 or $30 item that will arrive eventually and if it didn't would be covered by the Buyer Protection policy.

Promise little, provide much.

When I use a tracked system, which is rarely, I do give my customer the tracking number. But not for their use, although they can if they want it.  I give it to tell the sketchey types warning not to bother with a phoney INR claim. So far, so good.

[juliemichel13]

How do I contact Glibal Shipping to correct the postal code and avoid delay of shipment ?

[tremblantjohn]

The GSP system does NOT work for Canadian buyers. It adds to the shipping costs and to the shipping time. Moreover the CBSS does not charge duties nor HST on most items sent via USPS and CPS unless it has a value over $100.00. Most of my purchases from eBay are under $100.00 and the GSP increases the cost by 25 to 30% . I now try to avoid sellers that use the GSP and as I live close to the border I am planning to get an American address. A better option would be to give Canadian buyers a choice as to whether they want their purchases sent by USPS or via the DSP.

[kellmike626]

Just bought a Lenovo Ultrabook from New York, I reside in Canada. The seller is enrolled in.the GSP and I was charged 64.99 US extra for "Import charges". I was emailing the seller confirming my address, and I asked if he was going to be shipping using the GSP and he mentioned that he didn't know he was enrolled under the GSP. So I mentioned the charges for GSP and he told me that he'd look into it.

Is there anything I can do? I just don't want to be stuck paying import charges and duties/taxes twice.

Thanks!

[mr.elmwood]

American sellers got signed up for GSP when they accepted a recent user agreement update. They do not know they are in it.

You pay once, you will not be charged again.

[kellmike626]

Okay. Cause I got charged import fees once and it was shipped through PBL to somewhere in the states, then it was shipped finally to Canada. This is going to likely be the case here correct? If he just ships it directly to me, thats my concern about the fees as to whether I get charged twice.

[kellmike626]

Sorry, quick correction, the first sentence was describing a recent item I just bought.

[mr.elmwood]

GSP goes through Kentucky, yes.

[toby_le_pue]

They may be duty free but they are not TAX FREE.

There is also a handling fee collected by PB.

They collect the taxes that are due and remits them to the

canadian gov.

[25050906]

Ebay GSP includes all shippings and import fees. I think ebay has an agrement with the US and Canadian governments.

[femmefan1946]

Don't panic.

Is the street address correct?

If so, since your postie can read it will arrive safely.

Is the postal code correct for your province? For your city?

Does the name of the province appear on the address? Does the name of the city appear on the address?

It will be fine.

All this stuff is handled mechanically until it get down to the postal walk. If you try to interrupt the flow, it will actually be slower than if you allow the parcel to get to Canada (because that is correct) get to your province (because that is correct) get to your city(because that is correct) and then have the parcel get sorted to the wrong PO because there is an error of one digit.

At which point the postal workers read the address and pass the item over to the right spot.

Literacy is a wonderful thing.

[femmefan1946]

Oh, and since the postal code was taken from your Paypal address, better correct it.

[pjcdn2005]

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@kellmike626 wrote:
Okay. Cause I got charged import fees once and it was shipped through PBL to somewhere in the states, then it was shipped finally to Canada. This is going to likely be the case here correct? If he just ships it directly to me, thats my concern about the fees as to whether I get charged twice.

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Once you have paid the gsp shipping and import fees the seller must use the program and send the item to the Kentucky depot who then send it on to you. You only pay customs once.  If he wants to send it direct then he would have refund you so that you receive your import fees and international shipping fees back from Pitney Bowes. Then he would have to reinvoice you through Paypal with a new shipping amount or he could relist the listing and list it with a price for Canadian shipping.

[inal_69]

I did not buy anything what so called Pitney Bowes from Ebay. But I foundsomething like below in my Credit Card  account

About this transaction

PAYPAL *PITNEYBOWES 4029357733 NE is listed as Financial merchandise & services

Find out more about  PAYPAL *PITNEYBOWES 4029357733 NE

Please advice me what I should do. regards Linardi Utama

[pjcdn2005]

It looks as if you purchased headphones on May 28th and the seller is using the global shipping program. That means that the seller sends the item to the Pitney Bowes center in Kentucky and then PB ships the item to you. When you paid for that item, the seller would have received $199 U.S. for the headphones. The shipping charge of $13.78 plus the import fees (which would vary depending on your province) would show as having being paid to PItney Bowes.