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,

[marnotom!]

I suspect that some measure of the quirkiness you're seeing in GSP listings is due to the fact that you're searching for items on the .com site rather than on the .ca site.

The listings for the heat sink compound look a bit different for me when I see them on the .ca site.

In the first listing, there's a line item for import charges and the import charges for me in BC (where the GSP appears to charge only for the equivalent of GST and duty, not PST) are stated as five bucks US and change:

In the second listing there's a line item for import charges that's "zero rated".  Yes, the shipping charge is higher than in the other listing.  It may or may not be due to the seller's charge for shipping to Kentucky, which you can find out for yourself by changing the shipping location to US ZIP code 41025 (on either the .com site or .ca site).



The fact is, with a GSP listing Pitney Bowes is always going to be paying on your behalf any taxes and duty due on an item and you're going to be paying them back somehow, either in the shipping charges or the "import charges".  To me, it makes more sense to worry about the total cost of an item rather than the breakdown of the charges unless you're presented with an itemized charge that seems completely out of line.

The way the rickety old eBay websites are constructed, it looks as though you may be better able to obtain a pre-purchase total by viewing GSP listings on the .ca site rather than the .com site.

[i.am.vivian]

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@leaky-bucket-labs wrote:

made in the usa just like the 2 above charging/hiding  import fees?

oh but look...hahahaha shipping has gone up but they removed the import fees it seems....bigtime shenanigans here.

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I would have to agree that the GSP and those listings tend to be presented in tricky ways sometimes.  Canadian buyers hate that GSP so much it is almost funny the lengths that eBay & Pitney-Bowes are going to in order to make it appear more palatable to buyers. 

You, however, will have a lot less frustration if you shop from the Canadian eBay site.  That is where you can best see what, if any, import charges there are, not to mention being able to best and most easily avoid GSP listings in search.  As marnotom has  just explained, you will get a better (or more realistic, at least) view that way. 

Be sure you see the little Canadian flag at the top of the page and you will know you are in the right place:

[canyon0_7]

Hello,

 I am happy with the Global shipping program..... BUT .... as I follow the items progress, lets say the item is being delivered in the USA by UPS...I can track the progress through the USA either on you tracking service through Ebay or the UPS tracking  system on the UPS website up until it's delivered to.... well both of my deliveries went to Kentucky at the dock.

 Once it is processed and it is sent off to Canada there is no way of following the progress of my parcel........ the tracking which was UPS in the USA now shows delivered to your dock.

 So how do I track my package after that exchange to me here in Canada, there was no forwarding of a new tracking number sent to me other than the progress report by Ebay which "says "on the way to you" .

 I just want to forecast the new carrier's delivery tracking information either Canada Post or who ever received the drop ship of my item,  (both deliveries by the way came came by Canada Post) I like the up to date of the carriers website of my parcel and I can forecast  the day that I can be at home when the posssible delivery comes.

Other than that I like the service, Thanks Terry

[i.am.vivian]

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@canyon0_7 wrote:

 So how do I track my package after that exchange to me here in Canada, there was no forwarding of a new tracking number sent to me other than the progress report by Ebay which "says "on the way to you" .

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When you go to your PURCHASE HISTORY and click on the tracking number they gave you initially, does it not give you a pop-up window now with a message that it is being forwarded and a new tracking number?  Unless your item is too heavy or big to be mailed it will probably be given to Canada Post and that is where the tracking number should work. 

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/track/personal/findByTrackNumber?execution=e1s1

[reallynicestamps]

Another poster worked this out for buyers who have not yet received their GSP shipment.
TRACKING SYSTEM FOR GSP
It's not user friendly... But I found how to track your package via the global shipping program, once it gets to Canada you need to:
- Log on to eBay.ca
- Under the My eBay menu select Purchase History
- Under your orders find the specific order.  It should have something like the following:
        Estimated delivery Mon, Jan 11 - Thu, Jan 21
        Tracking number: Tracking number UPAAB000000#########
- Click on the UPA number.  This should open up a Shipment Details window, which should contain something like this:
     This shipment has been transferred to CPC for delivery to the final destination # 70351#########
-Click on the Canada Post number to see where the Canada Post Tracking history and expected delivery

As for being home when the carrier delivers, Canada Post is now in full holiday rush mode. They are delivering Saturdays and Sundays as well as the usual weekdays, and there are more (subcontracted ) trucks and workers on the road.

If you are worried about 'porch theft', post a notice on your door telling deliverymen NOT to leave parcels.

Canada Post, and most couriers. will leave a notice telling you where and when you can pick up your parcels.

Usually that is the local postal outlet in back of the drugstore and open 8am to 10 pm.

Most urban and suburban Canadians can handle adding a stop at the PO to the daily messages.

The GSP is quite good at completing deliveries. They are not particularly transparent about tracking, nor are they fast to upload the information you want.

[i.am.vivian]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Another poster worked this out for buyers who have not yet received their GSP shipment.
TRACKING SYSTEM FOR GSP
It's not user friendly... But I found how to track your package via the global shipping program, once it gets to Canada you need to:
- Log on to eBay.ca
- Under the My eBay menu select Purchase History
- Under your orders find the specific order.  It should have something like the following:
        Estimated delivery Mon, Jan 11 - Thu, Jan 21
        Tracking number: Tracking number UPAAB000000#########
- Click on the UPA number.  This should open up a Shipment Details window, which should contain something like this:
     This shipment has been transferred to CPC for delivery to the final destination # 70351#########
-Click on the Canada Post number to see where the Canada Post Tracking history and expected delivery

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All that really says is "Check your Purchase History for the initial tracking# and click it.  A pop-up window should appear with the new forwarding info and CP tracking#" and that's it.  It's not as if some tricky puzzle has been cleverly worked out.  It still isn't any good if the GSP has not updated the info.   

[reallynicestamps]

I think the usefulness is in the details.

Like 'go to My eBay'.

Many of the complaints here are from people who don't know where to start.

When I am advising posters about filing disputes, I always include the location of the Resolution Centre on the eBay page. Not because the link is not just as useful, but because if the same situation comes up in future, knowing where something is, is, in my opinion, more memorable than an address.

And part of it is that as a technodolt, I need to step-by-step through instructions myself. (And it's always surprising how many of those steps get left out.)

[evilcatis]

I placed an order to my old address by mistake. The shipper said if I change my address in my profile it should go to the correct address when the global shipping centre gets it. Is this correct?

[i.am.vivian]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Many of the complaints here are from people who don't know where to start.

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True.   🙂 

[afantiques]

The shipper said if I change my address in my profile it should go to the correct address when the global shipping centre gets it. Is this correct?

Almost certainly not. I have no concrete answer, but logically, the GSP needs the shipping address at time of sale to calculate any tax charges, most notably in Canada where these vary from province to province.

Therefore I suspect strongly that the address information cannot be updated 'just like that' because it would not be possible, if you moved province,, to alter the tax charge. Even if the address is in the same province or even town, if there is no facilty to change the address, how local it is does not matter.

Can you contact the new occupier and ask them to forward your package? It is always advisable to leave a forwarding address unless you are on the lam, all the new occupant needs to do is to mark the item 'Gone Away' or 'Forward to' and add the new address, and drop it back in the mail.

It may be trickier with courier deliveries, but it seems your best chance.

[pocomocomputing]

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@afantiques wrote:

The shipper said if I change my address in my profile it should go to the correct address when the global shipping centre gets it. Is this correct?

Almost certainly not. I have no concrete answer, but logically, the GSP needs the shipping address at time of sale to calculate any tax charges, most notably in Canada where these vary from province to province.

Therefore I suspect strongly that the address information cannot be updated 'just like that' because it would not be possible, if you moved province,, to alter the tax charge. Even if the address is in the same province or even town, if there is no facilty to change the address, how local it is does not matter.

Can you contact the new occupier and ask them to forward your package? It is always advisable to leave a forwarding address unless you are on the lam, all the new occupant needs to do is to mark the item 'Gone Away' or 'Forward to' and add the new address, and drop it back in the mail.

It may be trickier with courier deliveries, but it seems your best chance.

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Canada Post will forward mail but not parcels even if you have paid for mail forwarding with Canada Post.

https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/kb/details.page?article=types_of_mail_for_ma&cattype=kb&cat=receivi...

When you purchase Mail Forwarding, Lettermail™, Registered Mail™, and magazines addressed to your original address will be forwarded.

Parcels (e.g. Expedited Parcel™, Regular Parcel™) and prepaid envelopes are excluded from this service. If you’re expecting parcel deliveries you must advise the sender(s) of your new address, even when you have the Mail Forwarding service in place.

[afantiques]

Thank you for the clarification. Any idea what they would do with a package if the recipient did simply re-address it and remail it?  This is a slightly different situation from the formal forwarding service.

I suppose if the buyer had not moved very far the recipient could could mark the package 'Hold at PO' and the buyer could pick it up. It would be going back to the PO anyway, so it is no extra work. Or is this too sensible?

[pocomocomputing]

I do not know if it was hand addressed by the current occupant to the new address of the buyer. I would assume that Canada Post would not forward it. One parcel done in this manner might be forwarded.

[leaky-bucket-labs]

[leaky-bucket-labs]

Look how Ebay rips people off.

$6.54USD import fee on a $20 item and $31.82USD shipping it weighs 2 pounds.

Another item they only want $14.93USD and its $195USD!! $40.14 for shipping its 5 times bigger and weighs 10 pounds.

I shop Aliexpess I get free shipping, no taxes no import fee, nothing.

Ebay is a joke now, just robbing people blind.

[reallynicestamps]

It was your seller who chose to use the Seller Protection of the Global Shipping Program.

Which does nothing for the buyer. And Canadians hate it.

$6.54USD import fee on a $20 item

That's $20USD or $25CDN.

And Canada starts charging SALES TAXES* and duty after $20 Cdn.

That's the law.

However, many Canadians don't know that, in part because they are used to the $200CDN ($150USD) limit when they drive back from the States.

Couriers and freight forwarders like GSP/Pitney Bowes and UPS must obey that law.

Canada Post and CBSA have decided it's silly to assess and collect these legal import fees when it costs more to collect them than to ignore them.

So when something comes in postally (like AliExpress) if it is under about $100CDN and not bulky, the legally required fees go uncollected.

Which is why choosing a seller who insists on the GSP is a really bad choice if your item is cheap and small.

Watch for these words when you are doing your Search:

Customs services and international tracking provided

Unfortunately, this doesn't show if you are shopping on a mobile nor if you are using Gallery Search.

But it does show on the listing itself .

And of course the full cost, including those import fees and shipping show before you click to pay.

$31.82USD shipping it weighs 2 pounds.

 And again, it comes back to the postal service the seller chose.

https://ircalc.usps.com/

If he went with one of the superfast services, especially if the item was bulky, yep, it will be expensive.

shipping its 5 times bigger and weighs 10 pounds.

Not unusual. There are rate changes around the one kilo/two pound and five kilo/ten pound points. If the second item weighed 11 pounds the shipping would be much higher. Even 10 lbs 1oz would cost as much as 11 pounds.

But basically, the GSP is a good reason to skip that seller unless the total cost, including import fees, is acceptable to you.

BTW-- the real problem is that $20CDN limit on duty free postal imports.

You can write your MP about this. You don't even need to stamp the envelope.

YR Member-Name, MP

House of Commons

Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

*It's mostly sales taxes.

[chadhockley]

I accidentally put the wrong postal code on 2 of my orders. I contacted the seller and they told me to contact eBay. So I did and was told the seller had to change it. I'm at a loss.. I can't find my packages and don't want to lose them. Please contact me at.

[femmefan1946]

This is a member to member Board and no one from either eBay or the GSP/Pitney Bowes ever comes here.

First, go to your eBay and Paypal accounts and correct the error.

Now.

Once the shipment leaves the seller's hands, she can't do anything about it.

Was she using the Global Shipping Program?

In that case she shipped to the GSP plant in Kentucky where it will go on a truck to Canada and be handed over to a new shipper, usually Canada Post, occasionally CanPar.

Was your street address correct?

The first sort Canada Post does is by postal code, right down to the postal walk.

https://canadasmodernpost.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/the-math-behind-a-letter-carrier-route/

Carriers usually cover a number of postal walks in their work day. Parcel carriers even more.

But both workers are literate.

It's practically a job prerequisite.

So if the carrier gets an address in his postal walk bundle, that is not actually in that walk, he will hand it back to the workers whose entire job is to make just those corrections.

It's busy at this time of year so YOUR error will probably slow down delivery. But YOUR error will be corrected and you will get your parcel.

You could leave a notice on your mailbox, telling your carrier about the problem.

Depending on how far wrong your postal code is (wrong walk? wrong city? wrong province?) he can keep an eye out for it.

[ceiltiques]

Hello,

How long do I have to wait for payment using the global shipping program?  It's been a week already and I haven't heard anything.

Thank you and regards,

ceiltiques

[marnotom!]

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@ceiltiques wrote:

Hello,

How long do I have to wait for payment using the global shipping program?  It's been a week already and I haven't heard anything.

Thank you and regards,

ceiltiques

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Hi, Ceiliques.  You may be better off asking this on a selling board on the .com site rather than a buying board on the Canadian eBay site.  I can only tell you from my limited experience of purchasing two items shipped through the GSP that my payments seemed to be processed just the same as with a sale of an item shipped directly to me from the United States.

If this is the necklace you're posting about, I suspect you may have a buyer who's welshed on the sale, possibly put off by the prospect of paying US$7.60 / over C$10.00 in "import charges" that they don't understand.