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,

[bennett4612]

Hi aqt_4life.

afantiques pretty much covers is (thanks, afan). 

What is your expected delivery date? Has it passed?

One of the features of the Global Shipping Program is end-to-end tracking. And as afantiques pointed out, the tracking # you are referring to is a Pitney Bowes #. 

If your item is past due (or close to it), you could try contacting PB. For Pitney Bowes customer service regarding GSP issues, you can email PBISGSPCS@pb.com to reach the GSP Customer Service group. Or you can call 1-866-235-9627, and press 1 to reach the same GSP Customer Service group. 

We have been working with PB to try and add more "tracking events" to the process. So it is possible that your item is simply "between events". I realize this is little comfort ... but without know if your item is past due it's tough to speculate. 

Hope this helps. 

---Bennett

[afantiques]

We have been working with PB to try and add more "tracking events" to the process. So it is possible that your item is simply "between events". I realize this is little comfort ... but without knowing if your item is past due it's tough to speculate.

The real problem with the PB tracking numbers is that there is no clear idea of where to use them to actually get some results. The .eu site is useless, so you can add all the tracking events you like but it is pointless if the user does not have easy access to the tracking data.

It can be done because I have seen copies of detailed tracking for packages, but the most common comment seems to be 'Where can I use my tracking number?'

If the tracking link is on their ebay 'sold item' pages, it is clearly not nearly idiot proof enough.

[bennett4612]

That "trackmyparcel" site is a doozy. It is definitely not working like it should; the links leading to that site SHOULD be leading to specific tracking info for the specific transaction. NOT simply to a home page, where you have to enter additional info. We were first made aware of this problem via message board thread. I forwarded it on up the eBay food chain, and will follow up. 

Tracking # discrepancies are another (related) issue. From carrier to carrier sometimes extra digits are added. For example PBI might list a # one way but then zeroes are added when it displays via eBay (just a hypothetical there). 

Again, all stuff we are aware of for the most part. And we definitely encourage community members to provide additional examples of where tracking is coming up short. 

[afantiques]

Again, all stuff we are aware of for the most part.

It is the sort of thing that requires some prompt executive action, and I suspect fear of the poisoned chalice is keeping the problems 'in committee' because no-one wants to be saddled with the responsibility of sorting out anything to do with GSP matters. The opportunities generated by the involvement of two companies for referring stuff back and forth ad infinitum are to good to miss for the suits involved.

If it was my company I'd have been knocking some heads together a year ago, by now a lot of folk would be doing a good job or looking for another one.

I sympathise with your position, bennett, one which must be like shooting at marshmallow with a pea shooter. I trust you have had more luck with any individual problems that users have referred to you.

[pjcdn2005]

If it was my company I'd have been knocking some heads together a year ago, by now a lot of folk would be doing a good job or looking for another one.

Ditto!

Whatever the reason, the lack of action on the problems with the gsp suggests to users that ebay doesn't care how users feel and are more concerned about their own objectives.

[afantiques]

Whatever the reason, the lack of action on the problems with the GSP suggests to users that ebay doesn't care how users feel and are more concerned about their own objectives.

In a large corporation dodging bullets and watching your back can be the primary objectives of employees, even the senior management can be more focussed on their own survival than the ostensiable corporate objectives.

There is no 'ebay' as an entity to sort this out, it is just a bunch of variously disfunctional executives with as many objectives as there are chairs in the senior dining room.

[pjcdn2005]

There is no 'ebay' as an entity to sort this out, it is just a bunch of variously disfunctional executives with as many objectives as there are chairs in the senior dining room.

Which explains quite a few of the things that ebay does.

[dboston2000]

Is there any way we can buy an idem without Global Shipping it makes the cost of items to much.

[arlene_v]

Please refer  posts 57 to  70 on this thread on the .com board. 

http://community.ebay.com/t5/International-Trading/What-is-1850-Airport-Exchange-Blvd/td-p/17694637/...

I would like to know why listings that have "Country of manufacture" United States in the item specifics show far lower amounts under "import charges" than items that have "Country/Region of manufacture" United States.

Please use an Ontario postal code, and check these  two listings, and how the import charges are very different despite the similarity of the items and their BIN price.  . 

251281477267 

versus

110789951580

As you can see, we are not merely talking a few dollars in difference under "import charges" but well over a hundred.

I wonder if this might have to do with changes in  the name of this field as discussed on this thread re Turbo Lister 

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Turbo-Lister/Item-Specifics-problem-in-Country-Region-of-Manufacture/td...

Has the GSP "bot"  been programmed  to "read" this change in the name of this  field that occurred earlier this year ? 

[arlene_v]

This thread has been locked in the last half an hour.

http://community.ebay.com/t5/International-Trading/What-is-1850-Airport-Exchange-Blvd/td-p/17694637/...

If I could reply to the final post made, it would simply be that unlike the GSP,  the CBSA has a process for appeal, and the tax and duty are clearly stated, unlike this debacle. 

So when I see these listings,  I hit the back button. 

[chimera148]

Was going to reply likewise, till I realized it was locked.

Sellers need to learn a lot about the GSP or risk driving sales away.

It has certainly deterred my buying and just wastes time, for me.

[marnotom!]

---

@arlene_v wrote:

This thread has been locked in the last half an hour.

http://community.ebay.com/t5/International-Trading/What-is-1850-Airport-Exchange-Blvd/td-p/17694637/...

If I could reply to the final post made, it would simply be that unlike the GSP,  the CBSA has a process for appeal, and the tax and duty are clearly stated, unlike this debacle. 

So when I see these listings,  I hit the back button. 

---

I don't know if that addresses Larry's point, though.  I think what he's asking is how is not knowing for sure the amount you're going to get billed for taxes and duty until you receive your item a more "desirable" scenario than getting a recalculated bill at the point of purchase?

I'm not sure where your point about appealing the amount assessed by CBSA comes into play here.

[arlene_v]

I would far rather not know the amount for sure and get a "surprise"  from the CBSA,  than rely on the GSP which is to know nothing in actual fact.

It produces a number and no facts. Garbage. Useless,bloated overpriced .... drivel.

Those with a brain do not pay charges that are not spelled out. We like to know what we have paid, to whom, in tax and duty ... down to the last cent.

I think this is prudent, and desirable. 

[chimera148]

---

@marnotom! wrote:

---

---

I don't know if that addresses Larry's point, though.  I think what he's asking is how is not knowing for sure the amount you're going to get billed for taxes and duty until you receive your item a more "desirable" scenario than getting a recalculated bill at the point of purchase?

I'm not sure where your point about appealing the amount assessed by CBSA comes into play here.

---

It's really hard to tell what Larry's point would be.

After looking at some of his active and completed GSP listings,  and his associated Terms of Sale there seem to be some gaps in his understanding of how the GSP really is supposed to work, as far as I know.

As a prospective buyer I'd find some of the Terms of Sale mentioned contradictory and confusing for his GSP listed items.

I give him credit for experimenting with the GSP and sharing his knowledge and experience, but there are limits when buyers are misinformed.

We're all learning. 

[afantiques]

I wonder if that thread was locked because there was a US seller willing to actively co-operate to find some answers about GSP tax calculations by practical experiment.

[arlene_v]

---

@chimera148 wrote:

---

@marnotom! wrote:

---

---

I don't know if that addresses Larry's point, though.  I think what he's asking is how is not knowing for sure the amount you're going to get billed for taxes and duty until you receive your item a more "desirable" scenario than getting a recalculated bill at the point of purchase?

I'm not sure where your point about appealing the amount assessed by CBSA comes into play here.

---

It's really hard to tell what Larry's point would be.

---

I agree ..to quote him ...

"How is that senario less desirable than having no estimate & getting a bill from your government when the item arrives at the destination customs?

The root of the problem is that governments claim the right to assess duty & tax; not that eBay may recompute the amount during checkout."

He raised the issue of my government  versus the GSP so I would have responded to that directly. 

The root of the problem on this site is not that governments charge tax and duty, but how the GSP is doing this.

For anyone to place such high faith in this program and in this calculator,  and not to demand accountability is very short sighted. Especially considering the quality of info input to calculate charges, the calculator itself which seems subject to inconsistency between similar items, and finally the lack of any recourse in the case of over payment. 

Even when sellers try their utmost .. as in the case of Larry, he ran into one such glitch. 

He  seems to care about the international customer and getting it right, but this is not about Larry's listing.

It's  a much bigger problem. 

[femmefan1946]

Bennett- your answer does not include sufficient obfuscation and corporate boilerplate. It unfortunately indicates that human beings are actually interested in helping eBay's customers. More of this and members may start trusting you.

[chimera148]

---

@arlene_v wrote:

---

---

---

---

---

Even when sellers try their utmost .. as in the case of Larry, he ran into one such glitch. 

He  seems to care about the international customer and getting it right, but this is not about Larry's listing.

It's  a much bigger problem. 

---

Yes true, and with the GSP being as complicated enough as it is for sellers to get it right, it may be difficult for the sellers to understand the buyers' perspectives.

[valdisolemo]

I'm Swedish & I bought an item for 1400$ from California. I paid the item, the shipping costs and also almost 400$ import fees. Now when the item has arrived to Sweden, the Swedish customs want me to pay 300$ custom/import fees. This can't be right. eBay states that I only have to pay the import fees once.

I've spoken to ebay customer services but nothing seems to happen. Suggestions?

Thx in advance
//Valdi

[ca_wilki]

I use pre paid visa/master cards when I buy online and I've set up 3 recent ones that have had money taken for nothing roughly $75 has been taken in 4 separate charges to pintey Bowes and I had not bought anything on eBay