How to switch shipping to USPS First Class International?

[cladagh1895]

I wonder if a seller can help with this. I'm in Canada and often buy clothing from eBay sellers in the US. Priority International is generally extremely expensive and the Customs fees are automatically added too, so I sometimes ask the seller if they'd be willing to switch to USPS First Class International. Most are willing to do that, but often they don't know how to switch it--they say it's locked into Priority etc. Does anyone know the steps the seller can take to switch to First Class International? Thanks very much in advance. 

[reallynicestamps]

At the top left of the listing the seller clicks on -> Revise

Scroll down to->Shipping Details

Scroll to->International Shipping

OnShipTo drop down menu choose-> Custom Location

Choose -> Canada
Change Services to-> First Class International Parcel*.

Scroll to bottom of page.

Click on Update Listing.

*First Class International Parcel gives the sender tracking*. Most US sellers want that deeply, emotionally, and with all their hearts.

The price is about half of the cheapest Priority Service.

If the seller is using Flat Rates, she can set the rate using this ratecard.

https://postcalc.usps.com/?country=10440

[reallynicestamps]

and the Customs fees are automatically added too,

Umm. Not exactly.

If your purchase is under $150 with the new NAFTA you will not be paying duty, but you will be paying sales taxes if the value is over $40.

These figures changed in July 2020. The duty-free and tax-free allowances before that were just $20.

Do NOT ask the seller to lie about the value of the purchase.

If the seller is using a courier like UPS, you will be charged these import fees, plus a "customs brokerage"/ service fee which can easily be $25 or more.

Private companies like UPS cannot ignore these costs so they pass them on to the recipient.

However, CBSA is in the habit of ignoring low value mailed packages on the sensible basis that it costs the taxpayer more to have the package assessed and the fees collected than is

likely to be brought it.

This has led to the mistaken belief that the duty has something to do with the method of shipping, but actually all imports should be charged the same duty and sales taxes . It's just foolish for CBSA to charge the fees without covering their expenses, which are paid for by all taxpayers.

TL/DR - You still owe duty and sales tax.

[pjcdn2005]

Since you mention customs fees I'm guessing that you are asking how a seller changes from using the gsp to first class international.  I think that once the gsp is enabled on a listing it will overwrite any other international options that the seller puts in so it's treated differently than by just adding first class international in Canada in the  listing . Most of the sellers here including myself are in Canada so have never made a listing using the gsp but according to the help pages.....

Here's how to customize your Global Shipping Program preferences by country:

1. Go to Manage Shipping Preferences.
2. Select Edit beside Global Shipping Program.
3. Check the box beside Customize international shipping for some locations.

For items that aren't eligible for the Global Shipping Program, or items that are offered to buyers in countries not supported by the Global Shipping Program, you can set up additional international shipping services. Here's how:

1. Go to the International shipping section of the listing form.
2. Update your selection in the No additional international shipping dropdown menu.
3. You can add up to 5 international shipping options.

[marnotom!]

Several shipping companies have what they call "Priority" shipping.  Since you're discussing import charges associated with Priority shipping, I'm guessing that you're looking largely at items with the shipping description "International Priority Shipping" which is different than "USPS Priority International".

"International Priority Shipping" is a catch-all term for items forwarded through the Global Shipping Program.  These items often have a higher than expected shipping cost because buyers are paying for two sets of shipping: The  first to get the item to the GSP forwarding centre in Kentucky, the second to get the item from Kentucky to its final destination.  The GSP also pays on your behalf any taxes, duty and processing fees owing on the item and you repay the GSP through the "import charges" that it estimates based on the information provided by the seller.

My understanding is that sellers can't remove the GSP from a listing and switch to another shipping method without cancelling and relisting the item.  That's likely why you're getting sellers saying that they're "locked into" the shipping method.  

"USPS Priority International" shipments can be adjusted to "First Class International" shipments without cancelling and relisting the item provided they're within the size limits to do so.  Some sellers may need reassuring that FCI shipments are trackable to Canada as long as the postage is purchased online and the items aren't being mailed as if they were papers or letters (Remember those?), i.e. mailings that don't require customs forms.