Christophero Sly Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Can anyone here share their experience with eBay's global shipping program? I'm talking about the program where you send your item to a shipping center here in the USA and then eBay takes over from there, apparently, handling all the details of shipping your item on to your international buyers. My main question is whether the seller remains on the hook for shipping loss or damage on the international side of the equation, after an item has passed through the US shipping center, or does eBay assume all responsibility for an item once it reaches the shipping center? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coleconut Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 There's a fairly recent thread in the 8-bit forum if you do a search. Mostly horror stories about repackaging goods and a lot of Canadians like myself saying they'd NEVER buy anything if the seller uses this service. It doubles the cost to the buyer and for what? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I sold some very expensive stereo equipment, $1k - $2k per component, using international shipping. Turns out that a high percentage of my potential customers were outside the US. I would never have shipped something of this value internationally without some protection. I talked to Ebay about it and my responsibility was just to get the package to the distribution center safely. Ebay didn't try to repackage any of my shipments and I doubled boxed everything. I would have liked to just do normal international but the huge amount of scamming going on out there has made it too risky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 There's a number of threads on eBay community forum, nearly all of the negative. Buyer often get shafted harder on taxes and duties because it's always collected. When seller ships direct to buyer, there's a chance it can get through without any taxes tacked on. With GSP, it becomes 100% guarrantee it will be taxed. Packages are usually repacked to make it smaller and lighter to save on shipping. At the expense of protection. I've read some horror stories including: CIB virtualboy game getting repacked and buyer gets only the cart, GSP threw away valuable mint box and manual several mint 32X boxes arrived crushed like they drove a steamroller over the lot to shrink it. Sealed games arriving unsealed or even cart only, the idiot at GSP does need to be sure the main item is included. Set of very old porcelain dolls arrived in small box with no protection, you guessed it, now as 10,000 piece porcelain puzzle set. One item arrived in UK very wet and musty If there's one good thing, when buyer files complaint GSP eats the loss and seller is spared. So you are safe sending that extremely rare sealed 2600 Air Raid knowing well it will end up either crushed badly, soaking wet, or missing the box. The buyer usually gets to keep the good. From the seller's view it seems easy and quick, no custom form to fill out or anything. But seller can get negged for damaged or incomplete goods because of GSP. I try avoid them as much as I can, even though eBay keeps turning on allow GSP in my preference and in my listing. Clearly eBay doesn't understand any part of "NO" and going by other seller's complaint, I think eBay is just being idiot trying to shove GSP onto everyone in hope of making more money from higher FVF. In the end they are probably losing more to lost or damaged goods. So far this year I've had zero international sale. Since eBay keeps ignoring my preference and shoving GSP onto me, I've made my listing USA only instead just to spite them. The only benefit to seller who doesn't care that valuable and irreplaceable items are getting damaged is the seller won't lose a penny when buyer complains. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophero Sly Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 If there's one good thing, when buyer files complaint GSP eats the loss and seller is spared.This is my primary concern. Are you sure this is correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc--- Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) From a European buyer's point of view I can say that I hate the GSP, it's a big rip-off. I have to pay exaggerated shipping costs plus import taxes for small parcels which would go tax-exempt through the customs otherwise. One time Pitney Bowes cashed shipping costs that were MUCH higher than the usual priority mail costs and there is NO WAY to claim that. All you get back is an email from the can, but absolutely no help (even worse than with ebay I would say). So I simply don't bid on items that are shipped with the GSP. I am afraid that from some day on the GSP will be the only shipping option from the USA to foreign countries. That will be the day when I will stop buying from ebay sellers in the US completely. Edited March 11, 2015 by ccc--- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I've avoided it so far, ever since several friends had their items re-packaged quite poorly. Very very few people online seem to have anything positive to relate about this program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Lathe26 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 This isn't my video, but it sums up everything I've heard about it so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijmdVlQ36-w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldjd Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 From a sellers perspective, I have been using it almost since it began. My experience has been good, in fact just recently I had a buyer claim they didn't receive their item. With the GSP, I notified them of the situation. They refunded the buyer the cost of the item and the shipping, and it didn't come from me. While the buyer was initially unhappy about the missing item, they were happy when they got the total refund, and I was happy that I didn't get bonged back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LS650 Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 As a buyer in Canada, I think the GPS is terrible, and is killing my ability to buy eBay items from the US. I recently bought a Vectrex, and I'd like to pick up some carts. I can see a Hyperchase cart up there now for $6 US. I know that to put something in a small box and ship it from the US to Canada via USPS is maybe $12 US. Expensive, right? But... because this seller has listed it with GPS, it shows as "$17.93 International Priority Shippingto Canada via the Global Shipping Program". Three times as much for shipping as the actual item is bidding at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Found another rant on eBay forum. Seems a seller sold a vintage musical instrument for a large amount but it never got through GSP facility. Seems it was confiscated and destroyed because it contained possible ivory inserts. Real ivory has been banned for decades so anyone who doesn't know, their musical instrument can be confiscated if it's going to cross international border. Seller didn't lose any money, buyer got his refund. But to destroy something about 300 years rather than to refuse and return it to the seller and warn seller not to sell it outside USA. That's like melting Statue of Liberty on purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Found another rant on eBay forum. Seems a seller sold a vintage musical instrument for a large amount but it never got through GSP facility. Seems it was confiscated and destroyed because it contained possible ivory inserts. Real ivory has been banned for decades so anyone who doesn't know, their musical instrument can be confiscated if it's going to cross international border. Seller didn't lose any money, buyer got his refund. But to destroy something about 300 years rather than to refuse and return it to the seller and warn seller not to sell it outside USA. That's like melting Statue of Liberty on purpose. How did it make it to the border before going through the GSP (Pitney Bowes) facility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I think what he is saying is that at the GSP facility, they saw it was going outside the US and determined (when unpacking and checking the item) that they thought it had ivory on it, and thus decided to destroy the item at the facility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I think what he is saying is that at the GSP facility, they saw it was going outside the US and determined (when unpacking and checking the item) that they thought it had ivory on it, and thus decided to destroy the item at the facility. I would have to call BS on that story. From my cursory look at the laws, that ivory would be exempt due to it's age. Worst case it should be returned to the seller if it can't be exported. It's not illegal to own it so it can't be confiscated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I would have to call BS on that story. From my cursory look at the laws, that ivory would be exempt due to it's age. Worst case it should be returned to the seller if it can't be exported. It's not illegal to own it so it can't be confiscated. This. The item was likely in USA before ivory became illegal. Currently you can keep item with ivory that was collected before the law but you can't move it cross border anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Tarzilla Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 This. The item was likely in USA before ivory became illegal. Currently you can keep item with ivory that was collected before the law but you can't move it cross border anymore. I would have to call BS on that story. From my cursory look at the laws, that ivory would be exempt due to it's age. Worst case it should be returned to the seller if it can't be exported. It's not illegal to own it so it can't be confiscated. I wouldn't call bullshit at all. You are giving minimum wage workers at the packing facility too much credit for knowing the law is date sensitive. They would have been told "ivory is illegal", not check the manufacturer date. Remember, this is the same program that estimates and charges duty and fees (specifically Canadians in my case) on items that are explicitly exempt under NAFTA. Not to mention the repackaging nightmares I have had on at at least 10 of my transactions before I stopped patronizing any GSP listing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 It doesn't matter how old the ivory is, its not illegal to own it. Its illegal to sell or ship across the border. The intelligence of the min wage worker doesn't even factor in. If they determine its ivory then dont forward it on. If they are really confiscating ivory illegally then surely there is at least one owner intelligent enough to have called them out on it and report to the authorities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LS650 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Having dealt with the minions employed by the TSA, it would not surprise me in the slightest that low-level flunkies in another organization would make such a "by the book" error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Having dealt with the minions employed by the TSA, it would not surprise me in the slightest that low-level flunkies in another organization would make such a "by the book" error. This. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geotrick Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 (edited) I shipped an auction item to Russia last summer (vocals stompbox). I mailed it my self (USPS Priority Mail). It was a smooth transaction. A Lot of communications and little problems on the ebay interface on the buyers end. This was a first time buyer (0 feedback). Ebay has put in seller and buyer protections that make transactions pretty much guaranteed. Just make sure to use their shipping interface (mostly because the ease of use and the discounts). The shipping label and customs documents were filed out and ready to ship. The shipping was around 60$ for an item that weighed less than 6 lbs. My 2 cents.. Edited March 14, 2015 by Geotrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhod Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Bullshit Foreign buyers like me x2 of cost shipping x3 of time delivery some times, opened and repackaged in a smaller package box only done to increase the margin! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari8bitCarts Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 My experice was that I didn't know I had that checked on my auction (it defaults to checked!). Then this duchebag asks a bunch of questions buys it. Knows it's through their program, not mine (I'd rather ship direct but can't now). He states he never received it, but gave them the wrong address (he states this). eBay allows him to file a complaint against me! I call them up and they state that was in error, but their system doesn't stop it. The "Open request" is still open after 2 months! They tell you you're only responsible for shipment to the airport hanger, etc. The buyer doesn't understand this always. I've had buyers email me asking to ship direct since eBay doubles to cost to ship. I've since turned off that option on all auction posts. It sounds good but they really need to fix and clean up the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keops Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 (edited) Ebay's global shipping program makes no sense, shipping fees skyrocket and ebay adds import fees, making it easy to reach an additional $30 to the price of the item for no reason. I often end up not buying from sellers using it unless they have an item I really want and that I can't find anywhere else. Also, combined shipping sometimes doesn't seem to work properly with global shipping, you can end up paying more shipping for 2 games coming from 2 separate auctions than for 5 games coming from one single auction (I had an example again this week). Edited March 26, 2015 by Keops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Same. GSP seems to be ok for noob seller or seller who are too lazy to fill out a few words on custom form and go stand in line at post office for proper postage. But I've shipped internationally before and it seems a lot less hassle than GSP in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAGUAR Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 I have never used global shipping program I don't trust them. However I have also been screwed over by some euro buyers........cant win either way. I don't like shipping to anywhere besides usa but on cheaper items I usually do anyway.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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