International Priority Shipping is a major eBay ripoff. USPS is much cheaper.

[lyndal1838]

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@generolhavoc wrote:

@lyndal1838

" International Priority Shipping is a USPS premium service that provides tracking, insurance and seller protection.

I presume you are referring to the USPS First Class mail being a lot cheaper...but it does not provide the same level of protection so many sellers will not use it. "

Iyndal I wonder if he means the GPS ( Global Shipping Program ), as I know that program does use the above and yes is expensive.

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I have no doubt that the OP is referring to the GSP but there is no comparison between that and USPS.

With the priority shipping service the sellers gets full protection against claims and insurance.  With the first class service there is no protection at all unless extra services are purchased...many sellers will not bother going to the post office to use the service when they can post them to Pitney Bowes which is local postage for them.

[lyndal1838]

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@ajarnjenny wrote:

It is because US sellers have been brainwashed to believe that all 'foreign' buyers are out to scam them. They call Canadians 'foreigners'. That would be like us calling Kiwis 'foreigners.

And if you message them before you buy asking can they send it by ordinary post and not GSP, they are sure that you are a scammer. 

Three balls of wool that  is for sale for $14 and weighs 150grams costs $35 to post? But it does includes custom charges!!!! 

You have to wonder, sometimes where they are coming from.

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Yes Jenny, the US sellers are posting Internationally when they post to Canada.  They usually list an international postage rate to Canada and a different one to the rest of the world.

As for your balls of wool....the GSP would not be quoting import duty but it is quoting Pitney Bowes' handling fees for packing, preparing the paperwork and customs clearances in Australia...none of which is necessary anyway when the USPS is used.

[afantiques]

I understand you are trying to drum up trade, but you really need to read what's said if you want to be considered a reliable US seller. Congruent to which - do you send to Australia by USPS first class, non seller protecting, mail?

I always sent everything to Australia by basic airmail, and never had a loss.

I always figured that the average Australian would happily sell you the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but would be far too proud to bludge a few dollars from an ebay seller. I may be a bit outdated with this, but I sell antiques, not mobile phones or games.

[lyndal1838]

afantiques,  the Harbour Bridge is a bit old hat now....we are currently trying to flog off the Opera House but will throw in the Bridge if the customer insists.

[trevork7456]

Paid $45 Global shipping to Australia from US for 2 small toy soldiers which is usually around $30 priority takes under 2 weeks, I noted in tracking with Global it is sitting now at Fed ex Australia, I telephoned them as to why is it not being sent to my home address now, they stated it economy and post next week, rip off , scam by ebay shame on them

[h.walden]

I have to chime in on this old post to agree that the Global Shipping Program (US) or Global Shipping Programme (UK) (GSP) is indeed an expensive administrative cost and time overhead that especially seems to be pandering to the fears of some US citizens that everyone is out to rip them off or that selling Internationally is so hard that only a specialist courier or customs broker can do it properly. It is expensive, adds significant shipping time and is really only benefiting Pitney Bowes. While I cannot avoid buying from sellers using it (otherwise, I would have a shrinking pool of sellers for the products I would like), I do heavily mark them all down on postage cost and postage time when leaving feedback, and mention the use of the GSP in the comment. Hopefully, this will help change some seller's default behaviour and make them think about what they are signing up for.

[lyndal1838]

Have you checked the feedback you have left for sellers using the GSP since you left it?

It would be interesting to see if it has been removed by ebay as it is policy that you cannot leave poor/negtive feedback about the GSP.

If ebay has removed the feedback they have probably also reversed the star ratings too.

[bella-sage]

I purchased an item from the US and it has been sent by GSP, the cost was a bit hefty however I knew that when purchasing the item and as I wanted the item it was a term I accepted. The only thing that has annoyed me somewhat is the extended time it is taking to ship from the central point in the US to myself. I have tracked my item through FedEx however now it has added an additional 5 days onto the expected delivery time, this is the part I am disappointed in.

I appreciate that I was able to purchase this item, I appreciate the seller offering to overseas buyrs, I knew the $50.00 cost that was involved for the smallish item and I know it takes time for customs doco etc to be generated, however it should not take just over 3 weeks to get from the seller to myself if International Priority is being used.

I dont hold the seller responsible for this at all, I just thought the speed of delivery would be far better than what it is. I will definately avoid using this service in the future is at all possible.

[lyndal1838]

Three weeks is not bad for a GSP item to be delivered in Australia.  The items I have bought using the GSP have taken 7 and 5 weeks respectively.

And just so you know....Priority is a misnomer.  Ebay only pay FedEx to provide an economy service which is why it takes so long once it reaches Australia.  Once packages have cleared Customs they can sit in the FedEx Receiving dock for up to a week before they are dispatched.

[steve_gee]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

International Priority Shipping is a USPS premium service that provides tracking, insurance and seller protection.

I presume you are referring to the USPS First Class mail being a lot cheaper...but it does not provide the same level of protection so many sellers will not use it.

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Depends how you interpret International Priority Shipping

INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY SHIPPING is NOT USPS

Its GSP

May use USPS for first leg but thats where it ends