@matthew8455 wrote:
1) Why are sellers continuing to use the Global shipping program when it is a blatant rip off and is hurting their prospects of overseas sales?
2) I live in Australia and collect a well known English brand product.
3) Lately, I have been buying less as sellers are sending them by the GSP which charges up to nearly 3 times what the same item would cost via Royal Mail international tracked and signed for air mail.
4) For example, I recently looked at a part I needed which weighed only a few grams. The part would have cost me £45 and for it to be sent via GSP would have set me back another £25.92 + an “import charge” of £8.85 bringing the total cost to £79.77
5) To send it via Royal Mail international tracked would have cost £10.80 and, with the value being under £100, no import charge making the total to me £55.80.
I have already seen complaints on this forum about Ebay taking a fair amount in fees from seller for the postage and leaving them out of pocket as well. It would seem that the only advantage of the GSP is to Ebay and no one else.
6) I hope that more sellers will see the GSP for what it really is and dump it. It would greatly benefit all.
I’ve put bold numbers to break your post down into points I will address.
1) some sellers don’t wish to post overseas. There have been anecdotes posted on these forums of sellers not even being aware that the items they list are available to overseas buyers. So, the price of the GSP is of no consequence to sellers who use the service if they were not going to offer their items to overseas buyers. If an overseas user wants their item then there is a price to be paid.
2) it is unfortunate that your collection passion can not be satisfied through domestic purchases.
3) using the GSP gives sellers the gold standard of seller protections. They are protected against negative feedback for shipping costs, delays in delivery, damages due to packaging, Item Not Received claims and a whole lot more. This is because their obligation is to ship to Pitney Bowes who fill in customs declarations, collect GST owing, re-pack and ship to the overseas destination. Once the item is received by PB then the sellers are protected both financially and against most negative feedback.
4) your £45 item with £25 shipping would incur a £7 Australian GST charge as all overseas purchases are subject to GST regardless of how it is shipped. The difference between the GST and the “import charges” is the fee (including GST) charged by PB.
5) you are wrong in saying items under £100 have no import charges. Low priced items shipped via Royal Mail are still subject to Australian GST on Item price and shipping charge. The difference between RM and PB is that the GST is collected by eBay at checkout. So, your £45 item with £10.80 RM would incur a GST charge of £5.58, bringing your total to £61.38. This is less than the £79.77, but not as great a difference as you have stated.
The advantage in using GSP is shared by both eBay and the seller.
6) as outlined above, some sellers don’t wish to sell internationally but do so through the GSP. It would not bother such sellers one bit if their listings did not ave GSP as the listings would not offer international shipping options i.e. they are missing out on nothing.
The inclusion of GSP on their items would allow international bids, which drives up the price of the items eventually won even if by a domestic buyer. They won’t notice a drop in prices due to GSP, they would see an increase when overseas bidders bid.
Ultimately, you have all the power in any potential transaction. Don’t like the price under GSP then don’t bid/buy.
