Global Shipping Program
Summary: The discussion titled "Global Shipping Program" appears to have multiple participants but lacks any content in their posts, as all entries are marked "None." Several users, including arts-sports-gifts, gutterpunkz05, and others engage in the thread, but no specific information or opinions about the program are shared or debated. As such, it seems to be an empty or possibly placeholder discussion.
I've seen hundreds of posts about the GSP, but the more I look into it the more I do not understand why it is in place.
I buy a lot of stock from international buyers and import to Australia on a weekly basis. The main purchases I make a sports and non-sports trading cards. I recently found an international ebay seller who had fantastic stock and great prices. But because they used the GSP, they couldn't combine the postage. So for each additional trading card, which is a small piece of cardboard that weighs about 5 grams, the GSP charge was around US$5 - $7 per item, roughly about the same value as the item. I couldn't complete my planned order with that seller for around US$7500.
One of the largest auction houses on Ebay uses GSP for some items. I look at thousands and bid on hundreds of items each week, so it is impossible to note how each individual item is shipped. When each order is finalised, there will typically be 5 items they ship with GSP, and the other 35 items are shipped with Fedex (EBAY can only combine an invoice for 40 items max). Fedex charges around US$60 for the 35 trading cards, and GSP will be somewhere around US$30 - $40 for the other five items. This significantly increases my freight bill (as those 5 items could easily have fit in the Fedex box). Once the items are shipped, Fedex will turn up in about 5 days, while GSP arrives in around 6 weeks. I only go through with the GSP sales to avoid the unpaid item strikes. Our business survives on fast turnaround times, first to market products and like any business - cashflow. GSP prevent any of these things from happening, they reduce international sales for Ebay sellers, reduce the purchasing options and increase the cost of freight for international buyers.
So my question is - if GSP reduces sales for Ebay Sellers, and restricts purchasing by Ebay Buyers - who does GSP benefit?
kh-syedse
·2 years agoHi everyone,
This discussion has gotten a bit heated. Please remember that, while it is fine to disagree with others, discussion should always remain friendly and respectful as required by the Community Guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation.
djavusydney
·2 years agoIf you buy a lot of light items, and it's expensive to use GSP, I recommend to use MyUS to forward your items.
catchbull
·2 years agoThey may as well remove international shipping from the USA entirely if they aren't going to offer anything besides GSP.
You know your shipping system is broken when one (1) postcard costs nearly $30 to post internationally and there are no alternative shipping options.
GSP is by far the worst thing that ebay has ever imposed on us, as buyers. (I'm sure certain sellers of questionable intelligence will defend it no matter how many "irrelevant" buyers it drives away.)
padi*0409
·2 years agoRubbish, the sellers in the US (and UK) certainly do not have to use the GSP (which is now eBay International Shipping).
It's a win win situation for them though if they do use it, as they are only responsible for the journey to the international hub, not all the way to it's destination.
sandypebbles
·2 years agoBuyers have full choice, it is not 'imposed' on anyone
Don't like it, don't buy from sellers who use it, and decline the other options available for them to use
Not sure why you claim there are 'no alternative shipping options'
Must be my 'questionable intelligence' I suppose
Then again, I would not be paying thirty bucks postage on a post card
sugar249
·2 years agoHappy to defend it, there are alternates, and the buyer at the end of the day has the options, you could always ask the seller to list using a different option, or you can just not buy.
I guess as a seller, maybe I fall in your category, but hey you as the buyer need to use it !!!!!
gutterpunkz05
·2 years agoSellers love the GSP/eIS. Wish we had access to it in OZ, as it eliminates all the burdens/responsibilities for international shipping.
How you believe the GSP/eIS influences a buyers purchasing habits is irrelevant. As you believe you are an influential/valued customer, why don't you have alternative arrangements in place with regular suppliers.