topic Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive? in Buying

Postage from USA - why so expensive?

terroxyboy — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 00:44:04 GMT

I have pretty much given up buying avything from the USA. Are their overseas postage fees really that exhorbitant at the other end? We are talking $25 - $30 for very small packages, compared to around $10 - $15 equivalent delivery method from the UK.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

zanadoo_56 — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 01:39:30 GMT

Some sellers are using the Global Shipping Program which means you pay quite a lot for a featherweight parcel, as there's no really cheap rate available for the GS

Other sellers are concerned that there's no tracking on USPS First Class Mail International (the cheapest rate for small packets) once the item leaves the US so they opt for something more expensive like Priority. While I've had a few items not turn up, they were not necessarily sent by the cheapest method, so a more expensive rate may or may not be better.

Some items are probably too big to send by USPS First Class (especially when you are paying for a boxed item which may need extra packaging as its value is also due to the fact that it has never been opened). As I eventually debox most of these items I really have to consider whether I should buy it now (postage $18-$30) or hope a deboxed one will eventually turn up on eBay, hopefully to be posted by First Class.

And then there are sellers who post cheap items costing a few dollars at a postal rate of $50 or more. Maybe they do that to deter overseas sellers from bidding.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

kiwilen0 — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:27:47 GMT

I agree, postage from the US is ridiculous! Recently for an item weighing less than 1 lb, I paid $63 postage to New Zealand. The trouble is, there is never any choices for the buyer to specify how they want the item sent, you have to use whatever the seller decides.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

pipper086 — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 05:26:18 GMT

Totally agree wont buy from US because of postage prices

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

venomous_abyss — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:29:02 GMT

The question is why aren't more sellers taking advantage of the free delivery confirmation and tracking included with First Class International Package Service when shipped through click-n-ship (usps.com) or alternative online sites? I received a First Class package just the other day which was tracked all the way to my door, conversely an International Priority Mail parcel shipped on almost the same day has no tracking update since December 22nd and has not been received.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

*crikey*mate* — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:31:29 GMT

cos the carrier pigeons have a long way to fly

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

zelly888 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:32:35 GMT

I thought the question was why so expensive?

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

foxymillion — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:11:06 GMT

So true - it's a joke, one that's not funny at all.

Last week I ordered two books from Dublin (I'm in Australia) and they charged €5.00 for postage!! And the books arrived in *three days*!!! Whichever way you travel, Ireland is nearly twice as far from Australia as the USA is, and yet....three day delivery for €5.00!

Of course, postage from here to overseas is just as horrendous. I don't understand why. Maybe I'm stupid? Well, the Irish are amazing anyway!

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

retailtherapist_8 — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:38:20 GMT

The GSP is ridiculous. Adds far too much to the cost of items from the US and is no faster than normal USPS shipping driect from the Seller.

I now never purchase items from the USA where the Seller is using the GSP. Many others are also voting with their feet.

Hopefully the penny will drop over there when sales INTL tank low enough.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

gunnaparty2 — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 02:43:23 GMT

Check out the postage on this item,it must come with gold wrapping.Item 231141368770

FRANKENSTEIN OR MONSTER BASH PINBALL MACHINE TOPPER! VERY REALISTIC US $199.99. postage US $1,461.79.How can this be justified

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

haven_001 — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 21:14:55 GMT

Yes indeedy. Outrageous. A bag if small plastic cowboys on horses $9.99, postage,$30! We have no chance getting cool retro toys over here!

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

jeff.rutl — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:24:16 GMT

I'm in the US, and I'm trying to figure out why shipping to Australia is so expensive. Shipping in the US is extremely cheap, and in my experience so far shipping outside of the US is very reasonable. I've shipped to South Korea, Japan, UK, Kazakhstan... yet when I look up rates for Australia it can go in the HUNDREDS of dollars for even a small package. USPS is most reasonable, but high. UPS shipped me a monitor from South Korea around the world in ONE DAY for $20. Yet an open ended delivery date for a tiny box is $300?

Well at least this confirms that its not unusual.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

chezzy — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 22:03:16 GMT

Read the 'fine print' on listings. Does it mention anything about Global Shipping Program or Pitney Bowes? This is often the reason for the higher postage. Some sellers don't know they have even been opted in for that service. There have been several topics on the matter.

As buyers it pays to be educated on what is going on, for myself I seek out sellers who are willing to ship direct themselves via USPS, on a couple of occasions I have actually had to send the seller 'instructions' on how to opt out of the Global Shipping Program which shows on their listings!

It seems some people come across this higher postage and then 'give up' or 'rant and rave'. Why not use the ebay message system to chat with the seller and see if there are other options to what is appearing on the listing your end?

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

blackwingedfairy — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:23:34 GMT

I agree! I live in the US and I'd love to be able to ship to other countries but it's outrageous! I try to keep my items at a reasonable cost, but the shipping that someone would have to pay for receiving the item completely negates that. It's really disappointing as a seller.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

davewil1964 — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 10:03:41 GMT

Don't be disappointed, be proactive.

Opt out of the GSP.

Then you can post overseas at reasonable prices. That is entirely within YOUR control.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

i-once-was-bump — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 12:48:13 GMT

I received a parcel from the US last week and it measured more than 40 inches long and 20 inches wide and about 6 inches thick and it cost $52.00 postage. Sure it was more than the cost of the item but price plus postage was still better than I could do anywhere else.

The weird thing is that my payment was split into 2 with some going to the seller and the $52 went to Pitney Bowes so it showed as 2 Paypal transactions..

Also it arrived far sooner than I expected.

I don't have a problem with postage from the US.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

k1ooo-slr-sales — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:26:46 GMT

@i-once-was-bump wrote:

The weird thing is that my payment was split into 2 with some going to the seller and the $52 went to Pitney Bowes so it showed as 2 Paypal transactions..

nothing weird going on there bump. The payment to the seller includes the shipping component to get the item to Erlanger KY 41018. If the seller had free postage to continental USA then there would be no shipping component paid to the seller.

If you look at your transaction list in PayPal you will see that Pitney Bowes appears on your transaction in Blue text. If you hover your pointer over the blue text a text box appears that has a link in it with text "Why was a separate payment made?". If you click that link you get the PayPal explanation of why there are two payments for the one eBay transaction. The link is shown below:

https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/gsp#separate-payment

edit: BTW . . . . today, I received a fedex delivered box to country Vic from a USA seller via Pitney Bowes that got to me in 9 business days from seller to me. Not bad considering all the horror stories I have read. I think delivery times can be a hit-and-miss thing with the GSP.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

*crikey*mate* — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:49:27 GMT

But with the two payments split like that, if you have a problem and need to return or get a refund - guess what happens

You don't get the postage refunded because a) PayPal don't cover postage and b) you received the service you paid for.

so now the buyer is out postage both ways

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

k1ooo-slr-sales — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:55:32 GMT

@*crikey*mate* wrote:
But with the two payments split like that, if you have a problem and need to return or get a refund - guess what happens

You don't get the postage refunded because a) PayPal don't cover postage and b) you received the service you paid for.

so now the buyer is out postage both ways

no need to guess . . . . if you click the link in my last post and go to the bottom of the loaded page there is a heading that says "What happens if I make a claim under Buyer Protection?". A cursory reading of that section would indicate that if a claim is settled in the buyer's favour then they get the full refund including shipping and import charges.

Re: Postage from USA - why so expensive?

*crikey*mate* — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:04:58 GMT

OK, then PayPal ripped me off

I wish I had have known that, but now I will for next time.

apologies Sir Sales