topic Re: Wasting my time in Buying

Wasting my time

little_millsy2 — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 03:35:38 GMT

I've come to the conclusion I'm wasting my time on eBay these days .................the Global Shipping Program is a Royal Rip-Off and I don't see WHY I should pay $50us or more for a magazine that the Publisher only charges $5Aus to send to Australia? I've asked if some sellers (POLITELY I might add) if they can opt out of selling to me without GSP and either been ignored or insulted. My preferences in hobbies on eBay are getting to the stage also that sellers are charging 2x or 3x the current retail value of something...Japan are the worst!. I think I'll stick to shopping at retail outlets..................eBay used to be fun and a place to pick up good deals.....but no more!

Re: Wasting my time

davidc4430 — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 04:04:22 GMT

whilst i wouldnt go to the extreme of not buying on ebay anymore i do know that scince the global shipping program was introduced my puchases from overseas have really dried up. only in last few days doing my usual seach for my favorite hobby subject there were magazines newly listed at reasonable buy it now prices but with postage via the GSP of over $65. cant believe anyone would pay even half that for 1 magazine. i too have contacted sellers asking if they realised their items were showing such high postage charges and have not had one reply with an counter offer without the GSP. they just seem to shrugg their shoulders and say if you dont like it dont buy. crazy i'n my mind as i thought they wanted to sell their items.

there are still sellers not using the GSP but they are becoming fewer by the day.

now its spreading to other countries so the future of my buying looks like i'll be saving a fortune by not buying.

Re: Wasting my time

englishrosegardens — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 04:32:02 GMT

Sellers use the GSP because they're protected from chargebacks. Some wouldn't care what the postage says, they just leave it up to the buyers whether they want to pay it or not. If someone asks a seller would they send it by a cheaper method, a lot of sellers would wonder whether they're about to be scammed. It's all about trust, and sadly, the few have spoilt it for the rest.

Re: Wasting my time

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 08:57:52 GMT

millsy, just stay away from sellers using GSP. Simples.

Re: Wasting my time

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 11:12:12 GMT

@kopenhagen5 wrote:
millsy, just stay away from sellers using GSP. Simples.

Unless it's a large bulky item, when it works out to be a lot cheaper.

Re: Wasting my time

davidc4430 — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 22:52:04 GMT

would large bulky items be more likely to get customs attention and a import duty slapped on? havent heard anything about the lowering of the import threshold for a while does anyone know if its still going to drop to nothing or very low? was $1000 but last i heard there was talk of it being removed totally.

Re: Wasting my time

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 23:19:43 GMT

I think it would depend on what the large bulky item was! They check everything, so I'm not sure something would get more attention purely due to size. If the dogs reacted they might, or if the X-ray was ambiguous as to what it was. In those instances they open it and check the contents. If alls good, they pop a note in it to say they've looked inside, then seal it up and let it complete its journey.

The last large item I bought was about 4 years ago, so not sure about the import amount. Doesn't the GSP cover any import duties? My purchase was only worth $500, so was under the threshold for that time.

Re: Wasting my time

davidc4430 — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:55:26 GMT

i've just done a google search and seems the removal of the $1000 threshold comes into effect on everything as of july 2017, another nail in the coffin for overseas buying. another 10% on top of the GSP, yippee

Re: Wasting my time

lyndal1838 — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 02:45:55 GMT

If GST/Import Duties are applicable on an item shipped by the GSP the actual charge will show as a separate item on the invoice....it is not included in the shipping cost although you pay it to Pitney Bowes and they pay it to Australian Customs.

Four years ago the threshold was $1000.....it is a long time since it was $400, probably about 8 year.

Re: Wasting my time

imastawka — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 02:53:15 GMT

@davidc4430 wrote:
i've just done a google search and seems the removal of the $1000 threshold comes into effect on everything as of july 2017, another nail in the coffin for overseas buying. another 10% on top of the GSP, yippee

Can you give us a link for that, please?

I can only see where they are adding 10% GST to all imports as of July 2017

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/gst-set-to-apply-to-all-imports-into-australia-from-july-2017-20150821-gj4vg7.html

Re: Wasting my time

lyndal1838 — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 03:30:49 GMT

There is no mention of removing the threshold....just adding the GST to all imports.

As it stands at present there are other fees and charges involved which effectively adds 30%+ to the amount added to $1000+ imports.

There is no mention of that changing...only of adding 10% to lower priced items.

Most of what I buy from overseas will still be cheaper even with 10% added. I buy marking pens for $23 per box with free postage. Officeworks charges $52 for the same box of pens. I am still laughing even with 10% added.

Re: Wasting my time

zanadoo_56 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 08:39:40 GMT

@kopenhagen5 wrote:
millsy, just stay away from sellers using GSP. Simples.

If only it was that simple but for some items I've found it's the GSP or no item. So frustrating....especially as the items are small and inexpensive. Honestly....for example replacement vintage Tupperware pieces....$5-$7 each - GSP $24. No thanks!

It took me months and months to find a particular pet carrier. In the end I couldn't get my first choice as the only eBay seller used the GSP, plus adding insult to injury they also sold on Amazon using USPS...but not to Australia. Grrrr. Found a second hand pet carrier similar, on eBay and thankfully postage was by USPS....but that was nearly a year after I started searching.

Early on with the GSP I had more successes than failures asking sellers if they would post by USPS 1st Class Int. Now it's nasty replies (if any) when with USPS 1st Class Int with E-DELCON delivery has never been more reliable not to mention quicker than the old days. I just don't get it.

Re: Wasting my time

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 09:10:22 GMT

That was the other suggestion I was going to make.

Most sellers I have asked if they will send USPS have obliged and some didn't even realize GSP was on their listings.

Can't hurt to ask and if a not so polite response, well good to have found out and not deal with them.

Re: Wasting my time

*tippy*toes* — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:41:22 GMT

@zanadoo_56 wrote:
@kopenhagen5 wrote:
millsy, just stay away from sellers using GSP. Simples.
If only it was that simple but for some items I've found it's the GSP or no item. So frustrating....especially as the items are small and inexpensive. Honestly....for example replacement vintage Tupperware pieces....$5-$7 each - GSP $24. No thanks!

It took me months and months to find a particular pet carrier. In the end I couldn't get my first choice as the only eBay seller used the GSP, plus adding insult to injury they also sold on Amazon using USPS...but not to Australia. Grrrr. Found a second hand pet carrier similar, on eBay and thankfully postage was by USPS....but that was nearly a year after I started searching.

Early on with the GSP I had more successes than failures asking sellers if they would post by USPS 1st Class Int. Now it's nasty replies (if any) when with USPS 1st Class Int with E-DELCON delivery has never been more reliable not to mention quicker than the old days. I just don't get it.

If the pet carrier was on the large heavier side, it could easily have been cheaper with GSP. All the large bulky items I've bought have been nearly half what USPS charge to post.