topic Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts! in Buying

Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

sharonspdc — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 01:58:56 GMT

I recently purchased three items from a seller who uses the Global Shipping Service. I got very cranky when I paid for what I beleive is excessive costs to send using Global Shipping. The cost being around a third of my entire order using Global Shipping for a non-commercial order. I have copied and pasted part of the the receipt below. Sent by normal post I do not need any help with clearing customs. I will not shop again with a seller who uses this service, I think it is a complete rip off.

What is the deal, can someone explain this nonsense to me please? Does Ebay own this Service? I reckon they would!

. Shipping and handling $10.75 USD
Tax amount
Total $77.75 USD
Payment $77.75 USD
Payment sent to: xxxxxxxxxx

International Shipping and Import Charge

Transaction ID: 6NT06795TH623212B

A separate payment was sent to this global shipping company to ship your package and to clear customs.

Amount
International shipping and Import charge
$35.25 USD
Total $35.25 USD
Payment $35.25 USD
From amount
To amount
Exchange rate
Payment sent to: pbecommerce

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

padi*0409 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 02:39:05 GMT

If it's the Global Shipping Program you're talking about, then no, it's not owned by eBay it's run by Pitney Bowes.

The only time it is cost-effective is with large items, or the seller puts in the weight and dimensions of the parcel.

Often the seller doesn't know that the GSP is being used as eBay puts in that option by default for the seller.

There have been many problems with the GSP like them repacking the parcel into less sound packaging to save weight, refusing to on-send items and using slow postage options - the list goes on......................

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 03:10:34 GMT

If this is the first time you have used the GSP then you are extremely lucky.

The "service" has been in use for some years now and it is not getting any better as it becomes more widely used. It is still slow and expensive and Pitney Bowes is a law unto themselves as to what they will ship to Australia.

In fairness to sellers, many of them have no idea that their goods are even being shipped overseas as ebay opts them in without any notification. And even if they do know, most of them have no idea how expensive it is as they never seen the money that goes straight to Pitney Bowes.

The whole concept is great for sellers and many of them are happy to go along with it.....they are shielded from bad feedback involving shipping times and costs (ebay removes the bad feedback from disgruntled customers), the Customs paperwork is taken out of their hands and done by PB and the parcels are fully insured at no cost to the seller.

And just to put the icing on the cake.....the goods are shipped the Australia by FedEx at supposedly Priority shipping rates BUT PB only pay for Economy shipping and we get very slow delivery as a consequence.

Another problem with the GSP is that they do not combine postage....if you buy 3 items you pay the postage 3 times.

On the other hand the GSP from the UK is very different. I used it just before Christmas for a number of items from the same seller and the shipping seemed to be combined in some way as it ended up considerably cheaper than the postage on one item.

And they arrived very promptly.....9 days after payment.

This is a whole lot better than shipping times from the USA through the GSP.

You can do a search of the boards and find plenty of complaints about the GSP over the years.

Unfortunately it is not going to get much better unless/until sellers start to understand how the system affects overseas buyers.

Most of us avoid it like the plague but it is becoming more difficult as more and more sellers are using it.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

sharonspdc — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:45:49 GMT

Thank you for your reply.

Yep not impressed either, what are they thinking! Making it harder for everyone!

Shaz

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

sharonspdc — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:48:27 GMT

Thanks for your reply it is very informative. I have let the seller know as she didn't understand after I got cranky with the amount of postage I was paying and her inability to combine postage. Really not impressed at all!

Regards

Shaz

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:04:19 GMT

There is no point getting angry with the seller over their inability to combine postage.

In many cases they do send the items to Pitney Bowes in one parcel....and PB will send it on to you in one parcel. But PB will bill you for each parcel seperately.

Are you serious that you have not encountered the GSP before now? It has been in use for a number of years. It really is the shipping system from h*ll.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

4channel — Thu, 04 May 2017 02:50:08 GMT

For the first time I engaged in this filthy vile global shi**ng process. I purchased off a seller because I really needed the articles. .Yes I know I was paying double postage but it was going to be a first and a last time! Once he (The seller) was able to change it to First Class International in a previous transaction we had, but this choice has somehow now been denied to him. So OK I paid the extra money and he sent it. Apparently the article is in Australia. Either at Fed ex depot somewhere or customs. Now I am being threatened by Fed Ex that if I don't provide my full name and phone number contact details, my parcel which is SUPPOSEDLY being held by Australian Customs will be sent back to the seller in the US. Funny though as all parcels just have my fierst name initial and surname and they sail through to my P.O. Box without hassle via First Class International postage.

Now with this Global-Shi**ing-Pitney Bowes-Fed-ex **bleep**, I am disgusted.

This is info gathering on names and info. I hope I am not going to be harassed by telemarketers now.

Sickening. If more sellers are going Global Shi**ting then I am going to follow te others and buy elswhere.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

imastawka — Thu, 04 May 2017 05:01:51 GMT

For future reference, if you don't want a seller to post using the GSP then

ask in advance if they would opt out of the program. Most sellers don't even

know they've been opted in. Ebay opts them in automatically.

Make a note of these instructions for your future sellers -

To opt out of the GSP, US sellers only have to go into

(My eBay summary page)

account > site preferences > shipping preferences > Offer the Global Shipping Program > edit > no

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Thu, 04 May 2017 05:45:51 GMT

If you want the items then you must provide your details.....for a start courier companies need your phone number and Customs can demand your full name and address. It has nothing to do with telemarketers.

The difference between USPS and FedEx is that USPS is the equivalent of Australia Post and AP make the delivery once the item arrives here. FedEx is a courier company and cannot deliver to a PO box.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

4channel — Thu, 04 May 2017 06:28:00 GMT

Thanks for the advice imastkawa,. You are right, most sellers don't know.

But ..... Some don't care. Some in the minority enjoy the "Power Thing" too, knowing that a buyer , collector will pay more and it gives them a feeling of "aboveness". Some sellers are intimidated by this vile scheme and go along with it regardless. Yes .... and make no mistake, Global Shipping is vile!!

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

*tippy*toes* — Thu, 04 May 2017 11:22:56 GMT

Power thing? Aboveness? Are you serious? Sellers list stuff. Buyer buys it and pays for it. Seller posts it. There is no power tripping or "Aboveness" involved. Sellers aren't holding anyone to ransom. Same as they are not forcing anyone to buy from them and they sure as heck have no control over postage costs. Sellers would love it if free postage was actually a thing and not something that sucks buyers into thinking they're getting something for nothing.

Did you even read Stalk's message? US sellers have no idea how much the GSP costs for someone overseas. They have no idea it's costing someone $40 to get a pair of earrings sent. They don't see the cost. If you don't like the cost, don't buy it. Don't buy and then whinge about it.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

locall1961 — Thu, 04 May 2017 19:54:23 GMT

I have never come across anyone using that service but was just wondering if when you go to buy the item that it has GSP down as the shipping company and do they have the full shipping amount listed or only the smaller $10 amount listed then when you go to pay, the other $30 something is added?

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

locall1961 — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:05:42 GMT

If EBay don't get anything out of this, why do they put GSP down as the default option for shipping and why do they remove bad feedback about it?

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:28:22 GMT

If the seller is using the GSP the listing states that fact, along with the total shipping cost and whether there will be any Customs charges on the item. It also states that full tracking is included.

The GSP is the shipping method not the actual shipper....Pitney Bowes is the US logistics company which prepares the items and does the paperwork and thenthey pass the parcels to FedEx for delivery to Australia.

I am not sure who the companies are who provide the services from the UK but the listings are shown.

One of the points that ebay put forward to entice sellers to use the GSP is that there is full tracking included as well as insurance.

What they don't tell the sellers is that it is a horrendously expensive and slow service....which is why they remove any bad feedback connected to the cost and speed of the service.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

4channel — Fri, 05 May 2017 02:47:45 GMT

tippytoes, I'm not sure if you get the gist of what I'm trying to say.

Now you said ....

"Power thing? Aboveness? Are you serious? Sellers list stuff. Buyer buys it and pays for it. Seller posts it. There is no power tripping or "Aboveness" involved. Sellers aren't holding anyone to ransom."

I am talking about a minority of sellers here who are not very nice. I have encountered 3 who have had the knowlege and power to change an auction and take of the vile Global Shipping but refused to do so because they liked that feeling of abovness and don't give a heck. I don't have the time to explain it all but their past dealing with other people also indicated this. Again, as I said, in the minority!

You said ....

"Did you even read Stalk's message? US sellers have no idea how much the GSP costs for someone overseas. They have no idea it's costing someone $40 to get a pair of earrings sent. They don't see the cost. If you don't like the cost, don't buy it. Don't buy and then whinge about it."

Who is Stalk? Ahh you're wrong there because some sellers know that buyers end up paying double even triple for postage but mindlessly go along with the proceedure because they, like sheep just follow without thinking.

You said ....

" They don't see the cost. If you don't like the cost, don't buy it. Don't buy and then whinge about it."

I like your choice of words here. Interesting that you chose to put it that way!!! I notice that your feedback rating is 0 and yet you have been here since ‎07-28-2015 . I have been here on ebay since 11-Jul-02. That's coming up to 15 years. I have seen a lot here and I have seen some strange and also nasty things happen.

Now as for the so called "whinge" as you put it, I am just voicing my concerns and discussing sopmething which is happening on ebay which not only effects members in a negative way, it's also taking away the fun of being on ebay.

Thankyou.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

4channel — Fri, 05 May 2017 02:51:52 GMT

@locall1961 wrote:
If EBay don't get anything out of this, why do they put GSP down as the default option for shipping and why do they remove bad feedback about it?

Good point locall1961. That's what I would like to know. People are looking for alternative online places to buy stuff because of this vile horrific Global Shipping. So common sense would tell us that this cannot be a good thing in the long term.

Also US postal service, how does this impact on them?

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Fri, 05 May 2017 03:21:43 GMT

I doubt that the GSP has any impact on the USPS.

Sellers use the USPS to send their items to Erlanger KY to Pitney Bowes who then ship it to Australia.

In terms of actual numbers of parcels that are sent through USPS to overseas destinations I doubt that the GSP parcels would be any more than a drop in the ocean.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

4channel — Fri, 05 May 2017 06:47:49 GMT

Well lyndal1838 who is to say. I'll tell you a little bit of something here. Once upon a time, a 44 RPM record or a a DVD in it's case;from the United States to Australia via First Class International postage (AirMail) would cost USD $8 or less. That was 4 to 5 years ago. Then US postage doubled their price bringing it to the current price of $13 or $16. A hit in the hip pocket but if you are a collector or like to watch good movies then still better than buying from Australia. Now with this filthy (And many folks call it a scam) Global Shipping. Now we are looking at double the $13 or $16. So some tiems that cost $13 USD to get sent to Australia via USPS First Class International can now cost $30 UDS via Global Shipping and sometimes even worse. I have seen worse.

This is nothing more than a dirty, filthy, slimey, smelly scam that stinks of holding people to ransom just because they want something. How this herpes-like system attatched itself to ebay is anyone's guess. It's wrong ... it's a rip off and it stinks.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

lyndal1838 — Fri, 05 May 2017 07:24:33 GMT

Not sure why you are getting belligerent with me.....nowhere have I said that I like the GSP. I am more than aware of it's failings and high costs.

I have been dealing with the US and Canadian Postal systems for close to 40years now and believe me they have always been slow and expensive. That is just one of the drawbacks of buying from overseas.

However, some sellers are partly to blame as they do not know how to use the system correctly. Because a lot of them do not know they are even opted in by ebay they do not put accurate measurements and weights on their parcels and in turn Pitney Bowes overcharges. Sellers who have made a conscious decision to use it tend to list correctly and with correct weights and dimensions and their prices are more closely aligned with USPS, especially the more expensive Priority services.

Re: Global Shipping "What is the deal"? Ridiculous amounts!

davewil1964 — Fri, 05 May 2017 07:34:28 GMT

Tippy has considerably more selling experience than you, going by your feedback. As have I, and probably stawks (imastawka to you). Certainly overall, including buying, for all of us.

Given you haven't deigned to give us the benefit of your 'wisdom' for almost all of your 15 years on eBay, why start now?

And what you might not realise is that those US sellers who won't post outside of the GSP probably wouldn't post overseas anyway, if the GSP didn't give them the same protections as local post would.