GSP from the UK to Oz

[zanadoo_56]

I've ordered an item from the UK but like the change in the US GSP, I can report that once the item is cleared through UK customs and is on its way Australia Post takes over.

The new tracking number is recognised by AP and it can be followed on MyPost.

Now if only the issue of the huge disparity of GSP charges for the same item could be sorted out (and PB wasn't so greedy re 'administration' for GST collection), eBay might finally get this system to be more popular. 

At the moment I'd still rather use USPS and RM, but as long as eBay/PB chips away at fixing the GSP problems I guess anything is possible.

[zanadoo_56]

UPDATE

Like the GSP in the US, now that Aust Post is involved from a parcel leaving customs in the seller's country to its destination in Oz, delivery times have improved a lot.

UK purchase - paid for 16 Nov 19

Delivered by Aust Post - 27 Nov 19.

[lyndal1838]

the GSP from the UK has always been much better than from the USA but still not as good as Royal Mail.

[zanadoo_56]

Agreed.

I'd prefer Royal Mail to handle my purchases instead of PB, but needs must.

Aside from the variations in the cost of 'shipping' with the GSP, and the PB GST admin fee or whatever it is, at least the delivery time has improved.  Mind you, this is probably due to Aust Post (AP Global presumably) getting involved in the transportation and delivery process earlier.

Which IMO just goes to show if you really want a good parcel delivery system, it might actually be better to leave it to the experts - the official govt postal service.

[brerrabbit585]

Maybe there isn't enough sent through the GSP for Pitney Bowes to send a large consignment together, so they just post it normally.

[zanadoo_56]

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:
Maybe there isn't enough sent through the GSP for Pitney Bowes to send a large consignment together, so they just post it normally.

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PB handles the processing at their centre and it appears that they also ensure the parcel is cleared for customs to leave the seller's country.  That's how it reads on the tracking anyway (happy to be corrected if there's more info). 

Assuming we are still talking about the UK purchase, Royal Mail is not involved in forwarding the parcel from PB to Oz after that.  It seems Australia Post takes over because the tracking, labelling etc is all AP, not PB, FedEx or RM or whoever.  It's the same for GSP from the US to Oz.

Here's some info about Aust Post Global:

APG eCommerce Solutions (Australia Post Global eCommerce Solutions) journey started in 2013 as Startrack International, focusing on increasing Inbound parcel volumes into Australia from different origins worldwide. In 2016, after a successful growth on Inbound Australia, Startrack International was acquired by Aramex Global Solutions, a joint venture between Aramex and Australia Post that was formed to expand its International footprint and presence outside Australia. In 2019 and with 2 years of exponential and fast revenue growth, Australia Post took full ownership of Aramex Global Solutions to strengthen its International capability and accelerate its expansion strategy in the global e-commerce business. Since this acquisition, the company has been rebranded as APG eCommerce Solutions.

This is why GSP to Oz has improved markedly recently.

[stuffpluspty]

I've been told by APG that the new times are more than 5 weeks for express. It's been 10 days since my item boarded the plane, and 10 minutes ago I received an update saying it's been processed in London again, even though it left London a week and a half ago. I'm livid at GSP. What a mess.

[zanadoo_56]

My original post was in 2019 (ie pre-pandemic).  Things were definitely better then!

Now we have covid and other postal issues likeparcel backlogs even for just domestic purchases so I guess it is not surprising. You have issues? So do I.....

I have a purchase made 29 Aug 22 coming from Sydney to Melbourne that AP notified me had been delayed to on or after 20 Sep 22 because of their parcel backlog, then it was supposed to be delivered but AP thinks the contractor went to the wrong address so it went to somwhere else for me to collect but I can't as I am housebound due to poor health.  I still don't have it mostly due to ONE section of AP, and if I don't get it this week I am lodging a formal complaint to and about AP.  If that doesn't work there's the ombudsman and/or the media.  It has become ridiculous and despite AP customer service trying to help nothing has worked.  My purchase (which by now is supposed to be returned to the seller due to non-collection) is still sitting in limbo where the incompetent delivery driver dumped it.

You have my sympathy but it seems even domestic parcel deliveries are a disaster ATM.