Global Shipping Program

[jumunjipeter]

 Buyers beware of sellers in the USA who are on the Global Shipping Program. I recently bought 4 watches from the same seller in the USA, and when I went to pay, there were 4 shipping costs - $17.70, $17.40, $17.80 and $17.89. (Try and work out why they were all different???). When I asked the seller to combine the posting, he replied that he cannot as the Global Shipping Program does not allow him to combine.

 When I messaged eBay about this I received a message back that said in part "The seller doesn't know the import cost since it is the global shipping provider that would determine depending on your location. Thus, the US sellers are not allowed to combine postage." That is a load of crock. THERE IS NO IMPORT COST FOR WATCHES INTO AUSTRALIA. I have imported for the last 2 years.

 Talk about getting ripped-off.

 Pitney Bowes are the Global Shippers, and their site reads "AFTER you've completed checkout, you can review these charges on the Order Details page. The Order Details page shows the total charges and the payment amounts to the seller and the payment amount that went to the global shipping provider".

 The seller posts your item to Pitney Bowes and they forward post it to you.

 I read up on this Global Shipping Program and it says that they are not affiliated with eBay, yet eBay obviously gets a kick-back from them. This is what their site reads under "Description of Fees"::

 1. U.S. Shipping Fee

 2. International Shipping Fee

 3. Fuel Surcharge

 4. Transportation Fee

 5. Parcel Processing Service Fee

 6. Distribution Center Management Fee

 7. Loss Management Fee

 8. Transportation Risk Premium Fee

 9. Referral Fee - a variable fee paid by Pitney Bowes to eBay Inc. for referring you to the program.

 I wonder, if ever, when eBay will stop it's quest for greed at the expense of the buyers and sellers. There are millions of items sold and bought on eBay every day. When is "enough" enough??

[strawberry-wireless]

There are no shortage of ambulance chasing lawyers out there

No win no pay class actions are quite popular these days.

[lyndal1838]

In Australia maybe but you are talking about an American company....a very different matter.

[simmonsb4]

i bought a presidents silver set from usa in november 2016 and my shipment to australia was held in customs because the global shipping program did not pay the duties which they charged me on checkout.i worked with customs in australia and it was determined that because silver i bought there is No impoort duties so they released to me in febuary 2017.no refund from global shipping,.in march 2017 i purchased another set from usa and explained to seller and ebay that import duties do not apply, on check out i was charged another 206aud for import duties,i have complained several times and receive messages from global shipping specialists advising that information i gave them is correct but they will not refund because they incur other costs not related to imports.this is FRAUD at its finest.i continue to press them for a refund but they refuse, they only reply with different first names and no contact details but claim they are specialists--specialists in fraud.I have contacted usa government department about this fraud and they are sending me official complaints materials to proceed further. I concur that Ebay is complicit in this Fraud and i will not let it rest.bill simmons australia <Removed>  need to name and shame this scam along with legal consumer protection action

[*tippy*toes*]

Don't buy from sellers using GSP. Problem solved. GSP will charge whatever they like and there's nothing you can do about it. Therefore, best to avoid.......unless it's a large bulky item, then it's cheaper.

[origindesigner]

FUMING with this tupid Global shipping scam! i have been buying from every country for the last 10 yers with ebay & now i don't even look at EBAY US because postage is simply ridiculous. i was buying more from the UK as being in Australia postage is very reasonable - NOT any more!!! postage prices are a complete steal for buyers & fell into the GLOBAL SHIPPING scam.... payed $40aud for a samll parcel to be set to me & got some weid tracking number, rang ebay, they said i could not contact the Specialised Global Shipping Team... and that they are part of ebay... WHAT A LIE!!!! so put off shopping on ebay.... something i NEVER thought possible...

[lyndal1838]

Were you ringing ebay about the tracking number on your GSP item?

They cannot help you but for the most part the GPS shipping is very easy to follow.

Just click on the number and it will open a window with the first step of the tracking to the GSP shipping hub.  Once it has been shipped you will either be able to continue with that number or be given another one.  The only thing you need to remember is that it is only trackable through the original number....it does not show on any other tracking site.

[hopscotchimports]

Get yourself a MyUS address at MyUS.com

[davewil1964]

I'm sure the OP is thrilled to get this information. After all, it has only been 4 years since they started the thread, and your response doesn't actually address the issue.

[rrminoz]

I have also purchesed a item from the US that the shipping company charges where more than double the cost of the item. They then stopped the item from shipping over import concerns. But then kept 50.00 shipping fees. My cookie jar was uranium glass that is traded on ebay and mailed around the world. don't by anything that uses ebays GSP.

[davewil1964]

The seller doesn't get the shipping fee - Pitney Bowes does. Therefore if the sale is cancelled, you need to recover that part of it from PB.

I agree with you, though. I certainly wouldn't use the GSP if I had no idea of how it works.