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

[sharonspdc]

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

[padi*0409]

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......................

[lyndal1838 · Accepted solution]

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.

[sharonspdc]

Thank you for your reply. 

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

Shaz

[sharonspdc]

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

[lyndal1838]

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.

[4channel]

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.

[imastawka]

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

[#9]

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

[lyndal1838]

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.

[4channel]

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!!