Hi,has any members had problems with the Global Shipping program.

[benji_woof]

Hi,has any members had problems with the Global Shipping program.It would seem that another party has been added just to double our chances of a mistake.The contract is between buyer and seller on the ebay site and it is hard enough to recieve an item without damage and in a reasonable time without it being duplicated in the shipping process.Unable to contact the global Shipping Co so where do we get any help.

[davewil1964]

The seller probably didn't even KNOW what the GSP price was. They charge and get paid for shipping to Erlanger KY. After that, the item is delivered from their POV.

[*tippy*toes*]

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@papermoon.ladywrote:

The only time I used it was when I bought a wooden case with microscope slides from the USA. The seller had many cases with different slides, all the same weight and size, but there was one where GSP was less than 1/2 the price of all the others. Maybe the seller had entered the wrong weight, I don't know. I paid about $25-28 for GSP, which is not bad for a small wooden case full of slides. GSP for all the other cases was over $50. The seller didn't say anything and just sent it.

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I bought the whole microscope, sans the slides. Postage $AU69 via GSP, $AU120 via USPS. It weighed a ton, which is probably why GSP was cheaper in that instance. 

If you look at something like a TV or stereo that is under GSP, then calculate the cost via USPS, it's way cheaper via GSP.

The first time I got caught was when I'd bought 6 items and the seller couldn't combine it. I told him what postage cost I was facing and he was horrified. He offered to cancel the transactions, which I gladly accepted. 

I contacted eBay at the time to find out more and they said that the GSP was designed for large bulky items. They actually advised sellers against using it for small items, like earrings or a CD. That was when it hadn't been available for long, but I'm guessing they no longer advise against it for small items, or sellers take no notice because of the protection it gives them.

I don't post overseas, but if the GSP came here, I'd happily sign up.

[countessalmirena]

mariq7, have you considered having a UK mailing address which forwards items to you from the UK, and a US mailing address which forwards items to you from the US?

I try to bulk-purchase several things during the same timeframe if their postage cost to me in Australia is horrendous. The UK mailing address guys always contact me when it's necessary (in their opinion) that they repack things like crystal or dinner sets (and they do an absolutely wonderful job of it too), plus smaller parcels are repacked so that the overall postage cost is brought down.

It isn't worth it if one's only buying small items once or twice a year, but for the type of things and the amount that I buy, it is a boon. It might even be possible for several people to get together, and organise an account which is used by those several, just to get the overseas purchases over to Australia in one bulk lot and split the postage between them.

[countessalmirena]

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@*tippy*toes*wrote:

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They [eBay] actually advised sellers against using it for small items, like earrings or a CD. That was when it hadn't been available for long, but I'm guessing they no longer advise against it for small items, or sellers take no notice because of the protection it gives them.

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As far as I am aware, you're right - eBay don't advise against it. It's caveat emptor. Perhaps the rationale is that Pitney Bowes are getting huge payments (significantly more than it should be, since as has been mentioned most sellers don't properly input size and weight) for very little work; their profit goes up; PB are delighted by their agreement with eBay; eBay can apply more of a squeeze in negotiations with PB... and the corporations lived happily ever after.

[papermoon.lady]

I could look into it. Actually I even know people both in the UK and the USA, but I don't think they would help...

Maybe I am a dreamer, but I was really hoping sooner or later eBay would realize the problem with small items and combined shipping and do something.

[papermoon.lady]

Yes, I have heard that it is more convenient for heavy items.

Priority from the USA is actually not cheap either. First class is much cheaper and it works well.

I recently bought something first class (something that incidentally was GSP, but I asked the seller if they could offer something cheaper) and to my huge surprise first-class tracking (just $13.50 for a small to medium parcel) worked all the way, every single step BOTH on the USPS site and the AusPost site. This was much better than expected.

[papermoon.lady]

I suggested what is at the end of this article a long time ago: https://www.thebalance.com/ebay-global-shipping-program-disadvantages-4114389

If you look here for example, eBay only lists the advantages and not the disadvantages like the article above (obviously of course). That's why small or occasional sellers fall for it. In my experience big sellers normally still use traditional shipping. (One could also add selling less as a clear disadvantage for sellers by the way...) I didn't know that buyers according to this eBay article cannot even leave neutral or negative feedback?

Additionally, from what I have seen here, when buyers complain to eBay that an item has been delivered when using GSP, eBay closes cases without even explaining to the buyer(s) while a parcel is marked as delivered, that's why buyers come here.

I wish there was an option to EXCLUDE GSP from searches, just as we can select free postage only and other options. When an item is very cheap, with P&P: lowest first, some items with GSP can still be on the first page, or even towards the top of the page...

[*tippy*toes*]

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@papermoon.ladywrote:

Yes, I have heard that it is more convenient for heavy items.

Priority from the USA is actually not cheap either. First class is much cheaper and it works well.

I recently bought something first class (something that incidentally was GSP, but I asked the seller if they could offer something cheaper) and to my huge surprise first-class tracking (just $13.50 for a small to medium parcel) worked all the way, every single step BOTH on the USPS site and the AusPost site. This was much better than expected.

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Probably why GSP works out cheaper for large items is, there are size and weight restrictions for First Class International. Once your item exceeds those restrictions, the seller has no choice but to use Priority. I can't remember the size and weight for First Class, but it's not much. A bit better than small parcel here.

[lyndal1838]

Tippy, the USPS First Class postage weight is just 4lbs or 1.8kg.   I don't know the size restrictions off hand but never have I ever come across anything that falls within the weight range that is too large for the service.

As for the GSP.....it was originally only ever supposed to be an International PARCEL Courier Service....it was never meant for letters/small parcels and really ebay has a lot to answer for.   They should never have opted sellers into the scheme who were selling trading cards, photographs and other enveloped based small items.

[4channel]

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@yelecnalwrote:
It is a fraudulent, excessive charging ON TOP of the postage already paid on the Ebay invoice - which included the overseas charge already. The charge bypassed ebay directly onto my Visa Card.

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Well said yelecnal ! 100% agree. It's called legal fraud. This is crippling collectors.