How Safe And Reliable Is GSP?

[the_great_she_elephant]

In need of  advice from savvy buyers.

I am looking at buying a pair of shoes from US: Naot Womens Montage Rainy Gray Leather & Stretch Slip On Shoe EU 42 US 11

The seller does not have a  very good FB average - though his stars seem OK -and quite  few negs are for non delivery. 

If I buy using Paypal and the shoes don't turn up what are the chances of my getting a refund, presuming  the seller can prove postage and trackng.

I really want these shoes, but have been unable to find them anywhere else in that colour and size.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Thanks everyone.After a lot of umming and ahhing  I had a chat to my financial advisor (Mr Elephant) and he said go ahead -  so I've bought them. I'll let you know how things work out.

[the_great_she_elephant]

UPDATE: The shoes arrived this morning. They fit beautifully, are soooo comfy and I am a very happy little elephant.

[imastawka]

Only 2 weeks on the GSP.   Also a lucky little elephant    : - )

[the_great_she_elephant]

I think the AP camels must have been on steroids, because the shoes did a scenic tour of the USA before even arriving in Australia,

[cq_tech]

Were your shoes packed adequately, and did they appear to have been repacked by Pitney Bowes?

In view of certain complaints re packing which I've read elsewhere, I'd be very interested to know.

[the_great_she_elephant]

The packaging was nothng special. They were in their original box which had just been put inside a larger carton - no packing. Not sure whether they had ben repackaged and can't check now as I put both boxes in our recycling bin which was emptied this morning. This was their full journey: (reading from bottom up) which shows only three days from arriving in Ausgtralia till delivery here in Bunbury. Normally parcels from the Eastern States take at least ten days.

Global tracking #:

UPAAB000000067410575

Carrier:

Multiple Carriers

This parcel has been transferred to FEDKEB for delivery to the final destination # 770515622334

Status:

ACCEPTEDIN TRANSITDELIVERED

Delivered

Jul-14-14, 06:39 AM, BUNBURY, WE 6230

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-14-14, 03:15 AM, WA RURAL DEPOT 9996

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-13-14, 18:55 PM, WA RURAL DEPOT 9996

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-13-14, 00:25 AM, ALEXANDRIA 2015

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-12-14, 22:27 PM, ALEXANDRIA 2015

Customs Cleared

Jul-11-14, 06:07 AM, ALEXANDRIA 2015

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-11-14, 06:07 AM, ALEXANDRIA 2015

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-08-14, 17:26 PM, CHICAGO, IL 60666

In Transit with Destination Carrier

Jul-05-14, 22:00 PM, ERLANGER, KY 41048

Shipped from US Shipping Center to International Destination

Jul-05-14, 20:31 PM, Erlanger

Customs Documentation and Labeling

Jul-05-14, 13:55 PM, Erlanger

Processing at US Shipping Center

Jul-05-14, 13:47 PM, Erlanger

Arrived at US shipping Center

Jul-03-14, 23:55 PM, ERLANGER, KY 41018

In Transit-Processed through USPS Sort Facility

Jul-03-14, 18:19 PM, CINCINNATI, OH 45235

In Transit-Depart USPS Sort Facility

Jul-03-14, 01:54 AM, MERRIFIELD, VA 22081

In Transit-Processed through USPS Sort Facility

Jul-02-14, 22:09 PM, MERRIFIELD, VA 22081

In Transit-Depart Post Office

Jul-02-14, 18:01 PM, ASHBURN, VA 20148

In Transit-Acceptance

Jul-02-14, 14:18 PM, ASHBURN, VA 20148

[cq_tech]

I doubt the original box would have been adequate for shipping so I'll assume that Pitney Bowes would have repackaged the shoe-box into a larger carton. Also good to see that all tracking events appear to have been recorded adequately and the transit time taken wasn't what I'd call excessive either.

Thanks for posting that; I appreciate the useful info. 🙂

[lyndal1838]

I doubt that the AP camels had anything to do with it ele.....the parcel would have been delivered to the FedEx depot in WA, not Sydney, and it would have been just a local delivery if indeed it was handed to AP.

Some of my GSP items have been delivered by edEx, some handed to AP to deliver as eparcels.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Thanks CQ and Lyndal. I'd sort of assumed FEDKEB was an international equivalent of Startrack. Anyway, I am very happy with the outcome. I think the postage component was around $26 which I felt was reasonable considering the overall price. I am now the proud owner of a beautiful pair of brand new  shoes for less than 2/3 of the price I would have paid in a B&M shop - even if I could have found them n my size.

Just a note for anyone looking at Naots. Make sure you get the inside measurements. The Montage, at any rate, run small. I normally take a 91/2 - 10 (40-41) and these were a 42.

[lyndal1838]

FedEx is an international courier company.  They usually do their own deliveries but since they became involved with Pitney Bowes and the GSP they seem to hand smaller parcels to AP for delivery once they arrive in Australia.

The GSP postage is disproportionately high for small items.....it is cheaper for large and heavy parcels than for small items.  Your $26 is good value.   I paid $24.95 for a pair of earrings and a similar price for a small silver brooch, both of which were only a few grams in weight.