Im interested to hear from other buyers who purchase from America about shipping rates.

[justagirlinmelbourne74]

I am interested to hear from other buyers who live in Australia and have purchased from America.

I am finding some of the shipping costs excessive. Similar items with the same shipping details, but very diffrent prices. 

Does eBay not have a reasonable cap on shipping costs?

I am not talking large items either, I have been looking at coach wristlets of late and one seller wanted $54 au shipping? no special kind of shipping either. I purchased a very similiar item and the shipping was half of that. 

[i-love-my-sheep]

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@streetbeastshop wrote:

pitney bowes dont know what they are doing. the same item, same state, same postage option, different sellers  vary from $22.00 to over $100.00.

same is happening with global shipping in the U.K.  pitney bowes charged me only GBP 26.00 to have a 4 kilo item sent , similar items different sellers up to GBP 60.00. its all over the place...

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That would be because it is actually cheaper for heavy items to be sent via GSP. It's the small, light items where the price gouge. My microscope cost $69 to send from the US via GSP. It was going to be nearly double that to come via USPS.

[lyndal1838]

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@streetbeastshop wrote:

pitney bowes dont know what they are doing. the same item, same state, same postage option, different sellers  vary from $22.00 to over $100.00.

same is happening with global shipping in the U.K.  pitney bowes charged me only GBP 26.00 to have a 4 kilo item sent , similar items different sellers up to GBP 60.00. its all over the place...

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GBP26.00 for a 4 kg item is a very good rate I think you will find.   I have just paid GBP11.50 for a set of 3 DVDs that come for GBP6.00 with Royal Mail small Parcels.

I have paid US25.50 for a pair of earrings from the USA that would have been about US$6.00 with USPS.

[imastawka]

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@cq_tech wrote:
How do you figure that? Our US friends don't pay FVFs on overseas postage, but where eBay make the bulk of their money is in the fact that they actually own Pitney Bowes. Increased FVFs has nothing to do with it.

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Well I give up then.    I have asked sellers (more than one) to opt out

of GSP and to send USPS.   They have answered that they send  'domestic'

post with the GSP and don't want to get stung with fvf on USPS

                                          

I will not buy from any seller that uses GSP and have told them that

[cq_tech]

Those sellers are either misinformed or have been intentionally led up the garden path (by eBay?), stawka. In the US, sellers are indeed charged FVFs on domestic postage, but NOT on overseas shipping so it makes no difference to them whether they use the GSP or opt out and use USPS instead.

I don't think most of them realise that there is such a huge difference in shipping charges at our end and they really need to be told, preferably with evidence to support it so they don't think we're telling porkies.

[imastawka]

Thanks cq

Maybe I'll send a screen shot next time I see something I want

[cq_tech]

Good idea, stawka. It's a bit hard for them to refute such solid evidence as that.

[jost1998]

Hi there, after reading your post I can relate to how you might be feeling about postage and handling charges... it is a really tough one... I find that if it is an item I really like and it happens to be overseas with high to excessive postage, then first thing I do is contact the seller. I express my interest in the item he or she is selling and then ask about possibilities in lowering the postage costs. Most sellers will do what they can to find the best postage price, while a few won't care at all...

Check the sellers feedback but don't rely on it completely. Best way that I decide if I will go ahead with buying an item is to ask a question and wait for a response. I always end my message with my name. Some sellers will never reply, stay away from them. Some will send you a text style message or yes/no answer... Be wary of those ones as all they want is to make a quick sale and move on... There will be some sellers who will answer your question politely and will use your name to address you. Eight out of ten times these people are genuine and will do what they can to help you. Those are the ones I buy from, even if I have to pay a bit extra on postage and handling, as I appreciate their time and effort.

I've been buying from overseas sellers since 2008 and have been happy with my purchases. Obviously you have to allow for human error at times but overall I am satisfied with products and service received...

Hope I have helped a little

kind regards from Stella 🙂

[zanadoo_56]

I'm beginning to think it is time to stop asking US sellers about alternative shippping, as it seems I'm wasting my time.

I've had sellers who don't want to change from the GSP (and I've seen items I'd like to buy sell for the lowest figure, no other bids with no overseas buyers, when those who don't use the GSP have had better responses) ....because 'the GSP is better'. *shrugs"

There's been an increase in sellers using USPS Priority Mail International shipping as the only postage option, which is a pain as it is as expensive as the GSP and in my experience (admittedly a couple of years ago...when I didn't know any better and paid for this overpriced service) it can be much slower than USPS 1st Class Int.

Sellers are still insisting there's no tracking with USPS 1st Class Int.  True, E-DELCON doesn't extend to all countries, but when a seller only sells to a limited number of overseas countries - all of which where E-DELCON works - you have to wonder sometimes.

The latest thing appears to be not to bother answering buyers questions at all...no doubt hoping we will all go away....which I for one will be doing.

I read somewhere that eBay had said the (US) domestic market was shrinking.  I suppose that's one reason why they introduced the GSP.  I've read a lot on the US boards about the lack of sales so, golly gosh, the GSP might not be the solution after all.

[wotsthediff]

Recently I have decided to stop buying from US sellers because I feel as though the communication between US sellers and the Global Shippng Program is flawed.

For example, I purchased a tiny adapter that was at a good price. The postage was $35 USD which was paid directly to eBay.com. The seller was not aware that he sent the product to eBays shipping warehouse prior to being posted to me. The product was lost, the seller sent me another one that cost $5USD to post. I never recouped the $35USD shipping that eBay charged me.

The program also causes ridiculous delays.