WARNING to all AUSSIE Buyers

[barneywomble]

I would like to take this opportunity to warn all Australian eBay buyers about a serious problem that exist when purchasing items from eBay USA and paying for "Priority" International Postage through the Global Shipping Program.

I recently made 2 purchases from eBay USA from 2 different sellers. On both the listings it clearly stated the postage method was "Priority" International Postage. When I clicked on the "see details" link underneath the postage section on the listing it confirmed the service I was paying for was indeed "Priority" International Postage. (I have screen shots of both the listing and the Postage details to verify this). So I went ahead and paid for the items and the "Priority" International Postage via PAYPAL. ONce this was completed I clicked on the "view order details" link for each of the 2 purchases and it also confirmed the postage as being "Priority" International Postage. I was given a number of tracking numbers and eventually the items were dispatched from the USA via FEDEX where another tracking number was provided for the international leg of the postage from the USA to Australia. Now to my horror on checking those FEDEX tracking numbers they provide detailed information including the method of delivery which in both cases showed "ECONOMY" International Postage. (I have screen shots verifying this) I contatced FEDEX directly regarding this and they responed via email stating the eBay shipments via the Global Shipping Program are dispatched via "ECONOMY" International Shipping (I have screen shots of this email).

I contatced eBay regarding this matter and then began an amazing "run a round" of companies and responabilities and confusing wording all leading to the point that if an Australian buyer purchases an item from eBay in the USA and pays for "Priority" International Postage through the Global Shipping Program then the items are shipped "ECONOMY" irrispective of the payment made for postage. Apart from the fact that it appears to be completely unfair to clearly advertise a service, pay for that service and not get that service it appears to raise a number of serious legal issues within eBay and its partners.

When I paid for my items from the USA the "shipping or postage" portion, the amount I paid for the "Priority" International Postage was sent to PItney Bowes as they are the legal entity responsible for the Global Shipping Program and a simple check of my PAYPAL account verified a portion of my payment indeed did go to Pitney Bowes. I contatcted them directly and asked them why when I paid for "Priority" International Postage did they not arrange for the items to be shipped that way and I was immediately met with a wall of silence and was told to contact eBay. Pitney Bowes and the Global Shipping Program stand to make millionsof dollars of the backs of hard working Australians if they are charging us for a "Priority" International Postage service but using an "ECONOMY" postage service which is of course CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER and SLOWER. I had posted these concerns along with the screen shots on eBay.com facebook page and they were immediately removed and I guess because I was correct and the less people who know about it the better.

If you are an Australian eBayer and have purchased an item from eBay USA and you paid for "Priority" International Postage through the Global Shipping Program please CHECK with the actual carrier (it will probably be FEDEX and see how your items were shipped. If they were not shipped using a "Priority" International Postage Service you are by law entitled to be reimbursed for the difference between the "Priority" International Postage you paid for and the "ECONOMY" service actually used. I will of course be contacting the revelent a number of media outlets both here in Australia and in the USA and I will also get a facebook campaign up and running to promote awareness for this disgusting business practice.

[dvd.horder]

thats good

[davewil1964]

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@dvd.horder wrote:
that is wrong only to get 50 %

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Do you have any pertinent response?

Maybe one that explains why the bumper only got 50% back?

The answer is in the many posts about this subject, probably including this one, if you care to read the answers rather than post platitudes.

[4channel]

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@aussiklaus wrote:

Hello Barneywomble, thank you for your comment re shipping costs. I also now learned from you that Pitney Bowes is the legal ebay shipper which was new to me. 

In my case I ordered some stuff from a UK seller who subsequently had Pitney Bowes issue a separate Int. shipping cost invoice.

Apart from the fact that no delivery was actually made nor received upon complaing to the seller and eBay a refund was provided BUT only 50% of the total order cost. 

I am still arguing the case with eBay and PayPal in order to get all my money back. It has been a circular discussion to put it mildly without anyone seeing the problem - all the evidence is viewable in the PayPal activity records but no-one bothers. The Resolution Center system at both eBay and PayPal see's a refund has been made and therefore the dispute case is closed and cannot be reopened irrespective of the refunds received are NOT being the full refund I am entitled to.

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Hi assiklaus and welcome to the forum. I can't understand how you only got 50% of what you paid. Obviously you never recieved your item. Can you please tell us how much the item was and how much the postage was?

Sorry to hear of your dilemma by the way.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@4channel wrote:

Hi assiklaus and welcome to the forum. I can't understand how you only got 50% of what you paid. Obviously you never recieved your item. Can you please tell us how much the item was and how much the postage was?

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my guess is that the GSP cost accounted for 50% of the total order cost and this GSP charge has not been refunded yet.

Spoiler

you should sleep more, these late nights can't be good for you

[4channel]

QUOTE k1ooo-slr-sales:  "my guess is that the GSP cost accounted for 50% of the total order cost and this GSP charge has not been refunded yet."

That's p[ossibly it. Hopefully be along soon for that person.

BTW: Too much coffee. I'm switching to dandelion coffee when I get a chance to pick it up.

[countessalmirena]

I remember being given dandelion coffee when I was a young teenager.

Never again!

It's the real coffee bean that I adore.

[4channel]

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@countessalmirena wrote:

I remember being given dandelion coffee when I was a young teenager.

Never again!

It's the real coffee bean that I adore.

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LOL, I have the same memory but over the years, I have grown to tolerate it and then in more recent years actually like it.

True, you can't beat the real coffee bean. I can pop a couple in my mouth and chew on them while waiting for coffee to brew.

Off now. Goodnight.

[tazzieterror]

You knew countess when she was a teenager? 

[aussiklaus]

Hello Guys, thanks for your comments. The case (mine) is as follows: ONE order from the UK consisting of 2 items @ 16.99 GBP, total cost 33.98 GBP plus international postage @ 39.38 GBP. Received 2 invoices, one for the items on order and one for the shipper. 

Items did not arrive at all so raised a dispute with the seller in the UK via eBay. 

Actual refund subsequently then received was 16.99 GBP from Seller and 16.69 GBP from shipper adjusted for Australian Dollars. Obviously tried to raise the difference with eBay but as a refund was made the case opened is closed - end of story. Raised then with PayPal requesting assistance under the Buyer protection policy but same issue. System detected a refund and case closed. 

Countless messaging with PayPal so far has not penetrated closed minds - it seems impossible to get it thru anyones head that the refund was only 50% of the original total purchese cost. 

After more than 10 days of circular messaging took screen shots of the original 2 invoices as  well as the 2 refunds per my Activity report of my PayPal account. To date no response to that info - OK, forwarded only 3 days ago. . 

[*tippy*toes*]

I can only suggest to RING PayPal and speak with a person. Calmly explain what has happened and see if they can help. It's very important to remain calm and polite, as you will get more help that way.