Why is the ebay sponsored Global Shipping Program so expensive? Looking elsewhere now

[padraicpaul91]

As  a regular buyer of American products, I am being forced to look elsewhere for them. The ebay shipping program, which unboubtedly is easy for sellers, is prohibitively expensive for lower priced products. A small item is regularly charged at $50. This is more than double what I would charge for the same service, and Australia is The Most Expensive Postal Service in the World.

US sellers, if you want our business, wise up and post the item yourselves.

[4channel]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

You are the one who wants the system changed and sellers to be made aware of the problems with the GSP......why wouldn't you be willing to put your point across to the very sellers who you want to do it your way?

It is doubtful that many US or UK sellers are going to see your complaints on the Aussie boards.

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I am only one of the many people that want the system changed. mariq is another one who has found GSP distasteful and there are many others. I'm not on a mission as your post suggests.  

I don't know why you say   .. .. "

It is doubtful that many US or UK sellers are going to see your complaints on the Aussie boards."

BTW: I am contributing to the discussion and adding in my own experiences lyndal1838 , as you have too.

[padi*0409]

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@4channel wrote:

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@lyndal1838

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I am only one of the many people that want the system changed. mariq is another one who has found GSP distasteful and there are many others. I'm not on a mission as your post suggests.  

I don't know why you say   .. .. "

It is doubtful that many US or UK sellers are going to see your complaints on the Aussie boards."

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Then maybe both yourself and mariq should go to the UK/US selling boards, after all their sellers are the only ones that maybe should be aware of your gripes about GSP, and are in a position to change their shipping preferences.

Possibly you'd get some sellers who are unaware that they are opted in by default, and you may well get sellers over there who will tell you why they use the GSP.

I agree also with lyndal's comment that those sellers are very unlikely to see the problems you're experiencing on our buying board.

[countessalmirena]

Very good point, Padi; the UK boards were friendly although initially reserved when last I dropped by there (briefly). However, it has been some time, so careful reconnaissance may be the best first step for 4channel and mariq if they want to stroll down that particular country lane.

I purchased something a few days ago from a UK seller who'd stated that she sold within the UK only; she was very friendly and approachable when I messaged her to ask if she'd be willing to post to Australia. (I also said I could have the item sent to my UK forwarding address if she would rather not post overseas, but she must have sensed that I wasn't a nightmare buyer as she agreed to post to me here without so much as an umm.) No GSP for that item; had there been, I'd definitely have gone for the forwarding address option and taken the opportunity to go mad at Harrods, with buyer's guilt only hitting me afterwards. 

[*tippy*toes*]

I purchased something from the US earlier this month and the shipping was via GSP. I noticed the wording in the search results before I looked at the cost. I very nearly kept scrolling, like I always do when I notice it's GSP. It wasn't something I had been searching for, but it was something that Mr Tippy needs a constant supply of. A box of 30 here costs $135 + $10 postage (which lasts 30 days). 60 in the listing was $60 + postage.

I went in and looked at the sellers other items. I changed to the US site and noticed she had another 50 of these items that weren't listed as international postage. If I could get them too, it would cost me $102 + postage via GSP. Double postage being GSP. Postage was $US23, which worked out about $AU30. For GSP, I was pretty happy with that all things considered.

I decided to send the seller a message. I asked her about the listing that wasn't listed as international (all her other listings were international) and mentioned that I really want to buy both listings. I asked if she could revise the listing for 60 and add the other 50 in otherwise GSP would charge me double postage. I then said regardless, I'd be buying the listing for 60. I never asked her to opt out of GSP. I didn't want her losing her protection.

It was evening here, so middle of the night where she was, so wasn't expecting an instant reply. I was about to go to bed at 1.30am when a message came through. She had revised the listing to include the other 50. I bought and paid then and there. Postage stayed at $US23.

The next day I got a message saying the item had been posted. I sat back and waited, thinking it's not unusual for GSP parcels to take FOREVER to arrive. Thankfully we didn't need these things urgently. She posted it on April 6th.

2 days later I got an email saying the item had arrived at the Global Shipping centre. Again, sat back and waited, thinking it's not unusual for stuff to sit there for 2+ weeks. 2 days later I got another email saying the parcel had been processed and had left the facility. 3 days later I got another email saying it had been processed in Honolulu (tracking showed it having a few stops across the US). The next day I got another email saying it had arrived in Sydney and would be going through customs. That afternoon I got another email saying it had cleared customs and was being sent to my area. The next day I got an email saying it would be delivered the next day.

On April 17, a mere 11 days after being posted, it was delivered.

I do know that I have looked at other listings where GSP is going to charge you $US50 to send a pair of earrings. Completely unacceptable. Sometimes contacting the seller, without dictating to them, can make a difference, as it did in my case.

In the case of your 45's, if the same seller has 10 that you want, ask if they can revise one of the listings to include the other 9, otherwise GSP will charge you 10 shipping costs. If they don't want to end the other listings as they will then lose a free listing, they can revise those listings to become a completely new item. It's certainly worth trying. While revising their listing, suggest they put in the weight and package dimensions into the listing. Explain why. That will make the postage cost more reasonable. Still a little dearer than USPS, but not unacceptable, like $US50 for a pair of earrings.

[padi*0409]

Great result Tippy for both yourself and Mr Tippy, it just shows how the GSP isn't necessarily the evil monster that some portray it as - so long as you are aware of how to go about using it to it's advantage.

[*tippy*toes*]

That's the thing. It's all in the approach. The box these items were posted in would have fitted 2 boxes of tissues. I've had the same size box sent via USPS and charged $US22, which is why I didn't bat an eyelid at $US23. Even if postage was $50, I was still coming out WELL in front.

That's the thing, when I'm buying something, I look at the overall cost. I have bought items for 1c with $49.99 postage that no-one else looked at, but those same people didn't bat an eyelid of buying the exact same item for $50 with free postage. It's all about perception......and overall cost.

Incidentally, the item for $50 with free postage sold for well over $100. I bid on the 1c item and no-one else did. The item is worth in excess of $100.

[countessalmirena]

Have you seen the film Amélie?

Your story was like the gorgeous journey of the purloined garden gnome in that film.

[zanadoo_56]

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

@4channel

the seller in that example will not get a surprise like you would think because they will only be shipping domestically, to Erlanger KY.

For all they know the winning bidder/buyer is registered in Australia but living in Kentucky.

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Couldn't resist answering this one (seeing as it was one of my GSP observations that was quoted).

I can't remember if that seller was one I contacted or not, but my experience has been with some US sellers (but only one UK seller) who are vehemently against selling overseas, not even abdicating responsibility to the GSP may be enough to entice them. Outside their countiry is a big wide world of scammers - and only scammers - apparently.  Some of those I have pointed out have been opted into the GSP have been horrified.

Whether that seller would think a buyer lived in Kentucky but was registered overseas, who knows...but after a few sales all going to Erlanger he or she might get a bit suspicious.  😉  I should have bookmarked them to follow their progress.  One thing I've noticed with sellers I regularly bought from pre GSP, who later signed up for it....most of them don't use the GSP any more.

[c_mount]

Global Shipping Programme is a scam in itself.

[*tippy*toes*]

Get over yourself.  If you have an issue with people who have had a positive experience with the GSP,  then bite me. Regardless of what you or any of your other IDs think,  for,me it worked out good.if you have an issue with  that, tell someone who cares.