e-bays new global parcel plan postage has caused postage costs to treble or more.

[leoniec4748]

I have been buying on e-bay for a long time now.  Items in the US have always been prohibitively expensive because of the postage cost.  I have now noticed that items in the UK have exorbitant postage costs and when I have queried this the sellers tell me that they are using e-bays new global parcel plan and are not even aware of the listed postage cost.  Furthermore, parcels sent using this service cannot be sent to post office boxes, which is what I use.  So, I can no longer make purchases from the UK, but what really troubles me is that the sellers are unaware of how much e-bay is charging.  It is such a total rip off.  e-bay is just getting greedier and greedier and it is not good for business.  I have for example seen 2 exact same items available on e-bay from the UK, one using the global parcel plan and the other not.  The postage for the item using the plan is $60 + whereas the item not using this "service" is $15.  The sellers I have contacted are not aware of how much postage is being charged.

e-bays greed is very bad for business.  The new global parcel plan makes purchasing from overseas impossible.  I just hope members refuse to use it as it does not appear to be compulsory, and bring some fairness back into e-bay.  When you consider that sellers have to pay a commission on postage, it is just outright wicked.

I love collecting vintage inlaid boxes from e-bay but won't be able to anymore because of this new postal scheme.  I wish e-bay was not so greedy.  It will be its undoing.

[horizon1907]

I'm almost certain if you asked the sellers to bypass that "service" they would. They make a sale & you as a buyer, benefit from a cheaper rate of postage.

[rover2a]

yeah me to ! in aust. same thing .  global hipping ripping off AU. customers blind for global shipping . i have had items take a month to arrive . and all ebay says is to wait . when it clearly states that if you do not receive it that they will refund your money . when contacted all they do is give them selves time extenions . NOT FAIR

[leoniec4748]

I have mentioned it to a couple of buyers and all they said is that they were using the new system and didn't know how much the postage was.  I have advised them of how much the postage is so that they are aware.  Do they have the option to by pass the system once they have listed an item though?  I might raise is with a seller, because technically they can't sell to me at all because I use a post office box! Seriously bad and such a rip off for everyone concerned. e-bay is becoming way too greedy.  How can they possibly justify claiming a percentage of the total price, i.e. the postage?  It's just plain wrong and I had thought of selling some items through them but just won't now.

I always pay with PayPal and always get my problems resolved quickly through them.

[wildviolet]

Yes sellers can easily opt out of Global Shipping:

How to Opt Out of the GSP

(My eBay summary page)

account > site preferences > shipping preferences > Offer the Global Shipping Program > edit > no

[heiner2929]

Always a good idea if you are interested in any overseas item...Contact the seller and just ask them to confirm what postage is to your postcode/address in Australia - before bidding/buying.

I've done this for many items from the US ,UK , India & China.....in the last few weeks. I have really, really 'Wanted' the items...and the postage has been well within what I was prepared to pay and quite reasonable.

The best thing about it I guess is that all the items ( bar one from the UK that is well out of the estimated time of delivery - that I have been refunded) have been delivered well ahead of the ebay imposed 'estimates'... from what I now consider to be really good /trustworthy sellers, that I will revisit.

I'm sure most of us realise that ebay....is in it for ebay.......regardless of all the over hyped advertising regarding the 'wonderful buying or selling experience'.....lolol

ASK, CONFIRM, QUESTION..before you commit.....

[leoniec4748]

One of the sellers I messaged about the price said that there is nothing they can do about the shipping rate once the item is listed.

[leoniec4748]

One of the sellers I messaged about the Global Shipping Program said that they can't do anything about the freight cost once it is locked in. One item I am interested in has a Global Shipping Program freight price of in excess of $60, whilst the exact same article has a shipping cost of $8. Both from England but the one with the cheaper shipping price has a much higher starting price than the other. Also with this Global Shipping Program e-bay won't send to post office boxes and that is what I use. It is just a mean rip off.

[padi*0409]

with exception of auctions that already have a bid (apparently) the seller can opt out of the GSP, then they should be able to send to PO boxes.

[i-love-my-sheep]

The postage cost can be adjusted afterwards by requesting an invoice via the shopping cart. Normally the seller can't send an invoice as the option isn't available to them, but if you request one, they can then send one.