Inappropriate shipping methods

[romali1960]

I am a long term purchaser of postcards and have noted the recent increase in sellers using a GSP to ship these items.

Whilst I appreciate sellers choose their preferred shipping methods, why is it that a few sellers insist on using a GSP, with no other options available to buyers, to send small, low cost items, e.g. postcards from the USA when the GSP cost is 2 or more times the value of the postcard? Surely sellers must realise that shipping costs play a big part in the decision to purchase?

Postage for a card from the USA  is usually $2 to $5 but using a GSP, shipping ranges from $20 to $30! It would make sense for sellers of low cost items to be required to provide shipping options rather than just insisting on using a GSP. Can anything be done?

[lyndal1838 · Accepted solution]

Many sellers will not ship overseas without using the GSP as it gives them seller protection. 

Once the item is received at the GSP hub in Erlanger KY the seler has no more input into the transaction.  The item is shipped and insured by Pitney Bowes and the seller is protected against bad feedback from disgruntled buyers.

If the item goes missing the seller does not pay for that loss.

Often the sellers do not know they are even using the GSP.....ebay opts them in and unless they have any direct contact with the buyer they only know that they post the item to Erlanger KY in the USA.

Have you tried asking your sellers if they will opt out of the GSP and post to you directly?   Some will happily do so, others wil say no.