Lyn, I have had GSP parcels delivered to me by Australia Post. 

I had one delivered today, by Fedex. Previously, Fedex would leave the GSP parcel anywhere they felt like it, and mark it as delivered. Today, the driver came to the door and asked for a signature. Also on the good news front, it had been scheduled not to be delivered until next week. It took two weeks in total, not the three weeks that others have.

however, even though Pitney Bowes is paid to repackage for secure delivery, they didn't, even though the padded envelope had a three inch hole in it. They just stuck tape over half of the damage.

it has also been confirmed by other members that USPS and Australia Post are used by the GSP at times.

I'd not deny that FedEx may use AP for final delivery if it makes sense financially, but USPS is never used except for the initial transport from the seller to Kentucky.

I have seen pictures of shipping labels where the GSP label was stuck over the original USPS lebel so the USPS heading was still showing, at first glance looking as if USPS was the carrier all the way, and other cases where the seller sent the item direct to the buyer using USPS instead of going through the GSP process the buyer had paid for.

In all cases where the use of USPS or double charging of import charges has been mentioned, and evidence in the form of a scan of the package label has been provided, it has turned out to be one of these two causes.

My 'book learning' has been very much directed at finding aout about the actual operation of the system. For example, this ebay UK thread.

http://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Buyer-Central/Buying-from-USA-with-the-Global-Shipping-Program/td-p/5...

An interesting link afantiques...thank you for posting it.  Unfortunately I don't have time to read it all at the moment but I will do so later tonight.

One thing that does come through loud and clear in what I have read is that you had to keep asking for members to post their actual experiences, not heresay of what happened to others.

You have been getting facts from members on the Australian boards and you keep maintaining that the GSP does not work that way so our experiences are wrong.

No matter how you sugar coat it, we are not mistaken, we do not misunderstand the system, we are not imagining things................the system is NOT working as it should and I do not appreciate you telling me that my experiences could not have happened because YOU say the system does not work that way.

You have been getting facts from members on the Australian boards and you keep maintaining that the GSP does not work that way so our experiences are wrong.

No matter how you sugar coat it, we are not mistaken, we do not misunderstand the system, we are not imagining things................the system is NOT working as it should and I do not appreciate you telling me that my experiences could not have happened because YOU say the system does not work that way

Would you mind repeating or referring to some of the facts that I am allegedly denying?

I have no real interest (in the sense of 'personal involvement' ) one way or the other, and would just like to find out what really happens,  but without some evidence to back them anecdotes are just that.

Acceptable evidence would be scans of packaging with labels, and printouts/screenshots of tracking. There is no obligation on anyone to provide this evidence, of course, apart from the spirit of scientific enquiry.

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@tkfdxr8 wrote:

GSP is **bleep**! Pitney Bowes are **bleep**! and dealing with Ebay to sort out an issueis, you guessed it...**bleep**!

 

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I agree!!

I just had an item visit 5 different Depots across 4 differents states over a 2 week period before it even left the US. It then took 8 days to reach Australia where it sat for a few days prior to it taking a 4 day trip to the Gold Coast from Sydney. OH YEAH the GSP is really working..........but for WHO?

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@retailtherapist_8 wrote:

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@tkfdxr8 wrote:

GSP is **bleep**! Pitney Bowes are **bleep**! and dealing with Ebay to sort out an issueis, you guessed it...**bleep**!

 

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I agree!!

I just had an item visit 5 different Depots across 4 differents states over a 2 week period before it even left the US. It then took 8 days to reach Australia where it sat for a few days prior to it taking a 4 day trip to the Gold Coast from Sydney. OH YEAH the GSP is really working..........but for WHO?

  

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Some people would kill for a trip like that!!! I think I might come back as a parcel delivered by the GSP in my next life!

Seriously though, it is ridiculous. That's why I now avoid sellers who use it (unless it's a large, bulky, heavy item, then it works out far cheaper to send via GSP)