GSP is loved by many sellers, hated by many buyers, and has its place.
It is useful for buyers who are prepared to wait for the shipment, and who are not buying something that is in PB’s prohibited list, and who are buying something reasonably bulky OR buying something from a seller who has input the correct dimensions and weight information, and where the item is not fragile and suffering from the risks of being inadequately repacked by PB…
For buyers where the above points are not met, yes, one can try to negotiate a different postage method, or specify a parcel forwarding address in the seller’s country. Sellers may be resistant to a request to post internationally by other method, as this does open them to risks if the parcel goes astray… and that is an important consideration in these times especially.
I don’t like the GSP and have never used it as a buyer (and I’m a buyer only on eBay), but I can imagine that for some items, it could be worth using. Thus far, if a seller doesn’t offer non-GSP shipping to Australia for what I want to buy, but the item is highly desired by me and there isn’t any reasonable alternative, I’ve gone the parcel forwarder route.
I cannot blame sellers for opting into the GSP. Too many impatient or demanding or cheating buyers, global chaos, usual exigencies of international postage - it all adds up to risk.
I’ve been able to negotiate with international sellers on several occasions, to find a mutually agreeable postage solution, and I think that the way that one communicates makes a big difference.
