Old thread, I know, but regarding using USPS First Class International instead of GSP . . . for those not familiar with FCI, be advised that it is NOT insured. So, as has been suggested here, use it only for lower priced items (presumably $50 or less, I suppose). Otherwise, in the event of an issue - such as what happened to me - you will be sh*t out of luck from both eBay and PayPal.
I sent a $250 item via FCI from Houston, TX to UK (which I had done successfully on a few prior occasions). The package made it to the Chicago distribution center (perhaps even through customs, I can't remember now) and basically disappeared - no further status updates and no help from USPS tracking it down at the facility. And because the status never updated/chaged from "In Transit" - despite 12+ weeks elapsed time and numerous requests from me to USPS to get it changed - eBay nor PayPal would act on it. Of course the buyer (at least) claims they never received the package, so I had to reimburse them WITHOUT EVER getting the item back.
(I didn't even recover the $50 that is insured under FCI because USPS couldn't guarantee/confirm that the package wouldn't eventually make it to it's destination! Un-freaking-believable!)
LESSON LEARNED.
I will now only ship international via insured methods (i.e. USPS Priority International), which is very pricey -- or -- if the buyer balks at that expense, I will do the transaction outside of eBay via PayPal "Friends & Family" to put the risk on the buyers. I've done the F&F method a few times now without any issues.
