International selling

[chain269]

 I am wondering if this issue is with me or if others have had the same problem. I have 100% feedback and 5 stars rating except shipping cost which is 4.9 which I believe is due to my participation in EBAY Global. As a power seller I have had problems to work out with buyers but they have always been easily settled to appease both sides with the exception of selling to French Canadians. I hate to point out 1 ethnic group but every bad experience I have had has been dealing with these people and I wonder if it is a string of bad luck with them or if others have had similar experiences

[gew6463]

Probably about 1/4 of my GSP sales are to Canada. I don't particularly pay attention to what area of Canada. All of my interactions have been positive with Canadians, no issues at all. And a decent percent give nice feedback on receiving their item. 

Honestly, I am surprised when a seller has a total of 5 stars on shipping. Unless they sell very little. There always seems to be that occasional buyer who dings you for high shipping even if the USPS charge is printed right on the label. That is pretty good proof that I did not pad my shipping. I personally think that is why the 'free shipping' is automatically 5 stars. Otherwise, I could still see a rare person giving 4 stars just out of crankiness 😉 It doesn't really have to make sense. 

If I know I am not overcharging customers on shipping, and someone once in a while gives me a 4, I just don't sweat it. Future buyers most likely aren't going to pay that much attention. They care more about the shipping price you have listed in the actual auction. But that is just my personal opinion on the matter. 

[pauyo_43]

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@chain269 wrote:

 I am wondering if this issue is with me or if others have had the same problem. I have 100% feedback and 5 stars rating except shipping cost which is 4.9 which I believe is due to my participation in EBAY Global. As a power seller I have had problems to work out with buyers but they have always been easily settled to appease both sides with the exception of selling to French Canadians. I hate to point out 1 ethnic group but every bad experience I have had has been dealing with these people and I wonder if it is a string of bad luck with them or if others have had similar experiences

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I have several Canadian customers. I don't use the eBay Global  because I know if I ship straight USPS, many times, items less than $100 go through to the customer with no duties to pay.  eBay Global charges shipping on every amount. I never alter the amount purchased, but Customers are thankful they aren't nickeled and dimed by Canadian Customs.

[reallynicestamps]

I have had problems to work out with buyers but they have always been easily settled to appease both sides with the exception of selling to French Canadians.

Nah.

It's not just Quebecois, it's all of us.

We Canadians hate the GSP with a burning flame.

And it's the fault of Parliament, which set our duty-free allowance for shipped imports at $20Cdn (~$15US) in the 80s and have never changed it.

Because our customs officers are intelligent, they realized that processing such inexpensive items, costs the Canadian taxpayer more than they could possibly collect, and just ignore 93% of low value shipments.

However, couriers like UPS and GSP/PitneyBowes must obey the law and assess and remit duty. Even if there is no duty they have to assess and remit sales taxes which might be as much as 15% of the declared value.

Spit.Spit. Spit.

If your Congress and our Parliament ratify the new NAFTA, that duty-free allowance will rise to $150Cdn(~$112.50US) and most of these problems will disappear.

Meanwhile, let me leave you with a Quebec folk tune, much heard at this time of year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvR6-SQzqO8