eBay

mikeysquirrel · ‎07-06-2019

I know this has been brought up time and time again but as a long time Canadian eBay customer, sellers who use this program are alienating all International customers. It is a stupidly unnecessary program that only benefits eBay and Pitney Bowes. As a seller, you do not save or gain any extra money from using this. As a buyer from outside the US, we pay at least twice as much in shipping and it takes longer to arrive plus it adds unnecessary import charges. It's no extra work for you to ship it directly to your customers than to the shipping center. All they do there is repackage it (sometimes in worse condition) then sends it. It's just another way for eBay to gouge more money from us. And I know eBay automatically makes it part of your shipping procedure unless otherwise you say no. It IS an option but don't feel obliged to use it. and I know I'm not the only Canadian customer who will not buy from anyone who uses global Shipping. If you want to cater only to US customers then by all means continue using it, otherwise please don't use this God awful stupid program.

this*old*attic · ‎07-06-2019

Shipsurance (online) also insures single international packages inexpensively, without requiring a membership.

mikeysquirrel · ‎07-07-2019

I'm only ordering video games that can easily fit in a padded envelope or even letter mail. Games that cost about 5 to $10 that for some reason people still feel the need to use GSP and shipping ends up being close to $30 in some cases. I asked those people politely if they can ship it directly and of course they're just brainwashed enough to remain dedicated to GSP. Everything I've sold to you US customers get shipped directly and has no problem and is very economical for them but I see it doesn't get reciprocated through most customers. some sellers are even downright rude about it. If these sellers don't even care about Canadian customers they shouldn't make it available to them. Welcome to GreedBay..

rograc-37 · ‎07-07-2019

I never use Global shipping for my Canadian customers and I have a lot of repeat business from them because of that.

The Government is all over the place with regards to collecting taxes. Many times and item $100 or less is not charged Duty or GST. Obviously, with higher priced items, it can't be avoided.

But the problem with Global shipping is that it's still charged on a $10 items. It would put me off. I prefer to keep my customers happy.....all of them.

castlemagicmemories · ‎07-07-2019

I understand it is not a popular program for Canadians, but I have bought some great things not available here that I would not have been able to buy had the seller not used GSP as they would not ship internationally without it.

totoro470 · ‎07-07-2019

I actually shipped without GSP for years because I knew how much it helped buyers. Unfortunately, I've lost thousands of dollars worth of packages and it's just not worth shipping internationally without it. How do I lose money? Buyers can just claim they never got the package and since many countries don't track USPS packages, it means a free refund for them. There's also the customs scam for those countries with tracking, this is where buyers let the shipment sit in customs and ask that you refund them because the tracking doesn't say delivered- they then pay the customs fees and get the item and the money. Most buyers are trustworthy but even then you have to contend with extremely slow or corrupt customs agencies- I've had packages take 2+ months to arrive in some cases, this means a free refund for the buyer even though it's not my fault.

I now use GSP for anything above $20 and I haven't really seen a drop in my international sales and I have less to worry about. I even had a claim last week from a Canadian buyer that didn't receive their package, GSP took care of it and I wasn't out any money.

heihachi_73 · ‎07-07-2019

Same problem I get in Australia. $30 shipping (GSP) for a $1 DVD or cheap game that would otherwise go as a large letter in a padded mailer. I buy American where possible as it avoids not only the Australia Tax (where almost everything bought locally is 2-3x the price of an equivalent overseas version) but the PAL problem as well (fast movies and slow games - movies are sped up from 24fps to 25fps with noticeably higher pitched audio, and old games are 17% slower due to being dropped from their original 60fps to 50fps, usually with no attempt to optimize the games for the lower frame rate).

slippinjimmy · ‎07-07-2019

@heihachi_73 wrote:
Same problem I get in Australia. $30 shipping (GSP) for a $1 DVD or cheap game that would otherwise go as a large letter in a padded mailer. I buy American where possible as it avoids not only the Australia Tax (where almost everything bought locally is 2-3x the price of an equivalent overseas version) but the PAL problem as well (fast movies and slow games - movies are sped up from 24fps to 25fps with noticeably higher pitched audio, and old games are 17% slower due to being dropped from their original 60fps to 50fps, usually with no attempt to optimize the games for the lower frame rate).

Not anymore! eBay is now collecting GST to any shipments sold on .com or .ca (and maybe others) under $1000 being shipped to Australia. This started one year ago, July 2018.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771#section4

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

anthonyd46 · ‎07-08-2019

For Canada I have no problem for 4LB and under packages with a low value using First class and I have that option on my listings for video games etc. Anything else it just makes more sense to include it, because of the responsibility of the package after it leaves GSP not on the seller anymore. However, one thing I don't like about the GSP is they repackage the package sometimes which can lead to problems.

inhawaii · ‎07-08-2019

@mikeysquirrel wrote:
I know this has been brought up time and time again but as a long time Canadian eBay customer, sellers who use this program are alienating all International customers. It is a stupidly unnecessary program that only benefits eBay and Pitney Bowes. As a seller, you do not save or gain any extra money from using this. As a buyer from outside the US, we pay at least twice as much in shipping and it takes longer to arrive plus it adds unnecessary import charges. It's no extra work for you to ship it directly to your customers than to the shipping center. All they do there is repackage it (sometimes in worse condition) then sends it. It's just another way for eBay to gouge more money from us. And I know eBay automatically makes it part of your shipping procedure unless otherwise you say no. It IS an option but don't feel obliged to use it. and I know I'm not the only Canadian customer who will not buy from anyone who uses global Shipping. If you want to cater only to US customers then by all means continue using it, otherwise please don't use this God awful stupid program.

The last 731 international sales i've had through the GSP earned me $31,902 in sales that i otherwise would not have had. How did i not gain anything?

Smooth Operator - Sade