Hi all! I will see what I can find out about how this will work with freight forwarders but I think @pjcdn2005 is right. I'm also double checking about whether sellers using the GSP will still need to sign up.
As for being a business or private seller, at this time we've only been advised that it pertains to business sellers, as the help page notes.
Lastly, @valueaddedresource asked about a dedicated chat or discussion thread with the shipping team and I've passed that request on to Brian and Sheila.
@valueaddedresource wrote:
velvet@ebay wrote:
As for being a business or private seller, at this time we've only been advised that it pertains to business sellers, as the help page notes.
velvet@ebay that directly contradicts what you said in message 27 of this thread when previously asked about business vs private sellers since the help page specifically said business sellers.
Your answer:
This is very new to us too, so we reached out to get clarification. What we have found is that no matter the size of the seller (business/personal), if they are selling and shipping to Germany and the item will be packaged in some form, they will need to comply with this requirement. We'll be sure to get the Weekly Chat post updated that you referenced above. Thanks!
Your previous answer was that every seller that sells and ships to Germany will need to comply with this requirement, regardless of whether business or personal account. Now you are saying it is only business sellers and you pointed back to the *same* help page we were referencing when asking the previous question and getting a completely different answer.
Between this contradiction and the fact that eBay executives are apparently providing conflicting info about GSP to some sellers that isn't made public - how can eBay expect sellers to make informed decisions about these matters?
I understand this may be new but respectfully, if you don't have correct answers or don't know yet, we'd rather hear that than incorrect info.
And this just highlights the many reasons why eBay needs to have high level shipping team staff creating FAQs on this and available to answer seller questions - to make sure accurate information is being provided to sellers publicly and officially so they can make informed decisions about how to handle these requirements.
You're right @valueaddedresource! I was told that in the past. I'll get clarification and if it's all sellers, I'll see if it's possible to get the help page and internal helps updated to reflect that. I'll follow-up with all the questions I've requested for help/clarification on once I have their replies.
Hi everyone! I've heard back the following so far:
1. This has only applied to business sellers and still only applies to business sellers. I'll try to find where we've posted about this previously so this bit can be updated.
2. Nothing has changed GSP wise. If you use GSP and ship items to the German market you should register with the authorities (LUCID Register). You can get help from our partner Lizenzero.
https://lucid.verpackungsregister.org/
https://www.lizenzero.de/en/ebay
I'll let you know about the freight forwarding scenario once I have a response there. Thanks!
@valueaddedresource wrote:
@lepke1979 wrote:
velvet@ebay wrote:
2. Nothing has changed GSP wise. If you use GSP and ship items to the German market you should register with the authorities (LUCID Register). You can get help from our partner Lizenzero.
https://lucid.verpackungsregister.org/
https://www.lizenzero.de/en/ebay
I'll let you know about the freight forwarding scenario once I have a response there. Thanks!
I'm guessing we'd still have to register since GSP is basically a freight forwarder. But either way, why should it matter? Aren't the packages usually repackaged once it hits the GSP facility or the freight forwarder the buyer may have used? I would think at the point it hits the forwarder. Any and all responsibility in regards to whatever is on them. Which would mean dealing with the Lucid nonsense.
Plus, I can't really pull up a recent order now. But do we even know it's going to Germany if it's a GSP/forwarder address? Trying to recall, but I think all we know is it's going to Kentucky if it's GSP or maybe Delaware or New Hampshire if it's a forwarder. Don't really know it's German until the tracking says it hits that country.
All in all though, unless one gets a lot of sales going to Germany. It sounds like we'd be better off just blocking the country altogether. I guess the buyer can take a drive to France or Austria or wherever if they want it bad enough. I suppose I should be happy that blocking Germany won't affect me any.
@lepke1979 I think this might get into a complicated area where maybe both the seller *and* eBay/GSP/forwarder would need to be registered because there are multiple kinds of packaging involved here.
The regulations apply to shipping packaging/materials, so I would think if GSP repackages it, they would be responsible for that part of it (because, how would the seller know what they used, right?)
But they *also* apply to product packaging, which hopefully would not be changing even if GSP repackages shipping box and from what I've read in other places, the seller may be responsible for that product packaging in some situations.
That's just a guess on my part though, take it with a grain of salt.
velvet@ebay thanks for reconfirming the GSP info & clarifying the business seller info - appreciate it!
The original question earlier in this thread about business vs individual seller asked if that determination was made by your account type or if it's based on sales volume or something else. I'm assuming it would be account type, but could you get confirmation on that for us as well please?
I assume it would be by account type as well but I'll get clarification on that @valueaddedresource. Thanks!
@ittybitnot wrote:
1. This has only applied to business sellers and still only applies to business sellers. I'll try to find where we've posted about this previously so this bit can be updated.
2. Nothing has changed GSP wise. If you use GSP and ship items to the German market you should register with the authorities (LUCID Register). You can get help from our partner Lizenzero.
Unless you are a business seller, you don't have to register whether you use the
GSP or not to ship to Germany, whether you ship to Germany on your own or not?
Unless you are a registered business seller you can simply ignore this whole thing and proceed as usual?
That's how I understand it @ittybitnot, but I'm asking to double check. I assume it's just business sellers regardless of GSP, but I don't want to give out wrong information. I'll let you know what I find out.
