Ebay Global Shipping Program FAIL!

[jokerswild]

After a long time of being nagged (by various ebay marketing efforts) to use the Global Shipping Program, my first time using Global Shipping Program ENDED in FAILURE.

The item arrived in Kentucky and was rejected.

Response from GSP was item can't be shipping restricted. Why was it even allowed to be a part of the program. I was in an very specific category (down to the exact Brand). I thought is Ebay's programing and database is so poor that it can't flag anything in a certain category? I checked ebay's help section to check for restricted categories/items .. it wasn't listed AND in their FAQ and it lists: " If the category you're listing in doesn't support the Global Shipping Program, you'll see an alert when you create your listing." THERE WAS NO ALERT. 

1. Horrible email communication - no details, why restricted, no specific "what happens next", etc... My email said it was a restricted item and can't be shipped to the buyer.
2. Ebay immediately refunded the buyer the amount paid to me. Never received any notice or alert from ebay this was happening. Thanks!
3. GSP didn't refund the buyer his international shipping cost. He paid $59 international shipping charged by GSP. I told him he probably needs to somehow get in touch with them (eventhough there is ZERO information in the email on how to contact them).
4. No information that the item is going to be returned to me. I'm left assuming it will be but who knows.
5. The buyer told me he purchased several similar items and sellers never had a problem - BUT didn't use the Global Shipping Program.

I won't be using the Global Shipping Program again.

Just amazing because I know I have received so many messages about use the Global Shipping Program... So easy, make more money, etc...

More of a rant post. Thanks for reading. Feel free to share your horror stories!!!!

[srs-webstore]

We've had two issues with items being marked as "restricted" by someone at the GSP shipping center in Erlanger, KY.

   Both times, the items were definitely *NOT* any sort of restricted item- we even checked the postal regulations for the destination countries thoroughly. It was simple human error on the part of the employee at the GSP center in KY...

    Both times, we got zero notification until well after the fact. However- the buyers did receive *full* refunds- every last penny they spent. However, by that point, the damage had been done, and I doubt either of these people will ever do business with our company again.

    We've tried to contact eBay and the people at the Global Shipping Program hub in Erlanger, as well as Pitney Bowes, to try and open a dialogue in an effort to stop this from happening in the future, but all attempts to have an intelligent conversation with these people have been stonewalled- they simply do not care if we lose business over their mistakes...

   All in all- not a great way to do business...

[parroutoux]

I had a similar problem.  Global shipping said a small antique bought by Japanese buyer was restricted.  He and I were both refunded.  So far so good.

i wanted to know what happened to item - no one at EBay, etc., would say.

3 months later, my item has turned up for sale, by a seller in Wales.

whats going on??  How did seller get hold of it.  We are talking valuable item, sold for nearly £500.

any idea where restricted goods go?

Bob.

[rockadelicdave]

Just recently opted out of GSP.
To many overseas buyers who were NOT
enrolled in GSP bidding and buying.
The last bozo was in Zimbabwe with ZERO feedback.
This seems to happen a lot with laptops.
However never had any problems with it
when I used it just the bad apples spoil it for the rest.

[missjen831]

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@parroutoux wrote:

I had a similar problem.  Global shipping said a small antique bought by Japanese buyer was restricted.  He and I were both refunded.  So far so good.

i wanted to know what happened to item - no one at EBay, etc., would say.

3 months later, my item has turned up for sale, by a seller in Wales.

whats going on??  How did seller get hold of it.  We are talking valuable item, sold for nearly £500.

any idea where restricted goods go?

Bob.

---

When the GSP confiscates an item and pays off the buyer, the item becomes the property of the GSP and they resell the item (domestically of course) on one of their selling accounts. 

[missjen831]

---

@rockadelicdave wrote:

Just recently opted out of GSP.
To many overseas buyers who were NOT
enrolled in GSP bidding and buying.
The last bozo was in Zimbabwe with ZERO feedback.
This seems to happen a lot with laptops.
However never had any problems with it
when I used it just the bad apples spoil it for the rest.

---

@rockadelicdave Buyers cannot "enroll" in "GSP bidding and buying". GSP is for sellers only, its sellers who opt in and use it. And the GSP only ships to certain countries so if someone bids on something and they are in a country NOT eligible for the GSP, you ship directly to them. You could havw avoided those bidders if you had blocked all non-GSP countries I believe. Too many sellers use it but have no idea just how it works because they don't take the time to read up on it. Doesn't help that ebay automatically opts new sellers into it as well.

[rockadelicdave]

"you ship directly to them"

Oh...is that a bad joke and how may I ask do you PROVE
to ebay/paypal the item WAS delivered
when the buyer complains to ebay/paypal of non Delivery.
If I want to gamble I'll go to Las Vegas thank you.

[missjen831]

---

@rockadelicdave wrote:

"you ship directly to them"

Oh...is that a bad joke and how may I ask do you PROVE
to ebay/paypal the item WAS delivered
when the buyer complains to ebay/paypal of non Delivery.
If I want to gamble I'll go to Las Vegas thank you.

---

What is so confusing about what I said? What is the joke? Surely you've read the MBG and seller protection policy? Surely you know that all you need is TRACKING showing delivery to the buyers zip? Delivery confirmation is how you prove delivery. Surely you know that. And surely you know that you need Signature confirmation on sales $750 or above, as your proof to eBay and PayPal.

[rockadelicdave]

Couldn't disagree with you more on every level here especially after

Ebay took away the sellers ability to leave warranted NEGATIVE feedback.

[trythis00]

People don't realize that buyers like me from Canada won't buy from sellers with the GSP They are only making money for themselves by charging outrageous shipping rates plus a customs fee WHICH in most cases we wouldn't be charged those fees anyway. It is a program which is screwing you sellers from selling to buyers like me.