First Class International (FCI) package via Pirate Ship going to Pirate Ship Sorting Center

[bangordiscount]

Hello,

I use the program "Pirate Ship" to do nearly all my First Class International packages so that I can get the discounted "export" rate which is significantly cheaper than printing through eBay.

I have never had a problem but today I had a sale going to Australia.

The buyer paid and selected First Class International.

His address was essentially

Name

Street Address

City

State
Postal Code

Australia 

I created the label through Pirate Ship but what printed was a First Class DOMESTIC label to the following address:

Pirate Ship Export Sorting Center

POB 7961

Elk Grove Village, IL 60069

With a domestic tracking number 9400 1092 0556 8516 7209 32

In eBay a different tracking number of "AHOY19WUA9QM" was automatically uploaded

Nothing on the label refers to the buyer other than his name and "Australia" are printed in small text in the footer.

Confused I contacted Pirate Ship and got this response:

Ahoy Edward!

So sorry about the wait there, we're all hands on deck! 😅 

Apologies about the confusion there!

In January, Simple Export Rate went through some changes to include a forwarder to improve the service 🤩

If you'd prefer to send direct to the recipient though, I'd be happy to disable it so you can use First Class Package International!

I was pretty upset with that response, I would never use a forwarder if the buyer didn't select it, I think they are poor attempts at someone else to make money off me and they don't add any value and often add more frustrations. Second, that's not the address the buyer used at checkout so I'd lose any and all protections. I have printed hundreds of FCI labels through Pirate Ship and I don't know why this one was opted into their program.

Does anyone have any information regarding this?

[robxznyc]

Pirateship Export Sorting Center is not a forwarder. Same as eBay's standard Intl delivery, all shipments are routed to their sorting centers first to be sorted and relabeled (with buyer's address and custom form), and then handed over to USPS in order to lower cost. You don't lose seller protection. Pirateship's export rate is enhanced by partnering with Asendia that has also expanded the number of countries with door to door delivery confirmation from 27 to 55 counties. 

[bangordiscount]

Thank you for the reply, that's very similar to the response I got from Pirate Ship customer service...

"handing over" and "forwarding" is similar, no? I can't fathom how it's cheaper for USPS, Pirate Ship, Asendia, or whomever else is involved to have the overhead of a facility, employees, packing materials, labor, etc. and the upfront costs of the domestic label to get to their facility versus me printing a FCI label and dropping it off at the post office where it goes almost directly to the international sort center (ISC).

In regards to protections, how would I NOT lose seller protection against unauthorized chargebacks where I have to show proof of delivery under managed payments (previously proof of shipment) to the address provided on the buyers payment details?

The label that is now printing has a domestic address (Elk Grove Village, IL) and when the buyer checks out they are unaware of this program and the address they use is their home address (example: Australia) in their home country. I don't get a receipt with the 2nd label, only the first domestic label. Therefore if a unauthorized payment chargeback was filed I wouldn't have adequate protection.

Furthermore, at least with eBay International Standard delivery it has some accountability by means of $100 worth of protection and it is sponsored or at least recognized by eBay. Shipping internationally and self insuring is not difficult, and with all the stories of of "forwarders" or "passer-oners" losing packages, claiming items to be restricted or unsafe to ship, destroying said items, etc. I think it's just a better idea to avoid that mess.

Will companies like U-Pic insure these packages from start to finish or only the domestic leg?

[robxznyc]

Same as eBay label, Pirateship retains a percentage of postage as its revenue and transmits the rest to USPS. It obtained commercial plus equivalent rates from USPS because it provides USPS with shipping volume and shipments already sorted. This is nothing new. All shipping services, including eBay label have similar programs. 

Recipient's name and country are printed at the bottom of the shipping label that is covered by 3rd party insurance providers like u-Pic. 

[bareva]

I, too, am confused about this.  I have used Pirate Ship for my international shipping for a long time and on the surface this looks OK but I have many questions.

I am not thrilled with a middleman resending my package but I am willing to give it a chance to see how reliable it is.

However, is ebay recognizing the "AHOY..." as valid tracking upload?  If my buyer wants to check tracking at USPS are they going to see tracking to Pirate Ship Export Sorting Center?  Will Pirate Ship be updating that tracking when they re-ship so that the buyer can see their package isn't stuck at the sorting center?  If they do update it with a new tracking number, how will my customer know the new number?  Since I also sell on a venue that doesn't require tracking upload (ecrater), how will my buyer be able to track their package after it leaves the sorting Center?

Such a shame!  Pirate Ship was a wonderful way to save shipping costs for my international customers but I have to be able to give them tracking.  If there are not good answers to these questions, I will not be able to use that service.

[bareva]

P.S.  

I bought a label yesterday on Etsy not noticing that it was doing this same thing!  I.e., sending the package to a sort center.   However, I went ahead and used the label.

All of the other packages I shipped yesterday are showing in transit.  The one that used this system is showing this:

 

How is my buyer supposed to know their package was shipped and is on the way?!

[greencastleor]

Looks your package you sent arrived safely as of today actually!

[tomina_t]

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@bareva wrote:

Such a shame!  Pirate Ship was a wonderful way to save shipping costs for my international customers but I have to be able to give them tracking.  If there are not good answers to these questions, I will not be able to use that service.

---

Right on spot! PirateShip provided two valuable services that eBay did not: cubic rates and Simple Export Rate. Now eBay also offers cubic, so my only incentive to use PirateShip was Simple Export Rate. Now they screwed up that too. I used to print a single international label with address, tracking, and customs form, take it to the post office, and voila -- it was on its way quickly. Now one has to add a week or two for the awful Ground Advantage to get to the PirateShip sorting center. Who knows what they gonna do there, how they are going to handle and label it (so add a few more days), and then use an unknown carrier to send it abroad.  Not a single improvement from the seller's point of view.

Is there another provider for Simple Export Rate?

[richard1rst]

bangordiscount wrote

I was pretty upset with that response, I would never use a forwarder if the buyer didn't select it,

Actually you do. Think about it - the post office, UPS, FedEx, and DHL are all “forwarders” to the extent that they take the package from you and “forward” it to your buyer. Pirateship/Asendia is the same thing

I think they are poor attempts at someone else to make money off me

Well, yes they do make some money for the service they provide BUT they charge you a lot LESS than any of the other carriers mentioned above. And why doesn’t it offend you that USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL are making money off of you? So they are making a few dollars so you can SAVE a bunch of dollars and that offends you? Then use USPS, etc each of which also makes money off of you, and waste money.

 and they don't add any value

Actually, Pirateship keeps tracking information FOREVER whereas eBay and USPS only keep it for 90 days. So in the event of a charge back through a credit card company you can provide proof of delivery. Doesn;t that have some value?

 and often add more frustrations.

Completely self inflicted.

 Second, that's not the address the buyer used at checkout so I'd lose any and all protections.

NO you do not any more than using eBay’s international which is also sent to a USPS sorting center first.

 I have printed hundreds of FCI labels through Pirate Ship and I don't know why this one was opted into their program.

Be glad that you were. You will save money and be better protected than through eBay.

[femmefan1946]

It would be interesting to know if Pirateship is considered a "forwarder" by eBay.

Because items sent to a forwarder, rather than directly to the customer have much stronger Seller Protections.

Basically most of the Money Back Guarantee does not apply if the shipment is sent to a forwarder.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

This makes forwarders the second safest addresses we can ship to, almost as safe as a post office box, and certainly safer than a suburban porch or apartment house mail room, where porch pirates may snaffle the shipment.

My question would be :

Since the forwarder (Pirateship) is chosen by the seller and not the buyer nor by eBay (eIS), does the eBay policy on third person forwarding apply?

devon@ebay

[richard1rst]

"snaffle"???

Is that a localism?

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I've seen that used in Australia as well.

[kh-jean]

Hi everyone,



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Thank you for understanding.