GSP customs constraints?

[argy_eyes]

Sellers, 

Yesterday 3 reps and a rep supervisor told me that cameras could not be sent to Hong Kong via GSP  because a private eBay database says that they will be rejected at customs because they are "fragile."

My Hong Kong buyer (7200+ feedback) has never experienced this in a decade of buying cameras and is convinced my listing is defective (when he tries to pay he gets a message that says the seller does not ship to his location).

I did a couple simple test listings, one selling a camera via GSP and one via USPS Priority, identical otherwise, both with no country exclusion list. [Links below.]

The GSP listing does not show Hong Kong as a destination, but the USPS Priority one does.  This seems to imply that the GSP shipment is subject to constraints (declared "fragile" at customs if the eBay explanation is correct) that the USPS Priority shipment is not.

Does this make sense? Can anyone point me to some documentation that I can forward to the unhappy buyer? Am I doing something wrong?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115328726439   (GSP test listing)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115328830773  (USPS test listing)

Mike

[janet9988]

I believe GSP can restrict any item and it may not directly show in ebay policies.

Since Hong Kong is not listed as a ship to destination i am even unsure how that buyer was able to become the winner.

In fact, since you say the buyer is upset, I would hold off to file as" buyer did not pay " to ensure that the buyer can not ruin your account with negative feedback or any other type of defect.

Then add them to your blocked bidder list.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/global-shipping-program?id...

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/international-trading-policy?id=4338

[slippinjimmy]

It makes sense if you understand that GSP (operated by Pitney-Bowes) can at any time decide what items they want to handles and what items they don't.

Usually it's a customs issue but it could also be that cameras lead to far too many damaged in transit claims (which GSP is on the hook for) or it could be related to the severe covid lockdown that has been in effect in Hong Kong for the past month.

FYI - The three reps and supervisor probably have no idea why these restrictions are in place and just make something up. GSP is outsourced only someone at PB would know the actual reason, maybe they sent a memo to eBay about it or maybe not if they did the odds of it filtering down to low level customer service (and be retained) is pretty slim.

If you want to make the customer happy ship it directly via USPS or tell them to open an account with one of the dozen+ mail forwarders based in Oregon.

[argy_eyes]

@slippinjimmy  @janet9988 

Thanks SJ and J for your insights and suggestions. I suspect the SJ's observations about PB and the reps is a good part of the problem.  Unless you can get further up the chain (or to PB) you'll never get a straight story.

Mike