eBay

vssoutlet · ‎04-12-2018

As a seller, there’s a lot to like about GSP, including:

The ability to ship heavier and more expensive items internationally
Not having to deal with customs
No worries about the length of time it takes for items to arrive
Tracking and delivery confirmation on every international shipment
Strong buyer and seller protection in the case of lost or damaged items.

In short, it was a huge risk for me to ship a $1000 camera to countries like Australia, Italy and China. Now the risk is greatly reduced.

GSP does have a rather large problem that continues to bother me as a seller, because it affects my customers: GSP personnel repackage EVERYTHING sent to the global shipping center in Kentucky.

We take great care in packaging our items. Our standard is that any of our packages should be able to withstand a 10 foot drop onto a concrete surface without damage. I’ve received damage complaints from international buyers with photos of the damaged products and packaging. Our larger bubble wrap is replaced by smaller, less protective bubbles. Our larger, heavier-gauge boxes are replaced with thin cartons. This “less is more” packaging philosophy seems to be universally applied to all items regardless of value and fragility. I’ve suggested to eBay that they have a special group with special training and higher standards to handle fragile and valuable items. I don’t believe they have implemented any such program.

While I appreciate the protection and reach that GSP has given me, I’m not satisfied until an item is safely on the hands of my customer and it is exactly in the condition in which I shipped it. This is a great program that can be much better with this small improvement.

carlmarxx · ‎04-12-2018

@vssoutlet wrote:
As a seller, there’s a lot to like about GSP, including:

The ability to ship heavier and more expensive items internationally
Not having to deal with customs
No worries about the length of time it takes for items to arrive
Tracking and delivery confirmation on every international shipment
Strong buyer and seller protection in the case of lost or damaged items.

In short, it was a huge risk for me to ship a $1000 camera to countries like Australia, Italy and China. Now the risk is greatly reduced.

GSP does have a rather large problem that continues to bother me as a seller, because it affects my customers: GSP personnel repackage EVERYTHING sent to the global shipping center in Kentucky.

We take great care in packaging our items. Our standard is that any of our packages should be able to withstand a 10 foot drop onto a concrete surface without damage. I’ve received damage complaints from international buyers with photos of the damaged products and packaging. Our larger bubble wrap is replaced by smaller, less protective bubbles. Our larger, heavier-gauge boxes are replaced with thin cartons. This “less is more” packaging philosophy seems to be universally applied to all items regardless of value and fragility. I’ve suggested to eBay that they have a special group with special training and higher standards to handle fragile and valuable items. I don’t believe they have implemented any such program.

While I appreciate the protection and reach that GSP has given me, I’m not satisfied until an item is safely on the hands of my customer and it is exactly in the condition in which I shipped it. This is a great program that can be much better with this small improvement.

When I read your post ,And I thought WOW! I have heard many storys about GSP employee's repacking the items. What I don't understand why ebay doesn't send some higher up reps to GSP KY. to deal with the damage good issues . It isn't good for business that buyers in GSP can't get their goods unharmed delivered too them.

ed8108 · ‎04-13-2018

This issue doesn't necessarily require the personal presence of higher up reps to institute corrective measures.

bigdeals.etc · ‎04-14-2018

One of the many reasons why I stopped using GSP long ago. The damage they caused my items totally outweighed all of the other benefits combined. Buyers have sent me photos of the packages they've gotten from GSP, and it's a joke. They seem to cut so many corners when repackaging that many times the items inside end up being trash, thus upsetting my buyers.

zak-man · ‎05-05-2018

I recently received a package that was sent though the GSP program. The contents were double boxed but the inside box was totally mutilated with razor cuts and torn open to see the inner box's contents.

I thought this might have been a rare occurrence but it seems the more I investigate the GSP, the more I learn that its a pretty common occurrence. Ebay should step up and fix this problem or people like me will just refuse to use the service/Ebay.

genv · ‎05-05-2018

What happened is your Seller did not fill in all item specifics for Country Of Origin, Material, Age, and Accurate Title. Items need to be inspected in this case to properly label for Customs & Import Laws.

phono_0490xxxxxx · ‎05-06-2018

@vssoutlet wrote:
As a seller, there’s a lot to like about GSP, including:

The ability to ship heavier and more expensive items internationally
Not having to deal with customs
No worries about the length of time it takes for items to arrive
Tracking and delivery confirmation on every international shipment
Strong buyer and seller protection in the case of lost or damaged items.

In short, it was a huge risk for me to ship a $1000 camera to countries like Australia, Italy and China. Now the risk is greatly reduced.

GSP does have a rather large problem that continues to bother me as a seller, because it affects my customers: GSP personnel repackage EVERYTHING sent to the global shipping center in Kentucky.

We take great care in packaging our items. Our standard is that any of our packages should be able to withstand a 10 foot drop onto a concrete surface without damage. I’ve received damage complaints from international buyers with photos of the damaged products and packaging. Our larger bubble wrap is replaced by smaller, less protective bubbles. Our larger, heavier-gauge boxes are replaced with thin cartons. This “less is more” packaging philosophy seems to be universally applied to all items regardless of value and fragility. I’ve suggested to eBay that they have a special group with special training and higher standards to handle fragile and valuable items. I don’t believe they have implemented any such program.

While I appreciate the protection and reach that GSP has given me, I’m not satisfied until an item is safely on the hands of my customer and it is exactly in the condition in which I shipped it. This is a great program that can be much better with this small improvement.

Here is a buyers perspective from Australia.

This Global Shipping Program is a ripoff. Very very expensive.

Obviously you don't see the shipping cost that I do as a buyer looking at your listings.

Such is the huge disparity between what USPS or Royal Mail services that offer the same signed for tracking at a better disclosure level for buyers at a far lower cost, this has resulted in me no longer considering an item shipped visa this seller optional method.

As far as 'dealing with customs' is conserned, what part of filling in a CN22 declaration is difficult for you? Any idiot can do this, even those that can't pack an item to avoid damage can do this... yes, I've seen it many times over the years buying from many of the eBay sites and having good shipped to me from the USA, UK and Europe without any lost in mail incidents. I suggest to you that the Australian postal system is safer and more reliable than other locations you suggest is "huge risk".

fact is, Royal Mail and USPS and DHL articles ennd up in Australian customs and then shipped to buyers here via Australia Post. With this GSP system undisclosed contractor companys to Pitney Mob and end up being delivered in an inconvenient manner, often needing redelivery because these local couriers turn up when you are not home and do not leave at a post office for customer pickup.

As far as the repacking matter is conserned, I specify methods to pack fragile glass to me and sellers are happy to do so. It may cost more due to over the top 'war zone' treatment and larger item size as a result, BUT as you state and seem only conserned with due to cost to YOU through damage, this GSP mob don't give a **bleep**, no doubt employ people at under the poverty line wage rates and the executives who only care about shipping at the lowest cost to them acccording to cubic dimentions of the package to maximise their profit margins.

Do you want to really deal with this mob and expect them to change? Good luck with that mate - no chance.

This is NOT a "great program", it has NOT extended any selling 'reach' because safe and sound methods existed well before this GSP was conspired. This is a 100% buyer ripoff and has turned off long established buyers with a sound trading record from buying Internationally IF the vendor choses to adopt this very expensive method.

So tell, is it really a matter of less fees charged to you the seller by eBay because they calculate fees on shipping now?

pjcdn2005 · ‎05-06-2018

Actually the op doesn't use the gsp for all of their items. Most of their lighter, less expensive items are sent using usps first class. I think that if more sellers used a combination of gsp and sending items directly, buyers might be more tolerant of the gsp.

I do think that sometimes buyers think that an item will cost a loss less to ship directly even when it isn't cheaper. I'm honestly not a big fan of the gsp and I can only speak from a Canadian point of view but usps has raised its rates quite a bit in the last few years and I've often seen some heavier items cost less through the gsp than if the seller had sent the item direct via first class international. But there isn't a hard fast rule on that...some items are more expensive shipped with the gsp, some are less which does make it confusing to buyers. I think that a buyer has to do their due diligence rather than assume that all items sent the gsp will cost more.

Most items delivered to Canada with the gsp are delivered using Canada Post so we do have that advantage. They used to use a courier in some cases but there were so many problems with that method I don't think that they use it all here.

Sellers don't pay fees on the international portion of shipping regardless of which method they use to ship to using the gsp doesn't make their fees less expensive. One reason that sellers use the gsp is that many countries do not have delivery confirmation with first class international and sellers these days tend to shy away from sending something without delivery confirmation. The gsp always has delivery confirmation and if the item gets lost between the gsp center and the buyers location, the gsp has to refund..not the seller.

In an ideal world...this is just my opinion....sellers would send direct to buyers in countries with first class delcon and use the gsp for other countries. Apparently it can be done but I think that it can be fairly complicated to set up. Plus, some sellers will not sell internationally without the gsp. You and I may not like that but it is up to them where and how they want to ship to. It would be nice too if buyers who really dislike the program could do a search and specify listings without the gsp but I don't think that we will ever see that.

You're right that there has always been a way for sellers to send items internationally without the gsp but I honestly believe that there would be many less items for sale internationally without the gsp. as some sellers tend to be very suspicious of any buyers from outside of the US.

pjcdn2005 · ‎05-06-2018

You might be able to prevent some of the repacking problems. Some people say that the gsp center repacks just to make the package smaller.. the gsp have denied that and I have no idea if that is true. But if they do repack just to make the package smaller there isn't much you can do to prevent that but if they only open the package and repack when they don't have enough information to fill out the customs forms,(as mentioned in post 6) you might be able to prevent them from opening your packages.

For example, if using the gsp you should be listing the country of origin in item specifics so that the gsp doesn't have to open up the packaging to see where the item was made. Also, in order to be able give an item an harmonized system code for customs, they also need specific information about the item so having that info in item specifics might help as well. I'm not certain what info they need as I don't know how specific they get but when I look for a harmonized system code for a customs form for something like a wallet, I need to specify whether it is leather or fabric. But in I were you, I would probably focus on putting the manufacturing country in the item specifics...that also makes the import fees that they charge your buyer more accurate. Plus, buyers like to know where something is made.

vssoutlet · ‎05-06-2018

I understand the comments and am very sensitive to the issues my customers face. I have responded by including more and more items as "direct ship." I have had significant problems with Australia Post. The majority of these issues are with delivery time. It's routine for a First Class Mail International package to take 30-60 days to be delivered. This often results in an "Item Not Received" claim being opened by the buyer who, understandably, wants their item. Since I have no proof of delivery (because it has, in fact, not been delivered), the buyer wins the case and I am out the money and the item. Additionally, I now have a defect on my account. GSP works for me as a seller because of problems that eBay has created with its policies. If eBay was willing to indemnify the seller in cases where proof of shipment was provided against any claims of non-delivery, I wouldn't use GSP. eBay could also not permit "Item Not Received" cases to be opened where proof of shipment is provided. Understandably, the buyer wants all the risk borne by the seller and the seller wan't eBay to absorb the risk. I'd be satisfied with 1/3 of the risk being absorbed by the seller, 1/3 by the buyer and 1/3 by eBay. What do you think?

vssoutlet · ‎05-06-2018

A really good analysis. Thank you. Personally, I find the lack of Delcon VERY frustrating and it's a huge driver towards using GSP. In fact, I wish there were a feature where GSP would be enabled only for countries with no Delcon. I have further requested that eBay implement a feature that would automatically assign something to FCMI rather than GSP if it is under a certain dollar amount. I'm willing to take the risk of a $30 item not being delivered or otherwise lost due to fraud; not so much on an $800 lens.

vssoutlet · ‎05-06-2018

I always provide as much information as possible. Making a package smaller is one reason they open the package. We keep the package as small as possible to reduce our own shipping costs. But we don't sacrifice item safety to save money.

I think the other reason that GSP opens and unwraps every package is to check for drugs stuffed inside the item.

Many of the issues could be resolved by having a special group responsible for packing high value or fragile items. These people would have more training and increased supervision.

phono_0490xxxxxx · ‎05-07-2018

I suspect the problems you have had with Austarlia Post [delivery time] are in fact to do with the USA postal and customs sytem.

And yes, rate increases by USPS are over and out of the ordinary.

Same applies for Canada mail, so I've found, only once thanks. Imagine a double LP record album costing over C$35 [more in AU$] in 2009 ? Can't be better now, thats for sure.

More on this below.

But back to this current GSP matter. Heres one to consider... case study perhaps.

My two recent purchases/orders from UK sellers; a) One Royal Mail 1st Class, b) the other GSP.

a) An electronic repair component - Panasonic Magnatron - Made in China

i) Fragile and of some mass.

ii) Sent via Royal Mail 1st Class. Cost: AU$10.76

iii) Has a RM tracking number and upon handover to AusPost an AP tracking number.

iv) Purchased and paid for 25th April. Marked sent by seller on the 26th April. Arrived today 7 May - delivered to door by AP.

v) Item in it's original manufacturers isolation packaging. [variation of this would be plain stupid]

vi) Over wrapped and addressed by seller in waterproof plastic.

vii) This hasn't been opened by some unidentified 3rd party shipping agent nor Customs here in Aus. Incidently, it's rare to find so unless contents look suspect, being of 'organic' nature. You do realise all goods that arrive here get subjected to XRay or CT scan and sniffer dogs for any guns, knives or drugs etc... and such contraband is found at a high rate of success? Hard to believe US Customs don't have the same scrutany at Import and Export given the paranoia level these days - so why the open to inspect regime by this dodgy GSP mob? So they can repack/consolidate to suit their profit objective target.

viii) No VAT or Import charges applicable or paid.

So, component installed today and appliance 'in service' now. Happy ending, cheaper than buying from an Australian based seller by around AU$50.

Repacking this by some penny pinching over charging mob may have compromised the integrity of this device and the **bleep**ing to seek damage claim, not to mention delay in getting my oven back 'in service'. I sent message to seller today thanking for quick send and positive outcome. Also thanked for not using GSP, informing of the negative consequences [cost and risk for them and me] if GSP was used.

b) Service components [gear train] for a kitchen stand mixer - Made in UK

This is 2 separate eBay listings/items, paid for on 1 invoice/paypal transaction. [Note: Thats 2 items only, one being small enough to go in an envelope]. NO COMBINED SHIPPING RATE APPLIED.

i) NON fragile of insignificant size and mass. Smaller and lighter than a) noted above.

ii) Sent via GSP and so, any number of undisclosed entities involved. Cost: AU$24.09

iii) I've seen changes to my eBay 'Orders' summary list where initially two different tracking numbers appeared for these two separate listings. Now I see numbers have changed [yes, I do have screen shots of changes]. The eBay popup window information is in confict with the scant information on the link to shipping company involved... date and event descrepencies present between the two.

Further proof of incompedence by this lot is that when I look at 'Order details' it shows 4 packages, these idiots have 2x each of the 2 eBay listings. Professional NOT.

iv) Purchased and paid for 29th April. Marked sent 30 April.

Ebay popup says processed at Global Shipping Centre on 1 May and Shipped to Internat Destination on 2 May. ETA is noted as 15th May. Longer shipping time than a) noted above.

They try to call the 15th May 'Priority Mail' service? Is this really the land in Australia on 15th May or delivered here date? Lets see.

v) Packaging unknown, yet. I'm in contact with seller via email, not ebay message system so I can send high res images of what turns up.

Hardly 'fragile' but every gear and shim better be in there. If broken or missing items will I enjoy the dispute? NO

Will this arrive as 1 or 2 mail items? If 2, why not combined in one parcel? [it's so I'm charged more]

vi) NO VAT or import charges applicable.

I contacted the seller 1 day after stewing over the 2 separate paypal charges and further research into this GSP fiasco. They informed they were new to this GSP and unaware of buyer objections [globally]. They are reviewing use of GSP and as I put it, to offer lower shipping cost than a competitor seller is an advantage to them. The seller advised I could buy the coponnts and other components in future directly from their web site. This option is cheaper than buying through eBay or Amazon platforms. No prize for guessing where I will buy service components for these machines in future.

Smart thinking by the eBay executives who came up this 'program' NOT.

In regards to USPS sytems I can cite another example of possible time to arrive origin.

In this case it was a non business seller listing a collectable art glass piece. Seriously 'fine art'. GSP would have probably refused to handle it due to their own lack of confidence in their packaging systems [or more so their Insurance providers confidence in their system] So, an Australian artist of high repute, less interest in USA... so what? No interest in USA but some from Aus.

I found the listing via routine eBay.com search. Seller had this item listed as NO International shipping. I sent a message [via covert means because eBay prevents buyers contacting sellers when items are not shipped to your location... did you realise this anti- social element to eBay message system] asking if they would consider sending to me in Australia. Initial response was they didn't wish the workload, but would consider and advise if any change to allow so. Fine. A week later I recieved message from seller that they would now do so and had changed listing to allow. I bought this piece BIN within 5 minutes of email message. Sent via USPS [1st Class?] with tracking. I specified packing method - overt 'war zone' protection level. It wasn't sent in a thin USPS box they so like to have everyone use and base their rates on for so called 'convenience' at 'flat rate'.

So, tracking... I follow the mad trail this item takes back and forth across the USA.. and then back and forth Internationally. The only direct to destiation path was when it eventually landed in Australia! The 2nd day after arrival at Aust customs it was delivered to my local post office [via AusPost] for signed delivery... and yes, conformation of delivery appeared on both AusPost and USPS tracking web sites.

The stupid delays were all of USPS making... none happened here.

In regards to 'non delivery' claims, dont have the option to indicate a date range for delivery? Sellers in China seem to have this option. This is the origin of items I have highly variable delivery times for. Sometimes 1 week, sometimes 2 weeks... sometimes 6 weeks. Always, and I mean always the items arrive within the ETA advised on the eBay 'Orders' page. Any long shipping time is always prior to arrival at Australian customs... max 2-3 days from there to my address.

How do I know this? Every article submitted to an AusPost agent this includes handover following customs, be it a letter or parcel, HAS A TRACKING NUMBER that can be tracked on their web site, even after delivery has been made, so I see the where and when.

I know from experience when an item will be delivered via the AusPost tracking site. I get email notifications of 'delivery today' and 'delivered'. Y'all could too... you just need that tracking number. I see the AusPost tracking number on a Royal Mail tracking site when it is applied.... doesn't this appear on the USPS site. And yes, this is for both 'sign for' and 'non sign for' items.

Regarding eBay policy.

Oh yeah. Long list of policy that has alienated buyers and sellers over the years [don't be fooled by my supposedly 'puppy' status as a user of ebay as would appear by ID and FB number that should be 'private'.] Between 2006 and 2012 50% of my trade activity was from International sellers. Now it's less than 2% due to shipping rates from the likes of USA. I wouldn't consider Canada Post ever again after that LP fiasco.

I suspect your government policy also plays a part in the cost too. Seriously, the admin cost of collecting import duty for pissant items of low value far exceeds the revenue gained. Our idiot goverment actually considered this stupidity, pushed by greedy millionare retailers complaining of lost sales through international online trading. LOL... the numbers didn't add up for the economic rationalists, so no such idiotic system in place here. Threshold for import duty is around AU$1k I think.. a non issue to me.

Hey, don't blame me... I didn't or couldn't or wouldn't vote for the clowns in power here... or there.

So, now I find the only reasonable and efficent Internat post is from UK and Germany now, if GSP is NOT used.

There was a 2kg reasonable shipping rate limit from the UK and always has been. It is still cheaper to split an over 2kg consignment into 2 postage consignments. Around 2012 a similar senario for USPS, but I recall that had to do with what could be safely fit in a box [shipping old heavy record discs].

LOL.... eBay policy. Seen enough of that to know the true nature of such Corporate entities. Why trust the likes of Pitney Bowles? Why have anything to do with such scoundrels? Have you seen the Co. reviews this mob get in the UK? Care to ignore the shills and flunkies leaving the 5star reviews... read what drags it down by their trade practices.

ebay still do nothing about shill bidders and the 'hidden bidders ID' and 'private auctions' scam is good for their final value fee grab.

And yes, eBay do charge fee based on item final bid PLUS shipping cost. They sure do on the eBay.com.au site. And so it goes, higher cost for buyers, lower margin for sellers , higher profit for ebay, higher bonus for the CEO's.

Why do we play this game?

carlmarxx · ‎05-07-2018

Not all of US Sellers are in GSP .

argy_eyes · ‎05-07-2018

@vssoutlet wrote:
I wish there were a feature where GSP would be enabled only for countries with no Delcon.

Yes!

I've begun using shipping rate tables to differentiate between Delcon countries and non-Delcon countries (after having a beautiful Exakta VP sent FCMI disappear on its way to China). The shipping rate tables are are not without their own problems, but at least this way I can take advantage of Delcon routinely. Only someone who never sold internationally could design a GSP program that ignores the Delcon distinction.

Mike