Has global shipping changed recently?

[quixoticpony]

I have been using global shipping for over a year, and it has always been the same. I ship to an eBay hub and they handle the rest. I've shipped to Canada, Japan, Europe and the UK. But now someone from Australia bought something, and it says it's going directly to the buyers address. And I have to fill in a customs form with a bunch of stuff I don't understand. Is this b/c it's Australia? And also I can't get the "purchase shipping label" button to activate. 

[stackers_xag]

If you're using eBay's GSP your item should be shipped to Erlanger, Kentucky where it will then be forwarded to the international Buyer.

No need for you to ship direct to Australia and your postage cost would only be that to Erlanger, Kentucky. The Buyer pays for all other shipping costs beyond Kentucky and perhaps the cost of shipping from your location to Kentucky.

It's been a few years since I've sold through the GSP program, but unless things have changed, do not ship direct to another country! That's what GSP is designed to do.

P.S. I've sold to every continent other than Antarctica through GSP. Everything has always gone through Erlanger, Kentucky first. As I mentioned, it has been a few years, so check to make sure eBay hasn't changed their rules.

Good luck, best wishes. Hope this helps. 

[stackers_xag]

OH, and by the way. I have shipped packages to Australia. Always GSP and through Erlanger, Kentucky. Be careful, sounds fishy to me!

[quixoticpony]

thank you for confirming. I have my suspicions about the buyer anyway. this adds fuel to that.

[stackers_xag]

You're welcome. I think the buyer in Australia is trying to get you to pay Shipping, Taxes, Duties, Fees, to get your item shipped to their location.

Just cancel order as, "problem with Buyers Address."  You won't get dinged that way. 

[stackers_xag]

I had person in Germany that tried same thing with me. It cost them $150. before you know it, the cost of shipping to another country will cost you more than what you were selling the item for.

Stop selling internationally. I got good advice. Saved me a pretty penny! 

[pjcdn2005]

Is this for the taupe Lee jeans? That listing does not have the gsp enabled, it is showing that you are using ebay international standard delivery. You can read more about that HERE

The item should still go to a US depot before it gets forwarded to Australia.   It is different than the gsp in that they don't pre charge duty and although there isn't seller protection if the item gets lost, there is up to $100 insurance included.  

I've sent dozens of items to Australia without a problem and I've found it fairly reliable although I've always my items directly to the buyer, not through an ebay int'l shipping system.

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[pjcdn2005]

Next time you run into a problem like this, first check your listing to see what the listing says..don't assume that the buyer is being suspicious or fishy as in this case, they are simply going by what the listing stated.  If you go to your listing and click on the shipping tab then 'change country' to Australia, you'll see what the buyer saw. 

You should also be able to see that they've paid  $24 for shipping to Australia.  The price won't change if you have the correct weight and dimensions listed as they do weight and measure the package at the US depot.

[pjcdn2005]

Exactly how would the buyer get the seller to pay shipping, taxes etc? It's not possible so please don't be so quick to assume that the buyer is being dishonest.

It's also not possible for the buyer to put their own country's address if the listing is with the gsp. In some cases if the listing is actually set up with the gsp but they  won't ship that particular item to that country, the buyer isn't able to  pay because the gsp hasn't given them a shipping cost.

[stackers_xag]

I stick by my words @quixoticpony 

You do what you wish.

[quixoticpony]

I have never run into this before.  The first thing I did was check the listing by doing a "relist" function, and from what I saw, it does have GSP.  But this was not what made me suspicious of the buyer, it just added to my uneasy feeling.  And even if I wasn't uneasy, there's the matter that I have zero clue how to fill out the custom forms. And no matter what I did, I couldn't get the "purchase label" button to activate. anyway, I am continuing to investigate.

[quixoticpony]

if this is what appears, it was an oversight on my part. 

[quixoticpony]

I have never had an issue before, and I have made some good sales overseas. I'm now going to go back over all my listings to make sure I have GSP enabled. 

[stackers_xag]

PJ, You're wrong and you know it!!!!!

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@stackers_xag wrote:

PJ, You're wrong and you know it!!!!!

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Pj is not wrong the taupe pants are not listed with gsp.  They show using eBays international shipping  

And with a  gsp listing a buyer can't pay with a non gsp address unless the seller sends an invoice.