eBay

jakefugitt · ‎11-11-2019

I’m a seller from the US and i had a buyer from Canada message about shipping cost. I informed the buyer I only shipped internationally through the eBay global shipping program and was unable to tell her an exact shipping price. After several messages trying to explain the GSP, she bid. However instead of receiving payment, I received an request to send her an invoice. I have never shipped this way internationally & I don’t know how she was able to purchase the item without going through the GSP. I was able to find USPS prices for shipping a item over 1 pound ($25-$35) internationally and sent her a message explaining shipping costs. She messaged back and said that my costs were way higher than she’s ever had to pay and that she would “regret it very much “ if she has to cancel. I’m trying to avoid negative feedback. So my questions are: How much should it cost to ship a 1.5lb hoodie to Canada from Ohio? How was the buyer able to bypass the gsp? What should I do now? Advice from anyone will be appreciated.

corvettestainless · ‎11-11-2019

Tell buyer the exact following:

Sorry, I do not ship internationally except through the GSP Program (this is where I ship to a facility here in the USA and Ebay takes care of reshipping it to international purchasers). If you would like to cancel this purchase, I understand will cancel and refund. Thank you.

Do not be intimidated with feedback, feedback does not matter and is not held against you. Do not ship how you are not comfortable with, it's just not worth it.

On a side note, I used to sell internationally, 6 of 8 transactions went south (they didn't pick up from customs, I had to refund and eat expensive shipping costs, they opened case with their credit card and said they were double charged (paypal said they will fight and let me know, $100 sale cost me $170 with charge back fees, another said 'items don't fit my car' (because they had a different car that the product was for etc. etc.). Bottom line, I don't ship internationally anymore.

disneyshopper · ‎11-11-2019

Shipping using the GSP is always going to cost the buyer MORE than simply having the seller use the USPS to ship an item using Priority Mail. The buyer will need to pay shipping to Erlanger, KY + shipping to their country + customs fees. Your buyer should have received an invoice from Pitney Bowes, who runs the GSP program. I suspect the buyer used the Shopping Cart and then the option to Request an invoice.

disneyshopper
Volunteer Community Member

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-11-2019

If I figured it out correctly the first class international (which has tracking) price for 2 lbs to Canada is $17.25 before any ebay shipping discounts. However, if the listing was set up with the gsp, you aren't obligated to ship directly. I'm in Canada as well and not a huge fan of the gsp but if the seller wants to use the gsp, that's definitely their right. I've always been under the impression that a buyer can no longer ask for an invoice if the item was set up with the gsp so either there is a glitch with the ask for a invoice function or that item isn't set up with the gsp. But it does look like all of your listings are set up with the gsp... which hoodie is it?

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-11-2019

@disneyshopper wrote:
Shipping using the GSP is always going to cost the buyer MORE than simply having the seller use the USPS to ship an item using Priority Mail. The buyer will need to pay shipping to Erlanger, KY + shipping to their country + customs fees. Your buyer should have received an invoice from Pitney Bowes, who runs the GSP program. I suspect the buyer used the Shopping Cart and then the option to Request an invoice.

Not necessarily. Priority is usually more expensive than the gsp but first class int'l is usually less.

lacemaker3 · ‎11-11-2019

For shipping non-breakable items from the USA to Canada, GSP is one of the most expensive options. Many Canadian buyers don't want to pay that much extra for shipping, which is quite understandable. You can opt a country out of the GSP on your listings, and many sellers have opted out for Canada. The USPS can deliver the item to Canada Post, who will handle the final delivery. Its less expensive, and very easy. You can buy the shipping on eBay, and it will take care of the customs paperwork automatically.

You didn't say which hoodie this was, but you recently sold a grey Nike hoodie, which had GSP shipping to Canada of $23.36, with $0 import charges, so it's not surprising that your buyer wasn't happy with your estimate of $25-$35 for direct shipping.

I made some reasonable estimates for package dimensions, and you can ship that to Canada for $17.25, First Class Package.

jakefugitt · ‎11-11-2019

Thanks everyone. I was under the impression that I was obligated to send and must have made a mistake when editing shipping preferences.

I made a mistake calling it a hoodie. It’s actually a colorblock Nautica turtleneck. I’m pretty sure as long as I’m able to send a invoice with the first class pricing, lll have no issue with the buyer.

Ive heard from various buyers that gsp can be really expensive. The main reason I have always used it is because of its simplicity for me as a seller. However, Canada is definitely a county I’d consider shipping to directly once I have the know how.

I haven’t had much experience posting on the message board. I was overwhelmed at the response. Thanks to all who replied. I sincerely appreciate it. I think it’s going to work out and I learned something new. Much obliged.

fab_finds4u · ‎11-11-2019

Yes, the seller in Canada can save domestic shipping and GSP's handling fee they add to the Import Fee when the seller ships directly to Canada.

This is from a similar question I answered 4 years ago. Situation was the same. I wanted to know how to take it out of GSP after the buyer won and I was able to pass it along.

"Your items are in GSP so eBay sends their invoice to them. They already know what they are supposed to pay.

When they pay you will be given the payment for your item and the shipping cost to KY and Pitney-Bowes gets the International Shipping and Import Fee.

You are only responsible to get it to KY. After that eBay is responsible for delivery to their country. You still need to get signature DC to KY if it's over $750.

However, if the item is inexpensive and the buyer wants to take it out of GSP you can do that. The buyer has to go to his Purchase History and click on the Request Total link. You'll get a message asking for an invoice – after you respond to it, that should take the listings off of the GSP.

"Dear xxxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting eBay regarding the XXXXXXX (eBay Item #: xxxxx) you recently sold through the Global Shipping Program. I understand from your email that you would prefer to remove the transaction out of the program and conduct the international shipping on your own. I’m glad you contacted us for assistance and I’m happy to help.

Since the buyer has not paid for the transaction yet, there is a way to have GSP removed. The buyer will need to take steps to request a new invoice from you for this to happen. As the seller, please send them an eBay Message and provide the instructions below.

Steps for the buyer to request a new invoice:

1. Go to My eBay.
2. Click “Purchase History”
3. From the "More Actions" menu next to the item, select "Request total"
4. Enter message details to clarify why you're requesting the total
5. Click "Continue" to send the request

This will send you an official request through eBay Messages. You can reply to that request with a new invoice and this will remove it out of the program. These steps will allow you and the buyer to conduct the transaction and establish a shipping cost you both agree on. Also, once these steps have been taken we cannot place the transaction back into GSP.

Since you will be sending the item to the buyer internationally on your own now, you will need to take steps to ensure you are protected. As a reminder, eBay requires tracking that can be viewed online and this tracking will need to confirm delivery to your buyer. If the amount of the transaction is over $750 then a signature confirmation is required at delivery as well.

To finish, I wanted to thank you for using the Global Shipping Program. I understand it did work out for this particular transaction, but I hope the program works for you going forward. The whole benefit of the program for you as a seller is to allow you to sell your items internationally but not shoulder the hassle and risk that can come with an international sale. Sell globally, ship domestically!
Thank you for using eBay

xxxxxx xxxx"

fab_finds4u · ‎11-11-2019

sorry--the instructions were copied from eBay and I do believe they meant to say in their last paragraph I understand it did NOT work out (gsp) instead of did work out. .... but the gist is at first people on the boards were telling sellers they had to cancel the transaction and relist without GSP to take it out of GSP and that was not true. eBay supplied the instructions to remove it and ship it to the seller directly.

The buyer managed to request a total. Respond with one or leave it in GSP.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-11-2019

@jakefugitt wrote:
Thanks everyone. I was under the impression that I was obligated to send and must have made a mistake when editing shipping preferences.

I made a mistake calling it a hoodie. It’s actually a colorblock Nautica turtleneck. I’m pretty sure as long as I’m able to send a invoice with the first class pricing, lll have no issue with the buyer.

Ive heard from various buyers that gsp can be really expensive. The main reason I have always used it is because of its simplicity for me as a seller. However, Canada is definitely a county I’d consider shipping to directly once I have the know how.

I haven’t had much experience posting on the message board. I was overwhelmed at the response. Thanks to all who replied. I sincerely appreciate it. I think it’s going to work out and I learned something new. Much obliged.

That particular listing shows as shipping to the US only which is probably why the buyer could ask for an invoice. If you are going to ship directly you can add the shipping cost to the invoice.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-11-2019

I don't know how old that information is but when the gsp first came out, buyers could request a total. but they changed it shortly after that so that the request total button was grayed out for gsp transactions. I don't know if it has changed again but it looks like the op's listing wasn't set up with the gsp anyway.

unclepauliscoins · ‎11-12-2019

I have potential buyers from Canada telling me that all the time. I sell mainly coins and for worldwide shipping I only use GSP potential buyers don't like it due to the cost. I understand it is very expensive. As a seller I like shipping oversees this way for my protection. Most potential buyers want me to commit fraud and ship the coins in a letter or like a Birthday card because they want shipping as cheap as they can get it. They tell me they get stuff mailed like that all the time from other sellers in the US that may be but I do not ship this way.

corvettestainless · ‎11-12-2019

Sadly, sounds like you learned nothing. If the listing had a price for shipping via international, then the buyer pays it. This listing had GSP, so you cannot send an invoice- it simply must go GSP unless you cancel the sale, the listing and relist- then tell the seller to simply pay the new international amount that you used when creating the new listing.

For this listing, there is no 'sending an invoice' if you already have it set up as GSP.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-12-2019

When I looked at the listing, it did not have shipping costs for gsp. It was a US only listing.

corvettestainless · ‎11-12-2019

Even more so, the OP needs to follow what I told him. Cancel sale, cancel listing and create new listing either using GSP or put an international price on there (for Canada only, as is shown when doing International).

I wouldn't think you get the GSP price until you've purchased, as some countries are a different price, unless buyers from country 'A' are shown when they are searching via their own countries ebay website?