good or bad? GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM

[caldreamer]

I am considering using GSP and would appreciate your expert advise. 

1)  Is GSP good for clothing vendors (or am I going to have a lot of headaches)?

2)  If I shipped using FLAT RATE ENVELOPE do I have to include WEIGHT/DIMENSION?

3)  What happens if BUYER claims NOT AS DESCRIBED (is vendor liable for INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING)?

4)  What happens if I forget to include COUNTRY OF ORIGIN?

5)  Have you had BAD EXPERIENCES using GSP?

Any advice you be greatly appreciated!!!

[obojoekn]

• I believe you need to add dimensions and weight to your listing so that eBay knows what to charge the buyer for shipping to their country. I assume that they put your package inside another mailer and apply postage for the new package. They might not do this, but it seems reasonable.
• I, personally, haven't had any bad experiences with GSP. In fact, it has probably saved me from some, because they only ship to a few countries, not all of them. Before GSP, I used to ship to anywhere the buyer was. Never had any problems with that either, but I have heard of lots of issues with certain countries these days.

One downside of the GSP is that they charge the buyer way too much from what I have heard in this forum. That probably prevents quite a few sales from happening. I have never seen the buyers cost of shipping anywhere on my sales, so I don't know how ridiculous the charges are. I ship most items for free to US addresses, which includes the eBay Erlanger, KY GSP address. 

It makes shipping internationally, much easier for the seller. No customs forms, no special package rules, don't have to worry about quoting incorrect shipping price and having to pay for the mistake. 

I prefer using the GSP, but I do feel like I would have more sales internationally if I didn't use it.

[orangehound]

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@caldreamer wrote:

Any advice you be greatly appreciated!!!

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1)  Is GSP good for clothing vendors (or am I going to have a lot of headaches)?

Because GSP has such high shipping/handling costs, I've had very view items priced under $40-50 sell through GSP ... most clothing is under that price point.

2)  If I shipped using FLAT RATE ENVELOPE do I have to include WEIGHT/DIMENSION?

Whether I provide the info or not, it doesn't hold up the shipping ... Pitney Bowes is paid to handle these things.

3)  What happens if BUYER claims NOT AS DESCRIBED (is vendor liable for INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING)?

Only if you want the item back.

4)  What happens if I forget to include COUNTRY OF ORIGIN?

Nothing.

5)  Have you had BAD EXPERIENCES using GSP?

People report problems from time to time, but I've never experienced any issues.

[caldreamer]

Thanks for your insightful information!  Much appreciated...

[patriot_bearing_supply]

I looked into it, and the gist of it was that they raped people on the shipping charges. I get the occasional buyer that the address in Miami is obviously a freight forwarder. I've never had an issue with something that has been forwarded overseas. But I don't generally have issues, the things I sell are things people NEED, not things people were casually shopping for.

[mangorunner]

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@caldreamer wrote:

4)  What happens if I forget to include COUNTRY OF ORIGIN?

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On what or on where is the Country of Origin entered (or forgotten)?  This is the first time I've heard of this detail.  Thanks very much!

[tomkat-13]

If the item is heavy or higher price it works. But I sell Postcards, Photos, Patches & other small lightweight items. So I ship free to the US but it it is an item that I am sure to go outside of the US I do not list it with Global Shipping option but add my own shipping price. ( the Global shipping wants more that $20 to ship a postcard)  So if the item sell over seas I'm covered. If the item sells to someone in the US I refund the shipping. 

[jims_amazing_stuff]

I have sold around 10 items through the GSP, and think it's a great way to sell.  It's pretty much like shipping to the USA.

I have sold around 5 T-shirts, overseas.  They are  usually in the 8-15 dollar price range.  I ship them in a polymailer to Kentucky.  That's the way I ship most T-shirts, anywhere, unless it's an expensive one.  They may repackage it, once it gets to Kentucky, but that's not my worry.  I have had no problem shipping T-shirts this way. 

Once the item leaves Kentucky, you're "off the hook", if anything goes wrong.  That's the way I understand it, at least.

I sold a $90 vintage starter pistol, to a guy in Italy.  A starter pistol shoots blanks is not capable of firing a bullet.  It's used by old-school track officials and hunters, simply to make noise.  It was flagged in Kentucky as being a non-acceptable item to be shipped overseas, because it resembled a revolver.  It turned out to not be a problem for me, because Ebay still paid me full price for the starter pistol.  I was told the company Ebay uses for GSP would simply sell the starter pistol off, in some other auction.  Although it was kind of a problem ( mainly me, for not knowing the rules), the GSP policies took care of me, so I recommend it.

[iart]

Bad experiences?

Only that some buyers complain at the cost. We rarely know what GSP charges our customers but some do complain and once in a while someone will ask us to ship direct.

Also, GSP will clog up your inbox with useless 'important information' about when they ship and when it is delivered. I only care about problems. But you have to open them up to find out what's so important.

Good luck!

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@caldreamer wrote:

5)  Have you had BAD EXPERIENCES using GSP?

Any advice you be greatly appreciated!!!

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