eBay Global Shipping

[tractorboy]

Just spent a frustrating few hours working around eBay's Global Shipping Programme.
Prior to bidding asked the seller (in USA) if they could offer alternative shipping, as the $41.90 by GSP was way to expensive. Explained how had other items from USA sent with postage between $10 - $17.
Seller replied:
"Thanks for the question. If I send it via USPS in a Small Flat Rate Box the shipping cost would be $26 or First Class International for $16 shipping."
Won the item at $9.99 and then we struggled to get to get round eBay's rules.

By default the invoice was $41.90 for shipping.
Asked the seller to re-invoice for for $16 shipping.
This he did but nothing received - not sure why (does eBay not allow re-invoicing?).
Exchanged a few message via eBay message system to try and fix the problem.

Then tried sending him my e-mail address in an eBay message so he could invoice me - that didn't work as eBay does not allow e-mail addresses to be included.
Got round that by including a photo of my e-mail address and seller was able to send me a PayPal invoice (separate from eBay).

eBay appear to locking sellers into using their Global Shipping Programme - I don't usually bid from sellers who use it but was keen to bid on this item.
The seller was relatively new to eBay and I wonder how I can prevent a similar experience.
The invoice did include his e-mail address - just wondering if I should suggest he opts out of the GSP and only use what he quoted me to ensure that he gets more sales?

Won with my opening bid - wondered if others were put off by the postage costs.

Screenshot 2016-01-04 17.28.54.png (98.74 KiB) Viewed 743 times

[Tinman]

Yes, ebay USA will not allow direct email addresses to be exchanged via their message system. Once you buy an item, the seller does receive your direct email address. The buyer also receives the sellers direct email address in their paypal receipt email.

No, ebay USA does not allow the seller to alter the costs once the item has been won or purchased.

However, the seller can immediately refund any part of the amount a buyer pays.

By using another shipping method, he has lost all of his sellers rights. Which means he can lose the $10 sale amount, the $16 postage cost and the model if you file a claim of Item Not Received or Item not as Described.

Also, if ebay looks into the issue and sees the photo of your email address, both you and the seller are at risk of having your ebay accounts suspended or canceled.

In the USA, ebay's Global Shipping is the ONLY method (outside of super expensive private shippers) to protect their seller rights against someone claiming the item was not received. I would let them decide on which shipping method they want to use.

The cheaper methods (like International First Class) leave USA sellers wide open to fraud claims of "item not received." A tracking number alone (on international packages) is not enough, the package has to be signed for and that receipt returned to the seller. Most countries (including most European countries) do not return the signature receipt which leaves the seller exposed to nearly double postage costs of adding a signature requirement to overseas packages.

While we all hate the Global Shipping Program, it's is the only way for USA sellers to ship an international package and not get stuck losing the item and paying all the costs. So, if you decide to give them shipping advice, please include all the bad things that can happen to them if they decide to offer cheaper overseas shipping.

[mrmoko]

The GSP has certainly ruined so many purchases for me . Some very nice cheap BIN models in the US but after adding the GSP price its all over . Like Tinman says it protects the buyer but at a cost . I have paid it a few times for nice models . When you do use it , have a look at the tracking . Its a laugh , i counted 22 scans of my parcel going from the USA across to Dubai and then on to Australia , Bounced around the US for days . BTW , 100 % of my GSP purchases have arrived in a jiffy bag , not sure if thats a shipping requirement or just my luck . Luckily no damage . I hope your model is not shipped in a jiffy bag.

[fixer]

This is just another way of making money the same as taking a percentage of the post charges from the seller
What I don't understand is why so much and why it can vary greatly even on items from the same seller

[Tinman]

Packaging is up to the seller. Only an idiot uses a jiffy bag for a vintage diecast model.

[fixer]

Plenty of idiots out there

[Tinman]

This is just another way of making money the same as taking a percentage of the post charges from the seller
What I don't understand is why so much and why it can vary greatly even on items from the same seller

They charge by weight and package size. If you get the same size package at the same exact weight and the charge is different, that I would question. As it was explained to me: Ebay does not get a share of the shipping cost, but ebay does get reimbursed if the package does not make it to the destination, they in turn, pass that refund along to the seller.

The reason for charging final value fees on shipping costs was to end seller's abuse of the system. Far too many sellers were selling (for example) a fifty dollar item for .99 cents and charging $55.00 to ship the item. This allowed them the lowest possible listing fee and then they paid $0.00 in final value fees. It was also to help deter sellers from padding the final cost of their items by inflating the shipping and handling fees. Sellers can still inflate the shipping and handling fee but it costs them the same as selling the item at a more appropriate higher cost. Since buyers are looking for the best price at the lowest shipping cost, it levels the playing field.

I've always tried to ship at cost and never played those games, so I think it sucks to pay fees because so many others abused the system. On the other hand, there is much more free shipping these days on items I want. One thing is for sure, the days of cheap international shipping are long gone and this is true for nearly every country.

[tractorboy]

Thanks Tinman for your comprehensive explanation of the GSP and the protection it offers sellers.

I thought that the US postal system had a signed for option for First Class International - surely that would cover the seller to prove delivery?
I've had to go the NZ Post depot to pick up & sign for packages because they could not be left in my mailbox and no one home to receive.
Perhaps that is only NZ Post's policy and nothing to do with International sign for delivery.

Good to know that the seller does have my address for future messages I may send.
I did wonder about including an image of my e-mail - thinking more about helping the seller to invoice me than the possible repercussions to my membership.
Ironic if eBay suspend/cancel my account for this and yet do nothing about fakers that they've been informed about over the years.

[tjlglass]

I opted out of the GSP as it is a total piss take and want to give my customers a fair deal with post so I can post at cost, yes I realize I might get caught the odd time and fully insure high end items. In general 99.9% of people buying stuff are genuine collectors and I rarely have items go missing, if they do then they go straight onto my banned buyer list as I use the old saying "once bitten, twice shy" my list is long but lately it's slowed down as I may have filtered out a few wrong'uns.

[Tinman]

Plenty of idiots out there

Yes, there is no shortage of them.