eBay Global Shipping Program

[wrighty]

I bought a few big Lego sets on eBay from a UK seller using the GSP and had it shipped to Australia. Paid £30, it arrived within 1 week and with the size of the box and weight it worked out to be over £100 via ParcelForce. So overall great deal!! :lol:

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

I used to swear against the GSP, and I still do (mostly) but your absolutely right: for bigger heavier items the GSP shoots itself in the foot! I sent a great big box to the US. Weighed about 3.5kg and was way too big for Royal Mail or even ParcelForce. The buyer paid less than £30 and it was there in no time.

For smaller, higher value items it's still a rip off. But for bigger heavier items it's excellent.

 

[darth_daddius]

Well, this is very interesting. I bought an $800 carded figure a while back and paid $140 in 'fees' plus the $40+ in shipping. The fees were supposed to be import fees, but Australia (currently) doesn't charge for import fees unless the item exceeds $1000. So, all in all the GSP ripped me off considerably and ebay just filled their pockets. I avoid all sellers using it and I think the more that we do that the sooner it will go back to being actual shipping charges rather than a complete and utter rip-off that it currently is.

I don't understand how larger items can be so cheap to post. How are the special 'import duties' that ebay rips you off on not being factored in?

GSP sucks big dirty dogs danglies in my book (Thanks to Frank for that term 'danglies' - bloody ripper saying).

Pat

 

[indianawars]

Sadly, yes, I am one of those people that do use the GSP with eBay - I think it gives the seller a little more protection. Once they've shipped it from the GS centre you don't have to worry about damages because it's their responsibility to ensure it arrive safely. God forbid anything was to happen, then it won't come out of your pocket. But as a buyer, yes - the fees are beyond a joke. Honestly, it does put me off when buying a big ticket item because of the hefty fees.

 

[darth_daddius]

Sadly, yes, I am one of those people that do use the GSP with eBay - I think it gives the seller a little more protection. Once they've shipped it from the GS centre you don't have to worry about damages because it's their responsibility to ensure it arrive safely. God forbid anything was to happen, then it won't come out of your pocket. But as a buyer, yes - the fees are beyond a joke. Honestly, it does put me off when buying a big ticket item because of the hefty fees.

If I sell anything, I pack it as I would want it sent to me - so damage is not a concern to me. The GSP offers no more 'protection' than registered post.

Its a rip-off and is only of benefit to Ebay - plain and simple. There is little benefit to the seller and I'm dead certain that if a buyer disputes an item as not real, not what they bought, etc, ebay will very quickly wipe their hands of any responsibility. How the guys above got large items sent so cheaply is interesting but I'm sure that ebay will very soon close that loop-hole - esp if it is losing them money. Mofos.....

Pat

 

[darth_daddius]

And if you are one of those sellers that uses the GSP, I won't be buying or bidding on your stuff unless we make an alternate deal.

Pat

 

[decipher28]

bilmey surprised that somebody has actually something positive to say about it and you've done well in terms of the large items cost.However for me as others have said they will no doubt correct that.

It also for me doesn't really change my opinion of it.

Ebay have come up with this,just to forge another revenue stream.

They have made a business model relying on the fact people are lazy and stupid when it comes to buying/selling overseas.What was so hard in taking an item to the post office and asking for a safe international postage service,and the custom form procedure took all of 30 seconds to fill in and wasn't rocket science.

My other big gripe from a UK buyer perspective is the fact if i buy from the US it's gets bounced around going from location to location to warehouse before even leaving the shores.In some instances it has taken a long winded detour that increases receiving time and also has more of an environmental impact by taking an impromptu US road trip.

I will avoid it at all costs and prefer to support my local postal service office rather than line ebay/pitney bowe pocket with more cash.

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

Well, I can tell you from all sides of the story as I'm a private seller/buyer and business seller/buyer on eBay. I've gone from despising the GSP to seeing some benefit.

Buy a small expensive item and, as I've already said but it seems to have been missed; you're stuffed. They will screw you over based on the price.

Buy a big, heavy (over 2kg) item and I am telling you now you will NOT be able to ship it globally, cheaper. And that includes their rip off fees.

And as for protection it's far better than any tracked service. All I have to do is get the package to Derby in the UK. It gets scanned in and from that point I'm safe. It's as good as arrived at its final destination. Any loss or damage from that point on the GSP takes care of. Sure, if not as described or fake it is my problem, but seeing as I'm not a dick the things I sell are as described and not fake I'm safe.

I sent a 12 back AFA85 Palitoy Sandpeople by the GSP to the USA. Because I knew it would likely be repacked into a smaller box with less packaging by the GSP staff I wrote "NOT TO BE REPACKED BY GSP" on the label. And hey presto it turned up with the seller as it left me.

I'm sick to death of being ripped off by people around the world claiming for items 2 weeks after I post them saying they've not arrived. Equally, I don't want to lose the global market. I have found the GSP to be the answer for anything over £10. Anything under I take the risk and ship myself.

Love it or hate it, it's here to stay. I won't buy items through it as the fees are outrageous but that because I'm buying small high value items (MOCs). If I was buying big Lego sets I'd be only to happy to buy through the GSP.

So I understand why folk won't buy through it. Sadly eBay is set up in such a way that the seller always loses. I'm willing to lose a few genuine customers to avoid those that take advantage of the system.

Since operating like this (about 3 months now) I've now had to pay out for one, single "item not received" case.

 

[lejackal]

To be honest I just factor the cost of the fees in if buying from the states, if it's still cheaper than it can be picked up for here then why not? Also alot of low end MOC are cheaper in the US so if it's under $75 there are no fees, just the postage.
Thirdly the stuff goes through Cincinnati so has a sort of pilgrimage on the way out lol

 

[decipher28]

Thirdly the stuff goes through Cincinnati so has a sort of pilgrimage on the way out lol

The items i've bought have always gone to erlanger ky after being bounced around other states first but maybe it depends on shippers location.My other gripe was the tracking details were either lacking or very slow to update maybe it has changed/improved now.

I will use if it is was the only method that the seller would insist on,but I do prefer to avoid it where I can.

 

[Survival kit Chris]

An item was sent to me via gsp and I found the item on my doorstep on the box it wrote no signature required . The fact that right time right place occurred ensured that I retrieved my item safely , however their policy for no signature required and them dumping it on my doorstep allowed a chance for someone else to take my package . Furthermore they sent me an email that my item was successfully delivered ? How would they know it was a success? Perhaps someone stole it from my doorstep . Only signature confirmation gives them the ability that the item has been delivered successfully to me , yet they weren't aware if I had received it yet they send me silly emails claiming success? Stupid service nothing wrong with going to the post and posting an item with signature upon delivery , if your a seller the buyers signature is all you need to prevent bullshit claims that they never received the item . Gsp is a big pile of **** , my items spend more time traveling within the us , compared to flying over the pacific . If you use gsp then I don't buy from you .