Problems with eBay's Global Shipping Program?

[MikeKam]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Yes, always. I track all of my packages.

I have a hard time seeing how packages would get lost when you have tracking on them. I have yet to have a single issue with shipping a tracked item outside of Canada, and 95% of what I sell is international (although most does go to the U.S.).

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by MikeKam

I have a hard time seeing how packages would get lost when you have tracking on them. I have yet to have a single issue with shipping a tracked item outside of Canada, and 95% of what I sell is international (although most does go to the U.S.).

Well, uh...good for you. I haven't been so lucky. Packages with tracking get lost all the time.

[ATP]

I use the program but have been torn regarding opting out once. Pitney opened my package that I carefully packed, removed the bubble wrap, and repackaged it. When it arrived to canada, it was a framed autograph, the glass was broken of course. The buyer thought I had packed it that way, and was furious after what they had paid in shipping. On the other hand,I have had a couple things lost in foreign countries at customs (or the buyer was untruthful) and it does remove some of that stress and dealing with any special customs forms.

Something I have been meaning to ask and Is somewhat relevant in this thread. Can someone from canada or another country confirm whether or not some of the charges that are paid for shipping in the GSP program include the custom import taxes based on the selling price, or do those still have to be paid separately?

[slidekellyslide]

I'm also curious about the customs charges...the program is a real mystery to even those of us who use it. Sellers can not see any of the communication going on. I get constant emails asking me to send an invoice for items that are in the program...it is impossible for me to do so. I'm having issues now with someone in New Zealand who will not pay because he says my item is a secondhand item and there should be no custom taxes on it. I told him he has to deal with ebay on that, and he says ebay is totally unresponsive. I can't do anything about it.

[MikeKam]

Originally Posted by ATP

I use the program but have been torn regarding opting out once. Pitney opened my package that I carefully packed, removed the bubble wrap, and repackaged it. When it arrived to canada, it was a framed autograph, the glass was broken of course. The buyer thought I had packed it that way, and was furious after what they had paid in shipping. On the other hand,I have had a couple things lost in foreign countries at customs (or the buyer was untruthful) and it does remove some of that stress and dealing with any special customs forms.

Something I have been meaning to ask and Is somewhat relevant in this thread. Can someone from canada or another country confirm whether or not some of the charges that are paid for shipping in the GSP program include the custom import taxes based on the selling price, or do those still have to be paid separately?

For me, when I purchase something with the GSP, I pay a shipping price + customs charge. Usually the shipping price starts from $17ish dollar no matter the item. I personally have never been double charged on customs, but have heard of it happening to others.

As mentioned in my OP, I don't understand why they feel the need to look through the contents of every package. They literally do a TERRIBLE job repackaging it. I've had this photo ripped, and many more examples of opened boxes/envelopes with contents exposed.

[MikeKam]

Here is what the typical GSP looks like for us if you're interested:

[ATP]

Originally Posted by MikeKam

For me, when I purchase something with the GSP, I pay a shipping price + customs charge. Usually the shipping price starts from $17ish dollar no matter the item. I personally have never been double charged on customs, but have heard of it happening to others.

As mentioned in my OP, I don't understand why they feel the need to look through the contents of every package. They literally do a TERRIBLE job repackaging it. I've had this photo ripped, and many more examples of opened boxes/envelopes with contents exposed.

Thanks for posting this and for the visual example. At one point, I actually spent a few hours trying to research customs duties regarding this program but gave up. I also, have a lot of folks always asking not to report the value on the forms before I started using the GSP, which it did not like. How much is customs duty where you live Mike, if coming from the US? I was always under the assumption it was somewhere around 5-6 percent, at least that appears to be rolled in to the GSP charge. What always bugged me though, is I also thought that items that were considered antiques or collectibles of historical importance, which a lot of baseball collectibles fall into, weren't subject to customs tax.

[MikeKam]

Originally Posted by ATP

Thanks for posting this and for the visual example. At one point, I actually spent a few hours trying to research customs duties regarding this program but gave up. I also, have a lot of folks always asking not to report the value on the forms before I started using the GSP, which it did not like. How much is customs duty where you live Mike, if coming from the US? I was always under the assumption it was somewhere around 5-6 percent, at least that appears to be rolled in to the GSP charge. What always bugged me though, is I also thought that items that were considered antiques or collectibles of historical importance, which a lot of baseball collectibles fall into, weren't subject to customs tax.

It depends, sometimes I don't get charged, sometimes I do. I've been charged as low as 13% (our regular tax rate) to as high as 45% (which I was given no explanation for).

[ATP]

This isn't meant to sound snotty, just in case it comes out that way Mike. In your example you posted with the screenshot of the charges for the Mantle item, as the buyer, what part of that do you feel is too much, price wise? The $16 for the shipping or the amount estimated for the import duty? To me it looks like about the cost for priority mail shipping I would assume, if I shipped and insured a $300 item, plus somewhere on the lower end of your estimate of between 13 percent and the ridiculous 45 percent you mentioned. Genuinely, I am really interested in understanding how international buyers feel about this program as I have gone back and forth many times about using it, and this discussion is helping me see it from the buyers side.