Thread: Ebay Global shipping

I am a long time ebay seller but something recently snuck up on me. Global Shipping service. This is something new, I guess, and you are opted in automatic. Well, I have a couple of customers pissed at me as, I guess I was opted in and a $1.75 post card to the Czech republic was shipped via global shipping service( I mailed the card to a Kentucky address) and the customer was charged $19.88. Of course, with the language problem, I could not understand why, when I told him, I would ship for $2.00 that he kept saying $19.88 as e-bay would not let me invoice and I never saw what he was invoiced. All, in all, it was a bad experience, worse for him, as I could not do anything about it and could not opt out of an ongoing sale. So if you do sell on ebay and do not want this service, you need to go to your settings and opt out.

Sounds like there might have been brokers fees involved somehow. Possibly quite a few buyers got sung this way and unfairly blamed the sellers. I used to see that shipping offered quite a bit but today in 3 pages of razors for sale I can find not one such shipping method offered.

Bob

The thread title should be Ebay Global Ripoff!

It is a new "service" that fleabay cooked up with the postage meter giant Pitney-Bowes. The seller pays almost nothing sending it out and then Pitney-Bowes tacks on an astronomical figure for shipping through their Mid-west processing center. I can't help but think fleabay is getting a cut. The customer gets blindsided, it is an "opt-out" for the seller so they are likely unaware. The only winners are fleabay/Pitney-Bowes...

I had a recent purchase that was suppose to be USPS international first class. Then this global ship pops up and blamo the numbers jump to a crazy height. I had good communication with the seller and we settled it. I have stopped even watching anything with global ship on it. I don't mind paying for a service that I want or need. I hate paying for something I don't want and don't need. What I really hate is paying extra for shipping theta is slower than what I want. As far as selling goes I'm not there yet and may nt get there anytime fast, but I was happy buying.

I've got emails and even a phone call from ebay to opt-in, which I haven't done because I don't sell, so I am skeptical about this 'automatic opt-in'. I'd say it's more likely you checked off the option without realizing it.

My understanding is that ebay discloses the shipping fees to the buyer before they click the buy-it button. I'd be rather surprised they've made an exception for the Global Shipping, as that would open them to a lawsuit.

It seems like a good service to me though. International shipping is expensive and that's just a fact of life. If a prospective buyer wants to pay for it, so be it. If they don't they can simply not bid. Likewise if ebay can pool the shipments to the same country and offer cheaper service due to the bulk, I only see an upside.
I'm sure they've stacked the cards in their favor because they make all of the dispute decisions and so the sellers are only protected if they have proof of delivery, which is really expensive. So ebay is requiring a really expensive service, which they happen to provide and likely profit handsomely. But nobody is holding a gun to anybody's head to buy on ebay, or to offer international sales, or to use the ebay's or paypal's seller protection coverages.

Straight razors are not eligible for the ebay's global shipping program, so that is why you don't see it with them. One way around this for eligible items is when creating the listing, you un-tick the "use global shipping" option then you can create your own shipping for international customers. Shipping from the US to worldwide, I usually just create a $12 flat rate as compared to the 20 or 25 ebay's global shipping program charges.

I have seen straights for sale that had this:

"No additional import charges at delivery!
This item will be shipped through the Global Shipping Program and includes international tracking"

I would almost bet that was what happened with RezDog and I hope he sees this to comment.

And it is your assurance that as a buyer will ticked off and you will blame the seller. That is the problem with features that you are automatically locked into and don't realize that you have to opt out of not to be involved.

Bob

May be some of you that are abroad can post a link to an item that offers this option and we can check how it works, i.e. what is disclosed and what isn't.

Tracked shipping from the US via USPS is very reasonable. A small package is around $9 but the same package through the global ship is $30. All I'm saying is that if you are going global to increase your potential customer base it makes no sense to go global pay, as it dramatically increases your costs. I have taken the option of not bidding on any items tagged global pay. It's pretty hard to justify $30 shipping on items between $30 and $100. I get nailed the import charges at the post office and they are not that bad, in fact a lot less than if Ebay pays it on your behalf. On vintage items it is 7% or less. Half of Ebay.

I think the bay has changed the set up/format because I now see how it is posted in this listing Leica Leitz 35mm F1 4 Summilux M Lens Clean Glass Black Made in Canada 0022243118748 | eBay . Previously you never saw the import charges listed just the Global Shipping blurb. It is also possible if they rejigged the global shipping option certain items that were included before in the scheme have now been excluded.

Bob