posted on March 6, 2014 02:40:29 PM new
"Why would a buyer pay $35 for shipping when it can be shipped for $10 from another seller. It has to make a difference."
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My buying has decreased dramatically to almost a full stop as it does not make economic sense.
posted on March 6, 2014 09:55:54 PM new
"Why would a buyer pay $35 for shipping when it can be shipped for $10 from another seller. It has to make a difference."
Hmmm, let's see if I can name a few reasons...
The item is shipped USPS Priority Mail at a discount.
Item will usually arrive in 6 to 10 days rather than 2 to 3 weeks.
Less time in the mail stream means less time to be damaged, or stolen.
No cost for insurance for either the seller, or buyer.
If the item is damaged or lost, eBay covers both seller and buyer, making them both whole, without any loss.
Both seller and buyer (transaction) are within the customs law of their respective countries.
I see excellent reasons for buying with GSP if the item is of high value or breakable.
What I don't see is the reason for buying if a Seller is using GSP on items under $20 where there are no Duties or Taxes imposed by the receiving Country but having to pay 'Import Duties' to Pitney Bowes.
I have never shirked paying Duties or Taxes if they are required but do object to lining Pitney Bowes pockets with my money if not necessary.
I gave them enough blood, sweat & tears when I worked for them!
My only complaint during this whole thread is that many Sellers are using the program without investigating & fully understanding it.
posted on March 7, 2014 09:27:09 AM new
Not all orders have to be shipped USPS priority mail overseas,I shipped many small packages to UK,Canada,Australia for $6.16 and they take 7-12 days,no one complains .
posted on March 7, 2014 09:29:24 AM new
There is a discussion on Ebay central -if you have opted into GSP and your item listing did not specify No GSP,then GSP is the default.
I dont use GSP,but if you do,then check out the details
posted on March 12, 2014 04:13:48 PM new
As a buyer I will likely never purchase something from an international seller again unless it was through a program like GSP. I know that sounds odd, but after having two bad experiences buying "new" items on eBay from International Sellers that were defective out of the box, I decided I would no longer take the risk in having the added expense for return. One seller sent a refund immediately, no questions asked. The other required me to return the item. In either circumstance I understand where the seller is coming from.
Seller 1 just wants to protect themselves from negative feedback. Seller 2 wants to make sure they are not being ripped off. I get it.
posted on March 12, 2014 04:33:36 PM new
and now for the irony in my last statement.
I stopped using GSP several weeks ago, but for a different reason.
We were losing money on it because we offered free shipping in the USA. If an item cost $100 and the buyer was charged $50 in GSP shipping, we received $100 less our fees. We also had to pay shipping fees to get the item to Kentucky. That package could cost us $10 to $35. Our actual sell price is $65 to $90.
Without GSP, the buyer is charged about $10-15 less because they are not paying duties/taxes up front. They are being invoiced $30-35, but because we get a USPS discount, we are paying about 2/3 of that.
Our actual sell price without GSP is $110-$125.
After ending GSP, we found ourselves actually making money on shipping instead of both the buyer and seller giving money to GSP.
I would like to know if GSP is paying customs charges for every package or just waiting to see if the item is charged, then pays it. That would be something quite insightful.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Mar 12, 2014 04:35 PM ]
posted on March 12, 2014 07:19:50 PM new
shag said
we were losing money on it because we offered free shipping in the USA. If an item cost $100 and the buyer was charged $50 in GSP shipping, we received $100 less our fees. We also had to pay shipping fees to get the item to Kentucky
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if you offer free shipping for domestic buyers,you have to pay shipping anyway whether it is going to Kentucky Pitney Bowles or the buyer's domestic address.
so if an item is $100,you get $100 less ebay FVF ,what is the difference ?
Under GSP,the domestic leg of the journey is born by the seller,in your case you offered free shipping so you have to pay
posted on March 12, 2014 07:22:45 PM new
Shag,
how did you get a USPS discount?
I shipped daily with USPS,never heard of a discount?
If I want to save 1 1/2% by using my Paypal debit card as my credit card,I have to go to USPS website and enter the buyer information and it gets to be a drag.This is the only discount I can think of,please share your discount secret with us!
posted on March 12, 2014 07:25:16 PM new
I stayed away from GSP from day one,I am getting many overseas buyers buying from me,they also have been making multiple purchases and I have to refund partial shipping,unfortunately Ebay FVF on shipping is not refundable,
I think my pickup in sales from overseas buyers could be other sellers opting for GSP,which would cost them minimum of 25 dollars while I charge $8.95.
posted on March 12, 2014 07:56:08 PM new
Bill said-
Why would a buyer pay $35 for shipping when it can be shipped for $10 from another seller. It has to make a difference."
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I shipped first class oversea ,and it arrived in 10 days and the buyers dont mind,it saves them money.
posted on March 13, 2014 04:42:34 PM new
I am a Top Rated Plus seller.
When using eBay to print labels I get as much as 20% discount for USA and 5% for International. I guess it varies depending on weight and size. For example, a 1st class piece gets 20%, but the same item via Priority gets a 16% discount. If I have a 5 pound item over 1 cubic foot it is back up to 20%. Not really sure how its determined, but it does show the rate whenever I print a label in eBay.
posted on March 13, 2014 08:25:18 PM new
I am not a top rated seller,I see the discount shown on Ebay when I print a label,I dont think it is realy a discount/
I paid $6.16 for a 2 oz package overseas and $1.93 domestic,I think I pay the same if I use Paypal instead of Ebay.
posted on March 13, 2014 08:27:30 PM new
Bill said-
Why would a buyer pay $35 for shipping when it can be shipped for $10 from another seller. It has to make a difference."
Hmmm, let's see if I can name a few reasons...
The item is shipped USPS Priority Mail at a discount.
Item will usually arrive in 6 to 10 days rather than 2 to 3 weeks.
Less time in the mail stream means less time to be damaged, or stolen.
No cost for insurance for either the seller, or buyer.
If the item is damaged or lost, eBay covers both seller and buyer, making them both whole, without any loss.
Both seller and buyer (transaction) are within the customs law of their respective countries.
I'm sure there are more.
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Buyer does not care about loss or insurance,seller does.
buyer cares about saving money so they can buy more,thats the Ebay buyer mentality.
posted on May 22, 2014 06:29:04 AM new
GSP does not increase the custom fees or import fees. The country people live in , set those fees. Aren't they responsible to their government to pay regardless of who mails it to them? I do not understand the fuss custom fees. Certainly not the sellers fault.
I do not think negatives can be left for shipping or custom cost using GSP.
posted on May 22, 2014 07:58:26 AM new
There is a discussion on Canadian Ebay site on GSP,Canadians are very unhappy buying from US sellers using GSP.
I agree,it is their government which sets the customs duty,it can be rather complex due to trade treaties between countries,country of origin and where made and content,also there is a handling fee from the customs duty office.
Some countries have raised the customs duty fee as they see too many of their citizens buying aboard instead of buying locally,Germany,Brazil,Canada to name a few,Australia lowered the customs duty fee,an Australian citizen can import up to AU$10,000 PER YEAR duty free.
There is also another discussion from European buyers who bought from US sellers who use GSP-when they take the item say a laptop out of Germany and returned with it,they have problem proving to their customs officer that they have already paid customs duty on the laptop.
The receipt from Pitney Bowles does not show the proper title and a breakdown of fees,some customs officer will refuse to accept the Pitney Bowles receipt as it looks like a bar bill?
Go figure!
Does GSP cover Russia?
Russian customs have called in diamond experts to evaluate all the Hope like diamonds their citizens bought on internet and declared value of $50.
