Global shipping program on ebay...anyone use this ?

jayPem · April 19, 2015 2:30AM

I usually have my international shipping option closed on my ebay stuff, but I get frequent requests to send things to Brazil...

I'm curious about the Global shipping program ebay offers, as it appears to protect the seller in case things go missing.

Anyone use it ?

Raufus · April 19, 2015 2:40AM

I've never used this. I always get nervous shipping overseas. I'm very interested in people's thoughts on this as well.

bronco2078 · April 19, 2015 2:42AM

Its awful . Ebay has opted me into it twice without my consent . They just plop you into it and suddenly every listing uses it. I only discovered because I was looking at a listing without being logged in. When you opt back out it tells you it may take 3 days to take effect.

jayPem · April 19, 2015 2:55AM

I hate being opted into stuff like that....but I'm still curious to know if it's the way to go if you are sending to a place such as Brazil ?

I've heard that stuff can go missing through customs there, yet I buy from Brazil on occasion and get a fair amount of requests from buyers...

I'd like to ship there, just trying to find the safest way to do so

bronco2078 · April 19, 2015 2:59AM

In my case I ship certain items everywhere . Others I don't want to ship outside the US for various reasons , it was those that Ebay helpfully decided to open up to worldwide bidders.

Its a money grubbing program basically. Ebay has you mail items to a central location and then they repack them , usually slowly and sometimes terribly and send them along to the buyer for a bunch of extra money that they pocket.

LindeDad · April 19, 2015 3:00AM

Coins and Bullion used to be excluded because of customs restrictions don't know if they still are or not as I Opted out of all non US shipments long ago.

lordmarcovan · April 19, 2015 4:04AM

As mentioned, it used to not apply to coins and bullion, so I never used it.

I have always offered international shipping, though. If you're selling non-US coins like the Brazilian 960's you mentioned, then you're leaving extra money on the table if you exclude non-US bidders. The added paperwork is worth it to me. But the (small) risks to someone selling expensive coins might not be worth it to them.

Most of what I've sold overseas has been cheaper stuff so shipping internationally has always been worth my while, I've gotten more bidders, and have had few issues.

lcoopie · April 19, 2015 4:12AM

Shipping charges can be expensive and the only time someone bought something from me on global they didn't pay

LanceNewmanOCC · April 19, 2015 4:14AM

.
the service itself is fine from my experience but after talking with buyers about the cost of duties/import fees, i don't ship to non-usa locales any longer. nothing to do with the shipping program though.

if governments/organizations are going to keep chomping on its citizens/customers, well, it is time to chomp back and take away unreasonable fees/costs by taking away business for them.

i equate it to the pseudo-war going on with sales tax and bullion/numis. in the usa.

i don't mind fees/taxes that i consider reasonable and used in arguably appropriate methods. i really wouldn't mind paying more if i agreed with the exact nature of where the extra cost went and could verify as such. this applies to the op inquiry, taxes etc.

also, there are other threads about this topic in the archives for those that desire to read more as this service via ebay has been available foe a while now.
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illini420 · April 19, 2015 4:14AM

I have used it at least a dozen times so far, no problems yet. makes selling to international buyers super easy for me. All I need to do is get the package to Kentucky, and eBay takes care of the rest.

DaveWcoins · April 19, 2015 4:22AM

<< <i>I have used it at least a dozen times so far, no problems yet. makes selling to international buyers super easy for me. All I need to do is get the package to Kentucky, and eBay takes care of the rest. >>

What does it add to the cost of a coin (either in dollars or in % of the sale price)?

How long does it take from the time you ship it out to the time your buyer receives it?

TopographicOceans · April 19, 2015 4:36AM

It's hard to avoid since ebay likes to force it.

Buyers don't use it because eBay rips them off. Among the fees eBay charges are a "risk premium" which varies by country.
I sold a non-coin item with $9 S/H and eBay charged $120 to the buyer in Brazil which was close to the items value. Brazil has a pretty bad postal system so they pay a high "risk premium".

For sellers it is pretty easy - you just ship to Kentucky and then eBay fills out the forms and ships to it's final destination.
You get paid for the S/H listed in your auction and ship to the US. Only the buyers see what their S/H will be to their country.

Stork · April 19, 2015 4:45AM

I've used it a few times. It's pricey for the buyer and I pointed that out in the listing. eBay seems to hav added a non USPS private insurance so mailing TO eBay was covered (I used the eBay mediated label printing too). And, after that I don't know what they are doing but the coins were covered. It got me more bidders and little heartburn on my part. I did ship overseas before and I was always lucky, but stressed.

In any case I shipped a coin out and it was to the buyer in Germany in 8 days. Not too bad. Oh, and there is a changing list of countries covered.

Broadstruck · April 19, 2015 4:48AM

Thanks for questioning this as I too look forward to reading what it's all about

AUPT · April 19, 2015 4:57AM

I usually offer the GSP option when I am selling items that may have specific appeal to overseas buyers. I used it perhaps a dozen times in the past year with no problems.

I always include this disclaimer in the item description.

"I am opening this item to international bidders with the proviso that if it won by an overseas bidder, it will be shipped via eBay's Global Shipping Program. Utilization of this service will add significant postage costs to the buyer and increase its time in transit. I have no control over these factors and have no information on what the added charges will be. Please keep this in mind when bidding."

Because the seller has no way (that I know of) to know what the winning bidder will be charged, I know the sticker shock of the added fees can sometimes cause the winning bidder to renege.

Since GSP does allow me to offer my items internationally with little effort on my part, I'll continue to use it when appropriate.

Kyle · April 19, 2015 5:10AM

Coming from a Canadian buyer, it's a pain. Generally, I try and avoid listings that use the Global Shipping Program (GSP).

From what I can tell, the GSP is around 15% of the selling price (probably more for overseas) plus the sellers shipping cost to the GSP facility. Which I have noticed that sellers will still charge their international rate to send an item to the GSP facility located in the States. I assume this is because they are unaware that they are using this program.

Out of the hundreds of times I have purchased coins from the states, I have only had one item stopped at customs. So when eBay takes the GSP fees to have "International shipping experts manage the international shipping and customs process and send the item to the buyer" I have no idea what they are doing with my money, besides re-packaging the item in a new bubble mailer plastered with a large "eBay" sticker and sending it out to me.

Source: Using the Global Shipping Program - eBay

illini420 · April 19, 2015 6:12AM

<< <i>

<< <i>I have used it at least a dozen times so far, no problems yet. makes selling to international buyers super easy for me. All I need to do is get the package to Kentucky, and eBay takes care of the rest. >>

What does it add to the cost of a coin (either in dollars or in % of the sale price)?

How long does it take from the time you ship it out to the time your buyer receives it? >>

It costs me nothing to use the program. I offer free shipping on all of my eBay listings, but when an International buyer sees my listings, eBay shows them the additional shipping/customs charges. I don't have to calculate or charge anything extra. When an International buyer buys an item or sends me an offer. I get the full amount of the offer or purchase price, and they pay eBay the additional shipping/customs charges. Then, all I do is get the item to their Global Shipping address in Kentucky and eBay takes care of the rest. I can see my tracking number for the package as it makes its way and gets to KY, then eBay ships it out to the buyer and uploads their own tracking information. Depending on which country the buyer is in, that takes another week to several weeks. To my understanding, I'm only responsible to get the coin to Kentucky and if a buyer is unhappy with how long it takes and leaves feedback to that effect, eBay will correct it as that is their responsibility. So far, every transaction has been 100% smooth for me and have not had any returns.

SamByrd · April 19, 2015 6:23AM

I have used the GSP program hundreds of times now. I sell very few coins. Its a great program and I have yet to have any significant issues with it at all.

My liability ends at the consolation center in Ky that alone is a major aspect. I for one like this program.

I will not sell regular merchandise international without the program way to many issues and risk of liability and loss.

jayPem · April 19, 2015 7:19AM

The coin that I'm thinking of shipping is around $400...to me that's pricey enough that I'd probably not do the deal without something like the GSP.

Thanks for your replies all...think I'll go ahead and sign up for it and see what happens

Davideo · April 19, 2015 2:34PM

I got forced into it without realizing it and a bidder with zero feedback won ... from Russia. It was the first time I've been pleased with a non-paying buyer

Especially because I relisted the item and it closed for $50 more. Double win.

COALPORTER · April 19, 2015 2:45PM

<< <i>In my case I ship certain items everywhere . Others I don't want to ship outside the US for various reasons , it was those that Ebay helpfully decided to open up to worldwide bidders.

Its a money grubbing program basically. Ebay has you mail items to a central location and then they repack them , usually slowly and sometimes terribly and send them along to the buyer for a bunch of extra money that they pocket. >>

For the Global Shipping Program, you send it to an ebay approved US address and they do the rest to forward it. You don't need to worry about what country it goes to , or the shipping costs. And you don't get hit with a FVF for shipping overseas. So it is just like selling to any other US address. The only problems comes in with combine shipping on multipul lots, I far I can tell it cant be done?

Global shipping program on ebay...anyone use this ?

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