eBay Global shipping program

[Steve Little]

I have been using eBay to buy and sell parts for about 10 years and have enjoyed the relative ease of the experience. Over the years Ive bought many large and small items and I was well accustomed to the prices of air mail from all regions of the US.

In the early days of my ebaying, a seller reamed me on freight to make up for a poor auction price. After that experience I added the US post calculator to my favorites list, so that I could check how much the freight should be.
At the moment I am looking for xlr parts and have been noticing some sellers using the "eBay Global shipping program".
The cost of international shipping with this eBay global system is ridiculous and prohibitive.
I recently contacted a seller and said that I was interested in the parts but the cost of the eBay Global shipping program was rediculous. The seller agreed and changed the shipping to standard US Post air mail.
For example: one small box went from $47 (eBay global shipping program) down to $22 with US post air mail.

[duffeycycles]

I use it to discourage foreign buyers

[hairynob24]

i am not shore of your comment duffeycycles ,i am in Australia just like Steve and i am feed up with the pricing we get charged for parts too ..Rob

[23JDCA 808]

The Global option supposedly offers tracking all the way from USA to foreign customer. If you don't have it and the customer says the item was not received; you lose the argument.
eBay's cost for this service is too high, but it is the only way I will offer foreign shipping.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.html

[duffeycycles]

I have nothing against foriegn buyers but waiting for confirmation of reciept and payment and chances of lost tracking as stated make overseas selling without Ebay service is not appealing.

[wideglide38]

It’s cost prohibitive in both directions. I will stand up and direct blame to all the world’s governments and elected officials for screwing up everything! Their greed and miss-guided direction is costing us all a lot more these days! Just my 2 cents and not trying to start a political debate!

[Steve Little]

Just payed for another small order from a seller Britob. Great guy to work with. All small parts but all N.O.S. He changed the shipping from eBay global shipping which totalled $76 to US Post Standard Air mail $18.50
That’s $57 I can spend on more parts…just from one seller.
I have added him to my (Favourite sellers) and will buy from him again.
I have struck 3 sellers who have conscience and honour.
All 3 agreed that eBay global shipping program is ridiculous and they changed the shipping to Standard US Post.

My new personal eBay policy: Ask seller if US Post is an option.
If not, I’ll take my money down the line to the next person.
The thing with eBay is that whatever part you want will pop up sooner or later.

Ebay should strike a deal with US Post. US post could give the Seller a number which has the Buyers name, and address when the Seller ships a parcel.
This proves to the Buyer that something was sent by the Seller.
The responsibility is then on US Post. The reality is that it is not the Sellers responsibility for a part once it is in US Post or some other country's control.
If I want to pay for tracking I will ask for it. I never have and every part has arrived here in Australia.

p.s Thanks gascap.

[wideglide38]

The responsibility is then on US Post.

I wish this were the case. An eBay Customer Service Rep once told me that as a seller, I am responsible for the item/package to its destination - period! I suspect this is why many sellers charge the international buyers the fees you are seeing. With US Postal Express or Priority mail, a seller & buyer is afforded limited tracking along with quicker deliveries. Add insurance to cover lost or damaged goods/packages and shipping costs get absurdly high. 1st Class or Post mail is like throwing the item in the garbage. The shipper & buyer have no idea if or when the item will arrive.

I have noticed lately, a lot of "broker" shops who buy ebay items for clients. Items are shipped to a West or East Coast location where they are packed in shipping containers then shipped internationally. And I'm not sure how long it takes for the item to arrive in the actual buyer's hands! You may look into this method. I'm sure there are fees associated with this process as well!

William

[indian301]

Buying insurance through the US post office is a waste of money! They will not pay for a damaged part. I went to my local post office and filled out the forms with the supervisor. They denied the claim. We did it a second time and they still denied it. The supervisor even told me that he did not know why they would not pay for it.

Dave

[exeric]

It’s cost prohibitive in both directions. I will stand up and direct blame to all the world’s governments and elected officials for screwing up everything! Their greed and miss-guided direction is costing us all a lot more these days! Just my 2 cents and not trying to start a political debate!

I agree; but odd how Walmart can pack thousands of stores with billions of items shipped in from China and still undercut any American manufacturer. . . . Out of work, underemployed? Thank a politician.

[23JDCA 808]

I agree; but odd how Walmart can pack thousands of stores with billions of items shipped in from China and still undercut any American manufacturer.

My sense is that China is underwriting many MAILED items, and the U.S. post office has to honor the postal frank when it hits our shores.

[Robert Luland]

Bill, your sense is right on the money. China definitely underwrites the shipping. I just bought a rotary switch for $17.00 bucks with free shipping from Hong Kong. It will take two weeks. DHL it isn't. Bob L

[Steve Little]

I have lifted this partial quote from wideglide38 response:
"An eBay Customer Service Rep once told me that as a seller, I am responsible for the item/package to its destination"

Hi William.
The following is not directed at you, but instead at this rediculous eBay policy, which the eBay customer service rep has quoted to you.

This is non sensible jargon used to distance eBay from ownership of a problem, which really isn't theirs.
If we take eBay's preposterous quote out of the conversation, then we can break the process down and discuss it with common sense.

The Seller, is not responsible for an article, while it is in transit with US Post, or any other shipping company.
US Post charges a fee to take the parcel from the Sellers hands, and deliver it to the Buyers hands, where ever that destination may be.
When the part is in the Buyers hands, the final process of the eBay transaction comes back into play. The Buyer should inspect the way the part is packaged, the date it was delivered to the Post Office, then inspect the part to determine the accuracy of the Sellers description. The Sellers performance is then written in eBay Feedback, as a review for other customers.

A Buyer complaining about slow postage to a Seller, or to eBay is misdirecting the vent.
Complain to the postage company.
If a Buyer wants the part fast, then pay for fast postage.
If the Buyer wants to know where the part is at every step of the way, then pay for tracking.
eBay should dump the Global shipping scheme and keep it simple.
Just give us a site to Buy and Sell parts.

[wideglide38]

Hi Steve,
I agree whole heartedly! And I do believe the ebay customer service rep was quite put off when told them they were out of touch with reality and their policy was f’n crazy! eBay’s ONLY concern is making their 20+% for doing nothing. The sad thing is no one wants to take responsibility for their actions (e.g. eBay, US Postal, etc.)! It's beer-thirty here, Ride safe!
William

[Tom Wilcock]

Ebay, in their greed, recently (in the last year or so) added their fee percentage not only to the auction price but to the total INCLUDING SHIPPING. That should make them partially responsible for shipping. It is all about the money. Tom Wilcock