posted on April 13, 2013 07:58:45 PM new
I am more known for my rational peacemaking than my ranting but I just cannot contain myself any more!!
This Global Shipping silliness on small items has me beside myself.
I was just browsing around doing some research and found lots and lots of small items being sent Internationally with Global Shipping.
Here is just one example:-
The item is ONE postcard and the Seller is in N. Carolina.
Shipping to the United States $2.00
Shipping to Canada $12.46 + Import Charges $3.34 = Total Shipping $15.80
Shipping to UK. $14.06 + $4.37 = Total Shipping $18.43.
There will be no import Duties payable in either Canada or the UK on one postcard valued at $1.99!! So the Import Duties go where??? It's OK, I know the answer to that...just mad as heck that people just don't get it!
As I mentioned this is just one example amongst thousands that I have found since this program started.
When these Sellers realise that their International business has skidded to a full stop then maybe they will really start to read up on this program and get out of the 'Paranoia Mode' that they seem to be in regarding International Buyers.
These will be the same Sellers who whine on the eBay Boards about how their Sales are so slow.
Right...I shall go back to my more usual rational self now.
posted on April 14, 2013 05:43:05 AM new
If the item is not received,sellers dont just lose the item,say a 1.99 postcard plus first class shipping,sometimes the seller would get a negative feedback.
This is what happens to me,too many negs and I am no longer a top rated seller.
So I dont blame these sellers ,but this creates an opportunity for you,you will get more business from overseas buyers.
Sometimes a seller just does not want to ship overseas,this is a way not just to discourage them from buying,but also ask question 'do you ship to Modavia or Rwanda or Quatar?'
posted on April 14, 2013 07:35:21 AM new
I believe if I am getting to many returns, negs,or or other complaints from buyers, there is a possibility I am the problem not the buyers.
posted on April 14, 2013 08:34:48 AM new
lostmymojo...
I agree with you on one point. It does indeed mean more business for me and other Sellers who like me have no qualms about sending our items to anywhere in the World.
The point I was trying to make is that these Sellers are doing themselves a disservice by not really reading and understanding what the Global Shipping program is all about.
It was not designed to be used for low priced items because it will drastically reduce Sales for those Sellers.
posted on April 14, 2013 09:27:11 AM new
Well,if you really want to buy from them and see this ridiculous global shipping fee,you can always email them and ask them to consider regular shipping,ask them to review your feedback or send them cash or postal order or intl money order.
Or if you know a drop off place in US or a good friend of yours who would accept your package and forward them to you.
Some overseas buyers do that.
posted on April 14, 2013 09:29:39 AM new
otte said
The point I was trying to make is that these Sellers are doing themselves a disservice by not really reading and understanding what the Global Shipping program is all about.
It was not designed to be used for low priced items because it will drastically reduce Sales for those Sellers////////
////////////////////////
It is a way of saying dont bother to ask me if I ship overseas,read the cost of shipping overseas and decide for yourself/
posted on April 14, 2013 09:38:20 AM new
Aldings said
I believe if I am getting to many returns, negs,or or other complaints from buyers, there is a possibility I am the problem not the buyers.
///////////////////////
This is true,the problem is with the seller,who reaches out to sell to certain group of buyers who pose more risks like overseas buyers who claim no receipt when item is not trackable online,or fragile or customs delay or USPS layoffs,weather problem,seasonal problems like Xmas.
Or it could be poor description and poor pictures,fraudulent respresentation,or the buyer command of English is poor.
Or high expectations ,impulsive bidding etc etc.
Or they just found identical items for less
posted on April 14, 2013 09:50:22 AM new
At one point ,we are all happy to sell to overseas buyers,merrily ship the item promptly using USPS or Fed Exp or UPS.
Then we found out Italian post office is very slow ,Russian ,PHilipines post office steal customer packages.There is no insurance for packages going to Peru,Nigeria ,Pakistan or Yemen.
Customs delay ,customs duty is another problem in some countries.
Each seller will have to decide what is his/her loss tolerance.
No one wants to get up in the morning,and find an email from Ebay or Paypal saying some one has filed an item not received complaint and has her account restricted or frozen ?
I am seeing more and more US sellers stating in their item description-no intl shipping,dont even bother to ask.
This is hurting Ebay,this is probably why Ebay rolls out this global shipping program.
posted on April 14, 2013 12:09:04 PM new
I haven't shipped internationally for several years now, and it is a GIANT relief not to have to put up with all the nonsense from international bidders.
Jane T
posted on April 14, 2013 01:01:31 PM new
Global Shipping is a great service for sellers if used correctly. Some sellers like that their risk levels are decreased by the protections afforded by GS.
I shipped an item to the UK via GS. The buyer claimed the item arrived broken. I contacted eBay and they told me to have her submit eBay a claim for the item. I explained to the buyer that GS receives the item, inspects it, and ships it to the buyer. They take responsibility for safe delivery to international destinations after they receive it.
The buyer didn't like this response. She said it was not opened and repacked and that I should be responsible. I told her to file a claim with eBay. I never heard from her again, and never received any info from eBay regarding a claim. I don't know if she filed one or not.
I don't think it is a matter of low cost items, but rather low cost shipping vs. using the GS system. If an item is $1, but shipping can only be done via Priority Mail, then GS is a much better service. If it is something like an envelope being mailed, then obviously mailing is the better way. GS just uses parcel shipping rates.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Apr 14, 2013 01:05 PM ]
posted on April 14, 2013 01:22:44 PM new
But in this case,Otto is talking about a 1.99 postcard,and it does sound ridiculous that shipping is 18 dollars.
As for the behavior of Shag's UK buyer,I have found out in recent years,some UK buyers will tell me the item arrived broken or damaged and showed me some blurry pictures of how the item was damaged,in one recent case,I did not see any damage.
When I asked them to sign the insurance form,they refused ,saying it is my responsibility to deal with the insurance company!
Once a UK buyer bought an expensive bulky item from me and claimed non delivery, I said large item like that cant disappear.
Then she said well,I just paid customs the other day on the item,I did not hear from her since,so I thought this is the end of the missing item.
45 days later she filed with her credit card saying she never receive the item,I forwarded her email of paying customs to Paypal and they won the chargeback for me.
I dont know what Paypal did,did they win by just showing her email or do they have way of checking UK customs record?
These UK buyers who claimed non delivery and damages also sell on Ebay,mostly small low price items.
posted on April 14, 2013 03:31:19 PM new
I don't want to buy any of these items...like I said I was just researching. I only used a postcard as an example, there are many others and few Buyers are going to pay those Import charges and huge shipping costs. If they buy without thinking about it then they are going to hit the Sellers DSR's on Shipping Costs.
I think that the Sellers would be far better to not even offer International shipping at all and that is everyone's choice. It depends on what you sell.
We used to sell mainly fine china and antiques and we very rarely had any problems with breakage except for a couple of times that US Customs opened the parcels and did not re-pack to our standards. Luckily it was to a regular customer who said that she knew as soon as she opened the parcel that it was not our style of packing.
I only remember one occassion of an item being claimed as not having arrived and it was from a very rude & impatient lady from Arizona around Christmas!
Buyers have changed and eBay is mostly responsible for that by plastering 'BUYER PROTECTION' banners everywhere you look it is attracting people who maybe in the past would not have considered making false claims but are now encouraged by eBay to make claims.
My other point was that many Sellers have not investigated or understood the Global Shipping program and do not understand anything except the part that 'they are not responsible'.
posted on April 14, 2013 04:51:00 PM new
well said,I just listed 2 items and the listing page shows I can offer Global shipping so I checked it,but nowhere do I see how I can find out how much is global shipping?
Then further down,it said you may want to offer an alternative shipping method as well,so I entered my way of shipping-expedited intl shipping 39.95.
posted on April 14, 2013 05:58:11 PM new
Good for you! You are one of the Sellers who is prepared to take the time to explore the possibilities and the possible ramifications.
I have no patience with those who just blindly use Global Shipping because they are 'not responsible'.
posted on April 14, 2013 06:40:46 PM new
But I did not get to see how much would I be charging for global shipping?
Should that be displayed to us the seller?
Or is it my item is not qualified for global shipping?
I am just fumbling in the dark when it comes to Global Shipping?
Also not all countries are covered,nor are all categories
posted on April 15, 2013 07:38:38 AM new
I wouldn't offer GS for something that can be mailed flat for a few dollars and could assume the liability if it was "lost" or damaged.
However, when shipping more expensive items that require Priority or Express, I like the idea of having a verification system in place that proves 1) I shipped the item 2) It arrived safely to the GS center 3) someone else handles the claim if a buyer makes one.
I offer free shipping within the USA, so when I send it to the GS center it doesn't cost the buyer any additional money than what I would charge for international. They are paying the actual shipping cost whether I ship it or GS ships it.
There are people who abandoned international and now offer GS because of this. Some sellers don't understand the difference, especially if they mail low cost flats without tracking, etc. If they aren't comparing the apples to the oranges for the buyer costs of shipping, then they are likely losing sales.
My experience has been different though. I sell an item that costs about $28 to ship. It is valued around $20. I didn't sell any Internationally. After adding GS service, I am now selling them every few weeks internationally. The cost for buyers isn't any different, so I don't know why the sudden bump, but GS is paying off.
posted on April 15, 2013 09:36:58 AM new
Am I the only one missing the boat?
If I list an item with domestic shipping of 7.95,and I choose GS for intl shipping,does it mean my overseas buyer pays 7.95 for me to ship an item which eventually will be shipped overseas to his home?
