Global Shipping Programme - Combined Postage Question

Ladylusiphur

Hi all,

I had a message from a buyer yesterday saying they had bought one item, and wanted to buy another one. They sent a message saying "could you, in case I win, combine the
shipping for them and send them to me directly (as I believe combined postage
is impossible when using the global shipping program)?"

Now I thought that was true too based on past experience, but looking on eBay's website I found the following info:

"At this time, seller-specified combined postage discounts aren’t supported by the Global Shipping Programme. However, a combined postage discount for the international leg of the delivery will automatically be applied during checkout when the buyer places all items in their shopping basket prior to making a purchase."

To me that suggests that my bit of postage will be charged as if it's two items, but once it gets to eBay they should get a discount on the international bit. Does anybody have experience with that and can confirm if it's now the case?

The main problem with eBay is that it's near impossible to amend anything after listing/selling, and particularly in regard to overseas sellers. I tried seeing if I could change the shipping method on the active listing to a global courier, but it will only let me amend the domestic section. It will let me turn GSP off altogether, but not change it to something else, which is stupid.
I want to avoid cancelling the listings and setting up another listing, as i've sold via the £1 listing day, and will end up with much higher charges if I do it as another listing. (I'm not prepared to sell outside of eBay, for my own security)

Thoughts?

Ladylusiphur

Furthermore, I'm a bit annoyed that they sent this AFTER winning the auction. If they'd asked in advance i'd have just said no, but now that they've won something I feel like I risk bad feedback or something.

soolin

With GSP there is no discount possible at all for combined shipping. Both the items if bought separately will be invoiced independently and you cannot affect the invoice at all.

Even if buyer had asked before buying you would not have been able to do anything unless you had resisted the two,items together .

Incidentally , there are lots of people suggesting that all items are re packed at the hub, but this is actually rare. So your buyer will pay full postage for two items and receive two parcels.

Spoonie_Turtle

The info you quoted reads to me like it only applies to BIN items, bought all at once. The buyer's message sounds kind of reasonable to me, as I've posted internationally myself and it's actually not a hassle for the seller (customs forms are accepted with just the description, weight and value of the items), the buyer then has to deal with any import charges themselves.

However as you've already sold the first one under the GSP, is it even possible to change that? Turning the GSP off the second would work, of course, but I don't know if you could do anything about the first as it's already sold :huh:

soolin

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

The info you quoted reads to me like it only applies to BIN items, bought all at once. The buyer's message sounds kind of reasonable to me, as I've posted internationally myself and it's actually not a hassle for the seller (customs forms are accepted with just the description, weight and value of the items), the buyer then has to deal with any import charges themselves.

However as you've already sold the first one under the GSP, is it even possible to change that? Turning the GSP off the second would work, of course, but I don't know if you could do anything about the first as it's already sold :huh:

You can't do anything with a GSP programme item except cancel it. If OP wants to ship direct then remember they are then responsible for delivery to the overseas address, and buyer may have to stump up for import taxes depending on country, which many take exception to.

If you look on the vent board here where people buy from overseas there are long angry threads from U.K. Buyers refusing to pay import taxes and asking whether they can force a refund from the seller if they refuse to pay. I can be overly cautious and whilst I tend to offer postage to Europe I've closed down my non European sales and stick to GSP only after a series of issues with US buyers in particular opening cases in less than a week after purchase , it became a real issue especially as eBay seem to think standard airmail gets to the US in 5-6 working days, and doesn't get caught at customs to have state taxes calculated.

Spoonie_Turtle

soolin wrote: »

You can't do anything with a GSP programme item except cancel it. If OP wants to ship direct then remember they are then responsible for delivery to the overseas address, and buyer may have to stump up for import taxes depending on country, which many take exception to.

If you look on the vent board here where people buy from overseas there are long angry threads from U.K. Buyers refusing to pay import taxes and asking whether they can force a refund from the seller if they refuse to pay. I can be overly cautious and whilst I tend to offer postage to Europe I've closed down my non European sales and stick to GSP only after a series of issues with US buyers in particular opening cases in less than a week after purchase , it became a real issue especially as eBay seem to think standard airmail gets to the US in 5-6 working days, and doesn't get caught at customs to have state taxes calculated.

I've sold lots of small parcels internationally, though mostly not on eBay. I tend to stick to UK only postage there and deal with individual queries about international postage, so it's usually people who either know what they're doing buying internationally, or I can at least warn them about import fees if they're outside of the EU.

I'm shocked that people buy internationally and don't know about the fees (except if US buyers are caught out, as that seems to be a recent change) - that just sounds like sheer ignorance to be honest. It's information very, very easily found online!

soolin

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

I've sold lots of small parcels internationally, though mostly not on eBay. I tend to stick to UK only postage there and deal with individual queries about international postage, so it's usually people who either know what they're doing buying internationally, or I can at least warn them about import fees if they're outside of the EU.

I'm shocked that people buy internationally and don't know about the fees (except if US buyers are caught out, as that seems to be a recent change) - that just sounds like sheer ignorance to be honest. It's information very, very easily found online!

Over the years I've had periods of issues with mainly US buyers, I block them for a while, then reopen my listings and it goes well for a while, then it seems I run into a bad patch again. GSP Works well for me, I get several sales a week most weeks. As I said I tend to be overly cautious and a bit lazy so I go for the easy option really, I'm sure international sales work well for people more motivated than me.

Spoonie_Turtle

soolin wrote: »

Over the years I've had periods of issues with mainly US buyers, I block them for a while, then reopen my listings and it goes well for a while, then it seems I run into a bad patch again. GSP Works well for me, I get several sales a week most weeks. As I said I tend to be overly cautious and a bit lazy so I go for the easy option really, I'm sure international sales work well for people more motivated than me.

Fair enough! The GSP does sound like a good way to avoid issues (apart from combined postage!)

adindas

Could this eBay Global Shipping Program be used to cut p&p cost for international shipping ?

For instance if you wanted to gift a lot of gadgets you no longer need rather than posting them by yourself you use this GSP.

You list them as "spares or repair, sold as seen" to discourage other people to bid for it on the eBay. You start with a low starting price to minimise selling charge from eBay. You let your friend from the other end your intention and to watch it out. As soon as the items go lives on eBay you ask your friends to bid it and then you end the auction immediately before anyone else could bid for it.

Doing this you might save significant amount of p&p rather than posting it by yourself. I wonder what prevent people of doing this ??

soolin

adindas wrote: »

Could this eBay Global Shipping Program be used to cut p&p cost for international shipping ?

For instance if you wanted to gift a lot of gadgets you no longer need rather than posting them by yourself you use this GSP.

You list them as "spares or repair, sold as seen" to discourage other people to bid for it on the eBay. You start with a low starting price to minimise selling charge from eBay. You let your friend from the other end your intention and to watch it out. As soon as the items go lives on eBay you ask your friends to bid it and then you end the auction immediately before anyone else could bid for it.

Doing this you might save significant amount of p&p rather than posting it by yourself. I wonder what prevent people of doing this ??

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with this idea. Buyer usually pays a fairly high premium for GSP as ebay assume fees taxes etc at worst case scenario and seller pays FVFs and PayPal fees. If you are gifting things to someone you know they will probably end up paying more through GSP than if you just send it yourself.