eBay global shipping program?

[ton312]

Perhaps not the best place for info on this service and I do feel like I've read or heard horror stories before. My latest purchase is using this shipping method from UK to USA. I've never used it before but the delivery estimate is a full 3 weeks out. That doesn't sound like the priority mail international service that eBay claims it is (6-10 days usually). Anyone have any experience with this service? I'm afraid to hear but should probably brace myself. It seems quite convoluted...

 

[marmalademan]

They're 0/1 with me. But at least I was refunded and if the item ever does show up it'll be a win. Of sorts .But I really wanted that item and would happily have paid more for a decent courier

 

[ton312]

They're 0/1 with me. But at least I was refunded and if the item ever does show up it'll be a win. Of sorts .But I really wanted that item and would happily have paid more for a decent courier

Yeah the shipping was free...but it's not really any good if yo' stuff never gets delivered...

 

[Mich486]

Always worked out in the end for me (US to UK). It definitely is slower than standard mail but no import charges surprises at least. The company doing the deliveries in the UK is not one of the big names and it feels a bit less reliable but as I said no problem for me so far.


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[ton312]

Always worked out in the end for me (US to UK). It definitely is slower than standard mail but no import charges surprises at least. The company doing the deliveries in the UK is not one of the big names and it feels a bit less reliable but as I said no problem for me so far.


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It eventually gets handed over to USPS here so maybe that'll be the slowest link in the chain...

 

[marmalademan]

Yeah the shipping was free...but it's not really any good if yo' stuff never gets delivered...

No good at all Ton. My impression is they go with the cheapest option possible. If you're on either end of a US / UK transaction I'd expect that 99 times out of a hundred you're gonna nna be ok.

But there are other places in the world where the cheapest option is the one you definitely don't eant, alas with ebeB global service that's what you're gonna get

 

[robrinay]

I was wary of using it until the reviews improved. I’ve since used it quite a few times and only been worried twice but all my parcels were delivered eventually. The first was a rare expensive early Lewis Leather sent to Japan - the tracking message came up ‘package damaged unable to deliver’ or words to that effect but I got positive feedback from the buyer an hour later (weird). The second was a jacket from the US to me and I got the same message when it arrived the UK shipping centre but it arrived ok a few days later. The suspicious part of my brain tells me some nosy individuals had a peek to see if it was worth thieving but as it was ‘just an old leather jacket’ in both cases they decided it wasn’t worth it. Of course it could also be that someone pressed the wrong button in the bar code reader I’ll never know? I’ve also found it takes an age to deliver but as reported above once the package gets to the eBay Shipping Centre you’re insured against loss (although on one occasion they didn’t sign for the package at the eBay Centre even though I’d paid for the service - but it did get to the buyer nevertheless and I claimed my postage back from Parcrlforce UK).

 

[robrinay]

Not wishing to hijack the thread but I think this is relevant too - I was surprised to read that if you send an eBay parcel ‘click and collect’ the sale is cancelled and the parcel sent back to the seller who then must refund the buyer, if the buyer doesn’t pick it up within 7 days of delivery to the collection point - Crazy or what?

 

[Mich486]

Not wishing to hijack the thread but I think this is relevant too - I was surprised to read that if you send an eBay parcel ‘click and collect’ the sale is cancelled and the parcel sent back to the seller who then must refund the buyer, if the buyer doesn’t pick it up within 7 days of delivery to the collection point - Crazy or what?

Yep that is what I read as well.


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[Interbak]

I usually avoid any seller that uses this "feature". It guarantees long delivery times, usually double what it would normally take, and you get dinged for the maximum amount of tax and import duty. In most cases regular mail slips through without most of the charges.

B

 

[ton312]

Well looks like either way it won't be arriving anytime soon. But hopefully it does arrive.

 

[ton312]

Ah this is a bizarre shipping service indeed! Investigating the tracking numbers...It will hit both UPS and the USPS! I can see how this would be a logistical nightmare with lots of opportunity to sit parked at distro centers.

 

[Carlos840]

I have used it couple times and all went went.
My Apparel Annex jacket was the last thing delivered via the global shipping program and it took around a week to get from the US to the UK.
In the end it's just random, sometimes it all goes fine, sometimes it all goes to crap.
My last purchase was shipped from Germany to the UK via DHL almost a month ago and it is still lost somewhere in the system, no one knows where...

 

[Hh121]

I think it's normal, I often mail something by ups international priority to China, it takes at least 2 weeks.

 

[ton312]

My last purchase was shipped from Germany to the UK via DHL almost a month ago and it is still lost somewhere in the system, no one knows where...

Man that's the worst! Is it refundable...

 

[willyto]

I usually avoid any seller that uses this "feature". It guarantees long delivery times, usually double what it would normally take, and you get dinged for the maximum amount of tax and import duty. In most cases regular mail slips through without most of the charges.

B

In my experience it's actually te opposite. They charge you import duty and taxes but they are always lower than if the item got stopped at customs.

The thing is, you miss the very slight chance of the item passing through but in my case that barely ever happen anymore so I prefer to pay in advance and pay less.

Can't say that about every item, only the ones I've bought. Comparing value I've always paid more if I had to do it myself and also tool a lot longer.

 

[Lebowski]

eBay Global Shipping Program... I usually do my best to avoid this lousy option.
Don't like that option at all. No way!
Their service is just horrible. Their "ability" to lead the parcel through customs procedures is a special thing to talk about (they don't do it smooth and always with extra fees and with tons of difficulties, finally - too long, too expensive and too annoying).
For instance - usual USPS First Class Mail International is way too much better in all aspects! (USPS Priority is very very nice too but a bit more expensive than USPS First Class).
As well as Deutsche Post from Germany, Royal Mail from the UK, Australia Post from AU etc. - they're all as superb as USPS from the USA. Actually every national Post/Mail from every country is very nice and the only smooth option.
But eBay Global Shipping Program? No, thanks. Never again!

 

[Colin G]

I hate it but I am in Canada so we get the shaft. The service automatically adds on GST (Federal goods and services tax) plus an inflated brokerage and handling fee. It also adds an extra week on travel time since the package would ship from the ebay seller to a depot. It then gets reboxed, sometimes quite badly, then shipped up to Canada.

It is cheaper for me, as a buyer, without it.

 

[Edward]

I've never had a significant problem with stuff where I've paid the tax upfront on eBay - and it is often cheaper, given HMRC's habit of doing things like taking on the total including shipping, or taxing as if the USD amount were pounds (Mind you, in a year or two's time that could be advantageous).

Longest shipping times are always anything small and cheap I buy from China, which is interesting: given that's eBay's preferred seller-type nowadays, you'd think they'd want to encourage faster shipping to not lose the business to Amazon and such.

 

[belfastboy]

I usually avoid any seller that uses this "feature". It guarantees long delivery times, usually double what it would normally take, and you get dinged for the maximum amount of tax and import duty. In most cases regular mail slips through without most of the charges.

B

As a fellow Canadian I too refuse to use it for the reasons you outline. If the seller will not ship ordinary Mail I will not buy or have it sent to a US postal outlet in a border town close by.