Ebay global shipping question

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

I for one simply don't bid or BIN when folks use Global Shipping. Typically the fees are outrageous for Canadian buyers. This topic has been covered on many Canadian boards. And while yes, we are small compared to the population of the US, there are definitely missed sales by US sellers who use this program to ship.

And really, it's not that hard to track a package through USPS that is shipped to Canada.

It is if you want to track it the whole way, to fulfill Paypal's tracking requirements.

[irv]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

As a seller, I have been ripped off by Canadian buyers claiming not to have received the item, when I believe that they did. There needs to be a happy medium to make both sides happy, and cover the tracking requirements.

I assume, if you have been ripped off by CDN buyers, you have also been ripped off by American ones too?
Don't get me wrong, I would be p*ssed too if I got ripped off, but I can't see having to spend $25 to $40 and sometimes even higher, like $51 I have seen, in order to have tracking. E-Bay is banking large amounts of money with this rip-off/scam.

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

It is if you want to track it the whole way, to fulfill Paypal's tracking requirements.

That is something I wasn't aware of? My parcel yesterday, which cost $3.33, had tracking as well but are you saying it ended at the CDN border?

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

It is if you want to track it the whole way, to fulfill Paypal's tracking requirements.

USPS actually does provide door-to-door tracking now, with the "Delivered" notification that eBay requires, for Canada and a number of other countries. I believe when the Global Shipping program was initiated, this was not the case, and USPS tracking at that time only showed progress to the airport where the package left the U.S.

For what it's worth, I ship many packages overseas, and have had far fewer fraud attempts from international buyers than from those stateside. As long as you're using tracking for your shipments, I really see no reason to use the Global Shipping program. It is just as easy to print out a shipping label for an international shipment as it is for one with a stateside destination.

[thecatspajamas]

For an example of what I am talking about, go to the usps website and put in the tracking number below:

LJ928798085US

This one was bound for Switzerland, and despite taking a wrong turn at Portugal (showing our postal system isn't the only one that makes mistakes), made its way back to Switzerland and shows as "Delivered" about 2 weeks after it was shipped. Notice that it also shows when the package was being held in Customs, and when it cleared Customs (in both Portugal and Switzerland ), which some buyers will ask about whether you shipped it yourself or used the GSP.

The main thing that eBay is concerned with when it comes to disputed deliveries is that there be a tracking number than can be entered on the USPS website, and that it says "Delivered" at the top when they do so. I could have either printed the shipping label to Switzerland myself and entered the tracking number on eBay's website, or printed the shipping label to Kentucky myself and entered the tracking number on eBay's website. As long as my packaging is sufficient for overseas travel either way, there really is no difference to me with respect to eBay Seller Protection, but it makes a world of difference to the buyer's shipping cost.

[bobbyw8469]

Thanks Lance. I was unaware of that. So the $3-$5 shipment actually shows door to door tracking now to Canada?

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

Thanks Lance. I was unaware of that. So the $3-$5 shipment actually shows door to door tracking now to Canada?

Correct. See tracking results for USPS tracking number LJ928728703US for an example shipped to Canada.

[bobbyw8469]

That tracking looks a little weird. It departed West Palm Beach and then departed Louisville one minute later?? And for final destination, it just says "DELIEVERED - CANADA". No city or anything. Just delivered to Canada. That is sufficient for a "item not received" claim??

[thecatspajamas]

I agree the tracking is a little weird on that one too, and I'm not sure what was going on in the middle there, but the answer to your question is yes, all eBay cares about is whether that last scan says "Delivered" or not. They do not care about what route it takes in between, or that USPS does not display the actual delivery address with the tracking. See a few more examples:

UA355570274US - Netherlands
LZ630113170US - Italy
LJ929367229US - Australia
LJ929034861US - Austria
LJ928734108US - Switzerland
LJ928735868US - Spain
LJ928734479US - Portugal
LJ928728703US - Canada
LJ927879211US - UK
LJ927638975US - France
LJ926792125US - Brazil
LJ926438677US - Germany

All simply state DELIVERED - [DESTINATION COUNTRY]

I suppose if a dispute arose and eBay wanted to push the issue, I could show them a screenshot from my stamps.com account verifying that tracking number was actually associated with a shipment to the delivery address the buyer had provided, but I have never had that be required with an international shipment. Prior to the USPS providing door-to-door tracking though, I did have a couple of incidents where, even though I was sure the buyer had received the item (due to the timing of them filing a claim and the nature of their communication before and after), because the tracking at that time only went as far as the Miami International Airport, it was a quick ruling in favor of the buyer. Since USPS has begun providing door-to-door tracking, if a claim is filed through eBay, I simply have to reply with the tracking number and indicate that it shows the package was delivered on such-and-such day for quick ruling in my favor. Whether eBay may just eat the cost under the Seller Protection program and refunds the buyer anyway, I don't know, but eBay has always been secretive as to the exact action they are taking with the other party in a dispute. My only concern at that point though is that I am covered, the funds are released back to my Paypal account, and I go on about my business.