eBay Global Shipping Program mandatory 'Opt-In'

[Chacal]

This is just a heads-up to those members who sell on eBay that they might find they've been 'opted in' to the Global Shipping Program (GSP) without their knowledge.

I handle online sales for a local antiques/collectables shop and noticed whilst packing items which had sold over the weekend that several were listed for dispatch under the GSP. This was unusual, as for several reasons we don't touch it with a bargepole; on raising the issue with the guv'nor he found that our eBay shop had been opted in without his knowledge (as he has an even lower opinion of the GSP than I) and then had to opt out of it. Having little choice but to honour those sales already made the items have been shipped as required to the "Global Shipping Centre" so we wait with bated breath to hear if the buyer/s receive them in good order - i'll keep you posted if there are any repercussions.

I hope this is of help to someone, all the best

Graham

[altcar73]

Graham,

That has happened to me in the past. I deliberately opted "out" when the system was introduced and then later found that I had somehow (not by me) opted "in". I suspect that eBay may be having difficulty in getting people to use it and are (perhaps) engineering its use by other means. That said, its a commonly used system (I notice) by sellers in the US.

I concur with you, steer well clear of it. Its another money making eBay "rip off", which from what I see, does not favour seller or buyer.

Best wishes, Dave.

[Home Guard]

I don't sell much on eBay, but learned that unless you select no to that option, it is the one automatically selected. Doesn't seem ethical to me, because that option is a TOTAL rip-off!

Terry

[grey_green_acorn]

On a related theme I have noticed that eBay has recently dropped their internal tracking system introduced last year which placed an alpha numeric code in the middle of the buyers UK address. In 'Print labels and post - print postage label' this caused addresses to become confused with eBay suggesting that the postal town should come before the area or village etc.

Tim

[Chacal]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

On a related theme I have noticed that eBay has recently dropped their internal tracking system introduced last year which placed an alpha numeric code in the middle of the buyers UK address. In 'Print labels and post - print postage label' this caused addresses to become confused with eBay suggesting that the postal town should come before the area or village etc.

Tim

Tim

Hi Tim

Yes, I noticed the introduction of that, it seems to have dropped off sharply although not entirely. They've also recently made it mandatory for payments, after deuctions, to go straignt into a bank account largely cutting out Paypal. No skin off my nose as I'm only an emplyee so do as I'm directed, but a massive headache for my boss.

Graham

[Artynut]

I once emailed a dealer that I was about to bid on one of his items when I noticed that he used global, I would not bid. I explained that I trusted the Royal Mail at their at that time 8.75 GBPs for a tracked and signed for delivery. At over 24.0 GBPs, global claimed they looked after any import duties or associated costs. I knew immediately that that was a load of rubbish because the item was NOT subject to duty. He replied that he did not realise what he was getting into and would gladly ship my item via R.M. If I were a successful bidder.
Plainly, Global are a RIP-Off! D.J.