ebay 'global shipping program' question

[neilli]

So I'm in Canada and I just won a guitar on ebay from the US. Shipping was listed as $86 or so, via the Global Shipping Program, and when I go to pay, I have the cost of the guitar, then the shipping, then the taxes that I'd have to pay when it comes into Canada. Which is wonderful (if it works), all very efficient.

However, talking to the seller, he's in the process of finding out the options to ship it to me. I'd assumed this Global Shipping Program was a standard service ebay offered sellers, so there was no 'investigating' to be done and the seller just told ebay to come collect it, or ebay knew they would drop it at the local post office depot or whatever and authorise it via their ebay account, but it would seem not?

Does anyone have any experience of this?

 

[GregM]

The seller will ship it to the address that eBay gives them rather than shipping it to you. The shipping center deals with shipping it out of the country. It takes a little longer - I sold something small through the global program a while back and it took a couple weeks to get to Canada. He just needs to print the shipping label through his My eBay page and it will have the shipping center address on it.

The Global Shipping Program simplifies selling an item to an international buyer. All eligible listings for sellers who qualify are automatically included in the Global Shipping Program. Here's how it works:
List your item.
Your item sells to an international buyer in an eligible country.
You ship the item to a US shipping center.
International shipping experts manage the international shipping and customs process and send the item to the buyer.

 

[neilli]

ah OK, thanks for that! My concern was that if I pay for the global shipping thing, I pay the taxes in advance too. But if he then goes and ships via UPS, I'll have to pay them the tax when it's delivered so I'll have paid twice..

 

[AndyK]

The Global Shipping program is great for sellers. Just send the item to a Kentucky airport address, and Ebay handles the rest of the shipping. Not sure for the buyers, since there may be import taxes, fees, etc.

 

[nigelpkay]

I believe that service goes via Pitney Bowes. So they would send it to the nearest Pitney Bowes centre and they would ship it to you with all the customs/duties taken care of. As a Canadian buyer, I've always avoided this. Even with the taxes/duties, there is still extra coming off the top to the program/shipper and it was never worth it.

Might make sense for big things like a guitar and its a good deal, but I would never do it on small items where I would just take my chances with US Postal Service and Canada Post customs that I might not get dinged for it.

 

[ReloadZZ]

If you use the global shipping program and you decide to return the item you will not have your taxes back...