GSP, the good, the bad, the ugly

[Deleted]

Those of you that are in GSP, please enlighten me.  I'm considering it for the new year.  


My last international shipment was a disaster so I quit for about a year.  I started adding a few listings back in and have only sold 2 since October.  I wonder if those is GS get more sales than before they joined.  What happens if a buyer claims SNAD?

[Deleted]

I definitely sold more when I shipped direct but I was listing much more too so I was selling a whole lot more in general so can't say if for sure if all of the decline is due to GSP or not. I still make sales with GSP and have no complaints at all. It's the only way I will ship internationally, just not worth the worry or hassle to do it any other way for me. Especially since I can't usually make it to the PO while they are open and they don't like international being dropped in the blue box.

I've never had a SNAD but from what I remember the item gets inspected when it gets to the warehouse to make sure it's in the condition stated (and the right item). Then repackaged and shipped to the buyer. So if the buyer has an issue ebay handles it, you don't. Not positive on that but that' what I remember. I know we don't get paid the high shipping fee, all we get paid is the US rate just like if someone in the US purchased it. The forwarding company gets the other payment.

[Deleted]

Thanks Peek, I'm leaning heavily towards it. I'm actually not sure what's holding me back!

[Deleted]

Most likely you will get more sales if you offer international shipping not through GSP. GSP is typically more expensive for buyers. One reason is all items are shipped priority, even if they are under four pounds and could be shipped first class. Also, because they have to prepay their import fees. Many buyers either a) get away w/ not paying them or b) don't realize they exist. Finally, since items have to be shipped twice, once domestically and then internationally, that can make the shipping more expensive. However, GSP gets rates FAR below what you can so I think it evens out.

GSP isn't always _so_ much more expensive than shipping it yourself though. I'm selling a one pound item for $175. I ship it Priority mail domestically and probably would want to internationally because a) free insurance b) better tracking in theory, but I have it on GSP. I offer free shipping on this item due to competition and it's only $6 domestically.

If I were shipping it to Canada myself, it would either cost $20.85 for Priority Small Flat Rate, or $10.58 First Class International (plus insurance).
I checked what GSP to Canada runs. $10.77 for Priority + $13.77 customs (which the buyer should be paying anyway) - only $4 more that what I would pay to ship it myself, and the customs fees are prepaid.

You will get more sales with GSP than from not offering any international option though for sure. The upside over GSP vs do-it-yourselfing it is, once you get your item to the distribution center in Kentucky, nothing that happens after that is considered your fault (late delivery, no delivery, damaged in transit, etc). Also, because the import fees are prepaid, there's no chance the buyer gets a bill from their customs and refuses to pay it (in which case you lose your item and probably the money from the sale too.) INAD can be a problem, but defensive listing techniques can help mitigate the chances you'll lose an INAD case.

Really, if you aren't offering any international shipping, you should turn on GSP for items that don't have high return rates. Also, consider DIY to Canada for items under 4lbs and maybe under a certain dollar amount. Shipping to Canada is nearly as easy as within the US.

[somany]

I haven't had any problems with it. I would not ship internationally if I did not use it--too many items "lost" without insurance so it cost me more to cover the lost items than I was making on international sales. I currently sell maybe 2-3 items per month via it, which is OK with me. I do think I read somewhere a long time ago that the items would be inspected before being forwarded, but I just looked for it in ebay Help but didn't find it. I am willing to stand behind my items for possible claims of INAD but not for shipping issues, and GSP takes that concern away.

[blissfullymiserable]

I've been using it for a while, no complaints. I wasn't shipping international when I signed up, noticed a nice increase in monthly sales pretty quickly. I've read some negative stuff about the program and how costly it is to the buyer but if they're willing to pay up (and they do), who am I to complain?!