Global Shipping Program - Pros/Cons?

[Deleted]

Does anyone here participate in the Global Shipping Program? Do you like it? Can you still restrict which countries you ship to like when you ship internationally on your own or do you have to ship to all the countries in the program? I understand that you are actually just shipping to eBay's warehouse in Kentucky which would seem to be safe to me because if it gets lost after it is forwarded from Kentucky to the other country, eBay is held responsible. Any thoughts?

[Deleted]

I've been using it for a long time. I get several sales with it, it's the only way I ship internationally anymore. I have zero complaints with the program. I package it, send it off to KY and that's that. They send me an update when it gets to KY and then another when it gets delivered just to let me know, think you can opt out of those if you don't want them. I've always gotten great fb from my buyers, no problems at all. In fact I just sent out one today with GPS.

[Deleted]

Peek - do you block any countries or do you ship to all the countries that the program supports? Also, do you mostly ship First Class International?

[Deleted]

No I don't block anything, there are countries Ebay blocks. I figure if they want to risk shipping some where it's ok with me. The risk for me ends when it gets to KY. You ship in US postage not international postage because you are shipping within the US so it's like selling to any other buyer. You don't worry about how ebay is shipping to them, that is worked out between the 2 of them.

[Deleted]

Thanks Peek!

[Deleted]

You're welcome, any other questions, just ask.

[jesmelric]

Jun 28, 2016 2:03:56 GMT peek said:

You're welcome, any other questions, just ask.

Well just to horn in here for a question. I have considered using the GPS, just curious if you get a lot of sales through it, or if the number is relatively low? Thanks!

[Deleted]

I usually get one or two a week through it. So not a high # but enough to make it worth while. A lot of my higher priced items seem to sell with it too, probably because of favorable exchange rates.

[jesmelric]

Jul 7, 2016 16:15:02 GMT peek said:

I usually get one or two a week through it. So not a high # but enough to make it worth while. A lot of my higher priced items seem to sell with it too, probably because of favorable exchange rates.

Thanks so much for the information. And just to clarify, you just pack and ship it via the method in your listing that you would use for any other item, because it's going to the US, is that correct?

[Deleted]

Yes you are just shipping to KY so you mail it just like anything else. Only thing different you do is mark what country it is manufactured in when you print the shipping label (it doesn't show on the label, just for ebay records to use when making their customs form).

[jesmelric]

Jul 10, 2016 15:53:34 GMT peek said:

Yes you are just shipping to KY so you mail it just like anything else. Only thing different you do is mark what country it is manufactured in when you print the shipping label (it doesn't show on the label, just for ebay records to use when making their customs form).

Again, thanks so much for your help! Sales are so sluggish I think I just might look into this.

[sunsetpainter]

Jul 10, 2016 15:53:34 GMT peek said:

Yes you are just shipping to KY so you mail it just like anything else. Only thing different you do is mark what country it is manufactured in when you print the shipping label (it doesn't show on the label, just for ebay records to use when making their customs form).

I use Ebay shipping labels and never noticed that.  Is it only on GSP labels or all of them and I'm oblivious?  (I'm not in GSP)

[Deleted]

I'm in the GSP but I exempt certain countries such as Canada, Australia, Europe, and the UK. I never get any sales through GSP, only through the countries that I've exempted, and they are very few.

[jesmelric]

Jul 11, 2016 3:55:59 GMT @superiorquality4less said:

I'm in the GSP but I exempt certain countries such as Canada, Australia, Europe, and the UK. I never get any sales through GSP, only through the countries that I've exempted, and they are very few.

So you ship directly to some countries and others through the GSP?

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2016 21:05:42 GMT sunsetpainter said:

Jul 10, 2016 15:53:34 GMT peek said:

Yes you are just shipping to KY so you mail it just like anything else. Only thing different you do is mark what country it is manufactured in when you print the shipping label (it doesn't show on the label, just for ebay records to use when making their customs form).

I use Ebay shipping labels and never noticed that.  Is it only on GSP labels or all of them and I'm oblivious?  (I'm not in GSP)

It's only on the GSP labels that it pops up on not the regular ones.

[kat]

I was thinking of switching to GSP. I have a lot of items that I just put in generic dimensions and weight if it's going in a padded flat rate. Would I need to fix these before switching?

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2016 15:15:37 GMT jesmelric said:

Jul 11, 2016 3:55:59 GMT @superiorquality4less said:

I'm in the GSP but I exempt certain countries such as Canada, Australia, Europe, and the UK. I never get any sales through GSP, only through the countries that I've exempted, and they are very few.

So you ship directly to some countries and others through the GSP?

Yes I do.

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2016 20:06:22 GMT kat said:

I was thinking of switching to GSP. I have a lot of items that I just put in generic dimensions and weight if it's going in a padded flat rate. Would I need to fix these before switching?

I have generic dimensions on everything the normal 9X12X2 or whatever is standard envelope size, I never change it when I list unless I'm shipping something that is going to be oversized which is extremely rare. When I send flat rate I usually have the 1-2lb option selected so no you don't have to enter in a specific weight. You list just like you normally do.

[kat]

Ok. Good to know. I was wondering how they would determine the cost for the International buyer if I was off 1-2lb range would work for most things then. Thank you.

[sunsetpainter]

Most of my stuff is in the 2 - 3# range. Can I use a PFRE to ship International?

Also, if you are in the GSP, you would have to uncheck the box in PP that only allows US accounts, correct?

[Deleted]

You literally list exactly the same as you do now, you don't change anything. So if you would select 2-3# now in the drop down weight box then that is what you would do then when you listed. Nothing changes. They will reweigh it when it gets to Kentucky and repackage it, reprint an international label etc. All you are doing is Shipping it to a US address just like normal they handle the US part. As far as paypal goes I don't know, I never looked there to see if I had anything checked. Where is it and I will look. I use to sell internationally so assume if there is a box there that mine would have been unchecked already.


But the payment is being filtered through Ebay GPS which is US so no you wouldn't have to accept international payments/accounts anyways. The buyer pays them, they take their cut and pay you with the buyers shipping info etc.

[kat]

I just called eBay and asked some questions about GSP. I was always under the impression that it was an all or nothing deal. I didn't know you could pick and choose which listings go GSP.
Anyway, the rep told me that GSP listings get a boost in Best Match domestically.
I'm going to give it a try moving forward and input correct weight and dimensions moving forward and not worry about my existing items.
Thanks for your help.

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2016 21:55:54 GMT kat said:

I just called eBay and asked some questions about GSP. I was always under the impression that it was an all or nothing deal. I didn't know you could pick and choose which listings go GSP.
Anyway, the rep told me that GSP listings get a boost in Best Match domestically.
I'm going to give it a try moving forward and input correct weight and dimensions moving forward and not worry about my existing items.
Thanks for your help.

Yes you can customize locations, I think it's up to 4, that you don't want in GSP.


www.ebay.com/prf/GspPreference

[jesmelric]

Jul 16, 2016 3:06:18 GMT @superiorquality4less said:

Jul 15, 2016 21:55:54 GMT kat said:

I just called eBay and asked some questions about GSP. I was always under the impression that it was an all or nothing deal. I didn't know you could pick and choose which listings go GSP.
Anyway, the rep told me that GSP listings get a boost in Best Match domestically.
I'm going to give it a try moving forward and input correct weight and dimensions moving forward and not worry about my existing items.
Thanks for your help.

Yes you can customize locations, I think it's up to 4, that you don't want in GSP.


www.ebay.com/prf/GspPreference

Would there be a reason not to ship to a particular location? Thanks!

[sunsetpainter]

Can you exclude certain countries from the GSP program, like Canada, but still ship to them internationally?

[kat]

According to the rep I talked to yesterday, yes you can. He said a lot people will exclude Canada and Australia.
I don't know why I was under the impression that GSP was not as flexible.

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2016 20:35:50 GMT jesmelric said:

Jul 16, 2016 3:06:18 GMT @superiorquality4less said:

Yes you can customize locations, I think it's up to 4, that you don't want in GSP.


www.ebay.com/prf/GspPreference

Would there be a reason not to ship to a particular location? Thanks!

There are certain countries that I don't want in GSP, like Australia, Canada, UK, and Europe. Those are the countries that I ship to the most and wouldn't want the high GSP fees to discourage those buyers from purchasing an item.

Since I have Europe excluded from GSP, there are certain countries in Europe that I still don't want to ship to, like Italy and Russia, so I exclude them. Those excluded countries, however, can still purchase through the GSP. All of the international sales that I get, however, are not through the GSP, it's like I'm not even in GSP, but my listings show that I am.

[RetroMonde]

Thanks for the great explanations of GSP- I had no idea I could exempt countries from the program and let eBay sort out the rest. That makes the deal much more attractive to me- maybe I'll give it a try, especially if there could be even the slightest bump in search.

[jesmelric]

Well it occurs to me that I'm not sure how do do a bulk edit to add GSP, would anyone know how to do that? Thank you!!

[Deleted]

Jul 26, 2016 15:00:24 GMT jesmelric said:

Well it occurs to me that I'm not sure how do do a bulk edit to add GSP, would anyone know how to do that? Thank you!!

Once you've selected the items you want added, click on edit 'shipping international', next to the 'global shipping program', select 'add to all' from the drop down menu.'