Ebay Global Shipping Program EOL, being replaced by Ebay International Shipping - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 07:17:26 pm
content: Got some bad news for those who buy TE, TE parts or TE manuals from the US, with the "Ebay Global Shipping Program", it's being slowly replaced with an even worse service called "Ebay International Shipping Program", this is bad for both buyers & sellers.https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/ebay-international-shippingQuoteOther websites say that in the next 12 months (from Sept 2022) all listings with GSP will transfer to EIS, no idea whenorif this will be rolled out to other countries using GSP.For buyers, you no longer get a automatic discount applied for multiple items, just found this buying two manuals, as before with GSP sellers have no influence on this, you can't "request total" and they can't combine shipping to reduce the international part.Also the tracking seems to be next to useless, I've got a HP counter which went with this dis-service, USPS got it to Chicago in two days, tracking ended at Chicago on the 13th, I'm getting worried it's been classified as a restricted item, the third party company being used is Asendia.Apparently tracking is limited once it leaves the US.QuoteFor sellers, I've read that they only cover up to $100, if a buyer then claims they could be out of pocket for any extra, I can't confirm this as the T&Cs are crap, but it is mentioned by people in the ebay dot com community forum, along with no refunds for shipping.The manual seller told me, many items no longer have international as an option & some have less choice of countries they can go to, since being transferred from GSP.I was wondering why quite a lot of items on my watch list no longer have international shipping available, this confirms it.Because the tracking is bullshit, sellers will almost certainly get an increase in "item not received" claims and will probably get fed up & quit international shipping altogether.The size & weight limits for the EIS program.QuoteThat a max weight of 19.95kg, no more boat anchor grade TE then, I don't think that has changed, but GSP still managed to deliver items that exceeded those limits.It would be interesting to see if any sellers are having problems, or have given up international shipping, as a result of the changes.David

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 08:06:50 pm
content: Back to the old ways then.Seller does the shipping and buyer does the insurance.I remember that one day Zalando had 50% returns.Finally that kind of thing must hurt somewhere.I guess buyer protection vs. seller protection is not that easy after all.I have had a tracking issue through the years, tag changes when item crosses the China border.Many times global trackers have both numbers.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 08:15:37 pm
content: One major difference for buyers...https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/shipping-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/international-purchases-shipping?id=4057QuoteI would like to see a statement as to when a buyer will be informed about whether a delivery will be accompanied with an invoice for extra fees. Obviously the extra taxes would be irritating, but the shipping company's admin fee would be intolerable.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 08:35:08 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 25, 2023, 08:15:37 pmIt is also possible that this new program gets you a proper tax invoice if you buy something as a business. The GSP doesn't do that so it which could upset bookkeepers.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 08:37:00 pm
content: In the UK at least there haven't been any extra charges for a few years now, the VAT is collected by ebay in checkout for; EIS, GSP and regular shipping chosen by the seller.You can see the charge by clicking on "view tax invoice" in the order details and it'll tell you the tax rate & amount collection "VAT collected by eBay in line with UK legislation", I believe the EU does the same.Examples, the manuals with EIS the rate was 0%, an item of TE with EIS/GSP the rate was 20%.Edit: the % rate seems to be based on the category the item was listed under, items in incorrect categories may have no chargeora charge it shouldn't have.An item of TE sent via USPS directly to the UK, had VAT collected by ebay, the parcel should have a reference of "code paid" on the shipping label, I don't receive many sent without EIS or GSP.David

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 08:39:03 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 25, 2023, 08:15:37 pmI would guess eBay has worked out how much calculating import charges actually costs - it's not trivial for some countries which have variable interpretations of customs regulations - and have decided it's not worth doing any more. I don't know how GSP handled the situation of getting import charges wrong, was this something eBay covered or was it always on the buyer/seller?Anyway, international shipping for me has always been such a hassle, besides very high value items, I do not bother buying or selling that way. I think the last thing I sent internationally was to Romania, and it did arrive successfully, but took 6 weeks, which was a nerve-wracking time to wait given the relatively high value (few hundred £'s I think).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 09:13:00 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on March 25, 2023, 08:39:03 pmEbay's GSP is handled by a seperate, specialist import/export company called 'Pitney Bowes'. I speculate this company has the proper licenses / agreements in place to deal with the various tax collector offices directly so there is very little risk of getting the import charges wrong. They get the data directly from Ebay so they know down to the last cent how much the item has been sold for and what the shipping charges are. This whole setup is iron clad where it comes to getting the import charges absolutely right.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 09:20:36 pm
content: Pitney Bowes are heavy duty.Here ebay collects if it can.Last time from Japan was not collected and so was stopped by customs.Nothing from Africa or South America.Some times customs is stopping it only for bookkeeping.As a buyer I know nothing about anything of extra fees.If it's ebay extra it has been injected to shipping.Customs has not added anything but VAT and ebay has always included correct numbers.Though my orders have been simple and without any restricted or limited stuff.But if and when Pitney Bowes is behind the numbers I'm very calm about the issue.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 09:42:47 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on March 25, 2023, 08:39:03 pmWhich way? Internationally? Using GSP? Something else?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 09:46:36 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 25, 2023, 09:13:00 pmAs a seller, that has been a major advantange of GSP: I just let the specialists handle the horrible details.As a buyer, that has been a major advantage of GSP: there are no nasty surprises when something arrives. (I have had unpleasant surprises on other occasions)With EIS - who knows. And that matters to me as a buyer and a seller.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 10:45:19 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 25, 2023, 09:46:36 pmBTW: Lately I have been buying from China either through Aliexpress or Amazon. The latter deal with all the customs & VAT stuff which is much easier and cheaper compared to buying from Ebay.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 11:22:39 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 25, 2023, 10:45:19 pmNever used aliexpress. The Amazon search mechanism is not fit for purpose, for many reasons.I couldn't use either to sell surplus kit.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 11:44:50 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 25, 2023, 09:13:00 pmI know of PB's involvement. The problem is, items are classified by the seller, and customs office in possibly different ways. For quite some time for instance, into the EU the import duty on camcorders was higher than digital cameras. What was the distinction? It was an ability to record for more than two minutes continuously, without user intervention. Somewhere I have an old Panasonic digital camera which has the "workaround" of prompting the user at the 1:45 mark to press a button if they want to continue the recording. Due to that kind of variability, I suspect if a customs agent is particularly picky, it doesn't matter how good PB's relationship is, they could still end up facing a bill. And no doubt all of that admin is not cheap, even if large parts can be automated.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 12:46:19 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on March 25, 2023, 11:44:50 pmThe way these shippers work is that they also have an internal customs department that have the final say about the value. All the big shipping companies (UPS, Fedex, DHL) have their own internal customs department to streamline the process (*). The regular customs service in the NL for example takes at least a week. That is no use for shipping companies that want to deliver parcels within a few working days.* If they managed to get this approved by the local authorities. I had a couple of probes stuck in customs in South Africa for a couple of weeks as they didn't believe the price was correct.Quote from: tggzzz on March 25, 2023, 11:22:39 pmAliexpress is great. You can buy most of the low cost stuff straight from China (or a European warehouse) at much lower prices than a local webshop. Typically I buy things like heatshrink tubing, braided sleeving, mechanical parts, diamond tipped drills, etc from there. Nowadays most stuff arrives in a week or two.And it is not all crap. Recently I needed a new squeeze bottle to wet the spunge for my soldering iron. The one I ordered from Farnell was utter crap (their own multicompcrap brand; I should have been wiser). The one I ordered from Aliexpress is excellent. BTW, I left a negative review on Farnell's website and promptly I got an email saying I could return the bottle. I replied it was already in the garbage and that I overlooked it was from Multicomp which I don't buy. I didn't react to the question why I didn't buy Multicomp branded stuff... it is worse than stuff from Aliexpress!Amazon's search engine sucks badly indeed. To the level it amazes me they even manage to sell stuff. Typically I use Google to find things on Amazon. Amazon is kind of my last resort if I need something quick which I can't find on another (local) webshop.QuoteI have abandoned Ebay for that a long time ago. What I list won't show up internationally so that defeats the purpose of listing things on Ebay anyway. So I sell whatever I want to get rid of locally (on a website which is also owned by Ebay but at least the listing is free and no sales fees).

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 12:50:06 am
content: International shipping has become horrific for a good while on eBay anyway, how much worse can it get.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 01:36:42 am
content: Global shipping program. I remembered back in about 2007 and many years after when I'd order things from Canada and America, especially one seller in San Jose and they'd be 1/3 to half price even with the customs added on than buying it used locally. One time was a motherboard with some Xeon 3.2GHz cpu's on it that I brought it for which were selling much more without the motherboard locally used. What I didn't know until later was that that motherboard was actually a better board with more ram capacity and 4 buses instead of 2 so I swapped it back some years later. I think it was a Tyan S7271 and the board that arrived overseas with the cpu's I want was a Supermicro X5DL8.Also deliveries through the majority of things I ordered through GSP seemed very well tracked and on some occasions quick.

author: Golds
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 03:53:17 am
content: They require sellers to use their logistics systems and give assessments to reduce sales to sellers who do not meet the standards. While collecting the seller's fees, they put shackles and restrictions on the seller.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 05:05:09 am
content: Recently, I needed various adapters for a camera -- all from China. The eBay sellers usually use SpeedPAK Standard (https://parcelsapp.com/en/carriers/speedpak), which is a joint effort of Orange and United Parcel Service (UPS). UPS then partners with our postal service for the "last mile."I have been satisfied with the shipping in China. One Example: Order placed 03/12/23, package picked up 03/13, cleared export customs 03/16, arrived Chicago (USA) 03/18 shortly after midnight. It's apparently a direct if not non-stop flight. The slowest part of the trip is when it gets into UPS's hands. China pickup to US was 5 days, US customs was 1 day, and UPS Chicago, IL to Cleveland, OH was 6 days this time, but estimated time was 8 days. The prior shipment took more than 8 days. Orange provides tracking up until it is transferred to UPS and also provides the joint UPS/USPS tracking number. Ordinary mail from Chicago to my home is about 2 to 3 days.Clearly, this thread is about a different level of service, but I cannot fault the small parcel service in China. Is Orange used for Europe and UK?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 06:21:40 am
content: does this mean lower prices for me? I don't have to fight the whole planet, just a continent.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 08:28:29 am
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on March 26, 2023, 12:50:06 amMuch worse.You could find you bought something for, say, £10 at checkout, then when it is delivered you find you have to pay the shipping company an extra £22. That's £2 dutyplus a £20 admin fee. So£10 has become £32; doubleplus ungood.Please don't quibble about any thresholds for tax kicking in.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 08:29:12 am
content: Quote from: Golds on March 26, 2023, 03:53:17 amWho is "they"?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 08:32:50 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on March 26, 2023, 06:21:40 amSometimes yes, sometimes no.You won't know until after delivery.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 09:43:02 am
content: A current statement from eBay is below. This response was pleasant in that it provided some answers and wasn't a mere response.Myemphasis, and I've asked the obvious questions about "which shipping company to ask" and "response times".QuoteSummary: almost as bad as expected. The purchase cost will be unknowable, and likely much more than eBay indicates.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 10:21:10 am
content: That seems very contradictory. You'll be able to see import costs listed, but if there are no import costs shown (wait, I thought you said we could see them?), you won't be able to know how much those import costs will be? So, if nothing is listed, you take your chances?

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 10:22:16 am
content: Sounds like how international used to work before big shops like Amazon started to handle the import process, and how it still works for smaller shops: the seller ships the item without charging any VAT or customs fees, the courier / postal company handles the import process, and charges you the VAT, duty and admin fees based on either pre payment or post payment. For example FedEx will either send me an email requesting payment before they will deliver, or if the fees are below something like €100, they'll send me an invoice within a week or so of delivering the package to be paid within two weeks.Sure, it may be a downgrade from the old system in terms of convenience, but at least this should give you a proper invoice unlike Pitney Bowes dubious "trust us, it's been imported probably but we won't show you any paperwork you can take to your account" system.This won't show you the exact costs up front, but I can usually estimate it pretty well since the VAT is well known and in the EU you can look up duty in theTARICdatabase. Although finding the right code can be a challenge, but googling for something like "soldering iron tariff" or "hs code" will usually help.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 10:29:20 am
content: Quote from: alm on March 26, 2023, 10:22:16 amIt does feel like that.QuoteNot a problem for me.QuotePossibly, possibly not.Where would eBay get that information? I presume from the category the seller chose for the item, butdo the categories align with the HS codes?we've all seen items listed in bizarrely incorrect categoriesWhat happens when, not if, the shipping company chooses an "unexpected" HS category?

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 11:42:02 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 26, 2023, 10:29:20 amIn my experience shipping companies will usually pick something that is in the ball park but not correct unless the seller includes the HS code on the customs declaration. Fortunately in the EU this usually doesn't make a big difference in duty fees whether something is labeled "computer parts" or "oscilloscope parts". You can always appeal the decision if you want. I once received an item sold as "guaranteed working" which was DOA. I complained to the seller, who gave me a partial refund. And then appealed the import fees to the shipping company, stating that the value had been incorrectly stated since it was a broken item, who forwarded my appeal to the customs authority, who after some months gave me a refund.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 11:50:39 am
content: Tax deductions may differ depending who is accepted as an actual importer.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 12:26:29 pm
content: Quote from: factory on March 25, 2023, 08:37:00 pmMaybe this got missed, note the edit.In the UK at least, the price show in the auction or BIN listing includes the tax, if it's in a category that has 0% tax rate then the price is the same as shown in the country it's listed in.To see the price difference, change thedot co dot uk, todot comordot deetc.For example a HP manual listed under business/industrial in the "Test Equipment Manuals & Books" category is 0% rated, but if they list under consumer electronics, radio communication equipment "Manuals & Magazines" category you get tax added.Of course this works both ways, if a seller goes with the ebay suggested category, when listing items you can get test equipment listed under the TE books category at 0%.You have to know what it should be and try & get the seller to correct the error, some of course don't want to know.I guess it's too early in the changeover from GSP to EIS, for comments on the subject I started this thread about.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 02:55:41 pm
content: I suspect it would be useful if other people could try to get answers to questions like these from fleabay. The consistency (or otherwise) of the responses will indicate how much ebay's responses can be trusted.The screenshot shows an example of the issues...The item is being shipped using the eIS.Will I or won't I be hit by a $800+ bill when this is delivered?I can't square that with a previous eBay CSR response, particularly the first paragraph.Quote

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 03:05:32 pm
content: OK, ebay in the UK/EU are only required to collect VAT for orders up to £135 or 150Euro.https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/selling-policies/tax-policy?id=4348David

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 04:30:47 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 26, 2023, 02:55:41 pmMy understanding of their response is that if the costs are listed on the page, eBay will handle the customs process and this is what you'll pay to eBay. If there are no fees on the page, like on this page for me, eBay won't handle the customs process, and the shipping company will bill you based on the declared value. But you'll pay VAT etc either way.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 05:15:36 pm
content: I didn't see a single old style priced item, cheap or not.So all taxes were missing but I understand that extra costs, after shipping, are customs only.Assumed .com privateShipping:GBP 10.00 (approx EUR 11.36) Economy Shipping. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Caterham, United KingdomSo the way of the ebay land has changed.At least it knew that around here Germany and Poland are not international.Wrong item location, deliberate or not, is still a problem.Odd that here co.uk Endoscope had no customs warning.Postage:US $67.00 (approx £54.79) eBay International Standard Delivery. See detailsfor postageLocated in: Farmingdale, New Jersey, United StatesSame from .comShipping:US $67.00 (approx EUR 62.25) eBay International Standard Delivery. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 06:05:12 pm
content: Quote from: alm on March 26, 2023, 04:30:47 pmI expect to pay the relevant tax and import duties to someone. That is not a problem.If I want to buy something for say £100 or £1000, that is fine because I can make an informed decision as to whether to proceed or abort.What is intolerable is to be offered something for £100 with no indication of what it will end up costing. It might, for all I know, end up being £160, i.e. a 60% uplift. (20% VAT, 20% import duties, and the shipping company adding yet another £20 for their admin).EBay say I will have.to ask the shipping company. Do you think they will reply?!

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 06:51:20 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 26, 2023, 06:05:12 pmWould you even know which shipping company to ask? The big ones like UPS and FedEx have documents on their website listing charges, for examplethis document for FedEx US. The admin fees for FedEx are listed under "Disbursement Fee (may be identified asAdvancement Fee or Duty Handling Fee in certain countries)" as "Greater of $12 or 2% of duty, tax, and merchandise processing fee charges" unless you are importing something like live animals or have a package containing more than three products that are all listed separately on the airway bill (Additional Entry Line Items, per line over 3 lines). FedEx UK will have slightly different prices in GBP.VAT is usually the same rate for most electronics products (20% for the UK according to Google), and duties is set by your government depending on the type of product. I can't remember buying something that had 20% duty. Most of the electronics stuff I buy is 0% duty or something like 5%. But this is EU, not UK. I can usually make a pretty accurate estimate based on this and the admin fees my local shipping companies charge.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 07:38:19 pm
content: Quote from: alm on March 26, 2023, 06:51:20 pmI've asked eBay CSRs. A bit early for a response.One of their responses did contain answers. I don't see how they can answer this question, since their partners choose the delivery shippers.QuoteYeah. Everybody needs to become a shipping expert, and to know which buttons to press when it doesn't go as expected.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2023, 08:46:46 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 26, 2023, 07:38:19 pmIt's definitely a step back in terms of convenience, but no worse than it was before the eBay Global Shipping Program (does remembering that make me old?), or for sellers not selling via the Global Shipping Program (I'm guessing they'll no longer have a choice with EIS). The local postal service here has a page describing how to calculate the import fees and listing their admin fees, and the duty rates for some products people commonly buy: phones, shoes, etc. I'm sure they get many questions about it.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2023, 12:34:53 am
content: Will it address the issue of 20$ shipping for power supplies but 50$ shipping for manuals?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2023, 08:06:00 am
content: Quote from: alm on March 26, 2023, 08:46:46 pmA 60% uplift (to pick a figure) is more than an inconvenience, especially if an incorrectly high rate is assigned by the shipper and has to - somehow, hopefully - be corrected.Yes, the GSP is excellent. EBay reverting to something crappy in order to make more money is no better than reverting to horses rather than cars, having your bandwidth restricted so "other people can be better served", or MS removing the 3D clues in GUIs and reverting the grotty 1980 style flattie GUIs

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2023, 11:42:14 am
content: Shipping terms are not how item is shipped or where it ends.It's how things are paid.Of course it may end there but usually not, and you pay something extra.EXW means that you must go and pick it up or pay somebody to do so.FOB is not moving either if you're not telling the target.Some other F category end points can be quite interesting.It's also quite possible that port stop accepting stuff without destinations after port.C category is on the destination side, but seems to be little hazy.Some use word port and others word place for same thing, possibly a size thing.CIF in itself is not very clear.Example picture is many times before the destination port, obviously that is not possible.Actual situation is that the item is on the soil of the destination but not in economy.Imported cars are usually CIF, or CFR but in this context it's the same.Port area is obviously limited so stuff start costing more after short time if not moved.So if at that point imported cars are not sold the importer must start paying.No good so importer imports less, no good economy suffers.So tax free zones and free ports are created and stuff can go out of the port tax free.It's also possible that stuff go back out to the sea.One possibility is also that workers go to tax free zone and goods are not even intended to be imported.Clearly big boys business is this CIF.Other general C category things are Cargo Paid To CPT and Cargo and Insurance Paid CIP.There risk is possibly something else than what you think, but general location shouldn't be a problem.I wouldn't use those without own or known port operators.Then the D category, only sane level after EXW and FOB.There the actual export part is also covered by one entity.The chain should beDelivered At Terminal DAT -Delivered At Place DAP -Delivered Duty Paid DDP.Delivered at Place Unloaded DPU seems to have multiple meanings, maybe it's just some wording or size of the item.DDP is door to door.DAP is also door to door but you must do the customs clearance.Some use DPU like DAP and others like DAT.Our DAP case is simple, when item arrives a message is sent to buyer.Then customs messages the forwarder and item moves.Customs warehouse is also perfectly fine delivery location, if one is easily available.At least it used to be, back in the day.Terminal in DAT is item dependent.Different destination parcels must be out of the container so different warehouse is needed.Forwarder can have their own customs warehouse and actual customs can have theirs.Once upon a time I tried to get few plastic flip door computer parts from Taiwan.Used shipping method was FOB, air cargo was a clear possibility, but it wasn't.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2023, 11:46:32 am
content: I'm still having these tax differences.Must be a UK thing..comShipping:AU $368.50 (approx EUR 227.16) Australia Post International Courier. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Ottoway, Australia.co.ukPostage:AU $368.50 (approx £199.61) Australia Post International Courier. See detailsfor postageLocated in: Ottoway, Australia

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2023, 02:25:18 pm
content: Quote from: m k on March 29, 2023, 11:42:14 amIt would help if fleabay would explicitly, unambigously, and correctly, use industry standard terms to describe what's included in the price they display.They don't, and I doubt they ever will.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 06:28:18 pm
content: (should be generally coherent)Local pickup is clearly EXW.F and C categories were missing, or I didn't see any.All cars were shipping not specified.All large items that had shipping specified were door to door.Used engine of a car, free shippingShipping:US $93.13 (approx EUR 85.72) eBay International Shipping. See detailsfor shippingLocated in: Homer City, Pennsylvania, United StatesDuties:US $54.09 (approx. EUR 49.79) - Estimate, final at checkoutI don't know how much duty is but 3% is around expected level.Free shippping was in subject text.Another used engineShipping:US $2,000.00 (approx EUR 1,840.86) Standard International Shipping. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Washington, New Jersey, United StatesHere I started thinking that maybe the first one is a complete car.Also, one completely different thing, what is engine, what it includes, the second item is with the gearbox and first one is under the hood.But it is still door to door, there are no other delivery destinations than my address.Customs clearance would be on me.If item arrives through air it goes to carrier's warehouse.It's not going to stop before, not even if it is not paid.Early stop would mean that it stays in a plane, loading area or in other vehicle, no way.If its cargo cost is not cleared it shouldn't be in the plane at all but errors happen and if that happens it is not a buyer's problem, or seller's, if they were not loading it.Local post said once that unknown receiver is also covered, round the globe.Can't say how it is with other carriers but for sure they are not going to take it on them.Some incoterms,using FOB as FCA is generally fine, FCA sort of includes FOB and carrier understands.But being exact, FOB is for on water freight only, FCA then is general carrier and exact spot.An example, a truck is collecting a milk can, position is defined as a milk platform of a dairy farm.But who is loading.FOB is easy, on board is when the chip carries the weight.Airplane is also easy, delivery truck driver it is not.Train is also out of truck driver's reach.So truck is only questionable, but it is not, it's like any other buying thing, you will take it with you.If double bagger carries your groceries it's more than FCA, it's FOB, when FCA is more like FAS.I've never bought anything as big as a car from abroad but it is generally no different than smaller things.There are still warehouses and customs clearances but some nuances may appear.Like when transport ends to a restricted area and you can't go and get it, harbor area may be one of those.In a case of a car it may also be required to be scaled, so maybe somebody must drive it and so on.What we used back in the day when closest customs warehouse was behind the corner was CIP or DAT/DPU, depending how it is understood.We also had an extra local insurance, then you at least had a local somebody to deal with, maybe not anymore, and contract papers were more or less understandable, at least the language was familiar, sort of.For now I couldn't find any of those old style free zones, maybe it was special already back them but we didn't know it since it simply was there and available.But how ever it is, if you are giving a place where to deliver then that is the spot up to where you are paying the shipping, customs clearance is not changing that.What customs clearance is in practice is another thing, here regular parcel is few internet clicks.But even if customs clearance is something complicated the shipping is still door to door and cost is the same, customs clearance is not moving the item, so not exactly part of shipping.If earlier scaling and driving happens it's still not shipping, it's customs clearance.Other thing is if you can't do customs clearance, maybe it's far away, then you pay, but you know the situation before hand.Here local post charge for regular parcel is 5€, if memory serves, not much anyway, if the item is not 2€, new EU protectionism thing is that all values are taxed, despite the cost.Even carrier web pages have some problems with incoterms but that's probably because explanations are too general, for now one can probably expect that new 2020 incoterms are already old enough.But anyway, if ebay is giving destinations, at least in my case, all are D category DAP/DPU, DDP is sort of uncertain, logged in .co.uk didn't change anything, subject to customs part was still missing.Difference between DAP and DPU for regular parcel is most likely non existent, if item is big or heavy unloading can be a difference, but that is also known before hand.I tried to find something reasonable from UK using .co.uk but none was actually from UK so DDP stay uncertain, for now, China is too far.An anecdote, minimum trackable from Sweden to Finland is over 20€, stamps are cheaper, non trackable not so much.Seems that Post Nord has different lines for parcels with stamps and without stamps.Here local post is splitting, letters and parcels to different companies, letter post is in legally must do category.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2023, 09:20:53 am
content: An addendum from the lost world.Back then when papers were written and counters were without plex the person who was filling customs papers was possibly also filling a slot for importer, and exporter.Item's official importer/exporter is the one who is entitled to tax refund.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2023, 07:40:33 pm
content: One more.General insurance is standard amount by weight, local also.So better be cautious with light stuff.And an anecdote.Back in the day when cranes were swinging there were incoterms between FAS and FOB.1 is on pier, 2 on ship and fraction somewhere in between.If memory serves insurance went so that the final location of dropped cargo decided who pays.I guess bulk freight still has those fractions.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2023, 08:16:46 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 26, 2023, 02:55:41 pmSeems ePay customer services are a waste of space, they clearly did not spot the item in question does not have"ebay international shipping" EIS, but actually has"ebay international standard delivery" EISDthese arenotthe same service.The item has since been updated, to have no international shipping.Plus the item exceeds the $2500 limit for both GSP and EIS, which means you have to deal with the shipping & customs if an auction listing goes above the limit.https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/global-shipping-program?id=4646https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-shipping-program?id=5348David

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2023, 08:45:20 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 06, 2023, 08:16:46 pmThe US governmentrequiresthe shipping company or someone else to submit Electronic Export Information for exports over $2500, which involves extra paperwork that the exporter would have to send to the shipping company. I'm not even sure if all shipping companies can deal with this. USPS won't deal with this andrequires the sender to file themselves or through another agent. I imagine eBay does not want to deal with this. Blame the US government (and other governments) for making international so complicated, or try joining a union of countries in which free trade is allowed and within which this kind of paperwork is not necessary.It is sloppy if eBay offers the shipping method while it's not possible with this price. They should add a note that this method is only applicable if the item sells under $2500.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2023, 09:21:59 pm
content: All of this is kind of irrelevant, unless you are buying items over $2500 from the US, I never have and probably never will.This thread is supposed to be about using ebay GSP & EIS (and not EISD) to import ebay items from the US, no paperwork* involved.*unless you are buying TE manuals in dead tree format.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2023, 09:51:24 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 06, 2023, 08:16:46 pmThat's my conclusion too. Their CSRs seem to confuse GSP and eIS, giving responses (not answers) that are mutually inconsistent and even self inconsistent.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 12:13:08 pm
content: From my location and as a buyer this is pretty clear.If VAT is visible it is done, it's also visible all the way, from ebay page to money click.If no VAT and item is from behind the wall local customs start nagging, but everything is still internet electrical.Is UK different?Seller, parcel vs. freight and other nuances are of course very different.eISD page still has that combination possibility.Is it outdated? Maybe it's reconsidered.Max size there was 84 inches, actual carriers have more, maybe ebay is subtracting a safety something.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 12:53:43 pm
content: Looking at an listing of TE in the US with EIS shipping, it now has "duties" shown under the shipping cost, but a listing for a TE manual doesn't have this shown (0% rate), instead states"This item may be subject to duties and taxes upon delivery."Struggling to find an active US listing that still has GSP, most have transitioned over the EIS, or removed international completely. Sellers everywhere have always hated dealing with international shipping themselves and prefer to use GSP/EIS.EISD and regular (non ebay) shipping listings, don't show anything on the main listing page, unless you look at the shipping tab."VAT may apply. The actual VAT requirements and rates may vary depending on the final sale."Oddly I'm noticing shipping prices seem a lot more expensive*now they have changed to EIS from GSP, resulting in me clicking the X icon & forgetting about the item.*the opposite to how they are advertising the EIS service.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 01:33:42 pm
content: Today's amusing story in this area is fromhttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/07/cardiff-flat-owner-gets-tax-bills-for-11000-chinese-firmsThe TL;DR isQuoteI'm not convinced fleabay sellers are actually collecting VAT; I suspect they are still quoting the same price and ignoring taxes.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 01:44:30 pm
content: Erm ePay collect it, not the sellers....A couple of pictures showing parts of an ebay tax invoice, for an order of TE related parts.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 01:47:12 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 07, 2023, 12:53:43 pmI would be less unhappy if I could clearly see the cause of the higher prices, e.g. transport, or red tape, or taxes, etc.I would be less unhappy if I could clearly see what is included/excluded from the indicated "total" price.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 01:51:12 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 07, 2023, 01:44:30 pmOK.Does fleabay then give it to the sellers in the expectation they will give it to HMRC?What happens if a parcel is delivered with a £20+ invoice for VAT and admin? Who do I take to court to get a refund?

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 01:56:46 pm
content: IDK, I've not had this problem since ebay took over VAT collection, maybe use the "request a VAT refund" option at the bottom of this page.Or contact the shipping provider and show them the "ebay tax invoice", which is available on the order page.https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771Have you actually bought anything using ePay GSP or EIS?David

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 02:34:03 pm
content: reading this thread makes me glad to live in the US for once. I've never had to pay a penny of taxes, fees, or duties on international purchases of items (the most expensive items I've imported were about $350).As a seller, I can tell you that sometimes I do notice a VAT charge on an international sale, but I never actually handle that money. Ebay holds onto it, and supposed to pass it onto correct place. If they aren't doing that, you need to take it up with ebay, since the seller has absolutely no control on what is charged, or where it goes.I prefer to handle international shipping myself so I can control what gets shipped internationally. I only offer it for items that are worth the extra risk and expense, and that I don't expect any problems with. For example, I recently had a listing for an old spool of solder pulled because someone from Germany turned it in for containing lead. It was only listed on the US ebay site, but I did offer worldwide shipping.To me, that means I can only offer worldwide shipping on mundane items that I'm sure are legal in every country. I assumed customs was supposed to take care of blocking banned items, not individual ebay sellers. It's impossible to me to know what is and isn't legal in every single country. In the future, I won't be offering shipping to Europe on items that aren't ROHS compliant, which means all vintage electronics.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 02:35:39 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 07, 2023, 01:56:46 pmNot recently, and certainly not this year. I've avoided buying from overseas since covid and the invasion of Ukraine caused many many shipping problems. I presume without checking that earlier overseas purchases were via GSP.I have had unexpected VAT+admin invoices, but without disinterring the past I don't know whether they were even fleabay purchases.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 05:51:52 pm
content: Quote from: factory on April 07, 2023, 12:53:43 pmWe have reduced VAT for literature, earlier it was none.Means that kid's picture book without text is regular VAT but added a word here and there and VAT is reduced.Maybe these kind of things are why duties and taxes are less exact.But I see the problem now.Shipping:EUR 14.95 Economy Shipping. See detailsfor shippingLocated in: Ljubljana, SloveniaShipping:GBP 10.00 (approx EUR 11.38) Economy Shipping. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Caterham, United KingdomShipping:US $9.00 (approx EUR 8.24) USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate EnvelopeTM. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Rock Creek, Ohio, United StatesShipping:US $20.89 (approx EUR 19.12) eBay International Shipping. See detailsfor shippingLocated in: Saint Louis, Missouri, United StatesThis item may be subject to duties and taxes upon deliveryShipping:US $14.00 (approx EUR 12.82) eBay International Standard Delivery. See detailsfor shippingInternational shipment of items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.Located in: Bloomsdale, Missouri, United StatesMy checkout added VAT to everything, before that the cart was without any.So if VAT is not stated earlier it will be added later.Maybe those eIS sellers are not sure and add something to be sure.