Can someone explain Ebay's new International shipping "Global Shipping Program"?
 

Perhaps this thread is not the place, but if anybody had any experience with Ebay's new offering("Global Shipping Program") to ship international item to a central location and what were charges or cost to the seller? I do a lot of international sales and found that only a couple of issues, mainly the buyer had problems with their port authority customs department. I know Ebay would like all sellers to offer "Free Shipping", but when I question Ebay support their response has always been "we have to compete with Amazon and others", so shipping "Free" is good for business, but when I asked "who pays" they say the seller, so they're recommendation is to include it "Free Shipping" in the auction Buy it Now or have a higher starting price. The penalty is now a "Value Added Shipping Fee", whether domestic or international. Any opinions would greatly be appreciated.

You actually found a way to contact "the Ebay" and got an answer? :twitchy:

i bought some bells in odd colors from china,
green,gold,red, blue.

they had free shipping to EU but not to USA.
I dont get it but they are offering free shipping.
but the postage fees are very different from country to country.

Here's how you can call by going to support:)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295072http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295073

Eventually, if you do quite a few auctions on ebay (as a seller), you will want to achieve "top rated seller" status. Why bother? Well, you get 20% off the final selling fees, and 30% off the shipping rates. So the savings are substantial.

Unfortunately, in order to maintain this status on ebay, its almost impossible unless you offer "free shipping". Just like Amazon, and anyone else that offers free shipping, shipping is not "free", its just built into the selling price (otherwise, everyone will go out of business). So you build it into your selling price, just like you should build in the cost of padded envelopes, label stock, tissue paper, trips to the post office, etc.

Ultimately, if this does not work for you, then being an active seller on ebay won't work either.

I routinely buy stuff on ebay from China. 100% of the time, shipping is free. I just bought 100 spoke nipples, free shipping. Took about 3 weeks.

Really, its not ebay that is competing with Amazon, its YOU, as the seller. Ebay just provides a platform for buyers and sellers to meet. And buyers now are so accustomed to free shipping, its become an entitlement. I have discussed Amazon's free shipping with others. Does anyone think FedEx is giving Amazon free shipping? Of course not. Amazon pays millions in postage and shipping every year. So when they offer free shipping, its not free at all, its just built into the pricing.

My rating is 453 with 100% and to achieve "top rated seller" status I have to start at a higher price, or buy it now to protect my investment. Works only for Ebay's financial bottom line.

The shipping discount is potentially worth a lot.

I have a business neighbor who lets me ship from his office, He has UPS, Fedex. The cost to him is amazingly less than my "retail" price.
Even knowing that the UPS store is above retail.

While on the subject of ebay, Shipping for Europe appears to be getting more dear. I have had two items get processed, one the seller wanted over double what was in the auction! (from $40 to $90) I was suspicious, and was able to get him to back down. The other was from France, shipping was quoted at $15. actual postage on the package was 36 Euros! Not all the 2.50 Euro stamps were cancelled, so I lifted those off and posted them back to the guy, he will get a 15 Euro rebate.

Also, when a "best offer" ends now, the sales price no longer is searchable, it was that while it was in the "laundry" list still shown at the offered price, one could look up the auction and get the transaction price, no more. Now the original price is crossed out, but the true sales price will remain cloaked. So it goes.