How To Set Up Global Shipping On Ebay

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eBay Global Shipping Programme: All Your Questions Answered

eBay's Global Shipping Program allows sellers to access international customers and reach new markets, but is it the best option for sellers?

eBay Global Shipping Program: All Your Questions Answered

International shipping is a complex activity. There are a multitude of considerations from customs duties and taxes, to long commitment time frames and flawed parcel tracking.

eBay'due south Global Shipping Program (GSP) aims to brand international shipping easy for eBay sellers. With GSP you only have to ship your production to a warehouse in your own land, then eBay takes over and handles international delivery to the heir-apparent.

But how well does the program work? What are the pros and cons? And is it really the best manner to transport internationally?

What is the eBay Global Shipping Plan?
What are the benefits of the eBay Global Shipping Program?
What are the requirements and limitations of the GSP?
How does the eBay Global Shipping Program benefit sellers?
Which countries does the eBay GSP send to?
What is the cost of eBay GSP to sellers, or is it free?
How does the buyer see listings nether the Global Shipping Programme?
Is the eBay GSP cost effective for buyers?
Will I brand more than international sales using the Global Shipping Programme?
How do I handle returns for items shipped under the GSP?
What do sellers retrieve of the eBay Global Shipping Programme?
What happens if a package is lost or damaged nether the eBay GSP?
Can I opt out of the Global Shipping Program?
Tin I pick and choose which countries to use the GSP for?
What are the alternatives to the eBay Global Shipping Program?

What is the eBay Global Shipping Program?

Under the GSP, a seller's listings are shown to eBay buyers across the world. eBay automatically calculates the international shipping cost, duties, taxes and estimated commitment dates upfront, and adds them to the list which the international buyer sees. The seller doesn't provide any of that information themselves.

When an international buyer makes a purchase, the seller sends the item to a shipping center based in their own country. eBay's service provider, a global shipping company called Pitney Bowes, manages the international delivery and customs process from there on.

The seller has washed their part, and so Pitney Bowes are responsible for the packet from when it arrives at the shipping center until it reaches the buyer'south door.

What are the benefits of the eBay Global Shipping Program?

The GSP is one mode that eBay aims to assist sellers take advantage of international ecommerce. By reducing the time and complication of shipping overseas, sellers who would otherwise be reluctant to sell internationally tin get started very easily. The Global Shipping Program makes international aircraft as simple and efficient as domestic aircraft.

For sellers, the GSP is very convenient. There are no customs forms to fill out, duties or taxes to calculate, or international deliveries to organize. Sellers are protected by eBay so if their items are lost or damaged on the international part of their journeying, they are nonetheless guaranteed five stars for shipping time and protected from negative feedback related to shipping.

For buyers, GSP provides access to more than international products, with the total cost including shipping, duties and taxes provided upfront. Shipping and community clearance should exist fast and piece of cake, because all duties are declared and paid in advance. Nonetheless, the Global Shipping Program can be quite expensive for buyers – in that location'southward more on that later.

What are the requirements and limitations of the GSP?

eBay'south Global Shipping Plan is open up to sellers who take a performance rating of at least Higher up Standard. The detail to be shipped must already exist in the seller's country and listed for sale on eBay.com or eBay.co.britain. The seller must accept PayPal.

There are restrictions on the size, weight and value of parcels, which vary depending on the destination country. For US sellers, the maximum weight ranges between 66 and 150 lbs and the maximum length between 66 and 118 inches. Nigh countries allow a maximum value of $2500, only again this varies between countries and can be as low as $200 for shipping to the Dominican Republic and El salvador.

For most destination countries, the buyer must take a concrete address, rather than a P.O. Box.

As with regular eBay listings, there are restrictions on the type of items that can be listed and shipped, such as illegal or chancy items. Additionally, items listed in some categories can't exist included in the GSP, such equally smart watches, gift cards and tickets.

The full list of restrictions can exist constitute on the eBay.com GSP aid page, under "Getting started with the Global Shipping Program" and "Restricted categories and prohibited items".

The equivalent page on GSP for UK sellers lists restricted items and categories, and the folio on eBay.co.uk for buyers details the maximum size and weight.

How does the eBay Global Shipping Plan benefit sellers?

The main benefit of using eBay'south GSP is that shipping overseas becomes merely equally straightforward as sending domestic orders, making it accessible and convenient for sellers to reach international customers. Other benefits include:

Sellers should brand more than sales to international buyers (but not necessarily – more on that nether Will I brand more international sales using the Global Shipping Program? below).
Sellers are not responsible for lost or damaged parcels once they've reached eBay'southward shipping centre.
If sellers provide free domestic shipping, they will automatically receive 5 stars for the shipping costs DSR (detailed seller rating).
Sellers automatically receive five stars for the shipping fourth dimension DSR (providing they meet targets for treatment, tracking upload, and commitment to the aircraft center).
Any negative or neutral feedback that tin can exist attributed to international shipping will be removed.
Orders are automatically tracked.

However, the GSP does non always work as intended. Delivery fourth dimension frames tin can be longer than expected, and sellers accept reported poor handling of disputes by eBay support reps who do not seem to have been well trained on the program.

The GSP does not address every aspect of international sales, only those relating to aircraft. For example, it does not translate listings or heir-apparent messages, or handle returns.

Which countries does the eBay GSP ship to?

Currently, US sellers tin can ship to over 100 countries:

Great britain sellers can ship to 87 unlike countries, listed on the eBay.co.uk GSP folio for buyers.

What is the cost of eBay GSP to sellers, or is it gratis?

There is no fee to use the Global Shipping Program just sellers will still have their usual eBay and PayPal fees to pay on the auction toll (but not on the additional fees that the buyer pays).

Buyers see estimated shipping and import charges on the listing, which are then confirmed at checkout. These charges are paid by the heir-apparent directly to Pitney Bowes to cover shipping, handling, customs duties, taxes, brokerage and all other international fees.

Sellers aren't directly told the total price that the buyer pays, although this data is included on the packing slip that sellers print out, as it is required for community compliance. The amount sellers receive is the detail cost and whatever domestic shipping amount that they charge. This comes straight from the buyer, just as information technology does for a domestic sale.

Sellers practise need to consider how they will handle returns, as this is not included in the GSP and tin can be very costly. More than on returns in How do I handle returns for items shipped under the GSP? below.

How does the buyer come across listings under the Global Shipping Program?

To demonstrate how buyers see GSP listings, we accept taken the same detail – a men'southward ring – existence sold by a US seller, and compared how it appears on:

eBay.com, for domestic shipping to the US; and
eBay.com.au for shipping through the GSP to an Australian address.

Here is the listing on eBay.com:

Mens ring being sold on eBay US

The item price is $425 and expedited shipping within the Usa is gratuitous.

Here is the aforementioned particular, from the aforementioned seller, shown on eBay.com.au:

Mens ring being sold on eBay AU under GSP

The item cost is the same, $425, and the gauge cost in Australian dollars is automatically calculated. Beneath that you tin encounter:

A postage (shipping) charge of $24.19
Import charges of $53.54
An estimated international delivery date

The total price is confirmed at the checkout stage and volition cover all international shipping and community fees.

Upon completion of the auction, the buyer would pay approximately $504 (Us dollars). The seller receives the sale price of $425 and Pitney Bowes takes the residue for international shipping.

Note that the list states "No boosted import charges at commitment!". The buyer still pays import charges, but with the GSP these are paid at checkout then there will be no customs delay or actress costs upon delivery itself.

Is the eBay GSP cost constructive for buyers?

For items listed under the Global Aircraft Programme, buyers pay the full of:

The seller'southward usual selling price
The seller'southward usual domestic aircraft (if not complimentary)
eBay's calculated international shipping
eBay's calculated import duty and taxes

Does this represent good value to the buyer? It depends, based on the product weight and size, and whether the item would ordinarily concenter import duties.

For shipments from the US, eBay GSP always uses the USPS Priority Post International service. This is fast and includes tracking, but is expensive, starting at around $24. Sellers may be able to ship a lot cheaper directly, particularly for small and light items.

From what we take seen, eBay GSP listings always include an import charge. The actual cost important taxes and duties vary depending on the destination, value and type of production beingness sent. But buyers often written report that the import charges are college with GSP than if the seller sent the package themselves.

And then, some buyers avoid GSP listings equally it makes the products they buy too expensive. Others like GSP because it provides good admission to international products, with fast delivery and the convenience of paying import charges upfront.

In general, low value items are probable to have their price inflated to an uncompetitive level, while high value items might remain reasonably priced.

Will I brand more international sales using the Global Shipping Program?

Your success with the GSP depends mainly on:

The products you sell
The countries where those products are in demand
Whether you are already selling internationally

If you don't sell internationally at all…

The GSP is a very easy way to experiment with cross-border selling.

Information technology will requite you access to a much wider customer base and you will have at least some opportunity to make international sales, whereas before y'all had none.

Information technology'due south a very uncomplicated and convenient plan, and a great way to learn before considering doing your own international shipping.

If yous do already sell internationally…

The GSP could impact your sales negatively if it inflates the price buyers pay (run into Is the eBay GSP cost effective for buyers? above).

On the other paw, if GSP opens up new countries that you don't want to ship to yourself, it could increase sales if your products are in need there. You tin can pick and choose which countries to use GSP for, and which to ship to directly.

But if yous but want to use GSP equally an outsourcing service to offload the hassle of shipping internationally, it is less probable to increment international sales. They might remain apartment, or sales might decrease, if your products become more expensive under GSP. You lot would take to weigh up the impact on sales confronting the time and effort saved.

On the whole, larger and higher-value items that are expensive to ship and tend to attract import charges anyhow are more likely to exist competitively priced for buyers under the GSP. Small, low-value items are likely to have excessive shipping and import charges under the GSP, and put buyers off.

How practise I handle returns for items shipped under the GSP?

eBay's Global Shipping Program doesn't handle returns, so sellers accept to deal with this aspect themselves. There are several options for treatment international returns. Here's a summary.

i. Write off the toll

Depending on the value of the item, information technology might be amend to write off the toll and refund the heir-apparent without request for the appurtenances to be returned.

This is a simple approach that deals with the problem quickly and will probably avoid any disputes or negative feedback. It may as well be price effective when the products sold are of low value and not worth the cost of return aircraft.

However, for college value orders this may not be financially viable. It can also devalue your products and make you vulnerable to scammers.

2. International parcel carriers

Some other simple choice is for the seller to adjust shipping with an international carrier like FedEx, UPS, DHL or TNT then send the characterization and whatever other documentation needed direct to the buyer. The buyer can then repackage and return the particular easily and without paying for shipping themselves.

This might be a good option to brand sure high-value items are returned reliably, but can be very expensive.

3. Parcel forwarding services

There are a number of services, often designed for shoppers rather than businesses, that provide a delivery address in unlike countries. These tin can exist used to provide a local returns address for international buyers, and then forward the package to the seller.

This might be a useful choice for sellers with a low volume of international returns. Nonetheless, these services tin can have value and size limits, and may be expensive.

four. Returns handling services

There are a growing number of services for businesses to help them manage international returns. These usually provide local returns addresses in several countries, and warehouses providing a number of different options for processing.

One option is to consolidate multiple returns into one package to salve on shipping costs. Some providers also offering an inspection service so returns are checked and photographs sent to the seller, who can and so decide whether or not to upshot a refund.

Another possibility, offered by some providers, is the choice to resell returns locally. The products are inspected and graded and resold through the well-nigh advisable channel available. This avoids shipping the detail back to the seller and needing to process the return themselves.

Returns handling services are commonly only suitable for sellers with higher international returns volumes, every bit at that place are usually minimum monthly fees.

International returns services are listed in the directory.

What do sellers think of the eBay Global Shipping Program?

Sellers' opinions are mixed. Many encounter the GSP as a good service, making global aircraft convenient, simple and hassle-free. It works as intended, most of the time.

Other sellers take negative opinions on the Global Shipping Program. Some are due to fundamental shortcomings, such as:

It tin be expensive for buyers, pricing your products out of the market and killing off international sales.
It'due south only a fractional service, as it doesn't interpret listings, provide customer service in the heir-apparent'due south linguistic communication or handle returns.

Other complaints are due to service failures, causing problems similar:

Delayed delivery due to processing backlogs at the shipping center.
Incorrect refunds or PayPal funds being held, when parcels are lost or damaged during international aircraft (which the seller is not responsible for).
Damaged products, due to packages being opened at the shipping center and not existence repackaged correctly.
Poor support and incorrect advice from eBay seller support reps.

Mistakes practice happen under the GSP from time to time, only they are not the norm. Problems similar these can be very frustrating and time-consuming, and also expensive if not resolved properly.

Sellers can assist protect themselves past using tracked delivery to the aircraft center, and taking photographs to prove the condition of high-value items. A lot of time, perseverance and a solid agreement of eBay policies might be needed when dealing with eBay's support reps.

What happens if a bundle is lost or damaged under the eBay GSP?

Responsibility for lost or damaged packages is separate under the Global Shipping Program:

The seller is responsible for getting the package to the shipping center safely.
Pitney Bowes is responsible for processing the parcel at the shipping middle and delivering information technology to the heir-apparent safely.

If an item is lost or damaged at the shipping middle or during international aircraft, and a buyer asks for a refund, there should be no cost to the seller or negative effect on their performance metrics. But how tin you tell when the loss or harm occurred?

For lost packages, it should be straightforward to found when the loss occurred, as there is a tape of when packages are received at the aircraft centre. If the package was logged as received, the seller should non be held liable for non-delivery.

For damaged items, the situation is more difficult. Damage could happen during domestic shipping, within the shipping center, or during international shipping. If the damage is severe, it should be picked up at the shipping center or by the parcel carrier. More frequently, harm is non seen and reported until the buyer receives the parcel.

Sellers can find themselves in protracted discussions with eBay seller support over responsibility for damaged items that were sent under the Global Shipping Program.

Can I opt out of the Global Aircraft Program?

Yes, you lot tin can opt out of the Global Aircraft Program.

When eBay updated their user agreement in 2022, some sellers were automatically enrolled into the GSP when they accepted the new terms, often without realizing it. This caused some controversy and complaints.

Sellers can opt out of the GSP at any time:

At the top left of the eBay site, click your username then Account settings
Click Site Preferences on the left
Find the Shipping preferences heading (eBay.com) or Postage and packaging preferences (eBay.co.uk)
Next to Offer the Global Aircraft Program click Edit
Cull your preferred settings or opt out completely

You can likewise access the GSP preferences page directly using these links for eBay.com and eBay.co.uk.

GSP preferences

Bear in mind that you can clear the check mark next to Apply the Global Shipping Program for new eligible listings to opt out of the GSP past default, only proceed the ability to opt in on a per-listing basis.

If you opt out completely, the option volition non announced on your listings at all. You will exist able to opt in again in the futurity, but will need to wait for 24 hours.

You can also remove a single active list or all active listings from the Global Aircraft Plan via the Seller Hub.

Can I pick and cull which countries to use the GSP for?

Yes, you tin pick and choose which countries yous want to use GSP for.

This provides sellers with a powerful tool to tailor their shipping strategy. For case, sellers might cull a select group of countries they are comfortable shipping to themselves, but utilize the Global Aircraft Program for all the others.

This gives sellers the best of both worlds. They don't have to make their products unnecessarily expensive for countries they can ship to themselves. They likewise don't have to worry nearly fraud or unreliable carriers for less developed or more than afar countries, equally they will be protected by the GSP.

To accept the choice to customize the countries you lot utilise the GSP for, follow the instructions in Can I opt out of the Global Shipping Programme? above, and make certain the box is checked for Customize international shipping for some locations.

What are the alternatives to the eBay Global Shipping Program?

The GSP is a simple and convenient organization for international sellers, merely it is far from the but way to ship internationally. It is oft seen as a beginner's solution for cross-border selling, and more than experienced sellers might get improve results with alternative methods.

Here's a summary of the principal alternatives:

Direct shipping

Sellers tin send packages overseas using the USPS (or Imperial Post in the UK) or international carriers. The services available vary greatly on cost, speed, tracking and insurance.

To notice the best charge per unit quickly y'all can employ a rate comparison service online or oftentimes they are built into many of the order direction and shipping software tools.

Mail consolidation services can provide better rates for sellers with higher guild volumes, although the shipping speed will commonly be a footling slower.

Third party logistics (3PL) companies

These companies provide warehousing and club fulfillment services in different countries around the world. This could be a adept selection for sellers with high order volumes in sure countries, putting them on an equal continuing to local sellers in terms of aircraft cost and speed.

To utilize a 3PL in another country you will need to export your products upfront and in bulk, then they can apace fulfill orders when they come in.

Amazon FBA

Amazon FBA can be used like a 3PL for orders from other channels, including eBay. This can be a convenient selection for sellers who already have inventory in FBA warehouses in other countries.

However, FBA is not allowed for fulfilling orders on eBay Australia. There are likewise reports that eBay in the US has penalized sellers for using Amazon FBA, although there is no official policy against it.

Our guide Selling Internationally: A Guide to Tools & Services for Cross-Border Trade covers more options for global shipping and fulfillment including some of the leading service providers.

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