eBay's Global Shipping Program vs. Paypal

[jdbleed]

I sold a pair of AKG headphones via ebay. I offered free shipping and accepted international buyers.

A buyer purchased and paid for the item, and I shipped it to the address provided to me when I purchased shipped through ebay. This address is the address in Erlanger, Kentucky, which ebay uses for international buyers. The buyer in this case is in Spain.

Ebay's global shipping program offers the following assurance: 

You aren't responsible for item loss or damage that occurs after the item is forwarded by the US shipping center. Once an item has been forwarded by the US shipping center, you won't be responsible for refunding the buyer if an eBay Money Back Guarantee or PayPal Purchase Protection case is filed against you for one of the following reasons:

• A buyer claims an item isn't received or

• A package is damaged in transit

The buyer has zero feedback. I would not have sold to him otherwise, but he won the option and paid. Ebay said ship, I shipped

Buyer then appealed the transaction through paypal. Says he just got an empty box, which is baloney. Paypal sided with him - apparently discussed it over the phone with the buyer but didn't give me the chance to give my side. 

Ebay says I should have gotten the refund and been protected. But since the buyer filed a claim through paypal, they aren't going to protect me. 

Virlet in the claims department just informed me that I needed to contact my global shipping company. But I didn't ship globally. She wants me to contact ebay. But ebay sent me to her! We have since escalated the claim, whatever that means. VERY FRUSTRATING.

Im a good seller, with 100% positive ratings on ebay. The buyer has been on ebay since 2013 but has zero feedback. 

This feels like a scam, and I'm a little amazed the hot steamy mess known as Paypal isn't realizing it. 

[Orrin]

Let me tell you this about the GSP. It is not worth it for the buyer OR the seller.

I was recently on the other side of this issue. I ordered a $400 microphone preamp which was shipped by the seller to the GSP processing center in Kentucky, then onward to me in Japan. When the package arrived I opened it and a cheap pair of Adidas tennis shoes was inside. I contacted the buyer who said that they never sold any tennis shoes and that they had sent the correct item to Kentucky. Obviously I can't judge with any real accuracy the honesty of some stranger over the Internet but I got the feeling that they were telling the truth.

The label on the package I received did have the correct information -- the right seller and the right item -- although it was pretty hard to read due to the giant label that the Japanese courier felt the need to slather over the top of it.

Well since I received the wrong item I tried to contact eBay about it but guess what...their contact page was throwing up an HTML error and wasn't displaying the phone number I would need to actually contact them. So in my frustration I just called PayPal and disputed the charge, although I didn't realize that would have repercussions for the seller as you claim but honestly that isn't my problem anyway, I'm out over $450 and I need that money back. Yes, that's right I had to pay nearly $70 to eBay for the privilege of taking close to three weeks to ship me the wrong item...

I am still awaiting the outcome of my disputed transaction. But after going through this ordeal and reading your story I can only assume that someone at the GSP warehouse is stealing high-dollar items with good resale value by switching labels or boxes because they know that with these types of transactions there is no way to trace it back to them. There is no way for PayPal to know with certainty that the seller actually shipped what they were supposed to, and no way to know whether the buyer really got the correct item or not. In a way, it's like the perfect crime.

Of course the real explanation might not be quite so sinister. It could just be **bleep**-poor QC or lack of training at the GSP warehouse. But whatever the reason for these issues, the moral of the story is to avoid GSP like the plague -- regardless of whether you are buying or selling. The fees are absolutely outrageous and as both of us have unfortunately learned the hard way, the system is very fallible and not conducive to a trustworthy auction platform.

[lancelotme]

IDBLEED,

yes,you did ship thru the Global shipping program,the infamous GSP JOINTLY owned by Ebay and Pitney Bowles.

The way it works is that you ship to ErLanger,Kentucky with online viewable tracking,the folks there will forward IT to Spain.

If I am not mistaken,they repack your item.

one thing about GSP both buyer and seller should know is that GSP will figure the customs duty,sevrice charge,shipping from Erlanger to Spain and make your buyer prepay.

If Spain is in the Euro zone,then the package will clear UK customs and UK customs duty will be paid.

It is possible the folks at Erlanger goofed and dropped your items,you need to contact them and complain.

There should be a contact number you can call,go to Ebay seller forum and ask ,there are many Ebay sellers there and some do ship GSP.

If you did not use GSP and ship the item yourself and your buyer claimed empty package,you lose !

If you have insured the package,then file claim with the insurer.

In this case,you ship GSP ,if you have shipped an empty box,GSP would know when they repack your package unless they are blind?

so call GSP customer service and find out .

I hate to say this,but too many cooks spoil the broth,too many fingers are involve here,the GSP folks,UK customs,Spain customs,Spain post office and your buyer may be lying

[lancelotme]

I think the Ebay rep is wrong,when it comes to empty box ,you are not protected by either Ebay or Paypal,the only protection would be third party insurer if you have taken out insurance.

Like you have quote,seller protection is for item not received and item damaged in transit,not empty box.