Ebay shipping question

[fin racer]

I am sure this has been covered a gazillion times on here, and I am 70% certain its legit, but I am sure there are people on here who go through the same rigmarole on a weekly/monthly basis.
I ain't one of them, so here goes.
Buyer purchases a watch from me via Ebay, nothing expensive, an older TW Steel, value £100.
Not until I check the buyers profile I realise he is using a UK shipping address but has requested delivery to Singapore.
the UK address is as below:
GSP, Unit 3 Dove CL, Fradley Pk
Ref#A11032245566SG
LICHFIELD
Staffordshire
WS13 8UR
Seems address is legit. Contacted the buyer and he claims its a scam, he never used the address, yet its present on his Ebay and PayPal profile. He has paid in full, promptly, plus £30 for shipping. Royal Mail tracked and recorded International delivery comes out at £15 so it all sounds legit.
He is asking that I ship to SG, not this GSP address.
He has well over 30 positive feedbacks in the past 2 years.
Thoughts?

[scsracing]

Its just Ebay's global shipping scheme. That is a Ebay sorting centre and the reference number tells them who to send it onto (Ie the guy in SG). Its all legit and just Ebay's way of taking another slice of the pie whilst making it easier for seller and buyer.

[bobtail4x4]

if it walks like a duck............

[oakdale]

If you don't ship to the address shown on his account, he'll claim he hasn't received it and you'll lose your money as you won't have proof of it being received at that address.

[Geffg]

I've sent a few items abroad and through eBay that is the address of there shipping centre so nothing to worry about.

[fin racer]

he"s now claiming that he will cancel payment and report me to Ebay for using this "phantom" address that he claims to have no knowledge about. Despite his SG address being listed NOWHERE that I can see, indeed it was not until he told me it that I had any idea

[oakdale]

Definitely a scam.

[julianm]

SCS is correct - you send it to the UK Ebay global shipping centre. They punt it on worldwide & screw the buyer for the shipping cost which will exceed most other available methods.
It`s routine Ebay processing, just send it `signed for`.

[fin racer]

thanks anyone who replied, I had a hunch shipping direct to SG would give me no comeback, even with Royal Mail recorded/tracked etc, so off to Lichfield it goes

[shelf1985]

Definately send it to lichfield and not direct, its not a scam.

The buyer will be confused and not aware its going through a hub as they just assume they buy and you send direct to them as its not clear to them when they buy its global shipping programme, but by sending it to lichfield you are fully covered and all will be rosy.

Send it signed for though.

[Nickyboy]

I've just sent one to that address for onward shipping to Malaysia, i've got another one sat here that going to go to Russia once the chap pays up.

The Code at the top of the address is what they use to relate the package to the buyer so make sure it's on the package. You're responsible for delivery to that address only, Ebay take responsibility from there on.

[GCH]

As above.
Your responsibility for delivery also ends as soon as it is signed for at the GSP depot too.

[wack]

GCH said:

As above.
Your responsibility for delivery also ends as soon as it is signed for at the GSP depot too.

Not as far as eBay is concerned, I sold a board game via global shipping , sent it to eBay, received ok, a few days later the money gets held by PayPal/eBay until I can prove delivery , except I can't prove delivery because it's their courier now

Their shutl delivery service tracks the parcel to litchfield then the (foreign)buyer gets a "your item has been delivered" message except he hasn't got it because it means to litchfield so he starts and item not received claim, it's a shambles

[anonymous-user]

oakdale said:

Definitely a scam.

bobtail4x4 said:

if it walks like a duck............

Its not a scam
The way to respond to your buyer is to direct him to the e bay global shipping explanation pages. he seems simply unaware of how Global shipping works. I had one similar to yours he misunderstood simple as that

How it does work is how many others have replied
I want something of yours but I live in America
You list it and tick the box that states Global shipping programme

I then buy and actually pay 2 amounts rolled into one one is to you for whatever the item is listed at as buy it now OR sells for at auction. the second is to e bay for them to send it from the UK to me in USA

I took part in the early trials and its served me very well
Instead of me having to find a courier who will send abroad I simply send it to one of two Global shipping addreses (there are several depending on just what it is you are selling
I am responsible for sending it to the GSP Centre
E bay are responsible for sending it on from GSP to the end address
You should use a trackable method of dispatch to the GSP

You should receive 3 emails as the parcel moves along
1 its arrived at the GSP
2. its left the GSP
3. Its been delivered
You may also receive a "item is delayed whilst ... blah blah" - this is dependant what it is as they sometimes check it is what it is and is not on restricted lists

You will not know how much e bay charge on global shipping it varies but to be fair is either quite reasonable when compared to you arranging it yourself or ok
I have supplied items via global shipping numbering over 200 now and its worked fine for me. You are however as with any e bay sale at te mercy of the honesty of the buyer

If it doesn't arrive (or buyer says it hasnt) provided you have been notified by the GSP it arrived at their depot - that means keeping the emails you are covered. A buyer who leaves negative or neutral feedback for you for non receipt that YOU can prove DID get as far as the GSP will have that feedback removed if you contact e bay its standard policy as they E BAY are responsive for the foreign leg of the trip
One semi amusing side point about the GSP I use Royal Mail signed for and I have noticed that stuff that would arrive at the GSP on a Monday is frequently not marked by Royal mail as having been delivered yet its been acknowledged by the GSP as having been received this may well happen with you which is why its important you keep the GSP messages
I took issue one month with this and contacted Royal mail and claimed the 24 lots of the one pound signed for fees
The response I got was rather dismissive they stated that as I had found out that Global shipping had them they were sorry for not obtaining a signature BUT etc etc. I didnt back down and eventually got a 50 quid payout cheque from Royal Mail for them not doing their job properly

[Jonmx]

It's absolutely fine. I sell a lot of stuff on Ebay, quite a bit goes abroad and that is indeed Ebay's Global Shipping hub. It makes life a hell of a lot easier as you just post it as you would a normal UK parcel and don't have to faff about with Doris at the Post Office trying to work out how to send a parcel abroad. Ebay also send your customer the tracking details and estimated delivery etc. I've sent to Argentina, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and loads of other places without any problems. It's the UK buyers and deliveries that are the issue. Like TechieDave says, once you're past the Royal Mail bit, you're fine.

Edited by Jonmx on Friday 15th September 01:10

[GCH]

wack said:

Not as far as eBay is concerned, I sold a board game via global shipping , sent it to eBay, received ok, a few days later the money gets held by PayPal/eBay until I can prove delivery , except I can't prove delivery because it's their courier now

Their shutl delivery service tracks the parcel to litchfield then the (foreign)buyer gets a "your item has been delivered" message except he hasn't got it because it means to litchfield so he starts and item not received claim, it's a shambles

Read the T&Cs.
They are responsible after delivery to the global shipping depot in the UK

[fin racer]

Posted, signed for via R,. last email from the guy it seems shows the penny has dropped. He claims he was an Ebay buyer only, so had never heard of GSP, I suspect he is not alone in that. Any reviews of the process seem to show as many good experiences as bad, so time will tell.
Thanks to all who took the time to message

[gregs656]

The GSP is the only way I send internationally now. Really good service I think.

Got a siemens central heating programmer going off to Australia today via the GSP.

[raddog]

Totally safe, we ship worldwide via Ebay GSP, at least one per day, and never had any issues. It's cheaper for the buyer and there's no risk of us underestimating shipping costs.

[Nickyboy]

techiedave said:

You will not know how much e bay charge on global shipping it varies but to be fair is either quite reasonable when compared to you arranging it yourself or ok
I have supplied items via global shipping numbering over 200 now and its worked fine for me. You are however as with any e bay sale at te mercy of the honesty of the buyer

You can print a packing slip which shows the full fees that the buyer has paid Ebay for shipping including any import charges if required. One i sent to Malaysia last week had £31 for shipping and £18 in import charges for the buyer.