eBay’s Global Shipping Program (GSP) simplifies international shipping for Canadian sellers and provides tracking and delivery assurances for buyers. This comprehensive guide answers common questions about using GSP to ship to Canadian buyers from abroad.
What is eBay’s Global Shipping Program and how does it work?
eBay’s Global Shipping Program enables international sellers to ship items to a domestic shipping center, rather than directly to the buyer. The item is then forwarded to the buyer’s country, where a local carrier completes delivery.
This allows international sellers to ship domestically, avoiding complexities of international shipping. Buyers can track the package and only pay applicable duties and taxes once the item arrives in their country. eBay manages payments and tracking between the shipping centers.
What are the benefits of GSP for Canadian sellers?
Canadian sellers can reach eBay’s 171 million international buyers while only shipping domestically to eBay’s shipping centers in the US. GSP handles completing the international shipping leg.
Benefits include:
- Simplified shipping logistics and labels
- Lower domestic shipping rates
- No need to determine duties and taxes
- Payments processed in Canadian dollars
- Tracking until the package reaches the buyer
- Delivery estimates and customs clearance provided to buyers
- Reduced cases of lost packages
How do Canadian buyers benefit from purchasing through GSP?
For Canadian buyers, the Global Shipping Program provides:
- Access to international sellers who only ship within their country
- Confidence in fully tracked international delivery
- Clear visibility into duties, taxes and import charges
- Package consolidation and reduced customs clearance time
- Delivery to their doorstep in 5-8 business days on average
Overall, GSP makes buying internationally on eBay reliable and transparent.
What does the GSP shipping process look like?
When a Canadian buyer purchases an item from an international seller using GSP, this is the typical shipping flow:
- Seller ships the package domestically to one of eBay’s international shipping centers, such as in the US.
- Once received, the item is forwarded to Canada Post or another carrier selected by GSP.
- Canada Post or the other carrier handles customs clearance and delivers to the buyer’s address.
- The buyer receives tracking updates and delivery confirmation.
Where are eBay’s Global Shipping Centers located?
eBay has major shipping centers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Additional centers are located in Poland, Australia, and Belgium.
Most Canadian orders are initially shipped to one of the US shipping centers. eBay is continually expanding GSP capabilities to facilitate more global eBay marketplace transactions.
What shipping services are used for final delivery?
eBay leverages reputable postal carriers for international shipping and final delivery based on the buyer’s location. In Canada, final delivery is completed by Canada Post.
Other common carriers include USPS, DHL, FedEx, Australia Post, Hong Kong Post, and more. The specific carrier depends on the destination, package weight, and type of service selected.
How much does shipping and customs typically cost for buyers?
Shipping fees vary based on the item, value, weight, seller’s location, and other factors. As a general estimate, shipping an item through GSP to Canada costs $20-60 USD on average.
In addition, Canadian buyers pay any applicable import duties and taxes, which may range from 0-20% or more of the item’s value. eBay provides buyers with import charge estimates during checkout, so final costs are transparent upfront.
How is customs and tax collection handled?
One of the major advantages of GSP is that it handles customs clearance and import tax collection on the buyer’s behalf. When the shipment arrives in Canada, the buyer’s account is charged for any applicable duties and taxes based on the item’s declared value.
This simplifies the international buying experience, preventing surprise charges upon delivery that lead to refused packages and added headaches.
Does the Global Shipping Program provide tracking and delivery estimates?
Absolutely. GSP provides tracking throughout the international shipping process, from the seller to the buyer’s doorstep. eBay provides estimated delivery windows based on the shipping service and destination country.
Buyers can conveniently track packages via the eBay website or app. Limited tracking may be available once handed over to the final delivery carrier.
What happens if a GSP package gets lost or damaged?
eBay’s Global Shipping Program provides more protection for lost or damaged packages than typical international shipping.
If a package gets lost or damaged within the eBay shipping network, eBay may compensate the buyer as appropriate. Damage claims should be promptly reported to eBay along with photo evidence.
For packages lost or damaged by the final carrier, buyers must file claims directly with the local postal service. eBay will provide assistance with this claims process upon request.
Key Takeaways
- eBay’s Global Shipping Program enables Canadian sellers to expand internationally and provides a trusted option for international buyers.
- Sellers ship domestically to eBay’s shipping centers, avoiding complex international shipments.
- Buyers pay duties, taxes, and exact shipping charges at checkout for predictable and reliable delivery.
- Packages are tracked until final delivery to the buyer’s address, usually within 5-8 business days.
By understanding how GSP works, both sellers and buyers can take advantage of eBay’s robust international marketplace. The program bridges the gap for shoppers worldwide.
