Is there an issue with eBay US Global Partner shipping?

So retro gaming YouTuber Luke Morse put up this video earlier today. He's been having problems with a few recent packages to the US where arcade PCBs have been badly packaged and have gotten destroyed during shipping. He's been going to great pains to explain what was wrong and what sellers should be aware of when shipping things.

However, when he's spoken to the sellers... they all say they didn't package them that way. Turns out, they all went through eBay's Global Shipping Program, dispatched by Pitney Bowes International (PBI) in Kentucky.

eBay then revealed, after a lot of back-and-forth, that actually PBI acts as a 'customs house' - opening packages, checking contents and repackaging... badly. Then, when the items get crushed because of some inept person at PBI, the seller gets the blame and the bad feedback. Their response: 'try and avoid sellers shipping via PBI, and you should be fine' - which is a poor, poor excuse and certainly not an apology.

Is eBay US's Global Shipping Program really a problem? Have you had any issues with 'repackaging' by eBay and their partners? It could explain a few things with an uptick in damaged eBay packages.

 

Not sure how this works in the US, but in Argentina everything going through the post/couriers (be it a simple letter or a package) is private and can only be opened by the person to whom the package is addressed to and customs (if the mail/package comes from a different country). Anyone else opening the mail is breaking the law, and you can sue their ass.

 

Its the same in the UK, only people that can open packages is customs and only when there is a reason.

 

There is a possibility that there is a degree of prejudice by someone at the shipping company. But really, I would think they are trying to cut corners and minimize the weight of the package since it is going overseas. If a seller over packages something, the weight with all that padding vs one small sheet of bubble wrap and a handful of newspaper is significant when spread across hundreds of boxes. Ebay likely uses them cause it's cheap, not cause it's quality. Which is annoying.

Been using Ebay since 2009 and I had no issue so far but year goes by seems to be getting worse from seller and buyers complaint. I have shipped out alot furniture stuff that I made in workshop, shipping to USA, UK, Australia, Italy and more. So far I have no issue with delivery yet. Hope it stays like that.

Edit

Comparing Ebay and Amazon, Ebay has better variety items but system is unreliable for most user and also shipping is okay most of times. Amazon seem to be more friendly and better system and shipping is much much better but lack of variety items like Ebay has.

No win win situation here.

 

This is why I don't usually buy expensive/rare things outside the US on eBay. When I get something that breaks, It is usually cheap and I get a replacement and usually wind up keeping the damaged item because it just costs less that way. I actually just got a free NGC memory card because the first one was corrupted. I am also currently working out with a seller to give me a second Dreamcast controller + rumble because the built-in rumble doesn't respond properly and sometimes doesn't stop. Also someone badly packed a Game Gear causing some of the capacitors to leak worse and was able to convince the seller to refund $7 to buy a capacitor kit to fix it.

I don't mind when stuff breaks that can be easily replaced or fixed, but if it is an expensive and rare part or item, I would be hesitant to buy it out of the US.

 

I didn't have any issues with eBay's global shipping program. Mine was delivered by Fedex and nothing was damaged. My guess is that eBay have gone with the cheapest carrier, and this has happened.

 

I dont like the sounds of this re-opening then re-packing things business. Usually things i have got from the US have been done direct with the seller through USPS. However recently i bought one item & its being shipped through the ebay global shipping,hopefully this is not touched,re-packed poorly or any other horrible practice,last thing i want is it damaged. Now i'm worried,thanks for that

 

He's put up another video about the situation:

 

Yeah I saw these. Fucking ubeliveable.

I am insanely LIVID at this right now.

 

I don't think this has anything to do with racism, frankly. It probably has everything to do with incompetence at the repackaging facility (ignorant, lazy or bad employees).

The unfortunate reality of this is that eBay's contractors do have to open and inspect the packages before reshipping overseas, as, ultimately, they are responsible for all customs-related matters such as properly identifying the items and value. They should not, however, re-ship the packages in a condition that is not equal to or better than the original shipment.

This is exactly why I don't offer international shipping through the GSP. I don't want to be held responsible for someone else's incompetence.

 

I believe it does. I had no issue with mine, and shipping was $40 to Australia, with all original packaging, and the system I bought was an XBOX, so 4.4KGs. How the fuck, would it cost Luke $80 for uninsured packaging? That's just bullshit. They also had the EXACT same amount of damage on it as well. It's either it has to do with US+JAPAN, or it's employees breaking packages for fun. eBay is covering something up, and I have a feeling of posting Luke's videos on their Facebook page, and see if they remove it.

 

Not to mention GSP Is near twice as expensive for the buyer. Imho Its just one more scheme from ebay to grab an even larger part of the money going through the auction system. Do you for one instant believe they would do this if there was no money in it for them?

I am actively boycotting it, even messaging US seller about what stupid scheme it is. I convinced some to ship me usps instead, for half the price...

 

I haven't dived into watching the second video from Luke yet; however, I can feel his pain for receiving damaged goods/packaging.

Personally, I've never had any issues with this since there has been several times that I've had to use eBay's US Global Partner shipping, but I can most definitely understand one's frustrations with everything that has been going on. Is it right that eBay just sits idly by while this happens? No, it is not right whatsoever. I won't say that what is eBay is doing is morally right since that is a whole can of worms in itself; however, eBay is a company much like Amazon and other online shopping websites and they are going to have their dirty secrets and tactics. I might just be overanalyzing it but eBay needs to get their shit together.

 

these these videos too, unlucky. really frustrating too.

i've had bad shipping experiences with citylink but not got anything via global shipping program as of yet.

 

This is the way the UK do it and it's the way it should be.

get it sniffed by a sniffer dog, put it through your machine, I really don't give a fuck just don't open the item.

Especially on large items there is -no- reason why it should be opened if the package is not a suspicious item. Large items are packaged specifically to protect it if you buy from the right person and anybody opening and repackaging will never get it back together right.

 

Quick question, how do you tell if the seller is going with ebay's Global partner shipping program?

 

It will be indicated in the shipping section, there is also a logo and the extra import charge that should be indicated.
ex: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Secret-of-Ma...1895?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item33833e5317

 

Thanks ^_^

 

They say that this way you don't have to worry about any extra charges when the item is delivered. I'm not sure how it is in other parts of the world but here in Canada where I live as long as it's sent through the post office I never have to pay extra anyway. It's just a scam and another way for ebay to make money.

 

I've gotten complaint that seller were always hit with import tax, and sometimes double dinged. A package sent to Taiwan charged the seller tax in USA, and again when it entered Taiwan.

A lot of my mint and near mint packages were damaged or destroyed, and the insurance I placed was refused because the package allegedly arrived safely in Kentucky, and not to UK that I wanted. The eBay staff are idiots for not adding insurance when requested and paid for. I'm out almost $300 for a MISB games that arrived cart only and the cart only is worth maybe $5 at most.