Global Shipping Program - A cautionary tale.

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

I have commented on the Forum re GSP in the past, and nothing changes IMHO. I have had correspondence with Ebay themselves with no result. My comment has always been that GSP is both SLOW and EXPENSIVE compared with regular mail.
If from the USA request USPS or from the UK either Parcelforce or Royal Mail Signed for. From France Colissimo is the best IMHO.
If the seller insists on using GSP I will not buy from him.
Bottom line is read the shipping terms on the auction page, and unless the shipping/postage method is clearly stated by the seller, then ask the question as to what he /she uses. It costs nothing to ask a question and in the end can save one much heartache and unnecessary $$$.
Stu

I thought Royal Mail as stated by seller in description and reconfirmed in message - misunderstanding - domestic to GSP. It was late at night and I just committed to "buy it now" paid automatically and went to bed. I did not note GSP until shipped. My mistake. lesson don't use this service ever and don't buy late at night when tired. If I had just bid and waited the 7 days I would have probably not made the oversight. But these are my thing and the BIN price was fair.

[Lee]

It will all be about automation and reducing costs so most flagged items probably do not even get looked at in any detail to confirm the validity of the restricted key word algorithms.

Often, when I was listing, the eBay system 'saw' a keyword of 'concern' and did not offer GSP. Good for them. But, PB and eBay need to get together and harmonize their systems so that GSP is never offered on an item that PB will reject.

Often, the eBay keyword recognition would give me warnings about listing Native American artifacts when I was listing south Asian Indian items. I also learned to never use the word 'Sudan' as eBay attempted a total ban, while the actual legal export restrictions were very narrowly targeted and clearly inapplicable to my item (unless I was shipping it to one of about a dozen officials in Sudan.) The eBay community forums also document the shortcomings of eBay's reliance on 'ai' automation in many other ways.

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by Lee

Often, when I was listing, the eBay system 'saw' a keyword of 'concern' and did not offer GSP. Good for them. But, PB and eBay need to get together and harmonize their systems so that GSP is never offered on an item that PB will reject.

Often, the eBay keyword recognition would give me warnings about listing Native American artifacts when I was listing south Asian Indian items. I also learned to never use the word 'Sudan' as eBay attempted a total ban, while the actual legal export restrictions were very narrowly targeted and clearly inapplicable to my item (unless I was shipping it to one of about a dozen officials in Sudan.) The eBay community forums also document the shortcomings of eBay's reliance on 'ai' automation in many other ways.

The seller had never "sold anything like this". They had inherited old weapons from a distant relative - the rest are relic items of no real interest or value. Called in listing title "British WW1 Gurkha Kukri knife / sword with scabbard" as this was their best guess and listed under WW1 "field equipment" and category "swords" but was still offered GSP. Their description "British Gurkha Kukri knife with scabbard. British WW1 Very collectable. Condition is Used. Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class.". I think the AI is pretty smart these days so this should have been blocked from GSP. Anyway what is done is done.

I also suspect that seller did not know this item was available internationally through GSP. But eBay and PB said it is on our list, a "knife", and is restricted - no recall. No discussion.

[RAMBA]

This knife would also be restricted! "The Corona Crested China - Gurkha's WW1 Kukri Knife - Newark Upon Trent (152)"