I've noticed some annoying changes with eBay during the past 1-2 years.

From about 2005 to 2013, I used to buy a lot of my MRR items from the UK (I model British steam railways). I would often get good deals and pay only a few dollars for overseas shipping by air (a small parcel rate). And I never once paid for customs or duty.

Recently, however, eBay seems to be using a "Global" mailing or shipping system where the shipping price costs almost as much as the item I'm purchasing. The shipping, for example, is often around $20-30 instead of around $8.00 (a small parcel air rate).

Also, customs & duty is apparently charged in this Global tracking system as well. This appears when you click on info about shipping. In the past, I never once had to pay customs & duty but now it seems that eBay is dinging the customer with this as you check out & pay.

This extra shipping and import charges make it almost pointless trying to get an eBay deal these days.

Because of this, I've been "spooked" from using eBay recently but I do miss the good deals I used to get.

Please see the attached image FYI. Has anyone else noticed this & have any comments?

Thanks, Rob
[attachment=26479]

Rob, it isn't ebay. I just found out that shipping a book to Canada from the states cost 24 bucks and that was through the author, a friend of mine. Mailing a letter to Canada used to be the same as mailing a letter within the states. I don't know when that changed but now it costs the same as sending a letter to Australia, yet you can still get stuff from China for for free shipping, even idf the item is less than 2 bucks. :mrgreen:
Charlie

Charlie B Wrote:Rob, it isn't ebay. I just found out that shipping a book to Canada from the states cost 24 bucks and that was through the author, a friend of mine. Mailing a letter to Canada used to be the same as mailing a letter within the states. I don't know when that changed but now it costs the same as sending a letter to Australia, yet you can still get stuff from China for for free shipping, even idf the item is less than 2 bucks. :mrgreen:
Charlie

Thanks, Charlie.

Makes sense but it's still frustrating. At any rate, I can still buy items from the main UK model train retailers -- the good thing about this is that they deduct the 17-20% VAT tax when I check out, which is usually more than the shipping cost. Guess I'll have to do that more now. Rob

The Global shipping program is the bane of train buyers. Not only do you pay priority post instead of first class but you pre-pay customs fees that you probably wouldn't have to pay anyhow. Sometimes it's better to contact the seller to see if he'll invoice you without the global shipping program.
I have noticed that shipping has gone up over the past few years. When I sell I try to keep the weight of it's lower and don't even try to sell books due to weight.

I prefer the GSP when buying from US ebay.
Shipping via USPS for one locomotive costs between $30 and $50, takes about 3 - 5 weeks and I have to pick it up at the local customs office to pay an additional 19% taxes of the price plus shipping. It takes one to two week to get the parcel through customs at the port of entry (usual Frankfurt airport) to the local customs office and the paper letter to my postbox with the notification to pick it up.

Customs and DHL have a tricky cooperation. Customs sends the parcel back to the US if I fail to pick it up within 7 days (was 14 days until recently) at the local customs office but DHL may take up to 8 days for the notification. Tough luck for me or watch the online tracking very intensive and show up at the customs office without the written notification and bag for the favor to scan through their long lists.

GSP ships for about the same cost within two weeks to my doorsteps. The "administrative" handling is done by GPS at the EU port of entry in UK or France within 24 hours.

Both methods are awfully expensive but GSP is much more convenient!

ps. The only alternative is DHL Express as offered e.g. by Train World. They deliver for about $50 + tax within 48 hours to my doorstep. TNT has a similar offer I got some weeks ago from a Canadian seller.