08-11-2025 3:37 PM
Hello. For my sales, I was wondering whether to offer international shipping, or offer eBay's Global Shipping Programme instead.
So i tried to find out how much my buyers would be charged from different countries for GSP, and then i could compare it to what i would charge myself.
But for the life of me, i cannot find anyway to see how much buyers would be charged for GSP.
Anyone here know of anyway to find out ??
Cheers.....
08-11-2025 8:18 PM
There isn't a set rate for GSP as the price will vary according to the item type and the receiving countries import rates.
You can get an idea of pricing for your items by looking at current listings of similar items using GSP and changing the country in the postage section.
09-11-2025 10:08 AM
Adding to the good advice received.
As a Seller, GSP eBay usually refunds any damaged or lost items, and you keep the money from the sale. GSP items go to an eBay Hub where they are unpacked, inspected, and repacked - and the most common complaint is that eBay repacks fragile items in a less robust way (leading to breakages).
As a Buyer, I prefer GSP as the price is usually lower than Custom Postage and - for items under £135 - eBay states that all taxes, duties and import fees are included (so it is easy to be confident of the total price).
09-11-2025 12:12 PM
For your buyers to get the correct price from GSP you must fill in weight and all dimensions on your listing. Can be done on bulk edit if you are selling lots of the same items in the same packaging...
Obviously the price will be shown on your order page and sometimes its eyewatering...on the other hand every thing is taken care of..ie vat,customs,taxes etc...
I only use GSP as i cant be bothered with the extra work with royal mail etc...
12-11-2025 6:35 PM
GSP can be useful and not too over priced if you put the dimensions and weight in the item description, otherwise it just guesses and it's usually high which will put buyers off
I still use GSP over sorting out my own postage though as it only needs to go to the sorting depot safely and you're covered for anything beyond that.
12-11-2025 9:41 PM
There is another problem if you sell in a category like books - because as well as exorbitant P&P, eBay will often charge import duties even when the category is exempt.
For instance, I've just lost a £20 eBay sale because the GSP quoted the buyer £97.
- Item price £20.00
- P&P £47.83 (actual tracked postage is £15, large letter size).
- Import taxes £29.37 (the buyer's country doesn't charge any import taxes on books).
On the other hand, if your items are too big or heavy for standard airmail, the GSP rates look more attractive.
13-11-2025 11:39 AM
One thing to be careful on with GSP is the way they charge fees. (assuming it has not changed, this was a few years back)
I will give you an example. You sell item for £10. GSP is £10.
Fees are charged on £20, as they collected this money on your behalf. So your getting charged 15%(whatever it is for your category with all the added on currency exchange, regulatory, NI,etc added on) of £20. You could actually make a loss on lower value items with high charges for postage and taxes, so be careful.
13-11-2025 5:00 PM
It doesn't work like that now.
The fees are based on item price (but may include US sales taxes).
There's an 'international fee' added (up to 2% I think, depending on country).
So yes, it does cost a bit more, so not viable for stock on tight margins, or very cheap items, but it's not a crazy amount considering the amount of work it cuts out, and the worldwide coverage it gives.
Looking at my last GSP sale, I didn't promote it, so that was effectively 2% saved to offset the international fee.
15-11-2025 9:35 AM
BEWARE RETURNS
ebay provide little or no meaningful support or options for returns using GSP
15-11-2025 12:37 PM
One good way to get revenge on our overlords is to 'accidentally' quote the size of every item as a 1g letter. Won't affect you posting in the normal way, but will make a nice fat loss on GSP for them upstairs and get you some VERY happy overseas customers 😂