Global Shipping Program from US to UK seems really expensive

[sabaidee!]

Hello!

I'm interested in buying something on sale on the US ebay site. There are several on sale (from different sellers); most of them cost (a lot) less than £10, and the postage between £8 and £15 (depending on whether the seller is selling just the item or the item plus accessories). But if the seller uses the Global Shipping Program that adds at least 30 per cent to the total cost, eg item costs US $8.95, postage is US $23.19, and 'import charges' will be around US $10.34, "amount confirmed at checkout", apparently.

I started to buy an item, assuming that the import charge ($10.34) was already included in the ($23.19) postage, but when I got to the checkout the $10.34 was added to the $23.19, so I abandoned my purchase - $34 seemed a ridiculous amount to pay to get delivery of something that only cost $9 anyway.

Having read ebay's GSP blurb it would appear that I should expect to pay tax on the delivery/postage cost as well as the price of the item, but it still seems a heck of a lot. Does anyone know, please, what would happen if I asked the seller not to use the GSP but the ordinary postal service instead (even if they didn't describe the item as a 'gift' on any customs form)? Would I end up having to fork out 20/30 quid to my postie to get him to hand over my item when it arrived?

Thanks-in-advance for any thoughts/advice etc.

[tobiasd4]

GSP is expensive for buyers, you pay import fees upfront, international postage & Pitney bowes fees.

If seller sends direct to you, it may be cheaper but you will have to pay import fees & carrier fee before they will deliver. Refusing to pay this invalidates MBG.

If seller is using GSP, they can't send item direct to you unless they relist outside of GSP.

[sabaidee!]

Hi, Thanks for replying. I asked one seller if they would relist an item outside the GSP but they said they wouldn't as, they said, you have to use the GSP if you're selling outside the US. I couldn't face getting into conversation about this not necessarily being the case, so I'll just wait until one comes up from a seller who isn't using the GSP; invalidating the MBG isn't really an issue when the item's actual cost is something like one-third that of the GSP!

Thanks again for your reply. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply - I've never asked a question before (or if i have, not for ages and ages) and i couldn't work out how to find my question - and your reply - again! thank you!