Ebay "Global postage program" Beware!

[SimonS]

EBay seem to have found yet another way to relieve you of your cash.  It is called the ';Global Postage Program';.  To explain how this works, have a look at this listing:- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIGHTLY-USED-JETI-DS-16-RADIO-SYSTEM-WITH-TELEMETRY-SENSORS-/161088953170?pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item2581a65b52

At the time of writing the bid price is $1200.  Note in the shipping details an already high cost for p&p and also "Import charges: US $332.46    (estimated and based on current bid)".  What this scheme does is offer free p&p to the seller (they even get refunded the cost of sending it to the sorting centre) but guarantees that you will get stung for the import dues which of course includes their cut which at the moment would stand at $78.90.  That is almost 24%!!!! and they probably get a cut from the p&p fee too.

Unless you really like getting ripped off I suggest you avoid any items that use this and maybe even email the seller to tell them why.

[HowDoIfly]

Could this be why ebay was down "for maintenace" today?
Has Customs twisted their arm due to the amount of chinese sellers under-declaring costs? ie, will there be a choice for sellers to not use this system?

[SimonS]

Reading the t';c & c';s again it appears to only be for items sold in the USA.

[Ross]

On sale NEW for $1495.00 in the US and the one on e bay is 2nd hand.

http://www.jetimodel.com/en/Home/

[icedfusion]

ebay was down as it was possible for any account to be deleted and replaced by a ';ghost'; account. So serious was the flaw that they shut down most of the access to fix the issue.

ice.

[jwl940]

I come across this Global Postage Program with another hobby, American Pocket Watches.  Shipping charges are just eye-watering for some watches, so much so that I don';t bother ebaying from the States which is annoying as those watches carry a premium in the UK, a double edged sword.