Shipping downers!

[wats6831]

Pitney Bowes sucks big time!!!! the company is used by the uk ebay,they over rules other nations custom rules and add loads of fees for nothing but a pain in the ass.

They just make the software, the fees come from the retailer and other "middle men" like PayPal. They also make the software for the USPS.

I've gotten first hand accounts from many UK vendors that all say the same thing: Pitney Bowes opens everything, even if it's permitted by law. They essentially make their own rules, and they will pillage any ration they find. If the vendor is lucky they may get the package back with half of the things missing. The vendor will NEVER get their shipping fees back. I know of one vendor who lost $1200 in just one week on shipments through PB.

[Garron]

I've also heard a few horror stories from the Militaria community that if PB disagree with the valuation on the customs forms they withhold the item and 99% of the time it doesn't get returned to the seller, they basically keep it and sell it off, seller claims the money back from postage and so does the buyer so no one is out of pocket and PB pocket the cash.
If thats true I'm not sure but it certainly possible, I've stopped buying WW1 militaria from the US due to it as what is a bargain to me due to value differences and currency, they might not agree with.

[noderaser]

Where do you find that "they" open anything? Again, they are just a company that makes software and machines for the postal/shipping industry. Any actual handling, inspection, fee collection, etc. is handled by a postal service and/or customs bureau.

[norge]

they dont only do software and so on,i have called them since i had a parcel stopped an destroyed in the uk even before they was thinking of shipping it
so iknow what they are and i have also repported them to the Norwegian custom and police for unlawful handling of other mans property and unlawful fees.
when i spoke to them after using 3 hours to find a phone number that realy worked to them(had to call the uk police to gett help) they was so supriced that someone from norway would call them to complain and they was realy suppriced that i managed to find theyre phone number that worked!!!
so in al this to me they are a shitty company.

[TechManDan]

Where do you find that "they" open anything? Again, they are just a company that makes software and machines for the postal/shipping industry. Any actual handling, inspection, fee collection, etc. is handled by a postal service and/or customs bureau.

They open and inspect all items going internationally, not domestic items. Their office state side has been accused of fraud numerous times as many items send internationally were seized and being relisted on ebay with significant markup of what they were originally sold for. There's been numerous news reports of that. They are also know as the GSP, global shipping program, on ebay. I personally will avoid any international purchases from sellers using that program, as I never received any items shipped via Pitney Bowes, aka gsp.

[Westview]

Where do you find that "they" open anything? Again, they are just a company that makes software and machines for the postal/shipping industry. Any actual handling, inspection, fee collection, etc. is handled by a postal service and/or customs bureau.

They are also know as the GSP, global shipping program, on ebay. I personally will avoid any international purchases from sellers using that program, as I never received any items shipped via Pitney Bowes, aka gsp.

Here in Canada, most of my Ebay ration purchases from the USA cross the border without any problem. Yes sometimes they are blocked in the global shipping center (i believe it's in Kentucky somewhere) but most come through ok. Maybe i'm just lucky, but that's been my experience so far.

[TechManDan]

The gsp will confiscate ALL food items sent to the US and often confiscate items sold too cheaply claiming they were underpriced to avoid duties or some other blatantly false reason. They are also known to assess items for higher duties, requiring the buyer to pay additional fees to gsp to get their item. Be cautious on getting good deals overseas when the seller uses gsp!

[Synthpeter]

Currently awaiting an ORP delivery from the UK to Sweden. The seller is using eBay global shipping program. I didn't know what that means and it just said "multiple carriers".
Now when I check the tracking info I can find the sender carrier was Pitney Bowes and once in Sweden will be handed over to Bring (a Norwegian carrier).
This thread got me a bit worried. We'll see how it works out...

[noderaser]

Hmm, I think I've found some info on what you're talking about but they don't really advertise that service on their own website very much... Seems like they use third-party contractors for some or all of the actual handling, but regardless if they're the ones contracted to do the service they should take responsibility. And, regardless of who is handling your package, I'm assuming that it's illegal in most (if not all) countries to open packages for non-official purposes. Do the shipments include insurance as part of their service?

Keep in mind the USPS itself uses third-party contractors for a lot of processing and freight these days, in some cases the only places actual USPS employees handle your mail is the "last mile" to your door. Unfortunately, it seems that USPS customer service is not what it used to be either.

[Synthpeter]

Uh-oh.

Latest status
The shipment's measurements/weight have been corrected. The shipment has been forwarded to the recipient.

Hope that doesn't imply the weight is different from when it was sent...