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Topic: Global Shipping Programme

Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted February 17, 2017 03:58 AM

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As a UK resident I have used eBay to buy many films over the years from the United States but I have been put off recently by many US sellers using the Global Shipping Programme. This was because under Import Charges it is stated that these will be confirmed at check-out. As such, it gives the impression that a buyer will only know his exact cost until he has actually bought the item.

Referring to another topic of mine recently regarding the 16mm Castle issues of compilation reels of three Soundie films. I finally found a 400ft still in its original box, but the seller was using the Global Shipping Programme.

Weighing up the situation I finally decided to go ahead and use the Buy It Now. The cost of the film was stated at $29 plus postage of $23.10, a total of $52.10.

At checkout two separate payments were taken by PayPal.

1) The seller received $34. This was $29 for the film and $5 for postage to the Global Shipping Center in Erlanger, Kentucky.
2) Pitney Bowes Inc on behalf of Global Shipping received $18.10.

The total cost was $52.10 as previously stated but somewhat re-arranged!

The seller posted the film on 24 January and I received it on 3 February with no UK import custom charges to pay. The package was tracked and could be watched as the film moved from place to place.

I have to say that my initial fears of using the system were entirely unfounded and I was surprised how well everything worked out.

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Maurice

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 17, 2017 04:01 AM

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Still expensive though Maurice, and even more so for a high priced film to begin with.

Considering your film cost only $29, the delivered cost of the goods wasn't too far off double that amount!

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted February 17, 2017 05:40 AM

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This was a very rare 1940s 16mm release in its original box which one would not expect to be cheap.
There was also the knowledge that there would not be an extra charge for V.A.T. plus a Royal Mail handling fee.

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Maurice

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Dave Groves
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 508
From: Southend on Sea, Essex, UK
Registered: Feb 2015

posted February 17, 2017 06:56 AM

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Don't know anything about the Global Shipping programme. Two films received last year both attracted handling and import charges. I had a long chat with HMC regarding this and they told me that anything imported (new or secondhand, gifted or purchased) had charges levied. They couldn't get their heads round films being secondhand, having no determind value except as arranged between the buyer and seller. The senders were told to state a value, which both did, but it had to cover shipping etc. for insurance purposes. The final total was quite high. However, after much explanation, I got the import duty refunded.The Post Office was less helpful. I'm going to look into Global Shipping. It might make things rather cheaper. Thanks for the info Maurice.

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Dave

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 17, 2017 02:33 PM

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I wasn't implying your deal was a bad one Maurice, simply that the Global shipping programme does nothing to entice the European residents to purchase from the USA at reasonable expense. Especially not for expensive feature films.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted February 17, 2017 04:07 PM

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Maurice, you have been Lucky. I have not. Last year, an item (bought on EBay UK) never arrived. To summarize, when I contacted the Global Shipping Programme, I was told that when items were returned to them they didn't return them to the seller but they DESTROYED them. the only way to complain was to open a case against the seller (who was not responsible at all). So, when you use this Global Shipping Programme, you have to keep your fingers crossed.

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Dominique

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted February 18, 2017 02:16 AM

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Dominique
That does sound bad news. Did you have checking to know where the package had been on its travels?

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Maurice

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Paul Browning
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011

posted February 18, 2017 04:17 AM

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I have used this a few times Maurice and found it quick and far less hassle than own import duty meanies. I have just received an item (I collected myself) from Steve Sigel that first landed in blighty and then went half way around Europe before getting back here !!!!!. Don't ask me why I just don't know, but if you read this Steve please consider the global shipping program its less bl***dy hassle for the buyer.

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted February 18, 2017 04:21 AM

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Maurice, I don't remember the details but I found out that the parcell was sent back to the sender (so the Global Shipping Programme). I have n idea why they destroy (at least that's what they say) the items that come back to them.

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Dominique

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 18, 2017 04:45 AM

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The best arrangements I've ever encountered from purchasing from collectors outside Europe, is to pay for tracked courier service, ask the seller to label as Home Movie Film. Not a lie after all!
Then arrange a stated value to declare on the package, that is agreeable to both.

With trust both ways, this works a treat and pays real dividends for the buyer while the seller gets the price they want for the actual film.

No one in their right mind is going to spend a good proportion of the value of the goods on transportation and taxation.
They just want to buy the film, not line the pockets of the UK Customs and Excise offices.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted February 18, 2017 06:02 AM

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I quite agree with Andrew's comment, but many sellers, particularly in the US, just do not want to go into elaborate dealings with a buyer. They just opt for an easy way out and go for the Global Shipping Programme.

I found a US seller on a forum who, when I asked him for postage costs to the UK replied that he didn't want "to go to all that trouble" in sending films to the UK.

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Maurice

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 18, 2017 06:32 AM

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I've found that also at times Maurice to be honest.
Luckily I have had the absolute pleasure at times, in dealing with a fair few collectors who will bend over backwards to help make things a little easier on the wallet for us remaining collectors.

To all of these guys, i'm both extremely indebted and very very grateful. They know who they are. [Smile]

[Smile]

[Wink]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted February 18, 2017 10:56 AM

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The funny thing is, there IS cheaper but very reliable shipping. I mean, I've bought from the assorted sellers in the UK, Barry, Ian, Phil ect, and the shipping, for instance, for a feature film is only around 20.00 pounds, and that's for a 4X600ft feature ...

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted February 18, 2017 11:18 AM

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In my limited experience, the higher the value of items from the USA, the greater the benefit of using the Global Shipping Programme. If you're (e.g.) buying one or two trailers, you would be better off if the seller is willing to send them First Class, but I recently bought a 16mm projector, for which I had to pay £72 for shipping (not including duty), so I suspect this was less than via USPS.

Although there's something to be said for knowing where you stand in relation to customs duty, GSP does for course mean that paying this is definite as opposed to possible. I find that roughly around a half of (non-GSP) items liable for duty slip through without charge.

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Adrian Winchester

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 18, 2017 11:19 AM

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Us going to you guys isn't half bad, coming back the other way our UK Customs & Excise offices takes the piss, big time!

[ February 18, 2017, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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