I don't believe it !

maxi-model

maxi-model

UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Country flag

I have for many years brought in garden rail items from the US, both eBay sellers and direct from conventional retailers there. I only use established traders. Never had a problem till now. Only change from usual M.O. was to use the eBay Global Shipping Program, as offered by the seller, Trainz Pity, guess who their UK shipping partner is ? It's not Royal Mail.......and it was all going so well till it cleared UK customs.

The item ? A Pola G938 large coaling station (you know, the one a bit like the one at Chama), unbuilt, complete in box, but I intended to build it. I have been after one for a very long time.

See below for the communication from Evri (the cock up merchants formerly known as Hermes) that I have just received. I cannot start a claim till after October 1st, Ebay's projected delivery date max, despite this news . The trader.......well they are technically not responsible and, so far, have just reffered me back to eBay That's got that off my chest, I don't expect any sympathy :D Max

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Evri
Support Incident Update
email_lightbulb.png

You recently requested our assistance through the online support pages. Below is a summary of your request and our response. If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days. Thank you for raising this with us.

Thank you for getting in touch with us regarding your parcel and for advising us that your parcel has not been received.

Unfortunately, our tracking system is currently unable to locate your parcel. Due to the amount of time that has elapsed since we last received a tracking update, I must unfortunately deem this parcel unaccounted for.

I apologise for this disappointing outcome, I can appreciate how frustrating this news may be to receive. The quickest way to resolve this quickly is to contact the retailer/sender of the parcel who will explain their options to you, which may include a refund or replacement.

If you need anything in the future, please contact your Evri Customer Service Team and we'll be happy to help.

Kind regards,

Evri Customer Services
Customer By Digital Assistant (22/09/2022 11.33 AM)
Customer's description of what they need help with:
It has been 7 days since this parcel was shown as arriving at the local depot and has not yet been sent out for delivery. Tracking REDACTED Item shipped in from USA by eBay international service. All taxes and handling charges pre-paid. Your original contact misslabled package as from Pitney Bowes. Your tracking number matches that from eBay, as expected and correct.

The tracking status at the point of contact was:
Your parcel is at your local depot and it's being sorted for delivery

The tracking stage at the point of contact was:
On its way

The customer selected:
Delivery enquiry > My parcel has not been delivered yet > My parcel has not moved on tracking in the last 24 hours >
This e-mail (which includes any files/attachments transmitted with it) is confidential. It is intended soley for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views presented are soley those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Evri.
Evri is a trading name of Hermes Parcelnet Limited.
Registered in England and Wales No. 03900782
Registered office: Capitol House, 1 Capitol Close, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0WH

[---002:002106:18382---]​
 
I feel your pain Max
I have used Ebay's Global Shipping Program, but only to send things abroad.
BUT I do send the parcel to their GSP depot in Leicester using my own choice of courier (mainly UPS).
That way I have redress if anything happens on its way to Leicester and then if anything does happen on its way from the Leicester depot to the international recipient, it is down to ebay to sort the problem.

I have tended to avoid buying anything that would be sent to me from abroad using the Global Shipping system, because it mainly uses EVRI (Hermes) at this end.
EVRI (Hermes) have over stretched themselves and, although whereas they are fine for delivery of clothes from retailers etc or sending small items etc., anything else where international protocols are involved seems to be beyond them, and they 'lose' a not an insignificant number of international parcels.
I have to say that ebay's GSP is okay for sending, but receiving is a real mess.
It used to be a lot easier when all international shippers used USPS or a courier...yes there was always the thorny issue of, usually, ParcelFarce collecting the import duties and charging another whack to deliver but ay least I never lost anything....YET!
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Is the complaint that you must have the sender contact the shipper for resolution?
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No Greg, the complaint, if any, is that a notorious UK "courier"service (that I did not realise the eBay GSP used here) has managed to get my much desired and long searched for item lost just prior to delivery scheduling at the local depot. So near but yet so far and a bit spuspicious.

Vendor, under terms of GSP product, do not appear to have to or wish to take any ownership or appear to wish to engage, always referring me to eBay GSP. Although though they do thank me for "reaching out" and saying feel free to come again if there is anything else they can help with :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Everybody just hides behind a wall of bots, no reply emails and CS reps with fake names. You cannot speak directly to anybody. Unlike good old Royal Mail/USPS or the like of UPS or DHL in the good old days.

Got to drop off a pole trimmer in the village a.m. so I'm off to bed. Nighty, night. Max
 
They are so bad that, if you were to spread the company on the land (like manure), even weeds wouldn't grow!
 
trammayo said:
They are so bad that, if you were to spread the company on the land (like manure), even weeds wouldn't grow!
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It does make you wonder about the mentality of some people. Hermes have such a dire reputation, yet companies still use them.
 
Paul M said:
It does make you wonder about the mentality of some people. Hermes have such a dire reputation, yet companies still use them.
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I tend to agree with what Mike (beavercreek) says. When you read the eBay pitch for GSP to prospective users (as in sellers) its very much offering a hassle free service - you don't have to spend time dealing with the complaints. It's then down to the various elements '"adding value" (to their bottom line ;)) and growing margin.

At least a search on these lines showed up why when Evri contacted me it showed Pitney Bowes as the sender - eBay Shipping Support They operate the service on behalf of eBay. I could enter my tracking number there and it showed up, tracked to local Evri depot awaiting scheduling for final deliver to consignee (it arrived there the Friday before the Queen's funeral). Looking at T&C's issued by eBay Global Shipping Program: Buyer Terms & Conditions | eBay.co.uk pay attention to section 6 covering loss and damage. I would tell anybody to steer well clear of this service - the buyer seems to be taking on a tad too many risks, or at least it is a bit complicated how they are devolved to get redress.

I'll just be patient, wait till October 2nd, if nothing arrives (by chance) I'll set the ball rolling with all the "due dilligence" I have done so far attached. It was so much simpler, and cheaper, to do my own progress chasing through customs and UK delivery agent.

Lunch time, Max.
 
maxi-model said:
Only change from usual M.O. was to use the eBay Global Shipping Program
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That was an unfortunate decision, as you have discovered.

The safest way to get items from the US is to use a reliable reshipper (I use MyUS) where you can choose the shipping method used to export the item concerned from the US. This not always the cheapest approach but it is the most successful.

eBay Global Shipping issues have been reported in multiple forums around the world, involving a very wide range of product classes.
 
Software Tools said:
That was an unfortunate decision, as you have discovered.

The safest way to get items from the US is to use a reliable reshipper (I use MyUS) where you can choose the shipping method used to export the item concerned from the US. This not always the cheapest approach but it is the most successful.

eBay Global Shipping issues have been reported in multiple forums around the world, involving a very wide range of product classes.
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Interesting, a different experience to a friend of mine that uses the service for very expensive Scalesxtric cars that he has recently sold via EBay using the Global Shipping option. And by expensive I am talking 4 figure values GBP of cars.
 
I find the 'Global Shipping Program' except perhaps small parcels to be expensive especially when they do the import taxes on my behalf charging a small fortune extra. It's all a simple process to do it myself now days where I live.
 
Paradise said:
I find the 'Global Shipping Program' except perhaps small parcels to be expensive especially when they do the import taxes on my behalf charging a small fortune extra. It's all a simple process to do it myself now days where I live.
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I could not agree more. I have always done my own, exporting as well as importing, and I have done quite a bit over the past 20 years or so. However, the trader would only ship using this program. If the item you want is difficult find then you accept what seems to be a reasonable proposition. The fly in the ointment is that the actual operator, and in effect the business you have a "conrtact" with is not eBay but Pitney Bowes and the UK end for "final delivery" is Everi, a company so bad they had to rename it from Hermes. Live and learn, as my dear departed father always used to tell me. Max
 
dunnyrail said:
Interesting, a different experience to a friend of mine that uses the service for very expensive Scalesxtric cars that he has recently sold via EBay using the Global Shipping option. And by expensive I am talking 4 figure values GBP of cars.
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Auto Union, Bugatti, black Bentley or very limited editions (like test shots) Jon ? That used to be the old hobby, along with statics. I shifted quite bit via eBay, a lot of it to Spain, Germany and US. Some established traders nicknamed me Maxi-Price (I was a collector, not trader) Strange thing is I always listed with no reserve. Just worked out how my market liked their listings and offered discounts on shipping for multiple lots. I saw a comment on here, regarding a trader's exit from that market, recently describing the UK slot car trade as "like a gentlemens' club". I can probably give you their names :D Max
 
Mmm, people's experiences with Hermes / Evri varies - mine has been generally pretty good. My limited experience with Pitney Bowes less so; they exhibited a 'couldn't care less' attitude with us (my employer) as a business client on a reasonably sized contract (although probably small for them).

Ultimately, if your redress is through eBay, then commercial pressures will eventually apply as to who they use, but that's no help for a particular item that you really, really wanted. :(:(

I don't think Hermes had to re-badge - it's part of a modern fad. If you remember, TNT changed to Whistl and somebody said that they'd lost at least one letter already :p:p
 
Everi cloud has at least one silver lining..

My last package got to me within 36 hours of the tracking saying it was in the UK..

Admittedly, I would not use them to send a loco. - Anywhere!

PhilP
 
Was it Trainz you bought off? I recently inquired about an item on their website and they said that they didn't ship outside of the USA therefore I had to purchase the item from them via eBay but they have Global Shipping who overcharge for the import tax. They refused to do anything about it and missed out on a 3 grand sale. So it's a done deal. They will never get my money. :shake: I have other options and will vote with my wallet. :nod: Like years back some dealers in the same country insisted on using UPS etc. which cost 3 times as much as other options and were never given any prior knowledge of the costs. They would just rack it up on my credit card. I'm sure they got some kind of incentive or discount by using such services.
 
OK, so here I sit, fingers, arms, legs crossed, buttocks clenched and holding fast to the wooden desk, as I have just dropped off another of SWMBO's parcels at the garage for Evri to deliver.

Now, we have never, to date, had a failure with Hermes / Evri either inbound or outbound, but SWMBO did bank a cheque for compensation from the Post Office last week for one that they lost - we have had enough occasional lost packages with Royal Mail to make me treat them with suspicion.

On the other hand, the dotter uses Royal Mail exclusively, including occasional exports to the US without issue.

So, every company's reputation relies on their weakest member of staff.
 
I have only had two items damaged in transit, and one 'went missing' for a few months..
All were internal to the UK.

This in five years, with several packages a week..
Small packages, Royal Mail signed-for, a large, high-value package would go Royal Mail Special delivery (for the insurance, as much as anything).

PhilP
 
PhilP said:
I have only had two items damaged in transit, and one 'went missing' for a few months..
All were internal to the UK.

This in five years, with several packages a week..
Small packages, Royal Mail signed-for, a large, high-value package would go Royal Mail Special delivery (for the insurance, as much as anything).

PhilP
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When I send my camera lamps off by Hermes / Evri, I pay the extra to insure up to the full retail value - but I don't know how easy it is to claim as I've never had to.

When Royal Mail 'lost' my Father's death certificate for a week which was sent special delivery guaranteed 24 hrs delivery (with riders due to the pandemic) all they would refund me was the cost of postage (£6 ish) and no compensation for the grief / distress / inability to arrange funeral etc etc :punch::punch:

In our last claim, which was basic first class proof of posting only, they refunded the retail value of the item plus the cost of postage.
 
All couriers have problems. Yodel "lost" a box of my plants in the local depot. DX "lost" a role of carpet underlay & RM have just taken over a week to deliver what was once a box of live plants, dead on arrival.

Pitney Bowes messed up one of my ebay purchases & sent it to the wrong buyer & sent me his parcel. I complained to ebay & proved to them that it was the wrong parcel & they fully refunded me, including postage & duty. However they refused to give me the name of the person who had my parcel (ebay policy). The seller was able to help & I sent the parcel to the correct person & he sent me mine. It was helpful I actually knew the buyer & had his address.
 
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