Global Shipping Program: Import Charges?

But how much of it (if anything) ends up in the seller's pocket?

Yeah, it's not the sellers fault, except that they are in it.

A correction, there is no benefit for a seller to be in the Global Shipping program, only ebay benefits.

Many sellers seem to be unaware of the fact that they are using GSP. One of them even asked me what GSP was as he had never heard of it! So, what on earth is going on, doesn't it show when they access their own listing?

After reading this thread a few days ago I went to my ebay and opted out of the Global Shipping Program. then yesterday I sold a medal to a high bidder in the UK. When I tried to send him an invoice I was blocked by the GSP even though I had opted out days before. I then checked my status and found that I was still opted out of the GSP! Phoned ebay and the young lady said I had to have the buyer ask for a total and then I could send an invoice. Today after the buyer requested the total I am still prevented from sending my invoice. I am also prevented from sending the bidder my email address which is also my papal account! I sent the bidder an ebay email telling him not to pay the ebay GSP billing. Next I may have to snail mail him my paypal address so he can pay me.

GSP is good in theory but bad in practice. It's supposed to take the burden of handling shipping and duties away from the seller. I used it once and it basically caused the seller to not pay. Never used it again. I have my auctions set up to only display in the US. In my opinion, import duties are too 19th century for me.

I have actually tried to get ebay to explain how GSP works for Norway. First they said "it just like that", then they claimed it was because of British rules/Eu rules....I had a laugh...Norway isn't part of EU. The last email I got said this:

"This amount comes straight from your country and the ebay shipper as a brokerage fee and while many buyers may have a lot of knowledge about their countries customs and duties fees we ask you to please keep in mind that this legal agreement is not something that the general public would have the same knowledge of. Please see the ebay Buyer Terms and Conditions when purchasing item being shipped with Global Shipping. ( http://pages.ebay.com/shipping/glob...yer-tnc.html ) These are terms agreed to when committing to buy your item."

I replied with this:
"1. I buy a coin from some one who hasn't opted for GSP I don't have to pay VAT/CUSTOMS....obviously, since no such fee exisist for coins for books in Norway.
2. I buy a coin from some one who has opted for GSP I have to pay extra fees/customs/vat because you say Norway has accepted that you are in your rights to claim that for items, that by law in Norway dosen't have it...but ey, they have given ebay a right to skip that law that everyone else has to go by and suddenly books and coins have VAT when imported abroad?
"

As per my understanding...they actually claim to have some sort of deal with IRS in Norway...saying they can claim VAT on all items, also those NO one else in Norway has right to claim VAT on.

to quote a song.....Am I wrong?

Haha....I'm just waiting for the answer, and then I'll ship it of to the IRS who probably would love to know that someone is claiming to have a deal with them that surpasses(?) laws in Norway and gives them right to charge VAT to put in their own pocket.