Can I post overseas without using GSP?

[theorchidwhisperer]

I've had no end of issues with the Global Shipping Program. Unhappy buyers and understandably so.

This last week a poor lady in the EU couldn't understand why I couldn't reduce her shipping costs down from £20 to a more realistic £5.

It's completely out of my hands as a seller when I choose international delivery. It's not calculated by me and although it makes a Seller's job much easier it's not encouraging repeat custom with very steep shipping charges.

Is there a way to offer international postage without using the eBay Global Shipping Program?

You can, by fiddling about with your seller settings, but tbh, I wouldn’t. Selling abroad can be a whole kind of headache, but the GSP reduces a lot of that.

By the time you add in tracking and/or signed for delivery (and we have had too many parcels go missing abroad to not do this) we find GSP often to be no more expensive and probably more reliable than other international couriers.

The other bonus is that if the parcel goes missing GSP gives the refund and not you! Having had to refund hefty international postage on relatively cheap items this is a definite plus.

GSP is very expensive for small light weight items, you can opt out of gsp but you then need to select which countries you are willing to post to and if something goes missing you will have to refund the international postage. For larger parcels and certainly over 2kg gsp starts to be cheaper than arranging your own international courier
eBay will also remove any negative feedback that relates to gsp postage charges

An internationally tracked 200g large letter will be about £7 at post office but gsp will be £13 however for a 1900g medium parcel international tracked at post office will be £27 but gsp will still only be about £19

I've wondered the same with GSP. I had a potential buyer contact me as they are interested in an item, but their country isn't included in the GSP. I've looked at offering worldwide postage as a one-off, but not sure if it is worth the hassle. An additional agreement popped up when I went to amend the listing, and I'm reluctant to go ahead without fully understanding it.
It's a low value item (the buyer is happy to pay postage that equals the cost of the item), but vintage/nostalgic, so I can understand why the buyer is keen, but from my perspective I'm not sure if the additional effort is worth it.

I also don't want to be bitten on the arse by hidden extra PayPal fees etc.

Still not sure what to do - I'm a private seller if that makes a difference.

paypal fees as well as ebay fees are charged on postage

so if you sell for £10 with £4 domestic postage the rest being GSP you pay ebay and paypal and £14

if you sell for £10 and international postage is £20 ( you arrange yourself) then you pay fees on £20 for the same item

plus you are responsible for it arriving safely overseas if not, then you have to refund £20 unless tracking shows it arrives, with GSP provided tracking shows it arrived at GSP in UK if it doesn't arrive you refund nothing as GSP has to refund not you