Typewriter Talk / eBay-UK Halts USA Shippiing...

**Posted by Pete E.** 02-6-2025 19:50:00

I have noticed typewriters offered for sale/auction with eBay-UK no longer allow shipping to the USA. Started to noticed this about 2-3 weeks ago.

Here is a read about this :

https://www.valueaddedresource.net/ebay-uk-pauses-global-shipping-programme-us/

**Posted by mikeytap** 03-6-2025 11:04:16

I was wondering why I wasn't seeing the option for USA shipping.

**Posted by thetypewriterman** 04-6-2025 03:33:35

I am beginning to go off e-bay in a big way. Their latest scam in the UK is that they will not give you the buyers postal address unless you buy a shipping label from them. That often means that you pay for far more postage than you need. I think that there must have been a big backlash because just recently I have found that there is an 'other couriers' option buried deeply in the 'options' menu when listing. That means that you can simply post the item as you could before. As most of you reading this are in the US, have e-bay imposed 'Simple Delivery' there too ? And what do you think of it ?

**Posted by thetypewriterman** 04-6-2025 03:35:56

By the way, although people in New Zealand often buy on e-bay, the New Zealanders have their own buying and selling website called Trade Me. Perhaps Trade Me should expand to other countries ? Might give e-bay a bit of a jolt !

**Posted by Pete E.** 05-6-2025 10:43:12

Hi Tom,

1. There are several other auction-sites in the USA...but they do not get the volume of typewriters and accessories as eBay does.

2. I have purchased a typewriter from the UK where the seller did not allow eBay's GSP and wanted to use DHL. DHL tracking stopped in the 2nd,. week and 2 months passed without a typewriter to my home in the USA. It never made it to US customs on our east coast, at all. eBay finally granted me a full refund I also used an Italian carrier for a machine from Italy. Again the seller did not allow eBay's GSP as an option. No tracking info. until it hit USA customs and it took over a month to be delivered. Then I decided to use sellers that only use eBay GSP...especially from the UK which would only take 7-8 days to arrive at my home on the west side of the USA.

**Posted by Pete E.** 14-7-2025 07:50:11

Looks like the use of eBay's GSP is making a slow return with UK sellers.

I have noticed some of the more recent offerings may use the GSP again. With the cost of shipping sometimes double of what it was just a year ago.
.

**Posted by thetypewriterman** 14-7-2025 16:51:16

E-bay in England have now closed the 'other couriers' loophole, which means that you have to buy e-bay's extortionate shipping. On small, lightweight items this is up to three times the cost of posting it yourself.

**Posted by Pete E.** 05-8-2025 20:19:53

Hi Tom,

Sadly this is true.

eBay shipping through their GSP system on Olympia Traveller machines that used to run me $ 30-45 USD now go for $ 85 USD or more.

Glad I brought over the dozen or so typewriters when it was still cheap to do so.
.

**Posted by Omineca** 17-8-2025 12:24:57

I just bought an Erika Daro 42 from eBay UK. Shipping to Canada was about USD$55 and it took about two weeks to arrive.

I wonder if the changes to UK-USA shipping were due to tariff uncertainty? If so, perhaps they'll change back now that the rates are settled.

**Posted by Pete E.** 17-8-2025 19:42:04

I brought this 1976-made Erika Daro in from the UK about 2.5 years ago.

They are great little machines if you get past all the plastic cowlings.

Machine set me back $ 28 USD and another $ 30 USD for shipping.
.