lorenlovgren
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posted on March 20, 2006 05:06:18 PM
So...I've opened my listings to include shipments to Canada. Does anyone have a standard rule of thumb as far as which USPS service to use? Flat Rate Global Priority shipping envelopes are too small for most of my items and I have customers that think it's too expensive to use standard Priority Mail. UPS? FedEx? What does anyone use? Thanks for your wisdom!
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tOMWiii
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posted on March 20, 2006 05:11:43 PM
Size?? Weight?? Declared Value???
When I use USPS for shipping to Moosepoo, ON, I used to always use AIRMAIL LETTER POST -- good bang for the BUCK...
UPS, OTOH, charges a pretty STEEP brokerage fee to your receiver (I think it's around $30???), which can really set them off...
[ edited by tOMWiii on Mar 20, 2006 05:12 PM ]
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agitprop
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posted on March 20, 2006 05:50:45 PM
If you have cheapskate Canadian customers then you certainly don't want them using PayPal. Otherwise they can pull the ultimate "Get All Your eBay Purchases For Free" trick and do a chargeback if you don't send via an online traceable carrier. Canadian Postal Money Orders denominated in US$ can be cashed free of charge at USPS outlets when you're shipping the item to the buyer. No chargeback risk and you can offer buyer CHEAP shipping via Airmail Letter.
If buyers want to pay via PayPal you'll need to quote much higher cost of USPS Global Express, UPS, or FedEx which will all entail LARGE customs clearance fees to Canadian buyer. Should they refuse to accept the item you'll be hit with a double whammy when you get hit for all charges on it's return to you, plus be liable to refund buyer in full.
It's a can of worms so stick to which ever payment method you decide and don't let the buyer try and sway you. (Sure most foreign sales are straightforward but the occasional PayPal one can result in a total loss of item or payment.)
Home of the best eBay auction fee & PayPal calculators: http://auctionfeecalculator.com
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billshobbyemporium
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posted on March 20, 2006 07:03:58 PM
Shipping to Canada should go by Global Air Parcel Post if they are paying by PayPal. You print the postage and form on line and it is covered by insurance up to a certain amount by weight. There was a thread on here not to long ago about how to get the values for autonmatic shipping. It is completely traceable and they have to sign the form on delivery. Their signature is on line also. The insurance coverage is on the USPS website under the International Mail Manual or IMM and it is under Exhibit 281.4.
Letter post only is good up to 4 pounds and is not insurable and you can use it only if you get paid by an international money order or cash.
There also is no insurance on Global Priority Mail. There is insurance on Global Express included in the charge also but only up to $100.00
Any higher values on insurance for Air Parcel or Express has to be bought.
You can also send an item by ground parcel post and insure it but it takes a long time (a month or more)
I always send by Global Air and have never had any problems and they get it with in the week.
Bill
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roadsmith
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posted on March 20, 2006 07:28:28 PM
I've sold a lot of things to Canadians, never a problem at all. I usually quote them the air letter post and the air parcel post, or surface mail, and give them a shipping choice. No complaints, no chargebacks in 7 years.
______________________________
My latest favorite feedback: This Lady is an asset to eBay. A REAL Gem. I think I'm in Love....
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tOMWiii
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posted on March 20, 2006 07:29:34 PM
"Letter post only is good up to 4 pounds and is not insurable and you can use it only if you get paid by an international money order or cash..."
I never use USPS INS for anything -- WE always use DSI, and thus Ralphie happily enjoys BETTER COVERAGE + COVERAGE over all CLASSES!
[ edited by tOMWiii on Mar 20, 2006 07:30 PM ]
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stonecold613
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posted on March 21, 2006 10:02:23 AM
If buyers want to pay via PayPal you'll need to quote much higher cost of USPS Global Express
Not true. If you send by Air Mail, (Either letter post or parcel post) Tracking is now done with the customs form. To track it in Canada though, you need to go to the Canadian postal site.
Air mail is your best option. Delivery in most cases will be around 7 days and it is usually cheaper than the slower ground service.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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lorenlovgren
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posted on March 22, 2006 12:31:55 PM
Wow! Thanks for all the responses! In my most recent case (the customer's now not responding to my emails) Air Parcel Post is $15.50 and she's claiming that for the same items from other sellers they're able to send it for $5.50 via Global Priority Mail. The cheapest I can get is Global Priority for $7.50. My other Canadian customers have never complained. It's something that only ways about 14 ounces. She's in Ontario and I'm near San Francisco so maybe it's just the distance. I'm ready to retract! Grrrrrrr!!!! I think I'll close my auctions to Canada.
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on March 22, 2006 12:49:20 PM
Don't blow to many fuses You will have the same complaints about shipping/handling charges from international customers as you will with domestic ones.
I myself ship to Canada all the time and love the Canadians. I print shipping using Endicia.com which is a breeze because I transfer the shipping data directly from Vendio checkout to Endicia Dazzle. I can insure everything through them, even types of mail not insurable through the USPS.
I use most all of the USPS methods of international delivery EXCEPT surface post. Surface just takes to long so it's Airmail or faster service or nothing at all.
For larger items to Canada there is UPS Standard to Canada. It's a economical alternative for shipment's to Canada. More or less it's like UPS Ground but to Canada.
 Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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hwahwa
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posted on March 22, 2006 12:57:08 PM
Global priority is the same for anywhere in Canada,the other sellers must be using the global priority small envelope.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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amazingfans
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posted on March 23, 2006 10:15:55 PM
Wait a second correct me if I'm wrong, you can ship just about anything via "International Economy Letter"? I thought Economy letter was reserved for "Letters", and such?
What is the avergage delivery time is it as fast as Airmail Parcel Post....this can't be true?
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on March 24, 2006 12:08:08 AM
Airmail Letter Post and Airmail Parcel Post go on the same plane so delivery times should also be the same. The reason Letter Post stops at 4 pounds is because the Parcel Post starts at 5 pounds. So if your item is 4 pounds and under it would be just, well, stupid to ship it Parcel Post because shipping Parcel Post you get zapped for a starting rate at 5 pounds. The only reason there would be to use Parcel Post would be if you were using USPS insurance. USPS does not offer insurance on Letter Post items. However if you use insurance like you get through Endicia, U-Pic or DSI they can insure ALL class's of mail.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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tOMWiii
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posted on March 24, 2006 03:34:06 AM
amazingfans:
LETTER-POST:
243 Weight and Size Limits
243.1 Weight Limit
The weight limit is 4 pounds.
243.2 Size Limits
243.21 Envelopes and Packages
a. Minimum length and height: 5-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches.
b. Minimum depth (thickness): .007 inch.
c. Maximum length: 24 inches.
d. Maximum length, height, depth (thickness) combined: 36 inches
[ edited by tOMWiii on Mar 24, 2006 03:35 AM ]
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