ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 3, 2007 10:50:49 PM new
We ship quite a bit to Canada, mostly 1-2 lb variable weight packages. Previously it cost $8.50-9.50 to ship under 1 lb to Canada. Under the new rates it is now $16.00!!! I could not believe it, called, visited the post office and yes it is true. Found out that the same package using UPS is $10.95 instead of $16 but our canadian customers always tell us NO UPS only USPS. Anyone have experience with this and now that it is $5 more to ship with USPS versus UPS do we switch? We also ship all over the world and it has gone up - almost doubled- what is everyone else going to do that ships internationally?
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otteropp
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posted on May 3, 2007 11:15:28 PM new
That is awful...today is nothing but bad news.
I am in Canada and the reason we don't want parcels sent by UPS is because they charge the Buyer outlandish Brokerage fees and the buyers here (quite understandably) have already paid for the item and Shipping plus if it is over $20 Canadian also have had to pay, Goods & Services Tax of 6.5%, Provincial Taxes ( varoes by Province...in BC it is 7%) PLUS $5.00 Customs Fee that Customs charge for the pleasure of opening the parcel. For UPS to charge on top of that...it just does not make it viable to order through the US.
If your items sell for more than about US$18.00 you may find your Canadian customers backing off.
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 4, 2007 04:09:48 AM new
Thank you that explains it. Average selling price of our items is $50 so I guess it is still USPS as the best bet although watch what will happen to those stars on the feedback system when we have to raise it that much! I shutter to think.
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photosensitive
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posted on May 4, 2007 07:52:33 AM new
A little off subject but... Are the new international shipping rates posted on the USPS web site? I find it near impossible to navigate and did not find them. I have a buyer's inquiry from Brazil and hope it does not drag out past the date when the rates increase but I want to tell him what they will be then to give him a push to get the transaction over.
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“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 4, 2007 07:58:22 AM new
Yes they are, go to:
http://www.usps.com/ratecase/intlrates/welcome.htm
From there you can access the rate charts, country rate group charts, etc.
Brazil is in Rate Group 9 and for 1 lb or less it is $18.00 priority but they give you all the info.
Hope that helps and I would quote him the higher rate since buyers never pay or buy when they should!
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 08:46:37 AM new
Who said Canadian customs charge 5 for opening the package??
It is USP which charges 5 for taking the item thru customs for you.
I know in USA,USPS charges one dollar for doing so.
Private shippers such as Fed Exp and UPS of the world have customs brokers near the customs office and they will take your package ,try to decipher the content and figure the customs fee and then take it to customs and then bring it back to depot to be fowarded to destination.
Deciphering the content and the appropriate customs fee expedite the process of clearing thru customs.
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Lets all stop whining !
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otteropp
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posted on May 4, 2007 09:08:34 AM new
Sorry to correct you but it is Canada Customs that adds a $5.00 Handling Fee for each parcel that they open.
Attached to the incoming parcel ( if it has been opened by Customs) is a "weigh bill" with the amount of GST, PST, Duty and a Handling Fee of $5.00". This has to all be paid before you can take delivery of the parcel from the Canada Post outlet.
I am not referring to items arriving by UPS but sent through USPS and on to Canada Post.
[ edited by otteropp on May 4, 2007 09:09 AM ]
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 09:14:00 AM new
Wow,is that a penalty for not buying in Canada?
I know with commerical shipments,US customs sometimes slap a fee ,they said it is meant for upgrading their computers!
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Lets all stop whining !
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otteropp
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posted on May 4, 2007 10:06:58 AM new
Yep...we get penalised for not "Buying Local"!!
Our incoming limit by mail before we have to pay Duty is only $20 Canadian. It has been the same since the early 1970's!
EBay Canada has been lobbying the Canadian Government for a long time but they won't make any progress on that front.
They have just increased the amount we can bring back into Canada after a 7 day absence from $200 to $400 ( I think) which is also the first increase in over 20 years.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 12:28:32 PM new
I wonder if someone who lives nearby the border say Detroit or Buffalo will collect all our packages and then drive over to a Canadian post office to mail them for us .
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Lets all stop whining !
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amber
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posted on May 4, 2007 12:42:35 PM new
There are several Canadian sellers who live near the border and do just that. We are over 100 miles away, so it's not worth it for us. We have family in the US, so I get things sent there, and then another family member visiting can bring it back for us.
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 4, 2007 12:45:08 PM new
Ok, so with all the fees, etc. etc. is it better to switch to UPS for shipping to Canada now that USPS has almost doubled their rates? Need you Canadians to give opinion on this please. Again, under 1 lb package is now $16.00 USPS and with UPS it is $10.95. With all that is charged by each carrier, which in the end is most economical or are they about a wash now? Thanks!
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melissafan100
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posted on May 4, 2007 01:17:24 PM new
Just wondering:
How about first class mail international for shipping to Canada? Has anyone gotten an idea of what we can expect as far as average delivery time with this option? I imagine it might end up being a little bit slower at best, but wish I could get an idea of whether it's likely to take a week or two for items to arrive or if it will be closer to a month or more.
There also are the flat rate priority mail international envelopes which may work for some items. I believe they will be a flat $9.00 to Canada (higher to other international destinations). They might work if you were shipping a magazine, small book, CD, DVD, etc. (that could be wrapped and packed before slipping inside the flat rate envelope). There will also be a flat rate box (which costs more), although I haven't seen them yet myself.
I am fortunate that I believe I will be able to use the flat rate envelopes for many of the types of items that I sell, but I'm very interested to hear how others are adjusting and other options I can consider.
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 4, 2007 01:48:55 PM new
Yes, flat rate box to Canada is $23 and holds up to 20 pounds. You use the same domestic flat rate box for the international. They are now going to use boxes interchangeably, meaning you can use them for both domestic and international. I spoke with some hauncho at USPS and he told me about the Priority Mail International (new name for Global Priority) and the use of the domestic flat rate box for international use. We ship shoes and sunglasses, etc. so flat rate envelope out for us so wanting to know about UPS versus USPS given all info???? Thanks!
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 01:55:02 PM new
intl priority flat rate envelope is 9 dollars.
first class mail to Canada is not bad,I use it and never get a complaint .
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Lets all stop whining !
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jake
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posted on May 4, 2007 04:56:15 PM new
I just heard today from the local post office that international first class for packages is being eliminated. They have to go Global Priority or Global Express. First Class will only be for letter size envelopes. I'm not sure if this includes Canada.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 05:19:37 PM new
First class mail is for under 13 oz,if more than that,we have to ship parcel post.
If they change it that all packages must go parcel post,priority or express,we will end up paying more.
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Lets all stop whining !
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hwahwa
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posted on May 4, 2007 05:23:05 PM new
What are the reasons for raising postage besides the same old same old energy price going up,volume of letters going down due to email,but more people buy on internet and most ebay sellers ship USPS,so thats more than make up the decline in volume of first class envelopes and postcards.
our mail carriers do not get an air conditioned car,just a battery operated fan on the dashboard.
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Lets all stop whining !
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melissafan100
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posted on May 4, 2007 05:38:19 PM new
jake: The postal service web site lists rates for up to 4 pounds for the new first class international mail. It is a new class of mail being introduced by the postal service on May 14th, so am not sure if the clerk you spoke to might have been confused. (The first class international mail is being introduced and taking the place of air mail parcel post and economy mail.) I am not sure of what restrictions there may be, but it does include packages and not merely letter size envelopes.
http://www.usps.com/ratecase/intlrates/imm_rates.1.7.html
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 5, 2007 11:10:06 AM new
Hi, I think that you are incorrect regarding First Class Mail International - it is only for letters/mail and not packaging. See this as posted on their website and what the postal director here told me:
Effective May 14, 2007
Global Express Guaranteed (document)
Global Express Guaranteed (non-document)
will be called: Global Express Guaranteed
Global Express Mail
will be called: Express Mail International
Global Priority Mail
Airmail Parcel Post
Economy Parcel Post
will be called: Priority Mail International
Airmail Letter Post
Economy Letter Post
will be called: First-Class Mail International
see info at:
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_033.htm
All parcel post will not be priority mail international and fall under those rates, not first class mail international -- big big difference here in rates.
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ATCOutfitters
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posted on May 5, 2007 11:11:53 AM new
sorry meant to say all parcel post WILL BE priority mail international and not first class. Excuse the typo -
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glassgrl
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posted on May 5, 2007 11:49:25 AM new
Here's a breakdown of the features of the new classes:
1. Global Express Guaranteed
* Delivery in 1-3 days.
* Track and trace capabilities.
* Money-back delivery guarantee.*
* Insurance included for the first $100 dollars in value. Insurance for higher values can be purchased with Endicia Insurance.
* Online discount with stealth postage 10% (planned for a future release - not currently available through Endicia).
_________________________
* Some restrictions apply – refer to terms and conditions on the back of mailing label for details.
2. Express Mail International
* Delivery in 3-5 days.
* Tracking to major destinations.
* Service guarantee to Australia, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan.
* Insurance included for the first $100 dollars in value. Insurance for higher values can be purchased with Endicia Insurance.
* Flat-rate envelope ($22 to Canada and Mexico, $25 to all other countries).
* Online discount with stealth postage 8%.
3. Priority Mail International
* Delivery in 6-10 days.
* Tracking to major destinations.
* Insurance available.
* Flat-rate envelopes for letters ($9 to Canada and Mexico, $11 to all other countries) and flat-rate boxes for parcels ($23 to Canada and Mexico, $37 to all other countries).
* Online discount with stealth postage 5%.
4. First-Class Mail International
* Registered service available.
Use Flat-Rate Options, Including International
Flat rate envelopes and boxes are the same price no matter what the weight. Visit http://shop.usps.com to see what options are available. You may be able to save on smaller heavier packages such as books. Keep in mind that there are weight limits for some of the new international flat rates. Weight limits vary for different classes and sizes so make sure you know if there is a limit for what you're using:
* Priority Mail flat rate envelope will cost $4.60
* Priority Mail flat rate boxes will cost $8.95
* Express Mail flat rate envelope will cost $16.25
* Priority Mail International flat rate envelope can weigh up to 4lbs.
o Shipping to Canada or Mexico will cost $9.00
o Shipping to any other countries will cost $11.00
* Priority Mail International flat rate boxes can weigh up to 20lbs.
o Shipping to Canada or Mexico will cost $23.00
o Shipping to any other countries will cost $37.00
* Express Mail International flat rate envelope can be any weight.
o Shipping to Canada or Mexico will cost $22.00
o Shipping to any other countries will cost $25.00
[ edited by glassgrl on May 5, 2007 12:03 PM ]
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ihh
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posted on May 5, 2007 01:55:17 PM new
ATCOutfitters, from what I understand, First Class Mail International is replacing Airmail Letter Post. Airmail Letter Post is not just for envelopes. It is also for boxes up to 4 pounds.
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ihh
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posted on May 5, 2007 02:09:38 PM new
Here ya go:
First-Class Mail International
This service provides a reliable and economical means of sending correspondence (letters and postcards), documents, and merchandise weighing up to 4 pounds. Extra services, such as registered and return receipt, may be added on a country-specific basis.
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pixiamom
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posted on May 5, 2007 02:15:36 PM new
First Class International is replacing Both Airmail and Economy Letter Post. Will it go by air or ground?
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hwahwa
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posted on May 5, 2007 02:47:02 PM new
How can Intl mail go by ground?unless you are mailing to Mexico or Canada?
So what about surface mail going by sea??
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Lets all stop whining !
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pixiamom
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posted on May 5, 2007 04:09:40 PM new
Ground = slow boat to China, the way my international postcards go when I forget to stamp AIRMAIL on them.
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northwoodsguy
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posted on May 5, 2007 05:21:00 PM new
From what I've been told by postal officials, Surface Mail, official called Economy Letter Post or Economy Parcel Post, is being eliminated. All packages will be shipped overseas by Air....no more ships going across the ocean with your eBay packages.
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amber
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posted on May 5, 2007 06:46:13 PM new
Surface and airmail was explained to me at the Canada Post office, probably the same applies in the US. There are places reserved for mail on airlines, and the airmail goes on those flights. Surface mail is loaded on the planes whenever there is extra room, which can mean it goes with the regular airmail if there is light volume, at heavier volumes, Christmas etc., it can get left off for quite a while untill there is room on a flight, and it has to take it's "turn", airmail always get priority of place over surface mail, but it actually all goes airmail.
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on May 5, 2007 10:14:16 PM new
Shipping to Canada doubled
Personally I think it is about time. I found that it was cheaper to send items to Canada than it was to ship them in the USA. This to me is just a correction.
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