how to get economy shipping rates for canada post for dvds and books

[bentley65]

Hi.  I am a new Canadian seller, using ebay.ca and listing in can dollars. I would  like to start selling dvds and books. I am using buy it now and the buyer must pay shipping. I am still using my first 50 free listings.

I have listed a few dvds in the smallest, non padded envelopes which I cut down to the size of the dvd. These are series with 4 dvds inside but are around 2 cm thick. 

The weight was 250 grams, size 21 cm long, 16 cm wide and 2 cm high. I listed them at first as 9 dollars Canadian and the shipping quote on the item showing on my listing was over 13 dollars for Canada post regular parcel.

I chose Canada post light packet usa for my usa shipping and it doesn't give a quote. I was told there is no shipping calculator available for my international orders and I have to always ask a buyer for state and zip code, go on Canada post website and get a calculation from there for any buyers, then add the cost to buy it now item and invoice the usa buyer. the cost so far for other items was always double the domestic shipping cost which deterred any usa buyers. I haven't yet sold any dvds but I am assuming the shipping cost will again be double for the usa shipping. 

so I lowered my price to 5 dollars can each dvd set. now it doesn't give any quote at all on domestic shipping which means for buy it now I have to get emails from domestic and usa buyers and go to the Canada post website get the quote etc etc. I don't know why it did then when I changed the price I must have screwed something up. 

I am overwhelmed with this shipping. is there any easier way to do this? what am I doing wrong? I have seen other experienced sellers that offer free economy shipping which I think must be in the plain brown envelopes - letter mail - I am using plain non padded brown envelopes but it never gives me the option of using letter mail. the shipping domestic when it would give a quote was always over 13 dollars. at this rate I would have to give away the dvd to pay the shipping cost. 

I would appreciate anyone who could offer any advice on how to get economy Canada post shipping and advice on pricing the dvds I have or how I could price things and offer free shipping. any advice appreciated. thanks very much.

[bentley65]

Thanks so much for the great advice and information! Now to let it all sink into my tiny brain! 🙂

[maggiebvintage2010 · Accepted solution]

I cannot comment about sending dvds in plain envelopes without any cases, since I don't sell dvds.  However, I can comment about choice of shipping methods.

For destinations in Canada, the size and weight you quote can be sent as oversize lettermail for $4.10.  Anything up to 500 g and maximum 38x27x2cm can go oversized lettermail.  Rates  for up to 100g/200g/300g/400g/500g are $1.80/$2.95/$4.10/$4.70/$5.05.

For US, Light Packet with the same size and weight is $8.60.  It has the same weight and size maximums, with rates for up to 200g/300g/500g of $6.84/$8.60/$11.75.

You cannot print online labels for lettermail or Light Packet.  You can buy postage at the Post Office, or apply stamps which you can buy here at a discount.  You are correct that the shipping calculator is not available for these services, but you can simply input the shipping amount when listing.  Remember you are paying eBay 10% on shipping cost.  Cost is the same to any state, US territory or overseas military mail address.  Light Packet requires a CN22 form complete with value, description of contents and HS Code.

No one is going to message you for a shipping cost.  And shipping is the hardest thing to learn about selling on eBay.  Spend some time on the Canada Post website, look at the rates, become familiar with some of the services offered.  When you see "economy shipping" on listings, this is what Canadian sellers listing on eBay.com must use, since Canada Post options are not available on the US site.  It translates to oversize lettermail.  And the cost for this is either shown separately, or hidden in the price.  There is no such thing as really free shipping.