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! 🙂

[ypdc_dennis · Accepted solution]

If the package is 500g or under and a maximum of 2cm then you can use oversize lettermail for Canada.

A standard thickness dvd case is 14mm, put in a size 0 bubble envelope and the result should be just under 2cm (I use kraft paper bubble envelopes from Staples for regular dvds).

The cost is flat rate to anywhere in Canada, so calculated shipping is not required.

Canada (oversize rate using stamps):

051-100g .. 1.80
101-200g .. 2.95
201-300g .. 4.10
301-400g .. 4.70
401-500g .. 5.05

...

Once your package is thicker than 2cm, you need to use calculated shipping for parcels. Pick expedited parcel (cheaper than regular if you buy the shipping via eBay/Shippo; comes with $100 insurance).

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For the USA you can use Small Packet (if you want to buy your shipping online), cheapest if you buy the shipping via eBay/Shippo. Flat rate, and you do not need to worry about thickness.

Small Packet (eBay.ca via Shippo)

001g-250g ...  7.05

251g-500g ...  9.25

501g-1.0kg ... 13.78

Oversize lettermail (stamped rate, not desired by Canada Post) (2cm max)

051-100g .. 2.95
101-200g .. 5.15

Light Packet (2cm max)

001-200g .. 6.84

201-300g .. 8.60

Alternatives: If you are located in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal or Halifax there are companies (chitchatsexpress, stallionexpress, runninred, dlk) that will take your package across the border for a small fee and you can pay USA domestic shipping rates (USPS media mail is cheap).

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