Lettermail costs through North America

[ignatia]

Hey there, everyone. I have been selling on eBay on and off for some time. A while back I had a good thing started, then had to take time off due to a lengthy illess. I have forgotten many details I knew, and am also in need of updates on more recent eBay changes. Right now though, I need to know about shipping costs. Most of what I'll be mailing will be sent lettermail. When I used to use lettermail, it averaged around $3.50 per item that I was selling then. Oversized items averaged $8.00, and it was similar no matter where I was mailing to, for the most part. 

The other day I had my husband pick up a pricing pamphlet at the local Canada Post office, and as before, it's unclear how much I'll pay, either for items within 2cm and for oversized items. Can any more experienced sellers fill me in on mailing by lettermail nowadays? I don't need help with parcel pricing, as I can get that from Canada Post's site. Before I start investing money in stock to sell though, I need to know what it's going to cost me to mail, these days. Thanks in advance. 

**Too, I can't remember if there's a surcharge for lettermail sent from a rural location...?

[recped]

First thing, the LetterMail specifications (weight, thickness) haven't changed in decades.

For prices the charts on the following page should be easy to decipher.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/letters-mail/postage-rates.page

Package service rates can be found here:

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/doc/en/support/postal-guide/business-parcels-upcoming.pdf

If you are printing postage via eBay (or anywhere online) you should be using Expedited Parcel (Regular Parcel is for retail customers).

I didn't look to closely at the charts so check to see if they reflect the basic small business disount (it's 5% and automatic via eBay) and also watch out for the Fuel Surcharge which given the big rise in gas prices will be significant.

The PDF above is for the NEW prices effective in January, current rates are a bit lower of course.

[kawartha-ephemera]

There is no mailing location surcharge.

It's important to remember there is a HUGE difference in the maximum thickness allowed between the 2 classes of Lettermail. Regular (50g and under) is limited to just 5 mm versus 2 cm for Oversize.

Regular Lettermail maximum dimensions;
245 mm x 156 mm x 5 mm (9.6 inches x 6.1 inches x 0.2

[ypdc_dennis · Accepted solution]

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/2021-Canada-Post-unofficial-rates-chart-under-2kg/m-p/46...

For items under 200g and less than 2cm thick lettermail is cheapest to the USA.

For items to the United States over 200g use Small Packet USA (price is similar to lettermail and has no 2cm thick restriction).

If near you, consider a crossborder mailer like ChitChats, DYKPost, or StallionExpress. For a small fee they will take your package across the border and use the USPS to mail it to your buyer. Inexpensive tracking compared to Canada Post Tracked Packet.

-.-

[femmefan1946]

Play with those charts.

Use various postal codes and zipcodes.

I use K1A 0A6 / V8W 1P6/ B3J 3A5

and for the USA 90210/20500

And also different weights and dimensions

Use metric.

Canada Post went metric in 1974 and any others will be guesswork.

There is also dimensional weight, which I don't understand.

Sign up for a Solutions for Small Business card which gives you some discounts and occasional perks.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/business/small-business.page?