eBay

dinomitesales · ‎08-18-2023

Sold a video game that I had intended to send via Expedited Lite.

When I went to print the shipping label Expedited Lite was an option, but the cost was only like 20 cents less than Expedited Parcel (and in excess of $25).

Destination was Baker Lake, Nunavut.

I can only assume that the Expedited Lite service excludes far northern/remote communities - does anyone else have any additional data points to support this?

flipistics · ‎08-18-2023

I don't see anything to indicate that they would. What package dimensions did you have?

I know I accidentally had one of my listings as expedited lite for an item that was overweight, but it simply didn't show a valid shipping service for it (which is why I eventually noticed it).

2nd-time-around-jewelry · ‎08-18-2023

Nunavut is one of the most expensive places to ship in Canada. They have to have everything sent there by plane. I don't think Expedited Lite can be used for that area. I know I had to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping awhile back.

dinomitesales · ‎08-18-2023

@flipistics wrote:
I don't see anything to indicate that they would. What package dimensions did you have?

I know I accidentally had one of my listings as expedited lite for an item that was overweight, but it simply didn't show a valid shipping service for it (which is why I eventually noticed it).

22x18x2 cm. 130 g. It was within the accepted range as I've sent other video games packaged the exact same way via Expedited Lite for the advertised $6-8 price point.

flipistics · ‎08-19-2023

It would be good to get an official stance on it. I think I had an expedited lite item the other day come in at almost $10, and that wasn't air stage (but was in the middle of nowhere). You should probably just send it registered lettermail. The price probably wouldn't be much different anyway.

recped · ‎08-19-2023

@dinomitesales wrote:
Sold a video game that I had intended to send via Expedited Lite.
When I went to print the shipping label Expedited Lite was an option, but the cost was only like 20 cents less than Expedited Parcel (and in excess of $25).

Destination was Baker Lake, Nunavut.

I can only assume that the Expedited Lite service excludes far northern/remote communities - does anyone else have any additional data points to support this?

Why don't you just use regular O/S Lettermail? For a Video Game it's probably only $3.19

Expedited Lite is a non-standard service, doesn't surprise me at all that it would be very expensive to a location like Baker Lake.

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎08-21-2023

@dinomitesales wrote:
Sold a video game that I had intended to send via Expedited Lite.
When I went to print the shipping label Expedited Lite was an option, but the cost was only like 20 cents less than Expedited Parcel (and in excess of $25).

Destination was Baker Lake, Nunavut.

I can only assume that the Expedited Lite service excludes far northern/remote communities - does anyone else have any additional data points to support this?

@dinomitesales

devon@ebay

In recently creating a listing adding expedited lite/expedited I got the following.

That high end has to be at the end of any points of long distance. Testing shows this to Baker Lake.

Also of note is that the rate shown is the discounted rate because it is "technically" unpublished. Compared to everything else buyers see which is counter rate...Undiscounted.

-Lotz

femmefan1946 · ‎08-21-2023

Did you send it Lettermail instead?

You would have to use postage stamps or buy a label at the PO counter.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎08-21-2023

@2nd-time-around-jewelry wrote:
Nunavut is one of the most expensive places to ship in Canada. They have to have everything sent there by plane. I don't think Expedited Lite can be used for that area. I know I had to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping awhile back.

@2nd-time-around-jewelry

@dinomitesales

Unsure but it is possible they are no longer subsidizing shipments to the Territories. I've had shipments in the past...Over 5 years that were comparitive(under 500 grams) to S. Canada shipping for rates. Recently much higher so when it works I just use the prepaid boxes if that will make it cheaper. The only other "issue" for me can be delivery time and if it gets routed to Calgary/Edmonton/Yellowknife... or Calgary/Mtl..................... . Montreal has in the past taken 3 to 4 weeks for items to arrive. Right now with fires everything could potentially be longer. Similar observations for anything going off the beaten track/end of the road.

-Lotz

dinomitesales · ‎08-21-2023

@recped wrote:
Why don't you just use regular O/S Lettermail? For a Video Game it's probably only $3.19

Expedited Lite is a non-standard service, doesn't surprise me at all that it would be very expensive to a location like Baker Lake.

Because it sold for $50 which is typically my threshold for sending things with tracking vs. untracked (if the price is right, that is). If it was only the $6-8 I thought it would be then I would have sent it Expedited Lite, but it definitely wasn't worth it at the $26+ price point.

I could have sent it as a Registered Letter for about $13 or so, but just bit the bullet and sent it untracked Oversize Lettermail. Fingers crossed it goes okay.

dinomitesales · ‎08-21-2023

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
@2nd-time-around-jewelry wrote:
Nunavut is one of the most expensive places to ship in Canada. They have to have everything sent there by plane. I don't think Expedited Lite can be used for that area. I know I had to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping awhile back.
@2nd-time-around-jewelry
@dinomitesales

Unsure but it is possible they are no longer subsidizing shipments to the Territories. I've had shipments in the past...Over 5 years that were comparitive(under 500 grams) to S. Canada shipping for rates. Recently much higher so when it works I just use the prepaid boxes if that will make it cheaper. The only other "issue" for me can be delivery time and if it gets routed to Calgary/Edmonton/Yellowknife... or Calgary/Mtl..................... . Montreal has in the past taken 3 to 4 weeks for items to arrive. Right now with fires everything could potentially be longer. Similar observations for anything going off the beaten track/end of the road.

-Lotz

I mean, they're definitely still subsidizing the prices. Maybe not as much as they used to, though.

They're definitely losing money every time they send a flat rate box or a stamped envelope to a northern/remote fly-in community, but they're making a couple bucks on that same box shipped locally or evey regionally (between major urban centers). That's how it's always worked - there would be outrage if they started charging actual costs to get mail to these destinations; it's one of the primary reasons shipping costs are so high across Canada.

I'm not surprised to see that there isn't any significant discount with the Expedited Lite service to remote/fly-in locations but I was still hopeful up until I went to print the label lol.