Canada Post "Free Shipping Tuesdays" is back for 2024! | Selling | eBay Canada EN

Canada Post "Free Shipping Tuesdays" is back for 2024! | Selling | eBay Canada EN

Buying & Selling

Canada Post "Free Shipping Tuesdays" is back for 2024!

Summary: dinomitesales shares the news about Canada Post's "Free Shipping Tuesdays" in October, which offers the option of five free domestic shipments or one to the USA. hansatrade raises concerns about tracking issues between Canada Post and USPS, questioning the impact on seller performance and defects if tracking is added manually. reallynicestamps counters that there is no defect from not posting tracking, though hansatrade insists that it affects Top Rated Plus sellers on eBay.com. This leads to a deeper discussion with participants sharing experiences and eventual solutions, such as selecting USPS instead of Canada Post when manually inputting tracking, which ultimately helps resolve a long-standing issue for hansatrade. The thread also discusses nuances with weight, dimensions, and keeping transparency in revised invoices when dimensions exceed limits.

Good news, folks! It's back!

5 Tuesdays in October this year, so 5 free shipments.

One domestic Expedited Parcel up to 5 kg OR 1 Tracked Packet USA up to 2 kg.

Details: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/freetuesdays

dinomitesales

1277 View listings

Posted 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

31 comments

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

Watch out for the dimensions though.

I wanted to ship an 81x51x31 box /4.8 kg and was charged half price -- only $44.

Since the weight was fine, I take it the problem was dimensions.

flipistics

·1 year ago

@reallynicestamps wrote:
Watch out for the dimensions though.
I wanted to ship an 81x51x31 box /4.8 kg and was charged half price -- only $44.
Since the weight was fine, I take it the problem was dimensions.

Yes, the page specifically states 5kg in actual OR dimensional weight (since it's expedited, it uses the expedited dimensional formula).

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
Watch out for the dimensions though.
I wanted to ship an 81x51x31 box /4.8 kg and was charged half price -- only $44.
Since the weight was fine, I take it the problem was dimensions.
Yes, the page specifically states 5kg in actual OR dimensional weight (since it's expedited, it uses the expedited dimensional formula).

@dinomitesales

@flipistics

@reallynicestamps

It's too bad eBay Labels/CP can't show the original amount and the revised amount. From past experience with Puro/Fedex/UPS etc if you got a revised invoice they showed the before and after. Would make billing more transparent.

Example: Actual real weight 1.15 kg.

-Lotz

jtg204

·1 year ago

Small note for anyone else that hasn't used Snap Ship before, the CC to pay $0 must be a credit card and not something like a Visa debit card.

ilikehockeyjerseys

·1 year ago

Yes, and you should also consider that your card could be charged a small amount if Canada Post re-assesses your package and finds it to be larger than stated. It is usually only a few dollars here or there.

It might be a good idea to overstate your package dimensions and weight, so long as you remain below the free threshold. In the event Canada Post has an additional charge for your package, I wouldn't trust their system to recognize that you used a promo code, and it doesn't hurt you to say your package is 25 CM long instead of 20 for example.

byto253

·1 year ago

Just packed up my freebie to be sent tomorrow. A small pleasure from this is just packing it up and not worrying about the weight as long as it is under 2KG.

ypdc_dennis

·1 year ago

Just shipped a $24 expedited parcel for free. 😁

Canada Post site was a little slow at times.

Code is OCT1

Code is entered on the cart page just before you go to pay. Still need to use a credit card even when the amount is $0. -- This is because Canada Post will charge additional if you are over weight when they process your package.

-;-

ilikehockeyjerseys

·1 year ago

The code is always OCT# or OCT##. # or ## being the date. OCT1 OCT8 OCT15 OCT22 OCT29.

This might save people from having to check back each Tuesday. Of course, now that I have posted this, they will change the code format!

ilikehockeyjerseys

·1 year ago

Nice timing with the long weekend, because it increases the chance of having a large parcel, even with one day shipping.

Hopefully they also have free pickups again this year.

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

Looks like this year we get up to five Canadian or up to five US shipments in October.

flipistics

·1 year ago

The last 2 that I've purchased directly from Canada Post to the States, which were manually entered, tracked fine. They were to PR though and sent Tracked Packet USA.

Did you have the items listed on dot com or dot ca?

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
The last 2 that I've purchased directly from Canada Post to the States, which were manually entered, tracked fine. They were to PR though and sent Tracked Packet USA.

Did you have the items listed on dot com or dot ca?

I never listed on .ca. Tried to enter the tracking on both, .ca and .com. Also using different browsers. Always the result was the same. The tracking works fine on CP and USPS websites, but NEVER on Ebay, as shown above.

flipistics

·1 year ago

@hansatrade wrote:
@flipistics wrote:
The last 2 that I've purchased directly from Canada Post to the States, which were manually entered, tracked fine. They were to PR though and sent Tracked Packet USA.

Did you have the items listed on dot com or dot ca?
I never listed on .ca. Tried to enter the tracking on both, .ca and .com. Also using different browsers. Always the result was the same. The tracking works fine on CP and USPS websites, but NEVER on Ebay, as shown above.

It's possible it's an issue on dot com and not dot ca. The good thing is that you're much more likely to get it fixed there. Make sure you post this issue on the dot com boards.

Out of curiosity, what happens if you select USPS rather than CP for the carrier?

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:

It's possible it's an issue on dot com and not dot ca. The good thing is that you're much more likely to get it fixed there. Make sure you post this issue on the dot com boards.

Out of curiosity, what happens if you select USPS rather than CP for the carrier?

I tried to enter the tracking on .ca as well - with the same result.

I will not even try to select USPS 😃 I tried Post Canada and CPC - and always USPS was the final result.

What's interesting, it doesn't apply to any other service, CP-UR small packet or ChitChats...

Thank you for trying to provide a solution. I truly appreciate it.

I found here something VERY INTERESTING!! Look at the right side - CP changes to USPS and vice versa!!!

It must be something wrong with the TP service identification. If added automatically, it's recognized as CP, if manually - as USPS. This one was printed from Ebay and changes FREELY from CP to USPS, then to CP, and to USPS - again ......

And to complicate it even more: TP label shows:

1. Canada Post logo

2. F - USPS First Class logo

3. POST EXPRES USPS logo

Seriously, here I surrender! 😁

dinomitesales

OP1 year ago

@hansatrade wrote:
I found here something VERY INTERESTING!! Look at the right side - CP changes to USPS and vice versa!!!

It's not changing back and forth between Canada Post and USPS - this looks like a screenshot from Parcels app; it's just taking data from both carriers. If you isolate all the "Canada Post" entries that's what it would show on canadapost.ca, and if you isolate the USPS entries that's what it shows on usps.com.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
Out of curiosity, what happens if you select USPS rather than CP for the carrier?

I will definitely try to choose USPS next time.

Maybe it makes a difference - USPS chosen by me, or imposed by the system.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
Out of curiosity, what happens if you select USPS rather than CP for the carrier?

UNBELIEVALBE!!!!! YOU RESOLVED MY PROBLEM!!!!!

I PUT USPS INSTEAD OF CC - AND IT WORKS!!!! WOW!!!!

HOW DID YOU KNOW????? 😃

HERE IS YOUR EXPERT AWARD!!!!!

IMAGINE, I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM SINCE 1.5 YEAR.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CONTACTED EBAY CS .....

"YES, WE KNOW THE PROBLEM AND WORK ON IT..."

HERE IS YOUR AWARD!!! THANK YOU!!! 😃

TO ALL OTHER SELLERS, WHO ADD THE TRACKING MANUALLY:

CHOOSE USPS FOR TRACKED PACKET, NOT CANADA POST!

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
The last 2 that I've purchased directly from Canada Post to the States, which were manually entered, tracked fine. They were to PR though and sent Tracked Packet USA.

Did you have the items listed on dot com or dot ca?

Here an example from August.

The tracking on EBay website:

And the THE SAME tracking on Canada Post website:

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

I use Registered Mail domestically fairly often since it can be the cheapest tracked option for shipments under 500grams and 2 cm thick (ie Letter Rates).

It is necessary to add the tracking manually since, like prepaid boxes, this service cannot be purchased through eBay.

But there is no problem adding it.

When you start to enter C.A. N. , Canada Post is one of the immediate choices.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@reallynicestamps wrote:

But there is no problem adding it.
When you start to enter C.A. N. , Canada Post is one of the immediate choices.

I don't know how many times I put CP into the box on both, .ca and .com.

I explained earlier MANY times - it's accepted, but doesn't update later.

Here I found the image from my earlier post from January - it shows ONE AND THE SAME tracking:

I repeat here again: it's ONLY about CP to US shipments added manually.

Seriously, am I the only Canadian seller here, who sells mainly to the US, is TRS Plus on .com and is OBLIGATED to provide a WORKING tracking to keep all the TRS priveleges at the .com site?

I sell here for living, not for fun or to kill the boredom, so YES, I bother about the metrics.

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

And one to the USA? That's new.

Not posting tracking does not lead to Defects, nor does it affect our status as GLOBAL Top Rated Sellers.

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/selling-policies/global-seller-performance-policy?id=4351&st=3&pos=1&query=Global%20seller%20performance%20policy&intent=global%20top%20rated%20seller&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1274#top-rated

"No more than 5 or 5% of transactions" is the Global standard.

Posting tracking numbers does protect us from impatient buyers who might otherwise open Claims.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@reallynicestamps wrote:

Not posting tracking does not lead to Defects, nor does it affect our status as GLOBAL Top Rated Sellers.

Except you are a Top Rated Plus on .com, like me. Not providing a validated tracking counts as a defect.

This kind of a defect is not a "real" defect (it's not shown in the "request to remove defect" section), but still might cause troubles, if accumulated above 5%.

dinomitesales

OP1 year ago

@reallynicestamps wrote:
And one to the USA? That's new.

OR, not and.

Also I've never experienced a defect from not purchasing shipping directly through eBay.

I regularly use flat rate boxes which require me to manually update the tracking.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@dinomitesales wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
And one to the USA? That's new.
OR, not and.

Also I've never experienced a defect from not purchasing shipping directly through eBay.
I regularly use flat rate boxes which require me to manually update the tracking.

Does CP offer US flat rate boxes? Had no idea ......

dinomitesales

OP1 year ago

@hansatrade wrote:
@dinomitesales wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
And one to the USA? That's new.
OR, not and.

Also I've never experienced a defect from not purchasing shipping directly through eBay.
I regularly use flat rate boxes which require me to manually update the tracking.
Does CP offer US flat rate boxes? Had no idea ......

I never said US had flat rate boxes. In your initial post you said "We will need to add the tracking manually, and this feature is broken." I've never experienced this.

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@dinomitesales wrote:
@hansatrade wrote:
@dinomitesales wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
And one to the USA? That's new.
OR, not and.

Also I've never experienced a defect from not purchasing shipping directly through eBay.
I regularly use flat rate boxes which require me to manually update the tracking.
Does CP offer US flat rate boxes? Had no idea ......
I never said US had flat rate boxes. In your initial post you said "We will need to add the tracking manually, and this feature is broken." I've never experienced this.

Sure, but since the beginning I am talking about CP/USPS tracking mismatch, so if there are no US flat rate boxes, what is your comment about? How it applies to the discussion?

regs43

·1 year ago

Do you try typing in Canada Post when uploading the tracking to override the pre set USPS that I believe tries to populate.

When I used to manually add tracking before ebay labels I understand what your saying happens. I typed in Canada Post or CPC, but I don't recall if it ever gave me defects. I just had a few Small Packets to the USA not scan and got orange circles for them but not any other orders that I recall (I used .ca for everything)

I rarely look at any of these metrics on ebay (defects, late shipping rates etc). like once every 3 months maybe

dinomitesales

OP1 year ago

@hansatrade wrote:
@dinomitesales wrote:
@hansatrade wrote:
@dinomitesales wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
And one to the USA? That's new.
OR, not and.

Also I've never experienced a defect from not purchasing shipping directly through eBay.
I regularly use flat rate boxes which require me to manually update the tracking.
Does CP offer US flat rate boxes? Had no idea ......
I never said US had flat rate boxes. In your initial post you said "We will need to add the tracking manually, and this feature is broken." I've never experienced this.
Sure, but since the beginning I am talking about CP/USPS tracking mismatch, so if there are no US flat rate boxes, what is your comment about? How it applies to the discussion?

I read your initial post multiple times.

You said "it will cause thousands of defects" without specifying "it" so I thought you were just talking about the promo in general. You then went on to say "We will need to add the tracking manually, and this feature is broken". I then mentioned that that hasn't been my experience because I've used Flat Rate boxes, have added the tracking manually, and haven't experienced this "broken feature".

You then say "CP tracking is marked as USPS tracking, which the system cannot handle properly and doesn't update" and I'm thinking "huh? why would eBay mark a domestic shipment as USPS?".

Apparently you were referring to US shipments only when this was a discussion of a promo pertaining to both domestic and US shipments... I think?

Even so, and if what you're saying is true about US-bound shipments uploaded manually, this would only apply to the subset of people that are a) selling on dotcom; b) are choosing to use the promo for the US shipment and not the domestic shipment; and c) are infrequent enough sellers, or sellers that already have pre-existing defects, for which this might drop them below 95%. I feel like this is a non-issue for the vast majority of sellers.

teenytrinkets

·1 year ago

They had one year (I believe 3 years ago) where you got a free Canadian AND a free US Shipment! That was AWESOME!!! But I'll gladly take the either/or this year!

hansatrade

·1 year ago

Nice, but it will cause thousands of defects. We will need to add the tracking manually, and this feature is broken (check several threads posted here) since 1.5 year. CP tracking is marked as USPS tracking, which the system cannot handle properly and doesn't update.

As a result it will never show "delivered", even if on the USPS website the thacking works perfectly and shows "delivered".

Is the savings worth of 5 defects? Calculate .....

vintagenorth

·1 year ago

Thanks for the heads up!