You are close to carrier limits.
Summary: snoopwiz is experiencing difficulties printing a shipping label with Canada Post's Tracked Packet USA service due to an error message suggesting they are "close to carrier limits." They have ensured dimensions and customs forms are filled correctly but still encounter issues with their package, which contains 11 items, while the customs form supports a maximum of 5. Several participants offer suggestions, such as checking weight discrepancies or combining items with generic descriptions. snoopwiz confirms having tried various approaches, including adjusting item quantities, but the purchase option remained disabled. Eventually, snoopwiz resolves the issue by reconfiguring the customs form to reflect fewer grouped items, noting the system as problematic.
Have the rare sale where I have to pack/ship a box larger than the usual 4 x 4 x 4 (in) I normally do.
These are the dimensions I entered.
Minimum 14 x 9 x 0.1cm. Maximum weight 2kg, length 60cm and sum of three dimensions 90cm
This is the message I get when I try printing a label. (Canada Post Tracked Packet USA)
.
The "purchase shipping label" is grayed out.
What am I missing here? Thanks much.
ypdc_dennis
·1 year agoCanada Post Tracked Packet does not use girth for their calculation -- so eBay has screwed up the process.
Looks like ebay is saying 105cm exceeds 90cm so we won't allow you to buy.
My suggestion: use 39x10x13cm which would make ebay's bad calculation drop below 90cm.
Your package is acceptable in the real world (even if it gets remeasured), and the fake number will defeat ebay's AI block.
Tracked Packet does not use the dimensions for a volumetric weight adjustment (only actual weight is used), so supplying an inaccurate dimension measurement will not effect the cost.
-;-
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoThanks for the suggestions. I was finally able to get it done by trying something for the 3rd time.....that being changing the 11 items (for customs) to 5 items, messing with the qty of each item. Bass-awkwards system at best.
lady.stark
·1 year agoDo you have items that are similar in category? You can use generic descriptions such as "lot of 5 pens" on one line - 1 item, then "lot of 2 toys" on the second line - 1 item, etc.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Thanks. I did try something similar and it was still a no-go. I think the issue may be the dimensions. This is what shows up when I try clicking on "print label" Seems they use H + W + H + W (girth?) If so, then yes, it is larger than their max but, why does their "warning" show "You are close to carrier limits" If it is over, say it is over and perhaps by how much?
flipistics
·1 year ago@snoopwiz Unless they broke something in the last few days, it won't be related to the dimensions. It's easy to check though. Just input smaller dimensions and see if the box is still greyed out. The most likely scenario is something to do with the customs form, but also check the person's address. Make sure there aren't any funny characaters or that they haven't used letters where numbers should be (O vs 0 or l vs 1 for example).
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoThanks for the suggestions. All were tried and still was a no go. Haven't had to use it since so, unsure if it was a (gasp) glitch or not. Thanks again.
jtg204
·1 year agoIs there a warning about 'The combined weight of the items cannot be greater than the weight of the package.' in the customs section?
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Sorry, weights match up, no weight warning but thanks.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoUpdate: Still unable to create a label. Same "you are close to carrier limits" which is not the case. Checked, double, triple checked. Had a 2nd set of eyes check. All customs info double checked, tick mark enabled yet the "Print shipping label" remains greyed out.
There is a note showing "The customs form supports a maximum of 5 items." I am shipping 11 items. Tried deleting 6 items from the form, leaving 5 and same "Close to carrier limits"
Can anyone see something I can"t? Thanks for your time.
msau4301
·1 year agoI wonder if jtg204 is onto something with there being so many items (11) they are somehow combining too much extra weight? I know there have been many times I've had to manually adjust the weight that corresponded with each item to make sure the total wasn't going to go over (in my case 500 grams) so I would put random weights so long as they stayed under the maximum (and I knew the weight was okay). With combined shipping they add all the weights together which is inaccurate because there is only 1 package (not 11).
With reference to your question about the maximum 5 items message I remember getting that before and trying to print anyways (it did work for me but it was a while ago), the system just chose the first 5 items and the rest were just not showing on customs. It worked in terms of label printing but of course the descriptions and values were off but that was back before the days of tariffs, HS numbers, etc.
I have has others have said re-wrote the description to group multiple items to fit and say something like "vintage Barbie dolls and clothes" then put the total amount but again, these days with all the COO and HS codes don't know how that would work, unless they were the same type of items from the same countries.
Have you tried adjusting items, deleting, changing weight, dimensions just to test if it would work under certain conditions? As long as you don't complete and purchase label it might show you what is causing the issue (assuming it's not just Tracked Package US not working right).
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Thanks for the suggestions. Tried all and still a no-go. Might just take a few bucks out of my pocket and ship UPS. Tried a trial run and it will take the same info that CP won't. Thanks again.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoAddition: There is a red "The customs form supports a maximum of 5 items." This package has 11 items. Could that be the issue? A workaround? Thanks./
msau4301
·1 year agoAs flipistics has said that warning of carrier limits has been around a long time. I used to get it any time my length was over 36 cms, even if the others were below 10. It didn't like me to say more than 36.
The reason for the grey out may not be the carrier limits, a lot of people have been posting about having trouble printing labels for the last few days. It may be the latest Canada Post update issue.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Thanks for that heads up.
flipistics
·1 year agoThat message has been happening for a long time. Don't worry about it unless you are ACTUALLY over the limits for tracked packet USA. I think someone used the formula for Expedited instead of the one for tracked packet when they wrote that message.
The label being grayed out is probably due to something else, likely the customs form or you forgot to tick an agreement somewhere on the page or something.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Definitely not over the posted limits. Customs form was completed and double checked, ticked agreement. Thanks.
jtg204
·1 year agoIs the customs section completed?
Not checking 'I confirm the Customs Form has been completed correctly' will create a grey button on the step you show.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHI. Customs completed and checked and rechecked. Thanks.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Customs form was completed and double checked, ticked agreement. Thanks.
snoopwiz
OP1 year agoHi. Customs appears all good to go except there is this "The customs form supports a maximum of 5 items." My package contains 11 items. Could it be the issue? Workaround?