Canada post and signed for delivery

[nancyschina]

Hi;
I am shipping a package to the US and the value is over $600. Canada post does not offer a signature on delivery ... how do you send expensive packages at a reasonable cost?
Thanks

[surplusdealdude]

errr - you don't.

To fulfil the Paypal requirements, you have to get a signature and that's pricey.

If this is a package with several items in it, might be worth seeing if you can invoice them separately and get them under the $250 limit - then you can use delivery confirmation instead. -------------------------------------------------------------------

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.
- Bertrand Russell

[nancyschina]

It is just 2 cups and saucers ... each went for a little over $300 US.

[nancyschina]

And Priority with signature is $105.90 ... no one is going to pay that!

[dipmicro]

I tried following on CP website:

18 x 12 x 4"
5lb
ship to New York

it offers Expedited Parcel™ - USA ($22.28 w/ $600 insurance and delivery confirmation), Xpresspost™ - USA ($30.15 w/ $600 insurance and delivery confirmation) and Priority™ Worldwide ($98.86 w/ $600 insurace, delivery confirmation and signature).

Then UPS Standard w/ signature option to residential address for the above parcel would come to $34.87 (43.27 for Adult Signature).

I do not know your measurements nor postal code, this was just an example

[surplusdealdude]

If you send parcels by UPS, I would recommend an expedited service, as this removes the possibility that the customer will get zapped with a clearing charge.

PACK IT WELL ( wrap in bubble wrap, place in a box, then add peanuts within a larger box) - I've seen how these guys manhandle packages and it's not pretty. -------------------------------------------------------------------

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.
- Bertrand Russell

[nancyschina]

Thanks for the input. I went with UPS. The parcel weighed under 1 kg but sized to 3 kg. UPS standard was $40 with $700 insurance and adult signature. Much better than the $98 from Canada Post and UPS came to my house to pick it up.
I have been selling breakables for 10 years on ebay and have shipped over 5,000 packages worldwide with only 2 items damaged in shipping so I know my packaging can withstand anything UPS can throw at it.
Most of my items are in the $100 - $200 range so I don't usually have to worry about the signature.
Again, thanks for the help.
Nancy

[recped]

UPS standard

Be prepared, UPS are going to show up at your buyers door looking for money. They will want fees for customs clearance, it's not a lot but it might be in your best interests to inform the buyer or at least to be prepared if they react badly.

You can find the fee details here:

[url http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs/fees.html]UPS Brokerage Charges[/url]

I expect the charge will be US$24.25, could be some duty as well if it doesn't qualify under NAFTA.

[dipmicro]

UPS Brokerage Charges

I find it interesting that UPS brokerage processes deliveries up to $200 to US but only up to C$20 to Canada. Either we had extremely strong dollar when they setup the service or they are gauging Canadian customers. Also the amounts are ridiculously different.

[surplusdealdude]

That's because US citizens are allowed to bring $200 a day across the border free of charge while Canadian citizens are only allowed $20 - has nothing to do with the carrier, they only charge the fee when they have to process a clearance form. -------------------------------------------------------------------

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.
- Bertrand Russell

[nancyschina]

I did inform the buyer via email before I sent the package. Sent an email requesting phone number and added "as stated in the auction, purchaser is responsible for all duties". However, if they balk at the brokerage fee, I am prepared to pay it ... it still puts the total for shipping under the $98 that Canada Post wanted for signature included Priority shipping.

[recped]

Sounds good, you are less likely to have a problem given that the value of the item is high to begin with.

It's a real problem going the other way when Canadians get hit up for $30 by UPS on a shipment worth $25.

[snoopwiz]

On the subject of Courier/Post Office inbound, true, Canadians should always check to see if their US seller will ship via post, it is still no guarantee you won't get dinged. We purchased a $49.95 USD novelty clock on behalf of a friend, seller shipped post, got here quick, and came with a COD of $10 and change. $5 "service" charge, the rest in taxes. Yes, it doesn't happen often but, it does happen. Of course, had it been UPS/Fed-Ex, easily could have been double + that.

[recped]

came with a COD of $10 and change. $5 "service" charge, the rest in taxes.

Well it was over CA$20 so taxes should be collected. The $5 fee is annoying but if the same package was shipped via UPS the fee would have been CA$29.55 to collect that $5 in sales tax & gst. Canada Post offer a relative bargain with their flat rate $5 fee.

To be clear, I've defended UPS on the charges before and I will continue you to do so, they are a private company, entitled to charge for their services.