Change to Lettermail - Canada Post

[sew-sisters]

Canada Post has just announced a major change in policy that will negatively impact our business.

The change in policy is that from September 19th, 2005 onwards lettermail may no longer contain any items which are not documents. Currently, as long as envelopes meet size and weight requirements and do not contain prohibited materials they may be sent as lettermail. Canada Post’s decision to restrict lettermail to documents only is arbitrary and extremely damaging to small business.

By way of example, our best selling item is a packet of fabric squares used to make quilts (it measures 6.75” square when packaged, does not sag in the middle and weighs 47 grams). It sells for US$6.99. In December, 2004 it cost US$0.85 to ship this item. Now, due to fall of the US dollar and increases in Canada Post rates (effective January 17th, 2005), it costs Cdn$1.82. On Sept. 19th this is going to increase to Cdn$5.60 (small packets airmail rate). That is a 560% increase in less than a year. I do not believe that our customers will be willing pay that amount for shipping. Therefore we will lose customers and I am quite worried that if we don't drastically change our business model that we will lose our business.

In the last 18 months we have spent over $7000 at Canada Post. We are a small business, we do things by the book and are profitable. Selling on eBay allows me to stay at home with my children while also contributing financially to our family and in my own small way to the Canadian economy. To maintain my business I need to compete with American sellers. The relative strength of the Canadian dollar and the drastic increases in postage early this year has made it very difficult to make money selling Canadian product to the United States. Additionally, American sellers have the advantage of flat rate priority mailers and media rate packaging as it is - if I lose the letter mail pricing I will lose a significant proportion of my sales. If I lose my business I am no longer earning any money - that hurts everyone.

I beseech you, please join me and countless other small businesses as we demand that we be able to continue to use lettermail for small items. I have written letters to the editor, contacted my MP and MPP and filed a complaint with Canada Post.

Thank you for your time and I apologize for the long post,
Judy

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[phoebescollectables]

Do you have a link for the policy change?

[sew-sisters]

No - I don't - I can't find it in writing online - however I was told this by an employee at the Post Office when I brought my regular items in. It was confirmed for me over the phone by Canada Post. After Sept. 19th only documents may shipped to the US and Internationally using lettermail rates - anything else has to go as small packets.

[phoebescollectables]

If Canada Post follows through with this then you may want to look at the possibility of mailing your USA/International items using USPS. I realize that you are in Guelph and weekly trips across the border are not cost effective. I remember coming across a Canadian bookseller in your neck of the woods (I don't think it was Guelph but it was in that area) who mailed by USPS twice a week. If you can find them (I wish I could remember their name), you may be able to make arrangements with them to bring your envelopes across the border for you for a small fee.

[headhoncho99]

phoebescollectables - the Canada Postal Guide has been updated as follows for U.S. & International lettermail:

Letter-post items are composed of paper or other material with the general characteristics of paper.

I suppose technically stamps, postcards, magazine ads etc. would qualify, but it's unfair to sellers of other items that meet the size & weight requirements. Something neeeds to be done - too many sellers will be negatively affected by this.

[javax.swing]

The change is already in place.

[sew-sisters]

The change is in place but won't be enforced until Sept. 19th. We have considered weekly border runs but think that it would be a 3 hour round trip drive + border time and at least 1 hour at the post office - we don't have a whole day to spare at this point!

[mirakbiz_inc]

It's just a big CASH GRAB for Canada Post, we should all start sending letters / emails to the new CEO of Canada Post to express our disgust with all these CASH GRABBING initiatives. I do understand that as a business they should run profitable, but one thing is making a decent margin over a service rendered and another one is to "grab Money" just because they can. This is a typical example, it does not cost them a cent more to ship a document that weights 49 grams or another items as long as it fits the same envelope. Why should we have to pay more? That in my opinion is discrimination

Maybe we can initiate a Class Action Suit ???

[betterthanstore]

Yes, the change is in place and right now, if you stick the stamps yourself, they don't force you to pay small packet rate. But if you give them the envelopes and ask them to mail it, they slap on the small packet rate. I weight mine and simply just buy the stamps at the counter.

Yes, I was told by CP that all my packages will be returned to me if I continue to do that after Sept 19th. I am also considering twice/week across the boarder run. But it's 2 hour round trip + boarder crossing + post office line up for me.

Does anyone live in Vancouver area, and know anyone who may do the cross boarder run for a small fee? Thanks!

[catseye*]

check w/Todd - auctiondropnship

[catseye*]

On Sept. 19th this is going to increase to Cdn$5.60 (small packets airmail rate).

maybe not ship airmail, just Small Packet - I haven't noticed a time difference between the two. $3.75.

[phoebescollectables]

For those people contemplating travelling to the US to mail parcels. The time at the post office goes quickly as you can purchase all your postage online and then you just have to drop off the items.

[camrynscloset]

This is just plain terrible. I have sent letters and emails to at least 5 people about this. Not one replied.

This is extremely frustrating. Can you imagine asking for $4 to ship a pair of socks, or a baby's t-shirt?

I also have a web business, and my shipping rates are embarassing.

However, I live in Calgary and border runs are just not possible. Am also not sure how border crossing with all those packages would be arranged, either.?:|

[betterthanstore]

I checked with a friend in China. They allow any items (except prohibit ones) to be shipped as letter mail as long as it fits the slot. Their REGISTERED letter mail rate with tracking number is about the same as our small packet air mail. But they HAVE tracking number! How are we going to compete with our Chinese competitors now with our own Canada Post trying to rip us off!

[fenian]

One "explanation" I've received from CP staff is that other countries are requiring all non-paper items to go as small packet rather than as letter mail due to "security reasons"........whatever on earth that means. Amazing that we can still receive lettermail from other countries containing items other than paper. Next, CP will be surcharging us, the receipients, for incoming non-paper items from outside Canada......and will undoubtedly expand the new rule to items mailed to addresses within Canada. I agree, this will absolutely kill online sales of low price items to buyers outside Canada. My MP's in opposition, so that route won't help much. If anyone has any measure of success protesting this, please keep us informed!

[jakeeangel]

Have Canada become a State? ]:) hehehehe

No getting around CP. Move or drive to the States. CP doesn't give a hoot. There's nothing they can do. If you guys go to the CTS board you should read the thread with the CP reps. This has been brought up and beat to death in there. It doesn't appear that there's any getting around it. Our only choice is to adapt and move on.

I met the CP reps at eBay Live and verbally and nicely beat them up about this. They were very nice people and I do feel for them. They're between a rock and a hard place. These poor souls have their hands tied. It's not their decision to make and in effect we're shooting the messenger. They feel our pain and do understand but there isn't anything at all they can do about it. We told them point blank how much money they were losing with just us by driving to the US and using the USPS. They know it hurts and they know it stinks but there isn't anything they can do.

I also know that by myself and many others joining us in the trek to the USPS causes the rest of you to have increased rates but we need to protect ourself. It's an awful situation that nobody wins. 😞 I don't see a happy ending to this saga. I really don't.

---

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

[mirakbiz_inc]

Letters to top CPC executives (like the new CEO) would work better. They measure success based on the level of "noise" people make. So let's make some real noise!

On the other hand, I'm looking into the possibility to start using USPS and have some one forward my parcels from Toronto to the US and induct them into the USPS stream there

[sew-sisters]

The new CEO is Moya Greene - her address is

President and CEO
Canada Post Corp
2701 Riverside Drive Suite N1210
Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1

I encourage everyone to write to her - if anyone would like me to send them a sample letter to save time - just let me know!

Judy

[headhoncho99]

Sure, I'll take a sample letter, thanks.

my ebay id @hotmail.com

[muminlaw]

I'd like one as well Judy - I'll send you an email. In the meantime, there's probably no rule against posting a sample letter right here on the board and could be helpful.
Thanks, Glenda
To Golf or Not To Golf? What a stupid question!