Does anyone successfuly uses Canada Post light packets to ship from Canada?

[ay656]

If so, would you share your experience with me?

The pouches Canada Post gave me are too big - they dwarf my packets. Is the label that big too? Is it possible to use self-adhesive labels instead? I saw label sheets in Staples, but what size do I need? Is it possible to print multiple labels on the sheet?

I've seen a post on forums that the label is printed with "Manifest Is Required" and then packets get returned. Is it stil ongoing? If so, how do you deal with it?

The box I've found for shipping is roughly 20mm thick - on the border of allowable. Then I need to affix the pouch/label. How strictly do they enforce the rule? Is 20.5mm ok?

Canada Post couldn't tell me much, just warned that light packets are not tracked/insured. Is this a problem? Do they really get lost in the mail often?

[maggiebvintage2010]

Why not buy discount postage on line, here or elsewhere, and ditch the "business plan" that calls for deceit and distraction.  Your business plan actually includes this strategy?  Poor you, if you really believe that is biz...

[paulgg132]

Are you suggesting it's okay to steal from CPC directly, but not from an outlet?  An outlet that exists as a way for CP to eliminate work for legitimate union employees. I could also argue that printing a Paypal shipping label reduces CP revenue because I'm sure PP gets a percentage, as well as enhancing CP automated sorting further reducing postal workers handling it. By using those "stolen" stamps my mail needs hand sorting and cancelling which maintains CP union jobs. It can be twisted to meet any moral position.

This is business. My point is I take every opportunity to save money while doing everything to improve the handling speed of my mail. The majority of my sales are to the States and Europe. Paypal labels are much more likely to be stopped for VAT collection. Do you consider the shape of your packages such that the automated sorting equipment handles it more efficiently? Thereby improving CP's ability to profitably handle it. Even though I use stamps that reduce efficiency at the postal sorting center, I also consider the placement of my own stickers such that the tracking label that is added to every parcel sits in the ideal location. I also place the stamps so thay can be hand cancelled with a single stamp impression rather than two. I do everything I can to improve CP's ability to deliver while taking every opportunity to save costs and pass that on to my buyers.

Paypal and Ebay's own deficiencies have forced me to process over 1,000 refunds in the past year because of the combined shipping issues. Paypal is happy and doesn't consider it steals from me.

To the OP, ship with confidence, if the mail gets screwed up, look to yourself for the problem, fix it, and move on to the next sale.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

I hope no "new clerks" were fired as a result... or that the business was put in the red and they couldn't figure out why...

[paulgg132]

With all due respect Pierre,

It'll be tough to convince me that any of us hasn't picked up money on the ground or not run back to Safeway because we were only charged for one item when we received two. We would never think of slipping a 21mm thick mail in the bundle under 20mm thick, and just hope for the best.  Never shorted Transit Tom a nickle by tossing in a handful of change. Have you yourself never sent an order of stamps to the States in an envelope and only pay letter class rather than Light Packet with a CN22 declaration? As is required by law when exporting merchandise. Unless stamps can be considered documents, then I withdraw the question. 

I'm not drawing any moral lines. Just pointing out examples of how to maximize success and minimize any worries about mail delivery.  

[sylviebee]

Not me. There is no way I'd compromise my integrity like that.

But some of the things you said nailed it for some of the people all of the time and for some of the people some of the time.

It's been posted here as well.

[toff3]

Paulgg's ploy for diddling Canada Post out of revenue rather reminds me of the poster on this board some years ago who claimed that he regularly convinced the clerk at his local RPO to manipulate an item on the scale so that it would display a lower weight.

Tom

[ypdc_dennis]

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@paulgg132 wrote:

Are you suggesting it's okay to steal from CPC directly, but not from an outlet? 

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No. You were the one trying to justify short paying for stamps because you are unhappy with Canada Post. Short paying at an outlet hurts the outlet not Canada Post.

But I see you now justify short paying at an outlet because they should have unionized postal workers working at the counter.

-.-

One does wonder why you don't skip the step of creating your own postage discount and instead buy discounted stamps directly from stamp dealers and sellers on ebay.

[paulgg132]

Now I have to ask you when you ship your Moyashimon Fan to the UK for the selling price of $5.59 + $1.50 S&H, is this not theft? The minimum postage to UK for any merchandise is $7.50 via Lite Packet International?

[femmefan1946]

Paulgg's ploy for diddling Canada Post out of revenue

Postal Outlets buy their stamps from Canada Post. While they get a (tiny ) discount, it barely covers their costs. One reason so few outlets are now in the back of the locally owned gift shop or candy store these days is that most of those small businesses learned that they were losing money.

For one thing, the little guy cannot return unsold merchandise (stamps, boxes, priority post envelopes, annual collections) . These remain a drag on his capital until they sell or he goes broke. The Shopper's stores can trade among themselves when one shop has unwanted merch that another store needs.

Outlets are a loss leader that attracts customers who buy other things that have high profit margins.

And yes, the clerk will be held responsible for balancing her cash at the end of her shift. The deficit may come out of her pay or she may be fired for theft. Up to her manager. The outlet is in business too.

for any merchandise is $7.50 via Lite Packet International?

It is not required to charge the buyer the exact amount of the postage (and packaging) as an S&H charge.

This is the principle behind Free Shipping.

Which is cheapest?

A $6 item with $1.50 shipping?

A $1.50 item with $6 shipping?

A $7.50 item with Free Shipping?

And remember that sellers who purchase discount mint postage stamps and sellers who use PP labels have lower costs than show on the package.

It is not difficult to find stamp sellers offering 20% off the face value on mint never hinged Canadian postage stamps. It may be possible to buy more and get greater discounts.

PP offers discounts of 5% to 18% on shipping labels for some services too.

[paulgg132]

WOW! I like this forum. Where else can one go from wine and cheese party crasher to the villain who put Canada Post out of business?

[reallynicestamps]

You are not hurting Canada Post , dear.

You are screwing the high school girl working at the outlet out of her college tuition money.

If she is lucky, the outlet manager will take the $99 you didn't pay for the $100 roll of stamps out of her pay.

If not, she gets fired for theft.

[mr.elmwood]

Many stores require the clerk to make up the shortage when an error is made. Most post offices are now retail and owned by a local merchant as a franchise. When you get a roll of stamps for the price of one stamp, the clerk makes it up, or the local mom & pop store absorbs the loss. Canada Post has already been paid and they don't care.

By-the-by, It has happened where I got out to my car and realized the clerk missed an item. I go back in and pay for it.

[paulgg132]

It's against Manitoba Employment Standards to deduct employee's for shortfalls or shrinkage etc.

Just so some of you can sleep at night, in the situation I mentioned, that employee was hired because of the mail volume from myself and 4 other mail order businesses using that particular Outlet. On a Monday morning in January we can bring in over 700 lite packet parcels between us. We long ago pooled our strategies to buy "uniform" packaging. One of them was using discount postage and the clerks would only put his mail through the slot and then toss on the back counter, hopefully to be done today. Turns out the boss makes him double check for the right postage.  Meanwhile they just cancelled ours and threw into the proper bin. The fellow using the the mixed postage was also using every discount bubble mailer he could buy. Whereas the clerks were quick to learn our mail never changed. We all agree that our mail is delivered at least a day faster since embarking on this practice. We use identical stamps on all our similar packing. This year we use 5 -$1.00 stamps on our Lite Packet USA for example, arranged in a block rather than a vertical line because it saves the clerk one stamp of the cancel stamper thingee. Between the five of us, we spend annually upwards of $50K in postage at this one outlet alone. They wouldn't dare fire him or we would say something, he's quick and our stuff is always ready for the first CPC pick up of the day. 

This issue is quite funny to me. In all the exacting detailed advice I offered, all that was found was the pea under the mattress.

[rose-dee]

I think the reason your description of your shipping cost strategy stood out from everything else you've said was the bragging tone.  How is dishonesty a reasonable business plan?  And why so wrong of posters here to point it out? 

I don't understand how it can be a source of pride to save money by tricking and distracting an employee out of charging the correct amount. 

The employee may have been hired because of your mail volume, and may not be able to have his pay docked for shortfalls, but there are other employees.  If he's fired for his sloppiness or lack of attention, he may not easily find another position, and the next one might be a little more observant.  

This is not a tenable long-term cost savings plan for a business.  

[mr.elmwood]

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@paulgg132 wrote:

It's against Manitoba Employment Standards to deduct employee's for shortfalls or shrinkage etc.

Just so some of you can sleep at night, in the situation I mentioned, that employee was hired because of the mail volume from myself and 4 other mail order businesses using that particular Outlet. On a Monday morning in January we can bring in over 700 lite packet parcels between us. We long ago pooled our strategies to buy "uniform" packaging. One of them was using discount postage and the clerks would only put his mail through the slot and then toss on the back counter, hopefully to be done today. Turns out the boss makes him double check for the right postage.  Meanwhile they just cancelled ours and threw into the proper bin. The fellow using the the mixed postage was also using every discount bubble mailer he could buy. Whereas the clerks were quick to learn our mail never changed. We all agree that our mail is delivered at least a day faster since embarking on this practice. We use identical stamps on all our similar packing. This year we use 5 -$1.00 stamps on our Lite Packet USA for example, arranged in a block rather than a vertical line because it saves the clerk one stamp of the cancel stamper thingee. Between the five of us, we spend annually upwards of $50K in postage at this one outlet alone. They wouldn't dare fire him or we would say something, he's quick and our stuff is always ready for the first CPC pick up of the day. 

This issue is quite funny to me. In all the exacting detailed advice I offered, all that was found was the pea under the mattress.

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Live in your own world of delusion, but, the law is not the same as the application.

[73rhc]

I'm guessing that if someone was able to get away with paying less than you're asking for your little rubber wheel thingies. That it would be okay. The cost is doing business. Yeah, probably not!