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It would be easier to answer your questions knowing what you intend to sell, in which market(s), with what approximate value.
As far as the 20mm thickness is concerned, take the box you found and check with the Canada Post clerk if it goes through the slot. They have a plastic toll to test both the 5mm and the 20mm requirements. Do you really need a box to ship your products?
"Canada Post couldn't tell me much, just warned that light packets are not tracked/insured. Is this a problem?"
That is correct and it is not a problem for me. Others may see it differently.
"Do they really get lost in the mail often? "
The response to that question depends largely on the level of paranoia experienced by the poster. Personally I do not insure nor require confirmation of delivery on anything, regardless of value. I trust the system and the percentage of claims for non-receipt over the last twenty-seven years in worldwide mail order has been a small fraction of one percent. Some other sellers may feel differently (much depending on the type of items being sold) and their risk comfort level.
Except for Expedited service to the USA, I use regular Avery labels (#5160), printed 30 to a sheet. If a Customs Declaration is needed I use the green forms available at no charge from the post office.
"I was going to use PayPal "print shipping label" button to print pre-paid labels"
That is a convenient way to do it. PayPal charges you full rate, same as at the post office.
An option of course is to purchase discount postage, easily available on the internet (you may even find some lots on eBay). You typically save 25% to 40% from face value although it does require some work to put the correct stamp combinations together.
I use bubble mailers, plus. I wrap my parts in cling wrap or bubble wrap. Double protection and nothing pokes through.
The plastic pouches can wrap around the edges of the parcel, most of mine do. The actual label printed is quite small. The pouches are optimized for Expedited labels, which are larger.
As long as your parcels are at or exceeding minimum length and width, the plastic pouch can wrap around. The label cannot wrap around.
I have been doing this for years.
Things I did not realize. The Small Packet label prints at the minimum size of the packet.
You can make your packet that size and wrap the pouch around.
Somewhere, Jimmy Cliff is singing "I Can See Clearly Now".
@paulgg132 wrote:I send over 2500 Lite Packet pieces annually, CPC loses 1 or 2 a year at worst. I have ten cents added to the S&H cost to cover losses. I'm up over $1000 the past 8 years. It has saved my customers over $10,000 in added S&H.
HSC may not be needed, however I'm convinced there has been an improvement in delivery times to the US. As I undestand it USPS wants to keep track of import catagories. Even parcels that qualify to travel in the letter stream.
I always use an OS/GF sticker on the front. Scanners route the mail through the oversize letter sorting stream. Less chance of slow down through Customs. No Airmail stickers needed.
I use the small green CN22 rather than the large white version marked Small Packet. Takes less room on the package.
I mail all my stuff in the box accross the street, with the exception of Tracked Packets and Expedited of course.
This year especially, I buy my stamps at outsource outlets, SDM, Pharmasave, 7/11, etc...you wouldn't believe how many times I get a roll of 50 $1.00 stamps for $1.00 because the new clerk doesn't realize the scan on the roll is for one stamp not the whole roll! I mix it up when I ask for my order... 1 roll permenants, 1 roll $1.00, and 1 roll $1.85's or whatever... distract them with conversations! I spent over $13,000 in postage last year. I think of it as my volume rebate!
I hand address all International mail. I have even researched hand writting styles of various countries hopefully to make the parcel look more personal as if sent to family members. I have never lost anything to Italy, France, Russia, or even China.
I'm extremely fortunate that my product is rubber, no padding needed, all my designs are 16mm and less so I can use cardboard CD and DVD mailers from U-Line and they just drop through the slot.
The LAST thing you want to do is worry about a piece of mail. Once it's in the box, I put all my energy in the next sale. Or get a good night's rest! I trust ebay will give me something to worry about much more often than Canada Post will.
Egg-freaking-zactly.
While I personally do a lot of this differently, I have evolved over the years to what is simplest for me and what can I do to make the packet slide through the system.
I lose 1 out of a couple thousand a year, except for El Salvador, Chile, and Mexico. I am back to blocking those countries again. Other than that, a lost parcel is a fairy tale.
Over the years, I figure I am $11,000 ahead, not buying tracking or insurance.
