HEY Canada !! ?

[on_isle9]

Was wondering if you( Canadianders ?) have some tips on what postage to use, or custome forms, or packing or anythng that will make it a smooth transaction for you. I am sort of close to the border (lower michigan) but this won't be for things from ebay. There is another site I can set my shipping price and am just not sure whats the best plan.

There is the 13oz or less items.

Then there is heavier items, I won't be using priority express, cost waaaay too much, but then I do want some tracking.

USPS has changed things, so a few tips would be cool. Oh at that other place we could actually "communicate" without a penalty, imagine that..

But hey if I can do things right (mainly shipping, customs, to make it as cheap for you as I can, let me know.

I could sell to all over the world, but you guys share the border and is probably a better place to sell than around here these days.

[rockp5233]

What is the value ?

[on_isle9]

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@rockp5233 wrote:

What is the value ?

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I have things from 5 to $350

But I hear that customs charges on the full amount that includes shipping. I only sent one thing to Sweden and one thing to the Netherlands.

The one to Sweeden was $40, after the shipping since it wieghed like 20 pounds or more, and was Forced to use priority express the dang thing clocked in at $160 !!!!!!! they still wanted it.

The one to the Netherlands I sent Registered, only wieghed like 4 ounces, the price shipping price I gave a choice of Registered but slow, $17 Registered but Priority $35 they also went for the higher price.

But Canada is much closer, just not sure what to do between keeping a price fair, tracking, and the import fees customs stuff.

[femmefan1946]

Canadians can only import $20 in value before we can be charged duty and sales tax as applicable. When items are sent postally, Canada Post adds a service charge of $9.95.

These fees are charged on the doorstep.

However.

Canada Post is notorious for ignoring small inexpensive imports. It does happen, but only maybe one in 20 cheap/small imports would be charged.

Your $350 item is likely to be stopped, assessed and charged. A very bulky $20 or $50 item is likely to be assessed.

Although you may not be selling on eBay you might want to add this bit of eBay boilerplate to your descriptions and/or to your invoices :

Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

If you are using Paypal, especially, it may help defuse a situation.

If you are using Paypal, you should be aware that they do not recognize Registered Mail as being electronically visible in cases where you need to prove delivery. PP will refund a complaining buyer if you cannot prove delivery. Oddly there are fewer complaints on other sites than on eBay. However, I believe that First Class International Parcel is now Delivery Confirmed to Canada and carries up to 4 lbs of product.

Don't let a customer persuade you to lie on the customs form. This is a pretty good clue that he is none too honest. Also don't bother marking your item as a 'gift' if you sold it. There are still taxes, duty and service fees due on real gifts, it's just that the import value for gifts is slightly higher ($60 instead of $20).

Be aware that if you give a falsely low value on the customs form, and things go badly, your insurance (postal or third party) will only pay out based on the lower value.

But on the whole, and depending on your product line, losses in the mail are vanishingly rare. I've been selling mail order since around 1975 and in thousands of sales have lost perhaps a dozen packages. Mostly from eBay customers, for some reason.

[femmefan1946]

No, there is no duty or sales tax on shipping fees. However, if you use Free Shipping, which really means the cost of shipping is included in the asking price, then yes.
But you do not pay this. Your customer pays it.

[on_isle9]

WoW that is what I was aiming at, thank you very much.

It is so hard to read through all the muckety muck in the USPS site.

So most things will be below 4 pounds, I don't have much heavy things left but they wiegh 20 to 35 maybe a couple 50 pounders (amps stereos)

So it is best to separate the shipping fee, I certainly don't want to compound the cost and just give away money (tax) that neither buyer nor seller wants in the price.

I copied your post , need time to absorb it, and I appreciate it very much. It's tough enough to do all the rules, per website, not even including ebay.

Also with your permission can I anonymously post that on another forum ?

I think a lot of people are just going nuts because hardly anything is selling these days. But for me I would be game since I am closer to your country (border) and postage-packages shouldn't need that many stops on the way so they get there fast.

[pjcdn2005]

Many Canadians will prefer that you use first class as it is quite a bit cheaper than Prioirty and first class package does have tracking to Canada now. I've heard that the tracking isn't 100% reliable but since very few packages get lost anyway, that shouldn't be a problem.

[art-in-the-making]

In case you weren't aware, the main point is never use couriers to ship to Canada - USPS mail only unless no alternative.

[on_isle9]

""Canadians can only import $20 in value before we can be charged duty and sales tax as applicable. When items are sent postally, Canada Post adds a service charge of $9.95.""

Just one thing, so if I send anything they tack on $10 bucks no matter what ?

The other thing, when I sent that one package to the Netherlands I used Registered (priority) mail , less than 4 pounds.

But there is no tracking or selection at paypal shippingl. (item was not sold through ebay)

Well I called paypal they said yes just enter the number in tracking. (I think it has "other" )

It shown the tracking all the way there, even though they have no selection just paste your number in the order area it will work and he said it will be backed. When sending registered, paypal don't have a chance because they would basicaly go up against the post office as a liar, not the seller. The guy at the post office said it goes through a whole different system alongside regular mail. They also have to seal it at the post office you need to bring the box in, open, and they tape it then stamp the tape with red seals all the way accros.

So you will be backed, I mean completly backed using Registered mail, paypal has no say in it at all because you have way more proof that is was delivered than any other type of mail. If they disagree, call the post office, and keep the paper reciepts.

My only other concern is accepting international payments at paypal, but I keep reading other countries can still bid on ebay even if you have that country blocked. Why does ebay have to make things so **bleep** ridiculous, you can't even trust the interface buttons. I had 2 blocks and the people got to bid anyway, one from (no paypal account, the other I don't send to APO)

And I could see each one in that blocked log, paypal one had 2 entries, the APO guy had 4 entries.

[pjcdn2005]

""Canadians can only import $20 in value before we can be charged duty and sales tax as applicable. When items are sent postally, Canada Post adds a service charge of $9.95.""

Just one thing, so if I send anything they tack on $10 bucks no matter what ?

No. Many international packages are not assessed by Canadian customs so in those cases,there is no service charge by Canada Post.

The other thing, when I sent that one package to the Netherlands I used Registered (priority) mail , less than 4 pounds......

....So you will be backed, I mean completly backed using Registered mail, paypal has no say in it at all because you have way more proof that is was delivered than any other type of mail. If they disagree, call the post office, and keep the paper reciepts.

The poster was referring to a service by Canada Post called registered mail, not a service such as USPS Priority. USPS does have a service called registered mail but that doesn't mean that it has the same standards as Canada Post registered mail. Basically, if a customer makes a claim of non delivery and there is online proof showing delivery was made, then they should consider that as legitimate proof. If an item plus shipping is more than $250 Paypal also requires an online signature as proof.

Paypal and ebay have very specific rules for seller and/or buyer protection. It's best that you are familiar with those rules as the post office may not always give you the correct information.

Why do you not ship to APO's?

[on_isle9]

"Why do you not ship to APO's?"

I also won't send to PO box, but I just never did being ebay making things so seller unfriendly. I guess to just get better odds of succes in dealing with ebay, not so much about seller to customers relations. The other site there is no way to block those and you also have to sell to Hawwaii and Alaska.

OK I went to the USPS calculator,

The way it looks the 1 pound mark for first class Int. is the point the price goes to above ~ $10.00 I did not check the lower end threshhold, 1,2,3,4 oz but below 4 seems to have a larger effect as does 3,2,1 oz increments.

So what I will do is, I can pick any country I want to add at this site, anything below 1 pound will just be $10, I don't have much super light things for sale below 4oz., I can set fixed shipping independantly for Canada (or any country) so most things I have are below 1 pound.

The other thing was I didn't go above $40 on their calculator.

As for heavy stuff, maaaaaaaaaaaaaan you guys are getting hammered !!! priority Int, So I will start selling 2000 pound solid gold anvils, with free shipping, LoL I should try that in the calculator. Ha $2,600,000 at 2000 pounds. (if gold was $1300 per oz)

So it don't look super terrible, mainly heavy items, I am sure once I print a few lables it will be a snap.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't you ship to PO box?  I used to live in a small town and for us to get our mail, we have to use PO mailboxes, otherwise we won't get any mail at any time, not even having mailman coming to our houses. 

So think of those who have no choice but have to have PO boxes, as for me I would be **bleep** off and more likely feeling like I am being discriminated for having PO boxes where we have no choices!  So think about that. 

And be sure not to use UPS (the brown courier trucks) to ship your items to Canada as UPS charges brokerage fees on EVERY packages regardless of sizes, values, etc.  No need to **bleep** off your buyers if you choose to ship by UPS.

I get some packages from US via FedEx, surprising not once I have been dinged for the brokerage fees or import charges at all. 

If you live close to border of Canada, you can drive to Canada and ship them in Canada. 

I used to go to Grand Forks, North Dakota, about 1 1/2 hours drive every month to ship my items to save shipping costs, all of my buyers were happy.  Then due to health situations I am unable to go to Grand Forks for 3 years now.  I sure miss going there especially they have excellent shopping places, you know the old saying: "shop until you drop", that is what I have been doing every time I go there, awesome, especially for a small city like Grand Forks, comparing to large cities in Canada.

Their prices were awesome so low comparing to what we have to pay here!!  I would say I have saved about 75 to 80%.