New seller requirement to state shipping cost + delivery time

[fenian]

Good morning ! I posted this on the US PS board last night, but thought I would pop it in over here as well. This relates to the upcoming requirement to specify your shipping method and to specify expected delivery time.

Text posted:

As a seller on dot.com but living in - and mailing from - Canada, I think I'll be challenged by the requirement to specify a "domestic shipping service" and to provide an estimated time of arrival for items shipped to the US. On the dot.com SYI form, there is no entry for Canada Post in the drop down box, and Canada Post will not begin to guess at how long it would take for an item sent via 1st class mail to arrive at a US address. Everything I sell is mailed via Canada Post (usually lettermail, occasionally small packet air) and a very high % of my buyers are in the US. Living on Vancouver Island, I can't see swimming across Juan de Fuca Strait everyday to mail from a US post office. How might I resolve this when it comes to pass ?

>>>>>>>> Michael

[craftycatsattic]

This is all news to me. EBay never bothered sending me any notification about this and frankly I can only bear to come on these boards once and a while because they are so depressing to read (no offense to those of you that have the stomach for it). Is there a specific place where this information can be found on ebay?

Thank you!

[jakeeangel]

Yes! First off, they don't have to and won't notify you or any of us individually but here's what you do.

Go to eBay.COM and go to Groups. Go to the Announcements Group and join it. Select email notices or something like that and you will then get all announcements sent to your inbox. That is the best way to do it. Otherwise you have to spend time reading the announcement board everyday.

Here's a direct link for you.

http://groups.ebay.com/forum/Ebay-Announcements/Welcome/1071

[gsrhobbiescanada]

Ebay will never use the Canada Post shipping rate calculator as it is so out dated and out of touch with their own shipping rates that it would be a nightmare to deal with. Canada Post's shipping calculator doesn't even allow for light packet, which is far cheaper than small packet air, and the Canada Post policies are changeing again for oversized letter mail. What a mess!

Ebay is trying to get Canadians to list on the .ca site rather than the .com. I have switched to the .ca since it is easier to deal with. Maybe Ebay will give Canadians a discount since they have to pay the highest shipping rates in the world. Tell me again how DSR is fair?

Have fun with this one.

[dipmicro]

Maybe Ebay will give Canadians a discount since they have to pay the highest shipping rates in the world.

That's a little exaggeration. In many countries it costs more than a day salary to send international parcel.

[craftycatsattic]

"Maybe Ebay will give Canadians a discount since they have to pay the highest shipping rates in the world."

"That's a little exaggeration. In many countries it costs more than a day salary to send international parcel."

I did a little research a while back and found that Canada, the UK and Australia all pretty much have similar rates for similar products. Canada Post also has insurance up to $100 included in all their parcel services which you can't say for postal services from other countries.

I think it would be most accurate to say that the US has the lowest shipping rates in the world...at least it was true up until last...was it summer? when they made some major changes. They are still cheapest on letterpost and some of the flat rate services but when it comes to parcels, I find I pay more to receive than I do to send.

[craftycatsattic]

Oh and jakeeangel:

Thank you very much for your helpful reply! 🙂

[momoftwingles2]

Hi wpv2,

Do you have more specifics about the changes coming from Canada Post?

Susan
momoftwingles2

[jakeeangel]

You're most welcome Craftycat! 🙂

Mom, look to the right---> There's a link under the recent announcements Canada Post to introduce new specs and pricing for oversize lettermail. It's pretty bad. They're doubling prices and then apparently in 2011 they're getting rid of it and making everything parcel rate.

You should read the link and look at the pics of the new 'flexibility text' Yikes!! Basically the boneheads behind the counter now get permission to bend your package and if they can't you have to pay the higher rate. hahaha oh that's going to be a treat!! 😐

[momoftwingles2]

Hi jakeeangel,

Last night after I posted, I went and looked for information about new changes coming up on the Canada Post website....on their front page. It didn't have 90% of what you just pointed to me to read.

Wow! Rates are really going to rise and lots of restrictions! Everything that I mail HAS to be in stiff cardboard. I don't think scrappers would appreciate receiving die cuts, Jolee's, other stickers that were bent!

I'll have to reread the info and plan accordingly for this. I'm taking the month of July and probably part of August off to get my eBay store in compliance with the new stated shipping requirements, return policy and no e-mail address in my listings...so I guess I'll have to rethink all of my shipping. Easier to do this all at once.

Perhaps with the items that I sell it may be better for me ship via Small Packet Only. I can't see charging what Canada Post wants for just a few laser cuts or stickers under their new upcoming guidelines.

Canada Post with eBay is similar to INPUT COSTS for farming! Grain prices may be up....but it's costing mega bucks to put a crop in. Farmers are making the money but everyone else is. Pots just are big enough for all of the hands reaching in...but for sure, Canada Post is getting more than its fair share.

*S* I have to wonder if our rural postmaster will be getting the new tool! He's never been to the Canada Post website!

I'll start thinking about this on July 1st!

Thanks jakeeangel...I do appreciate your help!

Susan
momoftwingles2

[momoftwingles2]

Oops! I meant to say that farmers AREN'T making the money, but everyone else is!

Susan