Paypal discount for new Tracked Packet?

[around_again_records]

Does anyone know what the ebay/Paypal discount will be on the new Tracked Packet service OR when they plan to announce it?

[pocomocomputing]

Not announced. The rate will be given when introduced in Feb on PayPal.

The examples on eBay compared to the published rates were at a 9% discount.

I assume that Venture One card holders will get 5% at the post office.

I was surprised when fuel surcharges were added on for Tracked Packet when it was introduced on the CP Find-A-Rate calculator. I thought TP would be like Small Packet and be a true Flat Rate for the year. But from CP point of view, better to use their fuel charge to cover any changes in unknown fuel prices.

[Anonymous]

I would love to see 25% discount on Tracked Packet, maybe it wouldn't be too bad but I doubt it.

[around_again_records]

Thanks pocomo and collectors. I guess it's just wait and see. I think I picked a bad time to start selling with all these rates in a state of flux.

I'd love to see a 25% discount too. Based on the rates that I've seen 9% certainly won't entice me to use it. It's far too expensive. So sad, that no one seems to be able to make money these days without charging an arm and a leg for everything.... I'll stop now before I get on a roll. 😞

[toff3]

Poco,

Were you really surprised Canada Post tacked a fuel surcharge on Tracked Packets?

When CP studiously avoided any mention of a fuel surcharge in connection with this wonderful new service that eBay finds so attractive, prior to implementing it, you should have smelled a rat.

If you check the Find a Rate calculator, you'll find that CP is indeed offering a ca. 5% discount on Tracked Packet rates to VentureOne cardholders.

For a 300 g TP to USA and UK, the discount ranges from 4.7% to 5.4%.

Tom 

[femmefan1946]

Paypal may still be negotiating with Canada Post on possible discounts. That would be considered "proprietory" information I would think.

Canada Post was talking about their business shifting from letter to parcel mail as email and online invoicing takes over snail mail. Having attractive rates for business parcels should be part of that. This was an article in the G&M Report on Business a few months ago. Fingers crossed.

[pocomocomputing]

Yes, Tom, I was surprised that Tracked Packet had a fuel surcharge added on to the rates. I was thinking that it was similar to Small packets that did not have a fuel surcharge.

I did see in the original announcement on Tracked Packet that it would be subject to a fuel surcharge which you also mentioned way back also. I was fooled by the lack of info (and incorrect information) on the new rates and services in the preliminary documents available to customers.

In hindsight, Canad Post made moves to cut less profitable services and allow for new services to be like the other services with a fuel surcharge to keep up with the biggest variable cost which was and is fuel. I should not have been surprised at the fuel surcharge.

A lot of moves to keep Canada Post from losing money. But with such expensive services, it may cost them business.

[toff3]

Poco,

I don't recall ever having noted that Tracked Packet would be subject to a fuel surcharge, for the simple reason that I never saw mention of it in any Canada Post announcement. I never would expect CP to bring up the subject.

If you can find that "original announcement" wherein CP stated that TP would incur a fuel surcharge, I'd sure like to see it.

As I've said many times before, the whole issue of CP levying a fuel surcharge on regular mail smells to high heaven. Why is the USPS forbidden by law to impose a fuel surcharge? Why has no other postal system in the world levied a fuel surcharge on mail of any kind? Why did CP implement the fuel surcharge in 2003 without a single word of warning? Why has CP not extended the fuel surcharge to Light and Small Packets?

All these questions need answers.

Tom

[pocomocomputing]

Tom, my mistake in the last post. I meant to say that you mentioned the possibility of a fuel surchage. Looking back at posts, someone else mentioned the possibility of a fuel surcharge but in later post in Jan not in the Dec posts.