Process for using chitchat express or books to the borders?

[musicyouneed]

I need help with the process for using chitchat express or books to the borders?  Any advice you can give?

1.  I understand that I have to print off US shipping, does that mean I have to list on .com, not .ca?

2.  I have to print an invoice, can I just print off the paypal receipt for the invoice?

3.  My return address can it be in Canada or do I have to show a US return address?

4.  Shipping to the US will only be twice a week, right now I have it same day or next day, does that make any difference?  I guess I have to change my TOS for US shipments only.   I will only be using chitchat or books to the borders for my US shipping, not Canadian or International.  I would say 40% of my sales are to the US.  How does that work?  Would I say, Canadian and International are shipped 5 days a week and US only shipped twice a week. 

5.  Using this service I would save a few $ on shipping and the parcels would have tracking.  Would it affect my Canadian TRS?

I think that this is a wonderful service that I hope to take advantage of in the future.

[femmefan1946]

Call them.

[musicyouneed]

I did talk to Norma today and she told me to find out the information that I am asking on the board.

[musicyouneed]

Just for more info, I spoke to Norma of Books to the Borders today and I know what to do at her end.  Where to drop it off with the USPS postage already on it and the pickup times etc.  

I just need the ebay/postal part of it. She told me that the best place would be to ask on the boards.  

How I list it, how do I buy USPS postage, return address etc?  It is only concerning parcels that would be taken from Canada to the US to mail in the US.  I have to buy the USPS postage in Canada, how do I do that?

[pjcdn2005]

If recped is around he should be able to answer some of your questions. I believe that he uses a free Stamps.com account to print his postage but I have no idea what is involved in opening one.

[recped]

I don't use eBay or PayPal, I use the FREE Stamps.com account for eBay sellers:

http://www.stamps.com/shipping/ebay-plan-features/

You won't get the deep discounts that eBay gives TRS sellers but that is only for Priority. I only use First Class or Media so the pricing is exactly the same.

When you sign up with Stamps you will need a US address, ChitChat should be able to give you one you can use for that purpose. If you sign up with Stamps just be sure you don't accidentally sign up for the regular paid subscription version. Even with the free version you can manually enter addresses for non-eBay transactions, for eBay it will pull the sale info and post back the tracking numbers after you print the labels (the labels also need a US Return Address).

FYI - I list on .ca and only use generic shipping services (Standard Flat-Rate) if you want to use calculated shipping for US Customers you would have to list on .com.

[musicyouneed]

Thanks that is what I wanted.  A few more questions, though

With FREE stamps.com there is no cost for using the service and the cost of the postage will just come out of my paypal account?

I will only be using First Class or Media like you.  It that type of postage the same across the US, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico?

Since Chitchat is not in Vancouver yet, should I just use a postal outlet address across the border that I have dealt with before.   As I will have tracking and I will see that it is being returned I can always go down to the postal outlet and pick up the returned parcel. 

So I can continue to list on .ca and for the US shipping part you just put standard international shipping, is that right, so drop down?

[recped]

With a Stamps account you have to buy your postage in advance and add it to your accounts (minimum $10), I use my Visa debit card from my US bank, I'm not sure what other payment methods are available.

First Class and Media are NOT zoned services, same rates to any US location.

"Since Chitchat is not in Vancouver yet" I'm not sure what that means, are ChitChat/Books taking packages across the border locally or are they sending everything back to Toronto to be taken across? In any event they must be able to provide you with a P.O. Box or similar (they do here) or of course you could get your own P.O. box across the border and use that. Nobody at Stamps or at USPS will ever use it, it's just for looks or maybe for returns if that's any type of issue/

Yes, list on .ca and use "Standard International" with a flat amount for anywhere in the USA.

[musicyouneed]

Thanks for your info, I really appreciate it.  

I think that Chitchat is looking for space here (Vancouver area) but currently there are Books to the Border, Norma picks up at different locations around town twice a week and goes to the US the next day.   The parcel needs to already have the postage on it when she picks it up. 

Right now it is quite slow for me only selling 4-8 items a week and of those only 2 to 5 are for the US.  So I am looking at this for Sept on, not for now.  In other than the summer months, I usually sell 10 a week to the US.  Now is the time to do the research and find all the answers.   

With a Stamps account you have to buy your postage in advance and add it to your accounts (minimum $10), 

So say I have 3 CD's I want to ship first class mail within the US.  I don't think that adds up to $10 in postage.  How does that work.  Does the postage have to end up over $10.  

I  use my Visa debit card from my US bank

Can I use a Canadian Credit card or does it have to be a US one?

When I went to sign up for Stamps.com, they want $15.99 a month, how do I ensure that I get the freeby?

[recped]

With Stamps (and Endicia, the other main PC Postage provider) You have an "account" where you buy postage and it sits in the account until you use. $10 is the minimum you can purchase at any one time, of course there is no maximum. personally I buy enough to last for a couple of weeks because every time your account balance falls below $10 you get a pile of pop-ups telling you to add more postage to your account.

Methods of payment,,,,,,ask Stamps, they have excellent customer service.

They really bury the link for the free account, I can't find the right page but if you call Stamps they can direct you.

[pocomocomputing]

I think this is the free ebay link for stamps.com.

http://www.stamps.com/welcome/ebay/?source=si10731218

I was looking into Chitchat Express opening in Vancouver when they announced it in these forums a month ago. But apparently their deal for a location on Underhill Avenue in Burnaby fell through (I emailed to find out what is happening a couple of days ago) and they are looking for a new location. Too bad for the Underhill location as it was close by.

[recped]

Thanks Poco for jogging my memory.....I found that page but I forgot about the "Have a promo code?".

I think you need to click on that (it's pre-filled when you do) you should see "EBAYFREE1", proceed through the sign up and ignore anything that talks about fees.

If it does turn out that you have signed up for the paid version you can call and have them switch you.

I just noticed that depending which "Start Now" button you click you may see "EBAYFREE1" or EBAYFREE4" or no code at all.

If you don't click on the "Have a promo code" you will definitely be signing up for the paid version.

[musicyouneed]

Thanks for all your help.  Just signing up and now I have come to the welcome kit.  Did you receive it?  Should I order it, it is free but will be shipped to the PO place in the US and I think that it will cost me about $4.00 to pick it up.  

I also had a hell of a time inputting the Canadian address of my credit card.  It did want to except it.  I just fit as much as I could in and then put Washington and the zip code of my PO place.