Return To Sender

[dipmicro]

How to make customer service more convenient for your buyers:

Yesterday my wife received a Reader's Digest junk, so instead of tossing it to the garbage, I told her to mark it "Return to Sender" and I took it with me on my daily post office trip, hoping they would accept it and this may get her name off the distribution list (she never signed up nor bought anything from them anyway).

Postal clerk accepted it no problem.

I realized this would be great for returning goods, so instead of "ship them back" I will be instructing my customers to reseal mailer, mark "Return to Sender" and drop to CP mailbox.

I speculate, CP would use same service as shipped originally, so this removes customer's confusion on how to send it back - we had few poor souls returning oversized lettermail goods to us by regular parcel. I will inquire about this though.

[surplusdealdude]

I realized this would be great for returning goods, so instead of "ship them back" I will be instructing my customers to reseal mailer, mark "Return to Sender" and drop to CP mailbox.

That's illegal, btw.

You can only use RTS when the packaged has been unopened.

[dipmicro]

That's illegal ...


Hear, hear ... cannot find the policy about this anywhere ... care to point me ?

I never meant to have it returned for free but rather being charged by PO upon receipt. Looked like a good idea ...

[surplusdealdude]

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/atoz/servicelabel.jsf#Return

Got that off Google.

I think the basis is that all mail tendered to Canada Post must have postage paid. An opened package that is resealed becomes "mail", because the policy in the link clearly comprehends that "return to Sender" will only occur in cases where mail is undeliverable.

But you can use the "Contact us" link and ask them about it if you want more details.

Of course, you might wind up on another "list" for doing that, but that's the risk.]:)

[dipmicro]

Sorry, I still do not see anything that you said, about "opened".

However it states:

Parcels you send to your customers that cannot be delivered will be returned to you at your expense if:
...
* The item is refused by the addressee.

Refused ... not "Refused unopened" can be even after opening.

Only confirming what I was assuming. Customer can refuse the item and return it at my expense by marking it "Return To Sender".

Thanks for the link.

[surplusdealdude]

But the parcel WAS delivered if the buyer is re-shipping it.

That's where they're going to get you.

And advising the customer to do this makes both of you guilty of conspiring to defraud the mail , ie, mail fraud.

Jail, don't bend over in the shower, that sort of thing ( although you'd likely get fined instead).

[jakeeangel]

Why don't you call Canada Post. They'll tell you. Or will you argue with them like you did with US Customs and Surplus and myself when all we've done is try to help you?

It's not hard to see why you're sent in for secondary screening every time. Stop arguing with people about their jobs. They tell YOU what to do not the other way around for crying out loud. Sheesh!

[dipmicro]

Surplus, when we talked yesterday, it was too late to call CP. The rep confirms what you said about opening the parcel (nothing about jail though :(). It's opened = separate shipment.

Btw. I never said free, "at your expense" looked like COD.

I thought wrong, you were right B-)

[craftycatsattic]

Opened or unopened, I have used it to return items that were mistakenly sent to me and in cases where the items were SNAD and the seller would not cover the cost of return postage. I have also subscribed to book clubs where you are asked to put the books back in the orginal packaging and do a RTS if you choose not to keep them (but I believe those clubs have a RTS agreement with the post office). Everything I've sent back so far (just a handful of items) have reached their destination.

[westernstargifts]

Yesterday my wife received a Reader's Digest junk, so instead of tossing it to the garbage, I told her to mark it "Return to Sender" and I took it with me on my daily post office trip, hoping they would accept it and this may get her name off the distribution list (she never signed up nor bought anything from them anyway).


I knew an elderly lady who ordered something by mail order and then decided she didn't want it. She opened the package and then resealed it. She wrote "Deceased" on the package and "Return to Sender".

That way she didn't have to keep the item, pay return postage or be hassled by the company that sent it to her (or receive their literature).:-)

[dipmicro]

She opened the package and then resealed it. She wrote "Deceased" on the package and "Return to Sender".

And I bet she did not go to jail. :):):)

This seems still like a customer support venue, since CP confirmed that it's actually acceptable to RTS unopened mail and so I just happen to have a customer, who changed their mind after we shipped the item and does not want it. Should I advise them to ship it back or refuse it ?

Apparently, as a bonus, RTS is a free of charge service for lettermail:

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/lettermail.jsf

[surplusdealdude]

If it is unopened, the customer may mark, "refused - Return to Sender".

I think they may charge you for it.

In the States, Priority comes back free but you have to pay for Parcel post if it's returned.