Small Packet Surface to U.S. same delivery time guideline as Interantional?

[moltencore]

I sent a small packet SURFACE mail package to California on November 17th. It still hasn't arrived 45 days later. (customer just contacted me). Canada Post has told me that I cannot file a claim until January 30th ... the exact same timeframe for claims as International small packet surface packages.

WTH? They consider USA delivery timelines for surface the SAME as international?

To me this is their ridiculous attempt to prevent anyone from filing for compensation for a lost package. grrrr.

(As you can tell... I've never had to report a lost surface mail package to the USA and the last lost AIRMAIL claim to the USA I had to make was a few years back)

Obviously I have to reimburse my customer now. and.. mark my calendar to call in for compensation when Canada Post's specified date arrives.

I'm fuming mad. Just wondering... Is this a 'new' policy or has it always been this way?

What's the point of insuring a packet to the USA at all if you have to wait 90 days?
X-(

[axe_n_gear_music]

I hear ya.
Thats why I would NEVER use small packet surface to anywhere- it takes too long, and the upgrade to air is not much more, but always worth it.

I should also mention here, that in many cases to the USA, you should compare prices- many people think that Small Packet Air to the US is the way to go- we find that Expedited (delivery standard of 4-8 days) is about a dollar or more cheaper than Small Packet Air (delivery standard of 4-10 days).

Cheers,
AXE

[femmefan1946]

I use SmallPacketSurface a lot, and don't see any great problem with delivery times, based on when I receive feedback and what it says.

But I do see that the date that any packet leaves Canada and the date of feedback (or DC for Expedited) are very far apart.

Consistently the slowest movement is packages to the USA and it is NOT Canada Post who are slow.

The Air Mail may move a little faster just because of the blue sticker. Certainly Light Packet, which is an air service seems fast.

Twelve days to Singapore, five days to Britain, 20 days to Russia, 15 days to New York, 20 days to California.

True story. Some 20 years ago, we shipped heavy auction catalogues internationally about six times a year. When I could not find a Printed Matter rubberstamp, I bought one that read IMPRIMÉ instead.

We found we were getting mail bids from California and Texas before we got them from Toronto. On checking, the catalogues were arriving in CA and TX before they travelled the 500 miles from Ottawa to Toronto.

Apparently, unilingual but helpful USPS workers were interpreting "imprime" as "important" or "prime" and pushing the printed matter into the first class mail stream.

[moltencore]

Consistently the slowest movement is packages to the USA and it is NOT Canada Post who are slow.

The Air Mail may move a little faster just because of the blue sticker. Certainly Light Packet, which is an air service seems fast.

Yes, I think Light Packet is the way to go for USA customers who want it sent 'cheaper' as long as value is under $20 I'm ok with that.

The surface mail thing is for the birds, but in my category: Vinyl LPs, I can't compete with the media mail max of $4.00 for USA shipping. Sorry I'm not boosting all my prices so American customers get cheaper shipping while everyone else pays more and eBay gets an even bigger cut. The cheapest I can send an album right now is $7.61 for Light packet or... $7.77 for insured small packet surface.

[femmefan1946]

moltencore

The stupid media shipping cap may be used less than you think by your (our) US competitors.

Because Media Mail is slow, many US sellers are using Calculated Shipping and charging their actual costs (including packaging and insurance costs) for their parcels.

Have you ever worked out how much it costs an LP seller in New York to ship one record to California with decent protection and insurance? I keep meaning to do this for my hardcover books, but when I remember I am busy and when I am not busy I don't remember.

[zarzuella]

Shipping books within the US - an average 2-pound book costs $2.96 via Media rate with DC, or $4.75 via flat-rate priority envelope. There is no way compete with that using Canada Post. Most US booksellers I look at are charging close to the $4 cap - and they still make a profit on shipping.

[femmefan1946]

It's the Media Mail that I question.

Not the rate-- the actual use of it.

With Calculated Shipping they can charge their actual cost and I was just wondering if they actually use the slow Media service and chance poor DSRs for shipping time or only use the higher priced but faster First Class with or without Delivery Confirmation.

There were howls of anguish on the Booksellers' Board about the cost of shipping large heavy books like coffee table books and textbooks, when the stupid cap came in.

[zarzuella]

I ship from the US twice weekly using Media Mail. My shipping DSR's have been steady at 4.9 since DSR's were introduced. Many of my feedback comments cite fast shipping, which always surprises me 🙂

[moltencore]

I ship from the US twice weekly using Media Mail. My shipping DSR's have been steady at 4.9 since DSR's were introduced. Many of my feedback comments cite fast shipping, which always surprises me 🙂

How close to the border do you live? I'd have to do a 2 hour each way drive, so I don't find that cost economically feasible.

I've seen alot of Canadian 'media' sellers list on .com with the $4.00 media mail rate given as required but then in the item description they state that $4.00 isn't their actual cost and that U.S. customers must wait to pay after purchase to receive an invoice showing the 'correct' shipping.

Personally, I think that's not right. If you can't afford and don't ACTUALLY ship at $4.00 then list on eBay Canada.

[momoftwingles2]

How close to the border do you live? I'd have to do a 2 hour each way drive, so I don't find that cost economically feasible.

I've seen alot of Canadian 'media' sellers list on .com with the $4.00 media mail rate given as required but then in the item description they state that $4.00 isn't their actual cost and that U.S. customers must wait to pay after purchase to receive an invoice showing the 'correct' shipping.

Personally, I think that's not right. If you can't afford and don't ACTUALLY ship at $4.00 then list on eBay Canada.

I think that any seller who does the above will have to *eat* the rest of the postage if a buyer presses the issue. eBay.com has specific shipping that they permit and by writing a disclaimer in a write-up would not hold up. I believe there may be a shipping/listing violation that would be incurred as well.

Just my .02 worth.

Susan

[moltencore]

I think that any seller who does the above will have to *eat* the rest of the postage if a buyer presses the issue. eBay.com has specific shipping that they permit and by writing a disclaimer in a write-up would not hold up. I believe there may be a shipping/listing violation that would be incurred as well.

Just my .02 worth.

Susan

I thought that too (re: it being a listing violation) but this has been going on by multiple TRS's since the media mail $4.00 ship cost was instituted. I feel I'm in the minority by not playing that 'game'.

[femmefan1946]

It strikes me as a dumb move.

First because it asks the buyer to pause, instead of continuing in that first fine rapture of impulse buying.

Then as stated, the seller runs the chance of losing a Dispute over the change of shipping cost.

And of course, Detailed Seller Ratings for Communication and for Shipping Price.

Not smart at all.

Most of my paperbacks ship Light Packet for $5.34 Air Mail. Since my prices are high enough to cover the extra $1.25 or so, I suppose I could list more of them on dotcom.

Naahh- I've made my bed and I will lie in it.

[zarzuella]

I thought that too (re: it being a listing violation) but this has been going on by multiple TRS's since the media mail $4.00 ship cost was instituted. I feel I'm in the minority by not playing that 'game'.

Can you give us an item number from one of those sellers?

[momoftwingles2]

I thought that too (re: it being a listing violation) but this has been going on by multiple TRS's since the media mail $4.00 ship cost was instituted. I feel I'm in the minority by not playing that 'game'.

If it were me, I would use caution. Just because someone else does this doesn't mean that if you do that YOU won't end up with a listing violation, loosing a dispute or worse...being banned from selling. It's YOU who is important and you need to take care of yourself.

However, that's just my opinion.
Susan

[cumos55]

For international mail, surface mail... You have to wait 75 days before you can make an insurance claim with Canada Post

[moltencore]

Can you give us an item number from one of those sellers?

here's but one example. It's closed now but if you click on: see full description, you'll see what I mean.. (says in bold type: "Shipping is Not 4$ but 21$) even though he's entered $4.00 for shipping to USA in the shipping & payments section of the description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270692344293