Too bad Canada Post no longer insures Small Packet Air.

[triplecgirl]

I used to send smaller items like tea cups and light items by air to the US.  They were not trackable, but I could insure each item. I could send out an item for about 18.00 after fees.  Never had a problem with any buyer. Now I will not be able to have parcels go by air as there is no coverage of any kind for the  item. Only other services I know of now are Expedited for about 24.00 or Small parcel surface tracked for about 22.00.  Anyone else know of a good way to send light items( over 500 grams but under 1 kilogram) to the US that is cheaper? 

[pldsecurity]

I have read your article on the ebay forum.. I have just opened a new account premium as a seller on ebay.. still I dont know hoe everything works . but from your shipping amounts already I think you have very high rates... You may try UPS or Fedex they have business account discounted rates.

Also I noted there are many foreigner sellers from USA and from China with very low prices .. and a lot of negative feedback..

Hope my decision to open up business on EBAY will pay off !!!

Peter

[spinorfields]

"Never had a problem with any buyer."   So add a dollar to your price and ship uninsured. When you eventually have a loss the extra dollars will more than cover it. It is called self-insurance.

[rose-dee]

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@triplecgirl wrote:

I used to send smaller items like tea cups and light items by air to the US.  They were not trackable, but I could insure each item. I could send out an item for about 18.00 after fees.  Never had a problem with any buyer. Now I will not be able to have parcels go by air as there is no coverage of any kind for the  item. Only other services I know of now are Expedited for about 24.00 or Small parcel surface tracked for about 22.00.  Anyone else know of a good way to send light items( over 500 grams but under 1 kilogram) to the US that is cheaper? 

---

I would suggest you stick with Small Packet/Light Packet, and self-insure (or find a 3rd party insurer you like).  

Although you're dealing with breakables and therefore somewhat more risk, work out what your reasonably predictable loss could be over, say, a year, in US$, divide that amount by your expected number of sales, then add those few pennies to either the shipping price or the item price on every item you sell.  I think you'll find it will work out to under $1.00 per item.  You'll probably be paying more for insurance through a 3rd party. 

Personally I would not ship anything, let alone breakables, by surface, whether tracked or not.  The more it's handled and the longer the trip, the greater the possibility of damage or loss.  The shipping times/delays can also come up against eBay time limits, etc. (45 days) which could be problematic for both you and your buyer. 

You could selectively choose to use Expedited in certain cases and "subsidize" your buyer's shipping yourself (for example, for a repeat customer, or a particularly delicate item going to a far destination, or even a buyer whom you want to impress for the purpose of good FB/DSRs).  In fact, you could add a few more pennies to your "insurance fund" to cover the cost of such upgrades now and then, without your listed shipping costs being affected too much at all. 

[reallynicestamps]

Exactly. Very few homeowners in the Sahara Desert carry flood insurance.

If there is no problem, there is no need for insurance.

If you feel an emotional need, go ahead and spend the extra money. But frankly,  if you give your buyers the invoice number of any Canada Post service , most will be happy with the extra communication and the "proof" of mailing. 

Couriers are not usually cheaper than the PO, and are often more expensive. Remember also that your international buyer will be paying not only duty and sales tax on arrival, but also a substantial fee to the courier for customs brokerage. Do look into it though, it may be useful in some circumstances.

[pocomocomputing]

It appears that you are not using PayPal Shipping labels for shipping to the USA. If you do, you get a discount of 18% on Expedited Parcel and 15% for Tracked Packet USA. (No discount for Small Packet USA Air)

In the weight range of 501 to 1 kg, the three Canada Post services are all close in price range using PayPal shipping. If you go to the Canada Post web site Find-A-Rate page and do some rate testing (I used 1 kg, 30 x 20 x 10 cm)

Small Packet USA Air - 1 kg - flat rate all of USA - $15.56

Tracked Packet USA - 1 kg - flat rate all of USA - $19.59 full rate - $16.84 with 14% discount applied.

Expedited Parcel USA - 1 kg - variable rate based on distance - $19.56 closet state to $21.57 farthest state full rate - $16.04 to $17.69 with 18% discount applied

Please note you do not see the PayPal discount on the CP Find-a-Rate page, I manually applied it to the rates given on that page. Actual PayPal shipping rate may vary a few cents when using PayPal shipping labels.

Tracked Packet and Expedited Parcel USA offer "Tracking" and delivery confirmation in their price.

One thing to note is that Expedited Parcel uses Volumetric Weight or Dimensional Weight which overrides the true weight of a package based on dimensions of the package if applicable. VW = L cm x W cm x H cm / 6000. Small Packet and Tracked Packet do not use dimensional weight but your parcel must be under L+W+H less than 90 cm and L not larger than 60 cm. If over, then you must use Expedited Parcel USA even if under 1 kg. So using EP USA can be higher than what I quoted if the box is big.

If you want insurance and tracking, then Tracked Packet USA at $16.84 with PayPal shipping labels is the least expensive way to do this. It costs $16.84 - $15.56 = $1.28 CAN for the insurance and tracking using Tracked Packet USA. If you were to use Small Packet USA Air and a Third Party insurer, the cost is $1.50 US $ which is more expensive than Tracked Packet USA plus the time to go to the third party website to insure. Please also note that Canada Post insurance does not insure glass or china for breakage, just for loss.

As mentioned, many sellers self insure by adding a small amount to the item price to cover any losses and use Small Packet USA Air. If you do this, then note the difference between SP USA Air and TP USA is Just $1.28 Very close in price. So true insurance is not that much more. But what is interesting is the Tracking and Delivery Confirmation for Tracked Packet for the small difference in price.

So I would suggest thinking about using PayPal Shipping labels and Tracked Packet for items in the 501-1 kg range.

[pocomocomputing]

---

@pocomocomputing wrote:

It appears that you are not using PayPal Shipping labels for shipping to the USA. If you do, you get a discount of 18% on Expedited Parcel and 14% for Tracked Packet USA. (No discount for Small Packet USA Air)

In the weight range of 501 to 1 kg, the three Canada Post services are all close in price range using PayPal shipping. If you go to the Canada Post web site Find-A-Rate page and do some rate testing (I used 1 kg, 30 x 20 x 10 cm)

Small Packet USA Air - 1 kg - flat rate all of USA - $15.56

Tracked Packet USA - 1 kg - flat rate all of USA - $19.59 full rate - $16.84 with 14% discount applied.

Expedited Parcel USA - 1 kg - variable rate based on distance - $19.56 closet state to $21.57 farthest state full rate - $16.04 to $17.69 with 18% discount applied

Please note you do not see the PayPal discount on the CP Find-a-Rate page, I manually applied it to the rates given on that page. Actual PayPal shipping rate may vary a few cents when using PayPal shipping labels.

Tracked Packet and Expedited Parcel USA offer "Tracking" and delivery confirmation in their price.

One thing to note is that Expedited Parcel uses Volumetric Weight or Dimensional Weight which overrides the true weight of a package based on dimensions of the package if applicable. VW = L cm x W cm x H cm / 6000. Small Packet and Tracked Packet do not use dimensional weight but your parcel must be under L+W+H less than 90 cm and L not larger than 60 cm. If over, then you must use Expedited Parcel USA even if under 1 kg. So using EP USA can be higher than what I quoted if the box is big.

If you want insurance and tracking, then Tracked Packet USA at $16.84 with PayPal shipping labels is the least expensive way to do this. It costs $16.84 - $15.56 = $1.28 CAN for the insurance and tracking using Tracked Packet USA. If you were to use Small Packet USA Air and a Third Party insurer, the cost is $1.50 US $ which is more expensive than Tracked Packet USA plus the time to go to the third party website to insure. Please also note that Canada Post insurance does not insure glass or china for breakage, just for loss.

As mentioned, many sellers self insure by adding a small amount to the item price to cover any losses and use Small Packet USA Air. If you do this, then note the difference between SP USA Air and TP USA is Just $1.28 Very close in price. So true insurance is not that much more. But what is interesting is the Tracking and Delivery Confirmation for Tracked Packet for the small difference in price. That may justify to you to use Tracked Packet for more peace of mind shipping more valuable items.

So I would suggest thinking about using PayPal Shipping labels and Tracked Packet for items in the 501 g to 1 kg range.

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 Small correction

[anguscoinshop]

You can send them to the US expedited for $18.25, under 1 kg. You just have to make sure the size of the package is at no more than maximum size.

I primarily use 20 x 16 x 9 cm for $18.25 if i go 21 x 16 x 9 it jumps to $19.75

By using Canada Post web site calculator you can figure out your best cost by entering different size.

[pocomocomputing · Accepted solution]

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@angus_coin_shop wrote:

You can send them to the US expedited for $18.25, under 1 kg. You just have to make sure the size of the package is at no more than maximum size.

I primarily use 20 x 16 x 9 cm for $18.25 if i go 21 x 16 x 9 it jumps to $19.75

By using Canada Post web site calculator you can figure out your best cost by entering different size.

---

Expedited Parcel USA rates start at 0.5 kg and increment in 0.5 kg. Your rate above is for a 500 gram package and the OP was asking about 501 to 1 kg weight range.

For your information, the difference in your two examples are changed by volumetric weight.

1) VW = 20x16x9 / 6000 = 0.480 kg will ship at 0.5  kg rate if true weight is under 0.5 kg

2) VW = 21x16x9 / 6000 = 0.504 kg will ship at 1 kg rate even tho true weight is under 0.5 kg.

When using Expedited Parcel USA (and EP Canada also), be very careful which size of box you use since Volumetric Weight can move a package up in rates because of a higher VW than real weight.

Also please note the EP Canada rates start at 0.75 kg, then 1.0 kg and then increments in 0.5 kg. A slight difference in the start of the rates for EP Canada when compared to EP USA.

TIP. VW can be calculated for any box you want to use in advance since it is only based on dimensions. I use recycled boxes and measure them and calculate the VW of each box and write the dimensions and VW on the box. So when I want to ship using Expedited Parcel, I try to not use a box with a VW greater than the actual weight and push the package into a higher shipping rate. This will save a few $$ over time by checking which box to use.

[triplecgirl]

Thanks for the response. I do use Paypal shipping labels and our rates are the same. I was adding in Ebay  and Paypal fees on postage paid in my calculation as I absorb those. I think I will just fire them off  by air as you suggested and self insure. That is what I did anyway with the last item.  I have never had anything break as I am a good packer. I do flat rate shipping to he farthest state as I only do US and Canada and refund difference in postage if it is closer to me.

[triplecgirl]

Actually my tracked packet surface came out higher than some estimates, so I will check it again. Thanks so much for all the responses.

[triplecgirl]

Yes some of my packages are light but they boxes are a bit bigger as they are fragile and need to be double boxed.

[triplecgirl]

I LOVE EBAY and it is a great place to sell stuff.. I only charge actual postage and any incurred fees related to postage. Shipping is what it is I guess and it is definitely higher in Canada.  Sometimes if I know an item will sell, I will absorb some shipping to be competitive, but I cannot do it when there is not much profit made on an item. I  actually sell things on Kijiji that are a hard sell on Ebay because of postage.... so between the two, I am doing alright.

[cumos55]

Tracked Packet, whether to the US or International..

is airmail delivery, fully insured with a tracking number.

[fertotynic]

postal rates are unreal here ,i get moron kids at shoppers drug mart calculating shipping i go to 3 different with same package and there is a 15 dollar difference.

To answer you question

Auctiva has insurance when you set it up with ebay for listings

insured from  0 to 2500 dollars

[triplecgirl]

I do list with Auctiva....hmm maybe a good compromise here.

[bellwether51]

Canada Post does not allow insurance on breakable items. It's in the fine print. 

[rose-dee]

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@triplecgirl wrote:

I do list with Auctiva....hmm maybe a good compromise here.

---

It can be a good solution, for certain circumstances, and they will insure parcels coming from Canada.  You can also choose (I believe up to 72 hours after a listing is posted) to include one-off insurance on a particular item.  In other words, you can leave Auctiva insurance coverage toggled to off as your default, and then purchase coverage if and when you want it.  Check the shipping information on Auctiva - they do have some restrictions.  Just be sure you don't automatically toggle the insurance on because you'll be paying the insurance premium on every single thing you list with Auctiva. 

I've only used it occasionally where I was shipping a mid-priced item to the U.S., but they do cover some places that CP doesn't.  I'm not sure about breakables though - take a look at their insurance details. 

[hmandell]

I've been using U-PIC Insurance for my Canadian shipments. Their rates are much lower than Canada Post or UPS. I contacted them and set up an ongoing policy. You can also insure individual parcels on their website with up to $1500 in coverage. 

They are based in California so the transaction is in USD. Still much cheaper and they do pay claims promptly.

[bookstotheborder]

You may have thought you had your breakables insured via Canada Post ---when it had insurance on Small Packets----but Canada Post does not insure breakables---so if you ever had a claim it would have denied.

If you really want to have insurance---you can insure via a 3rd party Insurance company

http://www.shipsurance.com/?refId=90

or you can do Piggy Bank insurance as described by others