What company have you found to be the most reasonable shipping items from Canada to the USA?

[donna819]

Hi Canadian eBay community,

I plan to sell many of the dishes and glassware I've collected over the years, either bought at garage/church sales or given to me as gifts. I sold dishes before on eBay but it was approx. 10 years ago.

I'm finding the listing page is more complicated that it was years back. Now you have to include the shipping costs. How do you do that when you don't know if your sale will be from Canada or USA?  I  decided to use a zip code in Southern U.S.A. to determine shipping costs but was flabbergasted when I saw the Canada Post rates. To send 2 sets of cups and saucers in a small box that weighs 2.3 lbs. is $26.24. I'm listing it at $12.99. I wouldn't buy anything with shipping costs that huge so I don't expect anyone else would.

How do others determine shipping costs (In the past most of my customers were from USA) and have you found anyone who charges reasonable shipping fees.

I'd be happy to hear your response. I haven't listed anything yet because of the shipping costs.

Thanks....donna

[brandeentertainment]

Well all your US rates will be the Same only your Canadian rates will change per province,,,,

There is not easy way to do it but figure it out for every different size package you have ...

You can use caculated shipping if you have to many different size parcels or Flat rate if you know most your parcels will be the same size..

Paypal Labels will give you 18% of Expedited shipping too which is a bonus ,...

Times have changed and everything is alot harder and way more complicated then it use to be ...

[triber]

I have found that selling china has become very difficult, mostly because of the high shipping cost. Unless the item is unique or quite rare, I am finding that my china is just not selling, and there are so many other identical listings, quite a few starting at 99 cents, which I am not prepared to do.

The highest cost is within Canada, which is a shame, for me especially selling from ON to BC is the highest rate.

Take time to check other sellers items to get comparisons, if several are selling really cheaply, it's just not worth it. Check what completed items sold for. I was listing a Royal Albert mug today, and found one that sold for 29 cents! What is the point of that?

[pjcdn2005]

Well all your US rates will be the Same only your Canadian rates will change per province,,,,

The U.S. rates will be the same unless the seller is using expedited USA. They would definitely have to use that for packages over 1kg.

Donna, as suggested by others you can set up the shipping in your listings by weight and dimensions so that the calculator figures out the exact shipping cost.  When you set up shipping you set up one area for within Canada, one area for the U.S. and one for the rest of the world. You do receive some discounts off of the counter price for Canada Post when you use Paypal shipping. The discount for Tracked Packet is 14% and the discount for expedited within Canada and to the U.S. is 18%.

If your items are heavier, you might want to check out costs with the couriers but for lighter items, Canada Post seems to be the least expensive.

[donna819]

Thanks brandeentertainment. I will look into using Paypal labels.

[donna819]

Thanks triber.  Like I said I've been collecting for over 10 years and I have a lot of china to sell. When I did sell on eBay about 10 years ago, the price of shipping china averaged around $8.95, some $12.95. I am so frustrated at Canada Post. I remember CP saying that parcel mailings increased which helped their profit margin. Why would they increase rates so much that it excludes people like me?

Before I list and buy, I check eBay listings for an idea of what people are asking. Then I check sold so I know how much they received. It really doesn't make any sense. I've seen two exact items sell. One sold for $45.00, the other sold for $3.90. I won't list at 99 cents. It's too risky. Now I have to look into savings on shipping and then decide what I'm going to do with all this china if I don't sell on eBay. I must say that a few months ago, I trial listed a vintage cookie jar for $285.00 on eBay and on Etsy. It sold via Etsy. The shipping cost didn't sound outrageous at that price but when you're listing items at $12.99.....no way would I pay double the cost for shipping.  Sigh!

[donna819]

Thanks pjcdn2005. Good advice. I will have to get my packages down to under 1 kg without compromising items arriving in one piece. I did check out UPS, Fedex and Purolator on the parcel weighing 2.3 lbs and surprisingly, Canada Post was the cheapest by $1.00. I will look into the program that allows people to check their own rates. I just don't want to deal with people who didn't check and on winning decide the shipping cost is too high and want out of the transaction.

Thanks everyone for your advice.