Whoooo Warning Canada Post

[expressit1]

For what it is worth I will tell you of what has transpired on a recent Ebay sale and Canada Post  Shipment.

Boy did I get my eyes opened.

I made a  $404.00  Sale Shipped it the least expensive way (surface small packet) the next morning. Got my package ID # thinking that  it was good for something,  turns out it is not a trackable # Canada Post acknowledges selling me the postage acknowledges receiving the package. The website says 7 day delivery.  Canada Post now tell me that was a typo on the website delivery (surface small Packet ) is actually 6-7 weeks Internationally.  The buyer doesn't receive the package and starts to get worried and opens up a claim. Then after 1 month from claim 2months from shipping  Ebay refunds him the full purchase price.  Not a problem if the purchaser is a honest person and lets me know when he receivesd the package and resends me the money I'll be okay.  Ebay completely washes their hands now that they have paid out the buyers refund.  Canada post is saying it could still be delivered and will only open up the investigation after 75 days has past. They are confident it is still going to be delivered in Bangkok Thailand.  Canada post will pay $ 100.00 if the package never gets there but i'm out  $ 304.00  The thing is both ebay and Canada post knew the small packet service wasn't working  7 day service and as of tomorrow it is not offered on e bay any longer as a method of delivery.  Beware  of what is not told to sellers. They could have kept the claim open till Canada post admits it could be lost.

[pocomocomputing]

For what it is worth I will tell you of what has transpired on a recent Ebay sale and Canada Post  Shipment.

Boy did I get my eyes opened.

I made a  $404.00  Sale Shipped it the least expensive way (surface small packet) the next morning. Got my package ID # thinking that  it was good for something,  turns out it is not a trackable # Canada Post acknowledges selling me the postage acknowledges receiving the package. The website says 7 day delivery.  Canada Post now tell me that was a typo on the website delivery (surface small Packet ) is actually 6-7 weeks Internationally.  The buyer doesn't receive the package and starts to get worried and opens up a claim. Then after 1 month from claim 2months from shipping  Ebay refunds him the full purchase price.  Not a problem if the purchaser is a honest person and lets me know when he receivesd the package and resends me the money I'll be okay.  Ebay completely washes their hands now that they have paid out the buyers refund.  Canada post is saying it could still be delivered and will only open up the investigation after 75 days has past. They are confident it is still going to be delivered in Bangkok Thailand.  Canada post will pay $ 100.00 if the package never gets there but i'm out  $ 304.00  The thing is both ebay and Canada post knew the small packet service wasn't working  7 day service and as of tomorrow it is not offered on e bay any longer as a method of delivery.  Beware  of what is not told to sellers. They could have kept the claim open till Canada post admits it could be lost.

The Canada Post website never says 7 days for Small packet Surface International.  You made a mistake.

The website says 4-6 weeks for Small Packet Surface International.

Using SP Surface International in known for slow delivery of 4 to 6 weeks or more by experienced sellers. The maximum insurance of $100 is a limiting factor as to what to send Small Packet.

Take this an as expensive learning experience.  If you read the forums here, you will often see warning about not using Small Packet Surface International because of the long delivery times.

Canada Post did nothing wrong. PayPal did nothing wrong.

If your buyer is honest, they may repay once it arrives. Highly unlikely.

You will be able to collect $100 plus the cost of postage from Canada Post. Canada Post needs to wait 75 days in case the package arrives, then they will payout. There is no way for Canada Post to know if it arrives. Only if the buyer tells you it arrived and then you tell Canada Post.

PS Small Packet services from Canada Post will no longer have $100 insurance as of tomorrow Jan 14. A new service called Tracked Packet will be available. It offers $100 and tracking but only to select countries.

[pjcdn2005]

I'm sorry but I have never seen a 7 day delivery suggested for small packet surface international. You may have been looking at USA surface as I believe international surface quotes 4-6 weeks and even that isn't always realistic.

I do feel bad that you are going to be out money but unfortunately you weren't up on Paypal or ebay rules and didn't know what the different Canada Post services included. It's a good idea to have that info before you start selling....especially if you are selling something that expensive. 

[expressit1]

Actually I can give you a parcel tracking # 7210029695187838

When you do the tracking it comes up delivery 3 to 7 days for that  International package.

Canada post themselves told me about the Error and they are trying to correct it.

When I gave my buyer the above tracking # he of coarse reads 3- 7days for his international shipment.

Panic 'd and got a refund from Ebay because ebay told me the sae dam thing  Website says 7 day international small packet surface.

I'm not trying to make trouble just do the track your self and read .

[expressit1]

 I have 5 small surface packets still in transit.

Bangkok Thailand mailed Nov 7 2012

Ipoh Malaysia Mailed Dec 12 2012

Vergael Spain Mailed Dec 3 2012

Suldrup Denmark Mailed Dec 5 2012

Ponciau UK mailed Dec 5th 2012

The 6th missing shipment arrived Budapest Hungary Jan 12th 2013

It was mailed Nov 20 2012

It is no wonder Canada Post is Dropping the insurance as for them to have to pay out the $ 500.00 for the above no trackable insured parcels.

If I collect on all 5 above I will break even on the Bangkok refund ebay did because it is taking to long for the package to get there.

Ebay washed there hands after the refund. Reading CP website saying max 7 days.

I need to rely on the honesty of the buyer to re pay.

I am thinking twice about ever ticking off the .10 UK listing.

If i give you all 5 package ID numbers you will see on the website it says 3 7 days for Surface small packet.

Believe me I know Canada post will payout but those buyers are not going to be please with me 😞

[stevephinn2012]

even with a "tracking" number paypal would have given his money back as over $250 requires a signature NOT just that it was delivered.

I never use ground when i am shipping that far. It's a couple buck more (and the buyer is paying it) so why not use it ?

[coupleofsaskies]

Well I went to the Canada Post website and Tracked your parcel and you are Absolutley right .

It says Saskatoon to Bangkok  3 to 7 days

I hope PJ and pocomocomputing did the same thing as They came down on you pretty hard you IMHO

[expressit1]

All 6 traces come up with the same results 3 to 7 days

The thing that pisses me off more than anything is Canada Post knows of this error  on there website and did not get around to informing anyone nor did they inform e'bay.

The person I spoke to at ebay ( Appeals Button)  told me they made there decision to refund solely on going to the Canada Post website and reading  3 to 7 days for that International surface small packet.

I said it was a typo on Canada Post website they said they were not aware of it they could only go on what they read when tracking the parcel.

Heck Canada Post Can hardly get a parcel across Canada in 3 to 7 days never mind out of the country

No problem with pocomocomputing and pj  until someone finds about about something were all here to learn.

I agree Stevephinn2010 I will not send anything again with out it being insured and for sure signature trackable parcel.

Infact i'm going to wait and find out if the 5 parcels get there  berfore I sell anything on E bay again.

[femmefan1946]

Actually I can give you a parcel tracking # 7210029695187838

It's not a "tracking" number. A tracking number would allow the postal service (internationally) to tell you exactly where the parcel is, or more likely where it was last recorded as being. Tracked items have a bar code.

What you got was a shipping label invoice number which is used internally by Canada Post for bookkeeping. For insured services, like the Small Packet suite,  the same number is used for insurance claims. 

Unless you bought more insurance, your insurance claim is limited to $100 and the pay out may be as little as the price of the postage. The phone clerks seem to be allowed a lot of leeway on thisL in other words they are trusted to make real decisions based on their own knowledge and understanding as well as a list of rules.

Stick with the phone clerks, be very nice to them and get them on your side. Treat them as your allies in this mess.

[zoomrr69]

If you sell something with that value you need tracking and signature...

International  Air express would be the way to go

NOT ground..

There is your error...

[expressit1]

Yes I do realize that is not a "tracking " number I used the word tracking too lightly:)

It is a Package ID #  that as you explained is used internally by Canada Post.

I thought that the  # is very misleading on the package. likely intentional to make the uninformed  ( ME ) 🙂  think it is trackable.

Yes they will be using those numbers to pay me out if the packages do not arrive at there destinations.

I have already been told by a Canada Post supervisor that indeed each parcel I shipped carried a full $ 100.00 plus postage refund.

If after they do there investigation  ( only starts 75 days after mailing) and the packages do not arrive at there destination by then.

[brandeentertainment]

I have bought with Canada post and got them to open cases way quicker then 75 days .. Ask to speak with a boss man ..

[pocomocomputing]

Well I went to the Canada Post website and Tracked your parcel and you are Absolutley right .

It says Saskatoon to Bangkok  3 to 7 days

I hope PJ and pocomocomputing did the same thing as They came down on you pretty hard you IMHO

I do not think I came down hard on expressit1. I tried to explain the reasons why it happened without being harsh.

I do feel for the loss expressit1 is going to most likely suffer.  And potentially on the other packages.

eBay does not give new sellers a good education on what to avoid when selling on eBay. Only that you should use tracking for proof of delivery. Which is not easily available at reasonable cost.

[pocomocomputing]

Regarding the 3 to 7 days that you see when you look up the tracking number for small packet.

Apparently this is an error. Someone reported this in another topic recently.

If you check the postal guide, you will see that Small Packet surface is 4 to 6 weeks.

Here is the topic about the 3 to 7 days

Read post #9 by recped

http://community.ebay.ca/topic/Seller-Central/Canadapost-Showing-All/4000007113?#msg30000490

[snikrep2010]

This is what I see when I track that #.

Tracking Number: 7210029695187838

Service: International Letter Post

Is a small packet considered to be letter post?

[zoomrr69]

Yes..under postal view..

Small Packet is deemed "LETTERPOST"..

but don't tell ebay that...for canadian to canadian they have a messed up view..

Some posties even think differently, calling EM

" OVER SIZED letters "

If they are too thick..it turns into a PARCEL....lol

[valuestore]

Its a screw up by cp, old outdated system where letterpost, air, surface..... are all sharing same insurance (numbering) system. Which is fine except when they start displaying (to your customers) delivery dates as same for all three services.... thats an issue in my eyes?

I agree with reciped we should send out our own correspondences to customers confirming delivery expectations.

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

Yer new, made all sorts of mistakes, and it is CP and ebay's fault? I think not. I made my share of mistakes when I was new. I still do. None of us are immune.

Surface to SouthEast Asia in seven days? You believe that? Extra insurance without buying it? You believe that? Calling a receipt number a tracking number?

eBay and CP should step up to the plate, for you, because you got it wrong?

International surface mail can take three months. You would be lucky to even get them to ackowledge you at 75 days. Buyer has a 45 day window to start a claim, what did you think they would do with zero proof the parcel was on it's way?

You have made pretty much every mistake possible here. I am sorry you have to learn the hard way.

[expressit1]

Yer new, made all sorts of mistakes, and it is CP and ebay's fault? I think not. I made my share of mistakes when I was new. I still do. None of us are immune.

Surface to SouthEast Asia in seven days? You believe that? Extra insurance without buying it? You believe that? Calling a receipt number a tracking number?

eBay and CP should step up to the plate, for you, because you got it wrong?

International surface mail can take three months. You would be lucky to even get them to ackowledge you at 75 days. Buyer has a 45 day window to start a claim, what did you think they would do with zero proof the parcel was on it's way?

You have made pretty much every mistake possible here. I am sorry you have to learn the hard way.

Inuk  i think you should re read my original post, I was relaying what transpired on a transaction.

No where did I blame them for anything but a typo on there website.

I was sharing this information so others were aware of the potential buyer reading the typo and opening up a claim due to the typo. 

I also pointed out Ebay once they process a refund  Don't Care

what the outcome is.  ( that surprised me only )

As far as your last statement  "you have made every mistake possible here "  is tottally out to lunch,  unless you mean I sold on ebay and shipped the least expensive way the next day.

I'm not complaining

[mr.elmwood]

Told this story down at the RPO. The manager laughed so hard she had tears. "I can't get to Thailand in 3-7 days!" she said.

Why, pardon the pun, on earth would you send surface?