canada post free month shipping and signup

[gaschurman]

I normally send 8x10 photos to the us within rigid envelopes and put stamps on it and deposit them on the mail box or on the nearest cp office.
Also 24x5 poster tubes where I also use stamps .
everything on normal airmail shipping. I'm getting good results on time and delivery (between 3-10 bus days)

Is there any reason I should signup to the CP powerseller account and use the shipping tools ? I believe the process will be easier since I don't have to buy the stamps anymore and rather printing the slips at home.

I deliver about 100 envelopes/tubes a month.

here my questions:

-I will get any on-going discount on std airmail shipping ?
-The free month shipping applies to anyone and any kind of shipping method ?
-I need special hardware to print the slips ? laser printer, etc ?
- anyone using CP automated shipping tools with good results ?
- Is there any monthly fee or hidden costs ?
- it is really worth it for me ?


thanks !

[zarzuella]

I believe ( but I could be wrong) that the discounts apply to Expedited, Expresspost etc but not small packet and regular/oversized lettermail.

Most posters here who use small packet for international mailing go to the PO. Some of those who have tried the shipping tools for Expedited find its cheaper to use a venture one card at the counter.

Do a search on prior posts - lots of info already covered here.

Ann

[muminlaw]

gaschurman, I see you're in Toronto. Visit one or more of the local stamp dealers and ask about purchasing postage in quantity through them. They won't have the most recent issues but you will get your postage at a discount - that's better than any discount you'll get through CP!

Glenda

[imagi.nation]

gaschurman:

Myself and at least one other PS here are trying to get to the bottom of the "Free Month of Shipping" schmozzle. The short story so far is that if you call CPC you get the equivalent of a blank stare. The two conditions I read in the promotional e-mail for this is that 1)Small packets are not included in the free shipping offer and 2)You must use a credit card for payment.

I've tried the Electronic Shipping Tools (EST) for about a week now and find that it's made more work for me. I had my system down where I didn't have to type in ANY address information to create an invoice and label. With the EST I now have to type in the full address, the weight of the package, the dimensions of the package and the weight of each individual item. I ship mostly using U.S. and International small packet so there is ZERO discount. As the Xmas rush approaches, I am probably going to ditch the EST. Although it's nice just to be able to hand all my parcels to the P.O. clerks, the time it's taking on the front end is probably not going to be worth it.

Cheers,
Ernie

[discountlabelsupplies]

I use the electronic desktop tools. The new version has less bugs and is much better than the first version.

I sell the same items so it is VERY easy now. All of my packages are preset (as well as common combinations of items). When I say preset I mean the box dimensions,weight, customs information. All I do is enter the customer shipping information, use the drop down menu for the shipping method and then use the drop down menu for the customs info and click transmit. I can do most of my items in about 1 minute. A nice label and customs sheet prints off and I place it in the free clear packing slips I get from Canada post.

[bh542]

discountlabelsupplies:

Have you compared the price with retail price with a V1 (Expedited USA and Canada)?

Does any one know the criteria for level 2 and what is the roughly discount (especially for Expedited US). My shipping cost is around $2000/month or a little bit more and most of them are Expedited USA. Am I eligible for any deeper discount and what number or email should I contact with. I am in Toronto.

Thanks,
Andrew

[shoplineca]

Andrew
I am a level 3 for Canada but there is no level 3 for the US. The Expedited rates are standard no matter how much you ship into the US as this is a service only available to Commercial accounts and not the general public.

The Express Post rates to the US are also discounted from the rates to the public but they are standard for everyone, whether you give CP $500 per month or $2,000 per month in business.

If you were to go with Purolator, it may be better to negotiate a rate directly with them and NOT CP even though CP will lump them in and give you a rate based on your being a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 for Canada.

So in a nut shell, CP will discount your Canadian shipments if you meet various criteria and give you a commercial rate for the US but we all seem to pay the same rates into the US.

Malcolm

[sunward-hobbies]

gaschurman:
where do you get the rigid envelopes? I have only been able to get them at retail.

muminlaw:
what kind of discounts and volume would I be looking at for discounts? I thought the markup on stamps was small.

Angelo

[muminlaw]

Angelo, I'm not talking about postal outlets or mailing services. I mean philatelists/dealers in collector's stamps who buy & sell from the collecting public.

Discounts vary depending on denominations and quantity - we usually get the high denominations at 5-10% off face value, and the lower at 15-20% off, and we usually plan on spending $300 - $500 at a time. It all depends on what the dealer has available at the time!

Hope this helps, and I could use the info on rigid envelopes too - Staples is NOT inexpensive!

Glenda

[bh542]

Thank you, Malcolm.

I think I can do nothing to get a better price for US shipping (more than 80%).

Andrew

[gaschurman]

angelo, rigid envelops are hard to find, but I found 1 place: packaging world, in toronto. 200 rigid envelopes for about .45c CAD each . where staples is about 1$ each.

here the link, you have to call to inquiry the prices http://www.packagingworld.com/mail.html

product is excellent, is self-seal, easy to open, my customers are very happy.

I also buy tubes here.

keep in mind both envelopes and tubes are heavier but better quality, consider this for shipping costs.

gustavo.