eBay Workshop with Canada Post: Thursday, August 25, 1:00-2:00 PM ET

[carly@ebay.com]

Please join us on Thursday, August 25, from 1-2 PM ET for a workshop with Canada Post. Kim from Canada Post will be here to answer all of your questions about Canada Post letterpost service and what the regulations are for using this type of service.

If you are not able to attend, you can leave your questions here in advance of the workshop and they will be answered during the workshop, and you can come back in and check the answers.

Hope you can join us!

Carly

[ferret-mom]

Hello? Anybody there?

[sffan2001]

So "hard plastic" not acceptable, but a good, stiff piece of cardboard is acceptable?

And why is a CD-ROM acceptable as First Class Mail in Canada, but it has to go to outside Canada at the exorbitant small packet rate?

[laplaya29]

Hi Kim, What can we put in Other Letter-post to the USA ?? Am I able to put anyting in Other Letter-post as long as it fits the dimensions - min 140 mm x 90 mm x 0.18 max 380 mm x 270 mm x 20 mm

Thanks.
Bill.

[recped]

I mentioned "hard" plastic before as being unacceptable. I should say all plastic.

It's a moving target, why is this? The postal guide is very specific on the requirements for mail, why is this particular issue so vague?
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

[ciderantiques]

Suggested Solution: If Canadapost would add a 4th category to Small Packets ~ eg. under 100 grams that would cover off many concerns we have about losing the over-sized Int. letter category. If we compare with the USPS International letter rate (which includes small packets), it has 22 weight categories and starts at 1 ounce and goes up to 64 ounces (4 pounds). Canadapost only has 3 weight categories for small packets. I don't think it is unrealistic to split the lowest category into less than 100 grams, and then up to 250 grams. You can keep the 250 to 500 and 500 to 1kg categories the same. That is my suggested solution to this mess.

[bendertrc]

Well, at least Canada Post MIGHT learn something from this session, that their customers are obviously NOT happy with the services supplied and the specs that are being imposed.

[sharkquest]

Sorry!!!!

[ferret-mom]

I just want to know if there will be an increase in small packets in October -- not why you feel justified in maybe doing so....

[craftmaster63]

Agreed recped - this has the potential of putting eBay sellers OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!!!! Kim - do you get it? We want this issue completely addressed.

[tobyshitzu]

Will Canada Post own Philatelic store be observing the new letterpost restriction when they send items out of the ocuntry?

WHY has this change occurred now?

[sffan2001]

I mentioned "hard" plastic before as being unacceptable. I should say all plastic.

"All plastic" - you mean if I place a (paper) photograph into a plastic sleeve (eg, photo album page) to protect it, that suddenly becomes unacceptable?

[synchronia]

....so essentially you are here to tell us diplomatically that Canadian small business interests mean jack - Will there be a price break on small packet for small business or not?

[recped]

I mentioned "hard" plastic before as being unacceptable. I should say all plastic.

Does this mean a tickelope must go as a small packet as it is made primarily from plastic?
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

[ferret-mom]

Maybe you can try this one. Is there a minimum thickness for small packet? I once tried to mail a flat envelope as a small packet under 250 grams, and was told it was not thick enough? So if a CD can't go as letter post, will it now have to be boxed?

[canadapost2]

Q. Why is there such inconsistencies in experience and knowledge at the postal outlets?

A. At Canada Post we have over 7,000 outlets and 20,000 stamp shops - so the large network is great for access, but hard for us to train everyone the same way. We are constantly trying to improve this process.

[recped]

actually I can aswer for Kim,

there is a specific minumum thickness for a slamm packet...

1mm (about the thickness of a couple of sheets of paper
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

[nanook370]

This is pathetic. Im starting to wonder if Canada is a "COMMUNIST COUNTRY"!!

[wonbyyou]

Craftmaster.
Not only Ebay will go out of business think about eBay shares...... bad news.Also wait to see the reaction from consumers when the want to send a keyring with Canadian Flag... as Christmas Gift and pay Small Packet rate.
On Sep 19.05 CP Outlet will have a complete breakdown....
KIM .CP. CHANGE THe REGULATION...

[sffan2001]

For those people who want an education on the exact sort of bureaucratic nonsense that CP is imposing, have a look at this link:

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/marconi.html

Heritage Newfoundland tells the story of how Marconi (and the world's first trans-Atlantic radio station) was drummed out of Newfoundland, since his "wireless telegraph" had violated the monopoly of the Anglo-Newfoundland Telegraph Company on (underwater cable) telegraph signals.

Hello, Kim. Hello, Canada Post - are you listening? Do you understand the analogy?

[alliancecoin]

Have read this discussionwith interest (and frustration). We ship about 1,000 packages a year, at least a third of which will suddenly increase in cost 3 or 4 fold due to this absured prohibition against putting even a single carefully-packaged coin in an airmail envelope (a rule which the US Post Office would laugh at). This is really the excuse we were looking for to start shipping directly within the U.S. (only an hour away), and they will as a result get ALL of our US-bound shipping business since it is well worth this couple hours out of our schedule each week. I refuse to either loose 1/3 of our business or gouge my U.S. customers. Any claims of world-class status by Canada Post are truly sad indeed.