eBay

carly@ebay.com · ‎08-04-2005

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 · ‎08-17-2005

200!

wibbily · ‎08-17-2005

hmmm ... gotta love this tickelope debate and the whole "do as we say, not as we do" philosophy. The CP sanctioned item that can be mailed internationally containing CDs, photos etc. at the letter-post rate despite breaking CP's own rules of 1) must be rectangular 2) must not have anything attached and 3) must contain only paper.

Maybe we can use this to our advantage. Tickelope website says they can be custom made to order for companies. Hey eBay! Here is a way to help out sellers you may otherwise lose due to this new restriction. Have tickelopes custom made in the shape of the eBay logo; sell them to us at a discounted rate so we can ship our non-paper small goods out of the country at letter-post rates! As Toby said, would probably still be cheaper than Small Packet. LOL.
]:)

macdo65 · ‎08-17-2005

Hello, I have been selling on ebay for over 4 years and my postoffice has informed me in September the price for oversized lettermail ( 5 x 10 padded envelope )will be going from aprox. $2 Cdn to $6 Cdn for the exact same service to send this padded envelope to the US. How can the postoffice justify an increase of three times the amount for the same thing. Not one US ebay bidder will pay me $6 for shipping when they can get the same thing from a seller in the US for a couple of stamps, this is going to ruin alot of Canadian ebay sellers. This is not just word of mouth from the postoffice, the lady showed me written info of this 3 X Increase. ?????????????

bluedaisyclippings · ‎08-17-2005

Can magazine clippings be sent by lettermail?

getgiz · ‎08-17-2005

QUESTION: Is it true that jewelry and glass cannot be insured by Canada Post? How about glass beads? ..or Craft Beads? If true....does this mean that I have to pay $5.60 postage (up from 85 cents or $1.70) to send to the US with no insurance?
Chances are that if I declare jewelry on those forms, it won't get very far before getting "lost".

zzapped · ‎08-17-2005

I am amazed that I can sent pkgs to Tasmania Austrailia for $6.95 however it cost me close to $9.00 to send it to my next canadian town. I can send the same item to Florida and it only cost me $5.60. Is it because of the high UNION pay rates?

zeddosaurus · ‎08-17-2005

Carly, I raised these questions in the last workshop with CP and Kim promised to get back to me with answers. I would appreciate it if you would remind her of the following:

1) Why can goods be sent Lettermail within Canada but not internationally via Letterpost? In the July 7 work shop, Kim was going to check this out (Post # 56).

2) If Letterpost is restricted to items with the "characteristics of paper", how is a distinction made between stamps, postcards, sportcards and concert tickets (allowed, as per Kim's July 7 posts #44 & 62) and magazines (not allowed as per Kim's post #62).

Some people have also been told by CP reps that books and sewing patterns are not allowed. Is this correct, and if so, why?

3) Kim was going to check to see if photographs were allowed as Letterpost (July 7 Post #62). What is the answer?

With the Letterpost change, the only bargain CP had to offer for shipping small items is gone, and shipping from the US becomes far more attractive. Once customers make that leap, they are unlikely to return. CP needs to re-think this one.

Zeddo

wibbily · ‎08-17-2005

Some people have also been told by CP reps that books and sewing patterns are not allowed. Is this correct, and if so, why?

And some people have been told by CP reps that they ARE allowed.

Perhaps the better question would be, how can we be expected to know and follow the rules when the answers coming from CP are all over the board and in direct contradiction of each other.

unconventional_art · ‎08-17-2005

Is Canada Post planning on being compatible with Pay Pal shopping carts?

conifergreen · ‎08-17-2005

I don`t mean to complain but it seems that many of the Canada post personnel, especially at the privatized outlets are incompetent. I have been overcharged by having inncorrect rates applied and been charged GST on parcels going to the states. I have to drive longer distances now to outlets that I trust more. Even then, I have to pay very close attention to what is going on in order to avoid problems. Does Canada post offer training to their personnel?
Thank you.

echoneo2000 · ‎08-17-2005

This is bad ... Not only CP services are really bad (they dont offer tracking numbers on small packet and it takes forever [60days+] to resolve a claim on small parcel), but they keep charging us more. And this LAME Excuse, this time, is, well, really lame. They say it's because they file claims for lost "CD". How shipping them via smallpacket will help ANYTHING?!?! They don't offer Tracking Number on those hence more lost items claims filled! That doesnt help much now, does it?

Also, if you ask me, if it cost 6-7$ to ship something (IE. A piece of small plastic/CD/Cards/books) I suggest we boycot CP and use other services then them (UPS/Purolator etc.) We might be paying 4-5$ more, but atleast they have WAY better services, and they are faster and more reliable. While we do that, CP will make less money out of us.

So yeah, that's my point of view.

ferret-mom · ‎08-17-2005

Also, if you ask me, if it cost 6-7$ to ship something (IE. A piece of small plastic/CD/Cards/books) I suggest we boycot CP and use other services then them (UPS/Purolator etc.)We might be paying 4-5$ more, but atleast they have WAY better services, and they are faster and more reliable

Sure. That's the ticket! Protest a $4.00 mark-up by spending $8.00 instead...

suzysshopp · ‎08-17-2005

I am sorry I could not find a new topic.A customer bought a lamp from me for $59.95 and the Canada Post was $91.25 to Brazil.OUTRAGEOUS.

sleepy292 · ‎08-17-2005

HI

Canada Post Small packet Air MAIL HAS TO HAVE A TRACKING # - I had a chargeback on my PayPal acct because PayPal and Ebay don't cosider anything ELSE BUT a TRACKING number as proof of shipment. I lost money on the transaction and guess what no one is interested in considering that Canada Post does not issue a tracking # for Small packet Air Mail. WHY doesn't Canada Post issue a tracking # when the service comes with 100.00 insurance, is there a way Canada Post can actually prove delivery? If not, how can you guarantee that insurance claims are legit?
Would really appreciate an answer because so far no one has been able to answer that question for me.

THX,

smeagolsmathom · ‎08-17-2005

It is embarassing to send things to the US and have to apologize for the slow speed at which Canada Post operates. And I won't even go into the high cost - others have already done a good job with this.

What I want to know is, to whom and where do we complain "officially"?
Not that I think it will change anything - this is a Canadian Federal government operation after all. At least all of us can get together and voice our disgust with the whole scam of Canada Post.

misterbeaver · ‎08-17-2005

kim, do you agree that CP is full of hiprocrits? (tickelopes debate for example)

the_vintage_times · ‎08-17-2005

Letter mail to the USA, a very sticky subject at present. I am totally deflated by these changes and the lack of vision from Canada post is embarrassing.

I was brought up with two basic concepts the first being don't tell me the problem show me the solution... the second being pre planning prevents piss poor performance...

Canada post needs to look for a solution to help small business with this 100% price hike. I ship hundreds of letters weighing around 20 grams to the US every year and as many via small packets weighing 240 grams, guess what...they are now going to be the same price $3.75.

The solution is to introduce a new weight and price point at present 0 grams to 250 grams is $3.75, how about having a new weight category of 0 grams to 100 grams and an appropriate price.

That dear sirs would resolve your problems with far less disruption to small businesses like mine.

The consequence of this cash grab is I am no longer able to compete and trade in the USA. Simply put you are responsible for this.

Steve.

motorghost · ‎08-17-2005

Canada Post is true DISGRACE to the country and a rip off. High rates, slow speed, guys at the counter hissing at you "another eBay guy". How comes that a package takes ONE (!!) day to reach Toronto from China and SEVEN days to reach a local post office inside the city. And a parcel takes 15 days from here to Boston - half a day drive. DISGUSTING!!!

angelsgem · ‎08-17-2005

Hi, this is for Kim.

I have noticed that some US sellers have a link that asks potential buyers to enter their zip code/postal code for an extimated shipping cost (which I presume has already taken into consideration package type and weight before the link is put up there).

My question is: Will this be available to Canadians using Xpresspost (since it includes insurance)? I ask because I can't anticipate shipping costs to every state/province.

Thanks.:-):-)

donavenh · ‎08-17-2005

I am a new seller on ebay.ca, i have been reading some of the posts here for Kim from Canada Post and i am truly suprised that a lot of sellers and users that use cp seem to really hate cp i never realized that cp was so bad i am really not looking forward to dealing with this government protected institution in the future now i have experienced some problems with cp before but never realized that shipping service from the U.S.A. was so much better and so much cheaper. the examples are great and if i have any tips to share i will because i am still looking for some myself, cp it seems you really do suck! sorry to say. I WISH ALL EBAY.CA SELLERS A PROFITABLE YEAR TO COME good luck with canada post
thanks
donaven