first time printing/paying for postage label throught eBay/PayPay, 2 qestions

[faircrochet]

I just printed my first light packet label using eBay and PayPay - 2 questions for you...

The instructions say to place the label in a plastic envelope and attach this to the package.  Is this necessary? Can I just tape the label to the package?

Since the package is paid for, can I just place it in the mailbox without going to the postal outlet?

Make that 3 questions...

I made a mistake on the value, there were 20 items in it with a total value of 5.91; the way I entered things it multiplied 20 by 5.91 and came up with a value of 116.20.  I've just crossed this out on the label and put in the correct value.  Will this cause problems?

Thanks!

[pocomocomputing]

Yes

- You can tape it

- you can drop in a mailbox

- with such a high declared value, where is it going? To the USA no problem with their $200 exemption but if to another international country, it may cause the buyer to pay sales taxes that they should not pay.

[faircrochet]

The value should have been a total of 5.91.  There are 20 items in the package (playing cards) and I mistakenly put 5.91 each, so the printed value was too high.  I just crossed it out and put the actual total value of 5.91.  I'm wondering if crossing it out and correcting it will cause problems.

The package is going to France.  I have 2 more to do, one valued at $19.95 and one valued at $13.00.  What do people usually put on international packages for a value?

[pocomocomputing]

If it is going to France, you need to fix it.  The buyer may have to pay sales tax on the large amount. Marking it off and putting a lower amount will probably not be accepted.

I believe the mail import exemption limit to a EU country is 22 Euros = $33 Can.

[pocomocomputing]

I usually put the actual value of the item.  Most items I sell are well under the EU import exemption of 22 Euros.

I would suggest printing a new label correctly and cancelling the old one and requesting a refund. The refund take 2-4 weeks. And you have to follow up with PayPal since they sometimes forget...

DO not get frustrated over this, correct it.  First time using PayPal shipping and everything is new to you. You will learn from this error to check that the label looks good. Only experience will give you the "eye" to see a mistake.

[faircrochet]

I voided the original label and paid for a new one with the correct info.

I thought there was a discount for using eBay/PayPal?  I paid the same price for the package ($6.51) as I was quoted when I went to canadapost.ca and requested a quote.

[rose-dee]

---

@stouffvillejen wrote:

I voided the original label and paid for a new one with the correct info.

I thought there was a discount for using eBay/PayPal?  I paid the same price for the package ($6.51) as I was quoted when I went to canadapost.ca and requested a quote.

---

There are discounts on Xpresspost, Expedited Parcel and Tracked Packet, but it sounds from the shipping cost as if you were sending this item via Light Packet or Small Packet International, which has no discounts for automatic labelling through Paypal.  However, if you have a Venture 1 card, you might be able to get the small discount it offers if you were to take the item to the Post Office to have the label done by the clerk.  I've never tried, so I can't confirm, but check with your postal clerk about Venture 1 rebates on Light/Small Packet. 

For the future, the "plastic envelopes" you referred to are called "Labelopes".  You can buy these (no charge) online from Canada Post if you have a Venture 1 card, or sometimes a postal clerk will have a few they'll dole out to you. 

As 'poco' mentioned, it's worth taking a couple of minutes to carefully review and double-check all the Paypal label information before you hit the final "Continue" button.  Did you notice that the last screen allows you to go back and revise any of the details you've input?  Look for the "Edit ........"  links underlined in blue on that page.  These allow you to back-track to fix errors or omissions before you purchase the label.  Don't use the computer's "back" button, but use the edit links.  

By the way, to answer your earlier question, yes, once you've paid for your label and affixed it to the parcel, postage is fully paid for, just as if you'd put a bunch of stamps on the parcel, and the parcel can be dropped in any Canada Post box that has pick up (as long as the parcel will fit through the slot or bin door). 

Personally, if I have the time I like to take my Light/Small Packet items to my local P.O. and have the clerk stamp my label receipt (the bottom half of the receipt that you cut off).  This is in the unlikely situation that I might need to prove the item was shipped.  Some will say that's overkill, but I'm a belt-and-suspenders type. 

You'll be OK on the next one! 

[vintagenorth]

There is no discount for Light Packet. Same as at the PO.

[vintagenorth]

I really must learn how to type faster!

[rose-dee]

---

@vintagenorth wrote:

I really must learn how to type faster!

---

LOL!  The only reason I can blab on and on in these forums is because I type 120 wpm, the result of too many years churning out legal documents on computer keyboards I guess.

[faircrochet]

Thanks everyone!

I looked up Venture 1 online and you get a discount on selected shipping products.  They say:  "5% or greater savings on shipping products (excludes Small Packet and Light Packet services and selected remote destinations)".  So it wouldn't have made any difference for my packages.

I guess the only bonus for light and small packets done through eBay/PayPal is being able to pay with PayPal funds.  Which is good, didn't have to use actual cash.

Off to the PO now, hope they can scan the bar code on the small packet label.

[lca3072]

If you declare over $200 for USA buyers they have to pay duties/taxes?

[pjcdn2005]

---

@lca3072 wrote:
If you declare over $200 for USA buyers they have to pay duties/taxes?

---

They may have to pay some sort of duty/state tax but parcels sent through the mail do not always get assessed.

[rose-dee]

---

@stouffvillejen wrote:

I guess the only bonus for light and small packets done through eBay/PayPal is being able to pay with PayPal funds.  Which is good, didn't have to use actual cash.

---

Yes, that's one convenience.  Also the convenience of being able to just drop it in a post box if you wish, which means you don't have to run to the P.O. every time you make a sale. 

In addition, if you sell in $US, and are paid in $US, but pay for your shipping with $Cdn, you are effectively getting a discount every time because you're covering your Canadian shipping costs with the more valuable (at the moment at least) US currency.  You lose a tad on Paypal conversion fees, but you still get enough to make at least a 5% to 7% discount now that the $Cdn is around $0.90 US.  And of course that currency discount applies to other Canada Post shipping services through Paypal labels as well.

Lastly, I like the fact that the shipping charges are recorded in my Paypal transaction record -- it makes for simple accounting. 

So...more than just one advantage to using the Paypal labels I think!