The estimated delivery date is very approximate... Will I be informed of the exact delivery date?

[sebas3034]

I just did my first purchase on ebay today: "Delivery info: Arrives Apr 8, 2025 - Apr 22, 2025". Shipping from USA to Canada...

I wonder if I'll get an email or phone call later telling me the EXACT day of delivery... Something like 24 hours in advance... I can't stay indoors for two weeks waiting for a small package..!

[sebas3034]

UPDATE: package ships from LA California with USPS, and will be processed by eIS...

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

1.) Go to your PO and arrange for Flex Delivery.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/flexdelivery.page

2.) Any carrier can leave a parcel in a secure place. There is no need to wait for delivery and since most people are working during the same hours carriers are delivering, it is up to the recipient to have a secure place.

3.) If the carrier cannot leave the parcel, for example if Signature Confirmation is required, they will leave a Notice of where and when you can pick up your parcel. Usually that is your nearest PO the next day.

[marnotom! · Accepted solution]

Keep in mind, @femmefan1946, that FlexDelivery is just a glorified PO box service. If @sebas3034's item is being handled by eBay International Shipping, it may not be able to ship the item to Canada since, unlike the old Global Shipping Program, eIS is pretty sticky about shipping to PO boxes.

[sebas3034 · Accepted solution]

Yes. I used the PO + Flex Delivery in the past. That would be perfect. But I don't know who will be the carrier on the Canada side. I guess I will find that later, by looking at the tracking details. (LA, California -> eIS -> Canada)

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@sebas3034 wrote:

I just did my first purchase on ebay today: "Delivery info: Arrives Apr 8, 2025 - Apr 22, 2025". Shipping from USA to Canada...

I wonder if I'll get an email or phone call later telling me the EXACT day of delivery... Something like 24 hours in advance... I can't stay indoors for two weeks waiting for a small package..!

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@sebas3034 

Delivery dates are estimates only. Especially when coming internationally. Customs and other things can cause delays. You can only judge when it is at or just past the delivery date. Remember, your seller has NO actual control of when your parcel will be delivered. They just ship according to what you paid for. When it comes to deliveries patience can be a necessity. 

You can sign up for delivery updates (alerts) from your tracking info if you need to monitor closely. That will alert you as your parcel moves on its way. Remember, tracking only tells you where your item has been.

[sebas3034]

"You can sign up for delivery updates (alerts) from your tracking info if you need to monitor closely." Yes, that's what I want. I already got an email saying tracking is on... So, do I need to periodically login to ebay to check the tracking status, or will I automatically receive emails at every tracking step..?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@sebas3034 wrote:

I just did my first purchase on ebay today: "Delivery info: Arrives Apr 8, 2025 - Apr 22, 2025". Shipping from USA to Canada...

I wonder if I'll get an email or phone call later telling me the EXACT day of delivery... Something like 24 hours in advance... I can't stay indoors for two weeks waiting for a small package..!

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@sebas3034 

@marnotom! 

devon@ebay  - Are you able to address this concern?

For anyone still willing to  purchasing through eIS  and "taking a walk on the wild side" it would be interesting to know for the buyers that pay customs in advance if ANY buyer have had either additional charges when goods were delivered or crazy charges if they were supposed to be collected at time of delivery via (UPS, DHL, CP etc). Because it is difficult to confirm at time of payment who eIS is using for last mile (it isn't documented anywhere, as far as I know), this would be a major variable. Other thing in play is that the reciprocal tariffs may have on again, off again so it could turn into a game of timing and when parcel hits eIS or the border if they were going to be charged. Like they say, the best surprise is no surprise. This has turned buying from any sellers internationally into a total gong show with very little in the way of clarification that is easy to find. 

[ypdc_dennis]

I generally get delivery email updates after the package has been delivered.

Your best bet is to check tracking every so often on ebay (and if the carrier is shown -- go to the carrier's website and enter the tracking number there -- it often gives more up-to-date info than what ebay shows).

As for the delivery estimate, it is an estimate -- I have gotten packages from China weeks before the first date.  Europe has usually been near the end of the estimated time period.

Also, depending on how sent, there may be more than one delivery company involved (one to get the package to Canadian customs, then one to deliver in Canada).

[mrdutch1001]

No such thing as an "exact delivery date"....even Amazon is not always accurate for delivery...However, transit time from the USA to Canada can take weeks...