Online shopper questions Hudson’s Bay policy shipping to PO Boxes

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

On Global National this evening:

Rural Alberta online shopper questions Hudson’s Bay policy to not ship to post office boxes

https://globalnews.ca/news/4932109/rural-alberta-online-shopper-hudsons-bay-po-boxes/

[recped]

Goes to show that even the biggest operations can do a stupid thing just because some minion at some point in time though it was a good idea.

As the article mentions if a shipper doesn't normally use Canada Post (or Purolator) shipping to PO Boxes may not be possible.

As far as the "Canada Post said we couldn't..." excuse, that minion must have asked a clerk in  a Shoppers Drug Mart store.

[marnotom!]

What's with "the Canadian company" bull-oney? Isn't HBC owned by a US investment firm?

(And given that Americans aren't wedded to their postal service the way Canadians are, that could we explain how this set of circumstances arose.)

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

It brings up the quandary that was pointed out recently why Purolator is not available on dot ca with its affiliation with Canadapost? It should be a very easy add on option and give sellers another possibility for heavier items in Canada.

-Lotz

[momcqueen]

What do you mean: Purolator is not available? Can you clarify that, please?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

Not available as a shipping option in the drop downs on dot.ca. Only options are Canadapost mail services.

-Lotz

[reallynicestamps]

@marnotom! 

Isn't HBC owned by a US investment firm?

Well it's more complicated than that.

Nearly 10% is owned by the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund - and over 17.7% by some Abu Dhabi firm.

https://www.marketscreener.com/HUDSON-S-BAY-CO-11955244/company/

Interesting that their smallest market is Canada, although HBC is described as Canada based.

[momcqueen]

I see.

Well, the only options in a dropdown menu for Calculated Shipping are the carrier companies that wanted to be, as we know from previous discussions.

If you go to the Purolator website to make a pricing estimate, does it give the user Canada Post options and rates? Does Canada Post show all Purolator services and prices?

Neither do. They’re run as independent companies. I wouldn’t expect to see them presented as an option anywhere Canada Poat exists.

As far as couriers are concerned, Purolator is my fourth choice. After UPS, FedEx and Dynamex. I’ve had terrible experiences with Purolator. I’d probably hire a donkey cart over them.

[recped]

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@momcqueen wrote:


 I’ve had terrible experiences with Purolator. I’d probably hire a donkey cart over them.

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Bingo!!!!!!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

If other carriers were included in the dropdown they could include the note: Please contact seller for rates. A calculator, if available would be a bonus. There are numerous carriers located in the Tracking dropdown so it should not be that difficult to add to the shipping options. There seems to be more of a pattern of removing features within eBay vs the concept of adding new features. Any additional options/possibilities would make it easier for a seller to sell and in theory increase eBay's overall business volume. As stated previously, Pick Ups should be an included option not a one or the other. (Pick Ups display on dot com without issue.)

-Lotz

[recped]

As stated previously, Pick Ups should be an included option not a one or the other. (Pick Ups display on dot com without issue.)

Can you clarify this? I use local pick-up on all my listings.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@recped 

With the view I currently see I only have the option to choose Shipping - Calculated/Flat Rate or Pickups but not both. I have a few very old listings where pick ups are still displayed, but those are basically unique. If I buyer was located locally it currently involves a number of messages back and forth to make arrangements trying to explain direct contact with a seller before a sale has been ACTUALLY completed is automatic cause for a firing squad to be summoned and , that in most cases what is necessary to confirm if it's possible to even make arrangements. I attempted to add pickups during the recent mail strike as an alternate plan to try to generate business. Adding pickups removed any package weight & measurements that were previously inputted. (At no point I have changed settings anywhere else to disable pickups.  In speaking to eBay customer service they had no suggestions and also that it was 1 or the other but not both.)

-Lotz

PS. It should also be noted that not everything on eBay can be shipped with Canadapost. Try checking the rates to mail a golf driver. 150 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm 950 grams.

[recped]

Are you using the Quick Listing Tool or the Advanced version?

I don't use either, I have no trouble listing flat-rate plus Local Pick-up, I have never used the Calculator.

Of course not everything can or should be shipped with Canada Post, you can use whatever you want for shipping but you can only use Canada Post for Calculated for two reasons.....

1 - The shipping companies would have to provide the interface to the Calculator

2 - eBay would have to find someone other than Pitney-Bowes to run the back end.

If you want to use an alternate service you must use the generic shipping service names (economy, standard, expedited or express) and flat-rate.

[pjcdn2005]

If you choose flat rate, then it will also show an option for local pickup.  I don't know why it ignores that option when you calculated shipping.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

I am using the Advanced version with the calculator. Flat rate or built-in shipping does not work due to the nature of my products. Rates can vary greatly so for me an accurate calculator is most important. 

-Lotz

[manitoba-eh]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

It brings up the quandary that was pointed out recently why Purolator is not available on dot ca with its affiliation with Canada post? It should be a very easy add on option and give sellers another possibility for heavier items in Canada.

-Lotz

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That would make sense wouldn't it... but we're talking about the government here.
Being a shipper/receiver (unfortunately unemployed at the time) shipping one or two pieces to the same person/company by Canada Post or Purolator is pretty much the same price. It's when you get to three or more pieces that Purolator gets far cheaper.
Now, if you have a pallet or two or three etc. of product to ship to a company and it's going from major city to major city (Wpg - Mtl, Van - Tor etc) Purolator Freight is the way to go, far cheaper than other trucking companies.  

[mrdutch1001]

ZOMBIE THREAD from mid-2019

[marnotom!]

And an off-topic zombie thread, at that. 😂

[kh-leslie]

Hello Everyone,

Due to the age of the thread, it has been closed to further replies.  Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thanks for understanding!