eBay Workshop with Canada Post: Friday, May 27, 1-2 PM ET

[carly@ebay.com]

Please join us on Friday May 27 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 and how you use the various services with your eBay business.

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

[sln70]

This is a sorely needed discussion and THANKS for having it!!! 🙂

I would just like to add my voice to the chorus of other sellers who are astounded that it is cheaper to send something to Alaska than to someone in the neighbouring postal code. We need to fix that for so many reasons... not just for ebay sellers but for interprovincial trade in general. It's silly that as a Canadian BUYER I would rather buy outside of my country than from within.

[allsold10]

Being a variety seller we end up shipping parcels & envelopes, it pains me that I can pay for and produce shipping on parcels but not on envelopes & lettermail.
We still have to stand in line and send letters and envelopes with the assistance of CP Employee's.
This would be a very simple addition to your OBC (Online Business Center.)


One store in particular reflects the old saying "going Postal" quite a bit. They do not seem to enjoy their higher than average paying Union Jobs and have no intentions to step out of the box and go the extra distance for your customer. This store also closes 15 minutes prior to Calgary Main on Macleod. Who I might add are a lot more friendly & helpfull than the other location.

The other main issue is shipping prices for fellow Canadian buyers. It is unreal that we have to usually charge more to ship regionally than we do to Florida. Buyers will sometimes stop shopping at canadian Ebay Stores in liew of our USA Counterparts selling the same Item, No Tax & Cheaper Shipping.

Thanks

[otteropp]

The CanadaPost scanning equipment is not always reliable. TRACKING is impossible if the bar code scanner at the receiving depot is not used or is not working. Often the first tracking that I have of a parcel is when it is delivered. Tracking is useless if the information is not in the computer at the receiving depot. Can we have all bar coded parcels scanned at the beginning so that we can track them while they are enroute instead of having to wait for the delivery notice as the first information available?

[purplequeenkatie]

Hi thanks for this opportunity!
I sell cosmetics mainly to the U.S. and the value of these items is not high enough to justify charging $11.00 + the cost of postage for a tracking number. Most of the time I can be shipping between 20-30 items per week with no tracking or insurance. Is there a cheaper option to provide myself and the buyer with some type of protection? Also most of my business comes from California it is crazy how slow the mail is, taking 3-4 weeks for my buyers to receive items. How can I maintain customers with these type of leadtimes?

[dipdent]

MY PRIME COMPLAINT OTHER THEN THOSE ALREADY MENTIONED BY ALL THE OTHERS IS THE WAY CANADA POST DEALS WITH BROKEN ITEMS.. I SELL A LOT OF CHINA AND GLASS AND NO MATTER HOW WELL PACKED THINGS ARE.. OFTEN DOUBLE BOXED, IT SEEMS THAT THE LARGER BOXES ARE TREATED WITH TREMENDOUS DISREPECT EVEN WHEN MARKED AS FRAGILE, AND OF COURSE CANADA POST REFUESE TO ACCEPT CLAIMS FOR THEIR BREAKAGE.BUT WORSE THEN THAT, WHEN ITEMS WHICH ARE PARTIALLY BREAKABLE ARE DESTROYED, CANADA POST WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILTY. MY LATEST BREAKAGE WAS THE BASE OF A MIXMASTER, ALL METAL AND PLASTIC.. BUT BECAUSE A GLASS BOWL WAS ALSO BROKEN, THEY CLAIMED THIS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPLACEMENT COST BECAUSE A BREAKABLE PART WAS INCLUDED.tHERY ASKED FOR THE ITEM TO BE SHIPPED TO THEM AND YES, THEY PAID FOR THE BUYER TO DO THAT, BUT STILL, THEIR POLICY IS STILL UNACCEPTIBLE.

[donnamarie420]

Hi I can't make May 27th so here is my question, I have just started selling items on ebay from Canada and find shipping to Canada is always more expensive then to ship items to the US why is this? Also why is the packing materiel so expensive? I don't want people to think I am overcharging them. Thank you:-)

[rachel7884]

Looking at the USA postal system, not to keep bringing this up again and again as it seems to be a major topic on this discussion board, but when you go onto the USPS website, it's far easier to navigate than the Canadian one. I simply type in the weight of the package, and select the destination from a list- USA, Canada and International all on the same list, then hit enter- and BAM a list giving me about 10 different postage options, and the rates. No having to enter the size and weight of the package.
I'd also like to see some different rates, such as "Medial Mail", "First Class", "Airmail Post", "Global Priority"... It gives you far more options for sending your smaller packages than simple "Parcel Post" or "Small Packet". Canadians need to show that we are at the same standards for postal outlets than the Americans. I think given more rates, and options, Canada Post will proper like our American counterparts.

[tigerfire26]

My Question to the Canada post rep is :-
This link is what is available in Ireland.Why can you not do the same here.

http://www.letterpost.ie/

Your comments please.
Rick.

[chickies_place]

My question is again about air mail letter rate. My post office tells me that I have to pay $3.95 as a small packet to send a small pamphlet type book that weighs less than 100 grams to the US. Why is there no definitive answer to this question on the website, and everyone I call has a different interpretation.

Chickies_place

[jakeeangel]

Chickies - if it fits the size and weight restrictions just put stamps on it and throw it in a mail box. The people behind the counter don't always know what they're talking about. Just ignore them.

I've had to do this on several occasions, at least 10 items both to US and within Canada, and not once has any package come back. Not only that but the customer received it so it's not like it ended up in lettermail heaven or something.

A consistent answer ya or nay would be nice but don't count on it. Just put it in the mailbox.

---

[tobyshitzu]

What type of "quality control" effort (if any) does Canada Post have to ensure franchised outlets are operating properly (asked on a night I have returned from an outlet wihere the 8th consecutive different staffer has failed to know what to do with a V1 card, and also tried to charge small packet rate for 4 oversized 150 gram letters, even after CP sent me a written letter that the training problems there would be taken care of)

[ananof3]

Hi Canada Post. I sincerely hope that this isn't a waste of time for all of we frustrated Canadian shippers.
I have a few questions and concerns.

1)Why are parcels sent from NS to Florida taking an extremely long time to arrive? This is the norm - not an occasional occurance.

2) Why does Canada Post refuse to implement a Cdn Small Packet rate? It is extremely frustrating when I can send a parcel to ALL POINTS of the USA for , sometimes, half the rate that it costs to ship the same item to my neighbour. ( no - I don't ship to my neigbour - not quite that lazy yet ) 🙂

3)Why is Canada Post charging such outrageous amounts for "expedited" shipping? There certainly are no advantages over small packet as far as insurance and tracking. Almost every parcel I have shipped expedited in the past few months has never left my local post - at least according to the tracking center on the C.P. website. Hint to shippers to the US ... USPS has a very efficient tracking system once the parcel has cleared US customs. AND WHAT'S WITH THE TERM "EXPEDITED"??? That's got to be the worst/best oxymoron in the world. I sometimes think that expedited mail rolls itself to its destination.

I have to say that the folks at my local post are fabulous ... and seem to know their stuff most of the time ... at least when their employer is considerate enough to inform them of and train them for new changes to pricing and policy. These great local folks notwithstanding ... if I lived near a border town I absolutely would be mailing ALL parcels from a US postal outlet.

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!

[doylemyster]

Hi

I have 2 questions.

1>. Why is it when I ship an item to the USA Small Package Surface it costs me $4.23 yet when I ship exactly the same item within Canada to BC, I pay $6.57?

2>. If I can ship an item to the USA Letter, I can ship the item at a reasonable rate. But if the item is slightly larger & will not pass through your measuring guide, it will cost me 4 times the amount that I paid for using Letter Service. As a result I have to send the item by Small Package. Example; I sent an item to the USA using Letter Service which cost me $1.07. I sent another item that was just a little & I mean just a little to large to fit through the Measuring Guide & as a result I had to ship it Small Parcel, which cost $4.23. That is quite a difference in price when both items are relatively the same size & weight. You should have a secondary measuring guide level & charge a slightly higher price for this service but certainly not the Small Parcel rate.

I look forward to reading your response.

Murray

[mariasdeals]

I have to say the senior staff at my postal outlet are fabulous. But a few problems have still come to our attention. Why do they get different Postage rates from the computer on parcels over 1kg to the USA depending on whether they enter in the zip code or the state code.

I use CP online calculator at home to get a rate on the Expedited parcels over 1kg, all I can enter is the state code, and when I get to the postal outlet they enter the state code and get a price quite often $7.00 higher. But we discovered if they enter the zip code they get the same price I got !!! This price difference can break me if my item is a cheap 9.00 value but just happens to be heavy.

Also I have discovered that the difference in surface rate and airmail rate to the US makes NO DIFFERENCE in DELIVERY TIME !!! So what's the point other than to get more money out of us for the same service.
How about having the Airmail Rate include a tracking number/signature/proof of delivery of some kind. I'd even be willing to pay an extra buck or two for that as it would protect me better as a seller.

Thanks and look forward to the replies on this topic.

[maryo1961]

Customs sticker question.
I ship in a #000 bubble envelope, small pieces of jewelry. Usually the value is under $10. I always use the small green stickers. Now I went to Canada Post and was told I have to use these larger white one that say 'small packet' on them. First ... I don't send small packet, I send regular oversized lettermail. Second the darn label is so big there is barely enough room for the stamps. Now some people tell me I should not be putting any customs sticker on it because I am sending it lettermail. I have called Canada Post several times and every time I get a different answer. What is the answer? Do I even ahve to put a customs sticker on my envelopes????

[benne0070_1]

I won't be here so could you ask him how much and how you would address a regular envelope to "AMERICAS"

My local Post Office couldn't give me a straight answer.
They seem to think it includes North America, South America and Central America.

[thunderboltzca]

As a seller who uses Canada Post for 95% of my shipments I look forward to the workshop and the opportunity to forward concerns.

Most have already been brought up, such as it costs me less to ship to Texas then it does to Ont.
If I lived by the Border I would definitely cross to ship. I often wish that FedEx/DHL/UPS would pick up on the EBay needs and give Canada Post a run

One question is that when I ship airmail small packet for a 500 gram item to Maine from Kingston Nova Scotia. Does this actually ever get on a plane?

Better/less costly signature service or proof of delivery so I can come under the seller protection plan

The small packet form (43-074-253(04-03)is a pain for me.
I have to fill it out manually. Could something be brought in that would work on normal printers ink jet type. Before I just used my computer to cut and paste the address from paypal to a shipping label, and apply the green custom label.

Thanks in advance
Ken

[movie_emporium]

The issue regarding why it costs more to ship within Canada than it does to the US is simple. For shipments in Canada not only does Canada Post sort the items it also has to deliver it. For US items all they have to do is sort it to the US and USPS delivers it. Also, little known fact. Once a registered letter leaves Canada they really can't trace it. It's a false sense of security. Expedited and Expresspost are tracable but not to the extent of the courier companies where they know the exact van the parcel is on. ALso, the last Canada Post incresase was ridiculous. They always say that the prices are more in line with the rest of the world (which is true) but why don't they deliver on Saturdays or twice a day or even give their employees 2 months vacation like the rest of the world???? It's called selective gouging where they pick and choose so what they want to do. I hope this info helps...

[misterbeaver]

I'd like to see the ability to insure lettermail items up to like 25 bucks for like 50 cents at the post office, or a special insurance stamp that u can buy for 50 cents each or something. I just want to see insurance on lettermail. When I sell small things, people often tell me they never recieved them so im forced to battle with them over refunding cuz i know they recieved it....I couldnt have lost 20 out of 60 lettermailings, impossible. The insurance doesnt have to be huge like $100 bucks as parcels get, but atleast so we get some sort of return on out item if it gets lost or something.

I would also like to reinforce media mail in
Canada. Books are a popular thing, but they dont fetch much on ebay, especially since ebay opened there seperate book company website, because people can get cheaper deals from US sellers who ship media mail. Most books will only sell for 50 cents to 3 dollars if they are used, so no ones gonna buy it if theres 6.50-9.00 bucks for shipping via parcel, when they can get it for like 3 bucks shipping from the USA.

Also we need a wider variety of parcel/small parcel service. I often get packages from the USA that are pretty big, and they are in a buble mailer or large envelope, bulging all over the place and the meter impression is only 4-5 bucks, and if i sent a similar item through canada parcel services it would be like 12 bucks and up. I doubt we can get as much of a deal as the US because were significantly smaller service, but something a bit more competitive will be of great help.

Simplyfying the EST would be lots of help too.

INCREASE THE LIMIT FOR IMPORTED GOODS INTO CANADA FOR GIFTS and even the other categories. When my family members send me gifts that are over 20 bucks CANADIAN you get charged so much in duty. I once got a pair of pants from my aunt that she bought for 20 bucks USD at a sale, she sent it to me and listed it as a value of 20USD, which was about 21.50 CAD at the time, and the postal service charged me something like 18.95 CAD for the duty fees. Thats almost as much as my aunt paid for the pants. I had to pay for a gift..thats unreasonable. YET when we send to the USA we can declare gift values up to 200USD which is like 280CAD, thats such a big difference. I dont know why this is, maybe leakage of our economy to the americans, but who cares, 80% of business in canada is owned by americans, and one day we will have to combine our economies much like the EU, so that cant be the problem. So where is the explanation?

[tobyshitzu]

This weeks Canada post outlet score:

Number of evening visits to postal outlets: 4
Number of problems: 4
GST charged on exempt postage:2
Venture 1 card rejected: 2
Improper advice on package preparation: 1
Attempts to charge letterpost at small packet rate: 1

The sad part is they are all repeat problems at the same outelts canada Post has claimed have been dealt with and won't be repeated.

I've got a letter from Canada post saying staff will know about venture 1 from now on, yet a long time staffer there says they have never heard from Canada Post. There appears to be no hope at all 😞