eBay Workshop with Canada Post: Thursday, July 7, from 1-2 PM ET

[carly@ebay.com]

Please join us on Thursday, July 7, 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

[eserafini]

I have the feeling that Canada Post is encouraging Canadian sellers to ship from across the border with USPS to get better shipping conditions/services/prices to the USA and Internationally. Because of PayPal's conditions to get Seller Protection, we, as Canadians, using Canada Post pay dearly for a limited number of services. TimelessClassicElegance

[smartcat77]

2 questions:

1. As to international letterpost now being paper only, can paper goods sold on ebay (e.g. stamps, sports cards, collectible postcards, etc.) still be shipped lettermail?

2. 90% of what I ship is sent small packet, so I get no discount from venture one and EST - any chance of CP offering any discounts for venture one/EST for small packet? If not, why not?

Thanks,

[canadapost2]

Merritec,

Sounds like you did everything right, so you have stumped me on this one.

This should not have happened and I am not sure what did happen. Parcels are re-weighed and measured in our system with through an online cubiscan machine which uses state-of-the-art laser and scale technology. Your scale and your measures (thanks for triple-checking), should correspond. I don't know why or how you would get additional charges.

You are absolutely right that this should never have happened. I don't know what else I can tell you. I am searching, but could it have been an issue of centimetres vs. inches?

Thanks for weighing and measuring, hopefully it won't happen again.

- Kim

[cabbages.n.kings]

1. Is there any problem with sending mailable goods by lettermail? ie within Canada & assuming item falls within weight & size regulations.

2. What is the rationale for not allowing goods in letter-post?

[canadapost2]

Hi smartcat77,

To answer your question about stamps, postcards and sports cards -- the answer is yes -- you can send this letterpost.

As for a discount on small packets, we currently do not offer any volume discounts unless you ship 50,000 a year. It's already very reasonably priced.

Kim:-)

[zeddosaurus]

Hi Kim

Re your post #26: Letterpost is mail that is composed exclusively of paper -- including letters, self-mailers, cards, postcards.

Unacceptable items include goods, diskettes, CDs, DVDs, small packets and any other items than paper.

So..photographs, magazines or stamps are composed exclusively of paper. Are they acceptable when sent as gifts, but not when sent to buyers as purchased items?

Zeddo

[laird@ebay.com]

hey eserafini... you asked Jordan whether Kim was at the eBay LIVE! keynote address -- yes she was and she had fun... right Kim?

[tobyshitzu]

"It's already very reasonably priced."

It will cost over 300% more to airmail a cd Canada>USA then USA>Canada! It effectively ends the ability to mail cd, DVD etc outside the country.

[canadapost2]

Hi eserafini,

Great question about how does Canada Post assess the cost of an antique.

Basically if you are shipping antiques, the best way to prove the value of your item is to have an appraisal document from certified appraiser. Canada Post always reserves the right to verify the claim, but this will definitely speed up the process.

Kim:-)

[eserafini]

Nice to put a name with a face. She looks lovely. What did she think of the services newly offered by USPS to US sellers? TimelessClassicElegance

[canadapost2]

Yes laird@ebay.com I had a great time and learned lots from the eBay community!!

Kim B-)

[canadapost2]

Hi eserafini,

Believe me, Canada Post wants you to use Canada Post and not the USPS.

Our mandate is to serve Canadians, but it is also to do so fairly with respect to competitors and to Canadian taxpayers - that means don't be subsidized by the Government, and don't cross-subsidize our parcel services from letter mail revenues. That means we have to be profitable on our services.

From a cost perspective, serving Canada, or serving the US from Canada, is different than serving the US from the US. Our prices reflect that. We believe we offer a great value when compared to our Canadian delivery competitors.

We hope that you will not be encouraged to tender your shipments directly to the USPS within the USA rather than tender them to Canada Post in Canada. We are certainly trying to keep your business, and we value you as our customer.

- Kim

[eserafini]

I'll keep it in mind. You realize that the additional cost to satisfy Canada Post will have to be passed along... TimelessClassicElegance

[laird@ebay.com]

Kim... what do you think of the exciting news announced by the USPS Postmaster General during eBay LIVE?

[zeddosaurus]

Kim, your reply to smartcat77 seems to answer my question about shipping photographs and magazines Letterpost, i.e., it's O.K.

Would you please comment on why other goods can't be shipped Letterpost when they can be shipped Lettermail within Canada.

Thanks,
Zeddo

[eserafini]

A lot of sellers are already doing just that to lessen their shipping costs and remain competitive.

I believe our Canadian Government is doing the same with pencils, supplies used in different government offices. They found a US company because cost was too high in Canada.

I fully agree with buying Canadian 1st but my pocketbook is in disagreement and always win. TimelessClassicElegance

[canadapost2]

Hi zeddosaurus,

Not quite sure. I know this is confusing --Let me check it out and get back to you.

Kim?:|

[phoebescollectables]

Laird, what exciting news are you referring to?

[habfanhockey]

I ship mainly golf clubs. Why is it I have no problem doing everything using EST for shipments in Canada yet when I try to send a club to the US or Internationally it tells me that there is no service available for my parcels specifications, but when I go to the Postal Outlet there is no problem getting it shipped

[zeddosaurus]

Kim, before you go:

Will you check into getting the Postal Guide updated to show that photos, magazines and other sold paper items may be shipped Letterpost?

Thanks
Zeddo