Canada to U.S. Shipping?

[jr.s_stuff]

I am a small time seller,mostly hockey cards.I am currently only selling in Canada.I would like to expand and start selling to the U.S.,this makes me very nervous.The shipping costs alone are crazy.I would very much like to have a lot more sales.Just selling in Canada is not generating enough sales.The post office where I live is very legal when it comes to U.S. shipping rates.I want to ship things correctly with no issues.I should also say most of my items are low end.Could any one offer any help?

[femmefan1946]

Could I offer some advice?

Don't start auctions at 99 cents, unless you are willing to sell at 99 cents.

Use Free Shipping (which means putting the cost of shipping into your asking price). Buyers love it.

Use Fixed Price like 85% of current eBay transactions.

Look into setting up Calculated Shipping for those items that ship as Parcels.

Move all your hockey cards, which can ship as LetterPost, to dotCOM. More eyeballs, both American and surprisingly, Canadian.

[jr.s_stuff]

Thank you for your help.I am willing to sell at .99 cents,hopfully more though.I have been using fixed prices alot and only have now started with auctions to try and get more sales.I am alittle confused about the dotcom part.I thought if I added US shipping it would be seen on ebay.com.This is not so?If not how do I list on ebay.com?Sorry for my lack of knowledge.I do very much appreciate your help.

[mcrlmn]

"most of my items are low end"

Then just mail 'em.

Unless a card is limited or rookie, you'll probably be lucky to get 99 cents a card.

I've 2 apple boxes of hockey cards going back to the early '60s, including juniors, boxes, uncut sheets, and sealed binders from various food retailers such as Kraft and Post.

Of course there's some I'd never sell, but the rest are no more than interesting and taking up space.

I've flogged a bunch, but frankly can't even find enough interest to dig out a few more and list.

The market was flooded and the bottom fell out, so most cards going back to the 1980s aren't worth much, unless they're high grade rookie cards or scarce signed inserts of superstars.

If you have a Gretzky rookie card, and sell it for the right price, then you can fill in the little customs form to attach to your mail, and you'll have plenty of money to pay for tracking.

Otherwise, just drop it in the mail box.

I've used the hockey cards the same as various coins I may find in my pocket change,  to sell and provide my 'cookie jar' insurance for the higher end items I may ship.

[jr.s_stuff]

I have been collecting and trading for about 25 years so I know about the finding the interest to dig the stuff out.Not big on doing it myself.I am not however very good at this ebay thing.I also have some I would never sell,will just leave those for the kids.I will be retiring in 4 years,early though at 55,and want to sell most of my cards and take off for Mexico.This ebay going worldwide thing is very tough for me to handle,would like to sell all in Canada but that is not happening I guess I will have to start shipping to other countries.

[jr.s_stuff]

Almost forgot ,thanks for all your advice!I really need the help.With 100% feedback,I hope to keep it there and not run into issues by expanding.

[jr.s_stuff]

Also I am considering opening one of the new ebay stores coming in May.I was going to try the very low end one.My question about stores would be,are they worth it?Do they generate more sales and traffic?I do work full time and have a family so this is just in my spare time,if I have any.

[momcqueen]

You've gotten excellent advice from the other sellers who've responded so far without a lot that I could add to it. I am, however, a fan of Stores. You can arrange your items into Categories, put things on Markdown and also go on Vacation. Those three things alone make a low-end stores subscription worth it, in my opinion. I got a store right off the bat, never regret it.

[mcrlmn]

Ship U.S. Lettermail:

0–30 g:  $1.20

30–50 g:  $1.80
50–100 g: $2.95

Pack in plastic sleeve if possible, between thin cardboard taped on all 4 sides.

Cheap plastic banknote sleeves or small baggies (dollar store) work great.

I think your biggest issues will be market value relative to asking price, demand, and shipping cost.

[jr.s_stuff]

Thanks for the help.The post office tells me that if I am sending anything plastic to the U.S. it is $7.16 for a bubble envelope.And if I don't say there is plastic in the envelope Customs could open it and return it.And that I need to fill out a customs form.I have shipped to the U.S. before on card trading forums and had no issues.

[jr.s_stuff]

I have spent hours reading through forums.I usually see people just sending hockey cards as normal,bubble envelope with plastic protectors and not telling the post office of the contents.I wish to do it properly to avoid any issues.

[jr.s_stuff]

So if I used a penny sleeve,that is not hard plastic and thin cardboard,that could work?Just want items to get there with no issues.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

In looking at your available items I would personally be most concerned about the limited editions, mailing multiple items in the same package or items with higher value(Can you replace?). If something does happen to go wrong, either loss or damage or your item were to get inspected(Shipping Intl)  you would be following the rules because of declared value. With a secure service you would be covered for replacement/your delivery expenses and so would your customer. Something to consider. On the flip side adding the plastic to the cards "should not" change your declaration of the item. People mail laminated original documents all the time. They are still considered a document/printed matter except with your items they have a suggested actual value. And finally, most important to clearly mark "Do not bend" and make your item as rigid as possible to prevent any damage during transit whichever service you use.

-CM

PS. Giving your customers the option of secure delivery shows them that you are concerned about their item arriving to them safely and as described. They will pay if it the item you have is the one they desperately want.

[jr.s_stuff]

At the moment I don't have any high end stuff up,but when I do I ship insured with sig required.Anything under $30 I am willing to take the loss.I have 100,000 plus cards to sell before I retire.

[jr.s_stuff]

So after using my brain for a couple of minutes,which is rare.I figured out that I have been missing out on 50 free ads on the ebay.com,wow do I have issues.Read somewhere if you add a U.S. shipping option your ads will show on ebay.com.But I still can list other ads on that site.

[femmefan1946]

.And that I need to fill out a customs form.

That's the law, and the clerks are required to tell you the legal way.

I have shipped to the U.S. before on card trading forums and had no issues.

Yup.

That's the practice.

It's worth noting that US residents can import up to $800 at a time without duty.

Big difference from out $20Cdn.