Will Canada Post send my package back if it's a bit over 2 cm?

[easycanadianitems]

I want to ship as Light Packet USA and Lettermail, but will they send my package back if it's a little bit over 2 centimeters? I'm really not sure how strict they're with these things. It would be a big hassle for me, and the buyer. Thank you.

[momcqueen]

If you take it to a retail postal counter, they will be assiduous about ensuring it does not exceed the 2-cm guideline. They have a plastic piece they used to guide it through as a test. (You will most likely get the hairy eyeball as they do it so they know that you know not to try and pull as fast one on Canada Post.) 

If your envelope doesn't fit easily through the two-centimeter gap, the postal counter employees won't accept it as a light packet (international) or oversized lettermail (domestic). I made my own 'test measure' at home from stiff cardboard. It's not pretty but I drew eyes and a nose and made the slit a mouth. I call it 'Mister Bigmouth'. It was very early in the morning when I came up with this solution. You'll have to forgive me, I was feeling a little daffy at the time. 

I would strongly recommend you take your envelopes to the postal counter for mailing, even if you already have the required postage available at home. Handing it to a real person as opposed to leaving it in a street box will, in my personal postal experience, reduce your lost-in-the-mail losses. You don't want Item Not Received cases to taint your feedback AND reduce your profit. When you are offering a postal service without tracking as is the case with light packets and lettermail, you must take every step possible to reduce the risk of it going astray. 

As to your original question as to what happens? Yes, I am certain that Canada Post is very strict about not accepting anything over two centimetres deep. The mail is sorted by machine and if it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. Period. Will it be returned? It's probably supposed to be sent back but I would consider it gone for good. It's not tracked, it's not insured, and there are no service guarantees for them to keep so what reason do they have to break their backs to return it to you? It likely goes into a big bin marked 'handle later' and is then eventually dispatched as 'undeliverable' by whatever means used to get rid of the stuff they can't store any longer.  

Good luck as you carry forward.