Canada Post removing US Small Packet Surface

[doglover550]

I didn't see this on a thread anywhere.

Canada Post is removing US Small Packet Surface. Also looks like they are removing $100.00 insurance off Air and adding Tracked Parcel instead.

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/assets/pdf/rates/parcels_changes_2013_en.pdf

No pricing yet.  Oh boy, lots of work ahead to change all my listings.

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

snipe

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

Cumos, since your shipping is flat rate, why are you changing them all?

[cumos55]

Flat rate means the same cost to all destinations in Canada,which is different for the US and and different again for Elsewhere.

I have always done this....

Canada Post raises the cost of postage each year.

I do a calculation  and adjust each cost of shipping each year in January.

If this was not done... shipping within Canada would be less than $10 US.... and not as I have set it at $12 US for 2012.

For 2013 the cost for a parcel weighing less than 1.0 kg, the cost will be $13.00 US for all Canadian destinations....

I have my way to make postage balance across all buyers... Canada, US and elsewhere.

The end result for each year is  such that the amount paid to Canada Post for postage is very close to that paid by all buyers in any year...

Still have some adjustment to do before January 14.

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

The rates I set in Jan 2011 I did not change in 2012. I am not changing them in Jan 2013 either. Unless something dramatic happens, I may not change them in 2014 either.

I use price pointing, combo od price plus shipping.

[cumos55]

Have you sold anything since 2011??

No feedback after 2011???

[xinfinity1965]

3) Why do we need Tracked Packet to USA? If a customer wants tracking and DC he can use Expedited Parcel-USA, an excellent, though expensive, service.

That's all Tracked packet is (expedited) no difference will probably go ground anyway all we are losing is our small packet insured low cost shipping. i sell Christmas ornaments and the shipping is about 7-10.00 to the US for a small ornament I get a lot of unhappy customers at that price. Now I have to charge 14-16.00

I wont sell a single one (there goes my business). They say we are saving money with this tracked packet I say @#@$#$%@#$

[xinfinity1965]

Hey nice to hear from ya, your always on the ball with new rules on ebay huh. Maybe see ya at the auction on thursday

[winddancersfancy]

"Effective January 14, customers will no longer receive any liability coverage on packages sent with Small Packets services, and will no longer receive complimentary insurance on Regular Parcel service."

Since the new Tracked Packet service, that will have insurance included, doesn't start until February 11, what are we supposed to do about insurance on Small Packet Air from January 14 to February 10?

Or, are we supposed to switch everything to Expedited?

[toff3]

Wind,

According to Canada Post, Tracked Packet service is due to start on Jan 14.

As of Jan 14, liability coverage is removed from all Small Packet services. If you want to insure your Small Packets, you'll have to either self-insure or approach a third party.

Tom

[specialtogs]

Tracking is great when it works.  I am one of the ones who sends smaller lighter but pricey items.   With an average value of over $100, I cannot afford to lose anything.

I have been using a 6"x9" bubble or similar envelope with Canada Post's plastic shipping labelopes, expedited stickers, and air mail stickers. These must be taken to the post office to get scanned in.  Even giving them to the Canada Post person who brings mail to the door and does pickups does not get them a 'scan in'.

About 25% of them totally 'disappear' until they arrive at the delivery destination post office.  That would be both in Canada and the US.

Time and time again, I deal with panicy customers who have paid for tracked shipping and, guess what, no tracking.  Just this past week, I have dealt with a package that took almost a month to get from Alberta to Colorado--totally disappeared off the tracking map.

From what I have been able to figure out, these smaller packages, instead of being treated as parcels, are put in the regular letter mail stream where there is no tracking.  Larger packaging would cost significanly more - but is this what is necessary to insure that the tracking works?  

[expressit1]

I have 5 small surface packets  still in transit.

Bangkok Thailand  mailed Nov 7 2012

Ipoh Malaysia Mailed  Dec 12 2012

Vergael Spain  Mailed Dec 3 2012

Suldrup Denmark  Mailed Dec 5 2012

Ponciau  UK  mailed Dec 5th 2012

The 6th missing shipment arrived  Budapest Hungary Jan 12th 2013

It was mailed Nov 20 2012

It is no wonder Canada Post is Dropping the insurance as for them to have to pay out the  $ 500.00 for the above no trackable insured parcels.

If I collect on all 5 above I will break even on the Bangkok refund ebay did because it is taking to long for the package to get there.

 Ebay washed there hands after the refund.

I need to rely on the honesty of the buyer to re pay.

I am thinking twice about ever ticking off the .10 UK listing.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

At the poster above (expressit1), they are super slow because you sent them via surface mail. And you mailed them around x'mas period too... I don't think they'd arrive at your buyer until near end of January. Technically they are not "missing" parcels as you suggested, because the shipping service you purchased does indicate a transit time of 4-6 weeks. I suggested that you NEVER send anything outside Canada and USA via surface. Use air small packet. 

I personally mailed 150+ items over the past two years and never had to file an insurance claim. They all arrived at my buyer safe and sound. I don't send small packet surface international either. 

[cedarridgecompany]

Lets not forget the fee's on top of the shipping charges. eBay and Paypal both want their cuts.

So lets say you pay $15 to ship your thing-a-ma-jig. The actually cost to ship is much higher then that when you add up to 11% tacked on by eBay FVF and another 2.9%  tacked on by PayPal.

That $15 shipping service really costs $17.09. This can vary depending on how much you charge your customers.

So you really need to charge like $17.42 in order to cover the cost of a $15 shipping service when you used to be able to send your small thing-a-ma-jig for around $6.70 ish (with the fee's)

That is not a small hike, that is a 260% rate increase, but hey..You get tracking!!!!! Well worth losing business over.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

Just curious, anyone tried shipping at the PO or outlets today? Is USA SP surface still available (like the website says, until Feb 11) or is this service already off the surface of the earth? Thanks!

[albeethere1]

I too am wondering.....I think what will have to happen as eBay updates the good til cancelled items, is we will have to take the packages to the PO to mail them.  From what I understand, we won't be able to print the surface label from PayPal if that's what the buyer chooses.

We'll just have to wait and see....

I stopped by the PO today and nobody knows how much the fees are going to be, etc.  I think it will be a better service with more confidence from the buyer.

As well, I was also informed that both surface and air go the "same way", it's just that if the truck is full at the arriving destination, "surface" gets a "standby" until there is space available,,,,,interesting because I always that "surface" was totally ground service...

[albeethere1]

I will send certain items small packet surface but only to certain countries; I have never had an issue and find that most overseas buyers want the "cheaper" option as air is just too much.  The only question is only 20 countries will be ready to go with the new service, so for now will only offer it to them.

[toff3]

As well, I was also informed that both surface and air go the "same way"

Albee,

Trust me, you were misinformed.

Tom

[pocomocomputing]

As well, I was also informed that both surface and air go the "same way", it's just that if the truck is full at the arriving destination, "surface" gets a "standby" until there is space available,,,,,interesting because I always that "surface" was totally ground service...

This might be true for the Small Packet Surface USA but not for International.

I have experienced very fast SP USA Surface with the same speed as Air. Other sellers on these forums have reported this.

This might one of the reasons why SP USA Surface was dropped. Maybe a significant amount of it was going in with the Air.

Of course, the major reason for getting rid of SP USA Surface is to force higher income by removing the cheaper service forcing the use of SP USA Air giving roughly a 30% rise in income.

[mswwhat]

If I used discount postage to send in Canada, what rates do I use? Regular? Venture One? And can I put on enough postage for Expedited Parcel then go to the PO and ask for a tracking number and insurance?

[toff3]

Msw,

You only qualify for VentureOne rates at the PO if you are a VentureOne cardholder.

Tom