@ westernstargifts, Since you do so much taxable Light Packet and manually fill in CN22 forms, why not get some discount postage at 35% off face value (from one source I use, % discount varies from other sellers).
You have to pay sales tax on the 65% for the discount postage stamps but the 35% saving covers the 13% sales tax and more. Then you do not need to go to the post office as much. Just drop in the corner box. Or drop off at the Post Office.
You can also use discount postage for Lettermail within Canada and Small Packet.
Search for "discount postage Canada" on the Internet for a discount postage seller in Ontario. He supplies a mix of various denomination stamps with $100 face value minimum at 25 to 35% off face value. Stamps are packaged in plastic bags in 100 stamps lots like 100 x 17 cents, 100 x 12 cent, 100 x 20 cent, etcetera. No sorting of the stamps by you when you get them.
Also search in eBay in Stamps -> Canada category using "discount postage" or "face value" or just "face". eBay is mainly auctions so you have to wait to buy and can be outbid but some listing are fixed price. Some forum regulars here who are stamp sellers sell some discount postage. They can't advertise here. They usually include shipping and sales tax.
You may need to get some 1-2-3-4 cent stamps from the post office to keep at home to make it easy to make the current postage rates. For example, I want to make $2.48. I use 20 x 12 cent + 1 x 8 cent for $2.48 in discount postage stamps. If I do not have an 8 cent, I can use a discount postage 6 cent and a 2 cent from the PO.
Be careful, only buy mint unused stamps on eBay. Some stamps are uncancelled no gum stamps which means they are soaked off envelopes. These cannot be reused legally since they are used. You will large lots of current postage Permanent stamps being sold this way.
The issue with discount postage is that it takes a lot of stamps to make the postage and they are big since most are commemorative stamps. You have to manage the space available on the package to apply the stamps and leave room for the large white CN22 forms. For Light Packet USA 100 grams at $2.48, it is 10 to 20 stamps. You can use the back of the package. You also have to fill out the white CN22 customs form manually. You have to be careful not to make a mistake in filling in the address or in the total amount of postage applied. You have to mark it paid and shipped in eBay.
For westernstargifts, they is already doing the CN22 form so no big deal to just add discount postage stamps.
For others, you have to tradeoff time versus money. I have used discount postage for over 2 years and you learn how to be faster at preparing packages for mail. I prepare bubble envelopes with the correct $2.48 applied to speed up the process. (Because of the impending rate changes on Jan 14 2013 I only have a few prepared in advance now.)
Once in a while I use a PayPal shipping label and it is so fast compared to discount postage and stamps. If you are a smaller seller with lower volume of daily sales, using discount postage may pay for your extra time in savings.
Discount Postage stamps is a way to beat the cost of postage when shipping using Canada Post. A tradeoff of time versus savings.
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