eBay

boxnsox101 · ‎10-24-2021

Was hoping to get some items to customers before Halloween.

So I decided to use Xpresspost USA from Canada Post. According to their info page:

Projected arrival date
(business days)

2–3

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/parcels/compare-services-internationa...

After shipping several orders on different days, I noticed this arrival time is false. It takes around 5-10 business days, with the average being 6-7 business days.

One of the issues is that you can't even tell the estimated arrival date until after you purchase Xpresspost USA method and ship the package, then you will see it on the tracking page.

Otherwise, during shipping method payment on CP's website, you're only presented the "guaranteed" delivery date; to me, guaranteed means the latest possible date, not the estimated. Although it looks as though the guaranteed date is actually the earliest date of arrival as well.

I've shipped enough packages with Xpresspost USA to see it's not a customs issue, its a CP (or USPS) issue. It takes about 2 days to reach USA and then 4-6 days from there to be delivered. But since CP is leveraging USPS to deliver their parcels, it's still a CP issue.

Canada Post needs to change that information page to reflect the actual shipping times from 2-3 business days to 4-9 business days, and they need to not only give a "guaranteed" delivery date on shipping method payment, but an estimated delivery date as well.

Otherwise, the customer is led to believe the order might arrive sooner (given Xpresspost USA's 2-3 business day general arrival date spread all across their websites shipping method information pages).

Recently I've ordered several parcels of the exact same items (and weight and packaging) to me that I'm selling, only using DHL Express and FedEx. The shipping cost me, as their customer, the same as Xpresspost USA costs me to offer my customers. Yet the arrival times were an average of 3-4 business days. Both FedEx and DHL Express advertise generally a 2-5 business day delivery, and it generally arrives in 2-5 business days.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-24-2021

Today is Sunday the 24th .

Whatever the estimated delivery date, you still have another week for the parcel to get there by the 31st.

Neither Canada Post nor USPS deliver on Sundays, and Canada Post does not deliver on Saturdays. (I believe that both used to work on the weekends, but since DeJoy was appointed USPS Postmaster General it would not be a surprise if the plants are shut down on weekends.)

But you are right.

EBay is parroting Canada Post's estimates which for BC to Maine by ExpressPost is 4-5 business days.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/information/app/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s4

I would expect a package mailed on Monday before the last pickup (3pm for my post office) that the package would be delivered on Friday or Saturday.

Are you waiting to see the estimated time or are you cross checking with the website (above).

There can be other quirks. Shipping from here on Vancouver Island means that if the ferries aren't running, the mail doesn't get to the mainland. And Canada Post doesn't consider Saturday to be a business day.

boxnsox101 · ‎10-24-2021

I am shipping out from near Mississauga, which is where the parcels seem to all end up prior to going to America.

I'm using that estimator you linked to, CP's in-house software (Snap Ship/Shipping software that pulls data from CP's site), and previously sent Xpresspost USA packages to determine the times.

The estimator you linked and software shows guaranteed delivery of Nov 1st-2nd depending on US state. None sooner by the looks of it.

Here's some Xpresspost USA parcels sent last week. You can see just from these samples the times are nothing close to 2-3 business days, but more like 5-8 business days. I bring them to the post at 1pm and I believe they are picked up that day at 5pm.

marnotom! · ‎10-25-2021

The page you linked to states that 2-3 day delivery standard is for items travelling between “most major urban centres.” 🤷

reallynicestamps · ‎10-25-2021

The time of day still makes a difference.

If I drop off a parcel at 3:30 pm today at my local post office, I will have missed the last pickup by half an hour. That parcel will be marked as received on Oct 25, but will not leave the PO until Oct 26 again at 3pm.

pjcdn2005 · ‎10-25-2021

I don't think that I have ever seen a quote that shows 2-3 bus. days on the CP calculator site so its odd that they do show that time on the link that the op posted. And ebay is using that 2-3 (plus handling time) for xpresspost USA from anywhere in Canada to anywhere in the US.

For example on the CP calculator, Vancouver to Seattle gives a guaranteed delivery of Nov 1 so that works out to 5 business days. It shows the same delivery time from Toronto to Buffalo. I would say all of those are major cities.

marnotom! · ‎10-25-2021

For what it's worth, I used the "find a rate" page on the CPC website for a package travelling from Toronto (CBC's postal code) to a New York city ZIP code and it gave a guaranteed delivery time of three days for Xpresspost-USA in the results.

boxnsox101 · ‎10-25-2021

@marnotom! wrote:
The page you linked to states that 2-3 day delivery standard is for items travelling between “most major urban centres.” 🤷

Yes, with no mention otherwise. A "guaranteed" delivery of 2-3 days to "most urban centres" implies to me that to those areas not deemed "most major urban centres" the delivery time would still be similar (provided it's not a remote area of the US but still a relatively densely urban area) but not "guaranteed".

Guranteed is different from estimated. There is no estimated timeframe specified anywhere prior to paying and shipping the order.

A "guaranteed" delivery of 2-3 days to "most urban centres" doesn't imply an actual/estimated delivery of 3-4x that length otherwise (it implies the guarantee is not valid otherwise), and it appears to be 3-4x the length for about 8/10 shipments that one would place. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of my parcels aren't going to Alaska or Samoa/Guam/Puerto Rico but popular urban areas: Texas (Dallas), Florida (Miami), California, NY.

Why the disingenious marketing Canada Post? Big bold letters showing 2-3 day delivery with little fine print at the bottom.

Delivery standards are for items sent between most major urban centres and depend on origin, destination and other factors. Actual delivery times may vary, other terms and conditions apply.

Note: that TOC returns a 404 page.

I had to dig through a pdf elsewhere on the website to get that term fully defined:

Major urban centre - a location with a processing facility for sorting, processing and distributing parcels and mail. Delivery standards to and from major urban centres are shortest because parcels and mail do not need to be
transported to or from a processing facility before they are delivered - Table 8 for DM/TM and Table 11 for Parcels

Clearly, by the delivery times illustrated from my tracking photo, the overwhelming majority of parcels one would send are not going to go between "major urban centres", so there there isn't a reason to state a general delivery timeframe based on that, unless you want to be disingenious in order to look better. It is literally the opposite of it being a "general" claim.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-25-2021

I think missing a guaranteed delivery date means the sender can request/demand the return of her shipping cost.

Which doesn't help with the basic problem, that the item arrived late.

Although in this case, guarantee or no, your hope/belief was delivery before Hallowe'en, which would be, at best, Friday the 29th at worst Monday November 1st.

boxnsox101 · ‎10-25-2021

Not only that I don't see the purpose of Xpresspost USA at all.

Again, rather than 2-3 business days it's more like 4-9 business days, average from what I've seen is 6-7 business days.

Tracked packet USA, which is advertised as 4-7 business days, of course is actually more like 4-10 business days. Disingenious again, but because it's the standard/economical option, I don't see it as a big deal.

The problem is for 2.5x as much, Xpresspost USA parcels are arriving either at the same time as Tracked Packet USA or 1-3 days sooner.

2.5x the cost to get a parcel after 7 business days instead of 9 isn't really express now is it...

marnotom! · ‎10-26-2021

@boxnsox101 wrote:

@marnotom! wrote:
The page you linked to states that 2-3 day delivery standard is for items travelling between “most major urban centres.” 🤷
Yes, with no mention otherwise. A "guaranteed" delivery of 2-3 days to "most urban centres" implies to me that to those areas not deemed "most major urban centres" the delivery time would still be similar (provided it's not a remote area of the US but still a relatively densely urban area) but not "guaranteed".

There's no mention on that page that the 2-3 day delivery standard to "most major urban centres" is guaranteed. One has to find that information elsewhere. (Yeah, that 404 is annoying.)

I also don't think anything about that 2-3 day delivery standard is "implied". You just misread or misunderstood the marketing hype.

@boxnsox101 wrote:

Not only that I don't see the purpose of Xpresspost USA at all.

Again, rather than 2-3 business days it's more like 4-9 business days, average from what I've seen is 6-7 business days.

Tracked packet USA, which is advertised as 4-7 business days, of course is actually more like 4-10 business days. Disingenious again, but because it's the standard/economical option, I don't see it as a big deal.

The problem is for 2.5x as much, Xpresspost USA parcels are arriving either at the same time as Tracked Packet USA or 1-3 days sooner.

2.5x the cost to get a parcel after 7 business days instead of 9 isn't really express now is it...

The point of Xpresspost-USA is that it's the old US air parcel service dressed up and hyped up a bit. If there were no Xpresspost-USA, there would be no regular air parcel service for the USA from Canada Post. Tracked Packet-USA, like all small packet services, is actually an oversized letter service. Small packets go into the letterpost stream.

If you want a true "expedited" parcel post service (Canada Post's Expedited™-USA is a hyped up surface parcel service), you have to spend the big bucks on this:

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/parcels/compare-services-internationa...

boxnsox101 · ‎10-30-2021

@marnotom! wrote:
There's no mention on that page that the 2-3 day delivery standard to "most major urban centres" is guaranteed.

See: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/xpresspostusa.jsf#:~:text=Xp...

Additionally, it is not implied, it is clearly stated. 2-3 day guaranteed delivery to major urban centres. Not only have I never experienced this 2-3 day delivery, but what I'm seeing is 3-4x that length to densely populated urban "areas".

9 days to Texas, Florida, NY, California is not even close to 2-3 days (regardless of whether they qualify as an "urban center" or not.

And ambiguous/marketing terms have no place here. This is a postal service not a late night informercial; there should not be any "marketing hype" when it comes to stated shipping times from a federal service.

That Priority Worldwide shipping estimate is shown on the same kind of page the Xpresspost USA 2-3 business day is shown. As if I'm going to trust that projection now. Furthermore, if you actually use the rate calculator you'll find it doesn't even give any estimate at all.

marnotom! · ‎10-30-2021

@boxnsox101 wrote:

@marnotom! wrote:

There's no mention on that page that the 2-3 day delivery standard to "most major urban centres" is guaranteed.

See: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/xpresspostusa.jsf#:~:text=Xp...

Yes, you've just proven my point that you have to go to a page other than the one you first posted to find a mention of the 2-3 business day guarantee for Xpresspost-USA shipments between most major urban centres.

Odd thing is that page appears to be in a different style than what's on the Canada Post website now. I'm guessing that you found it with a Google search because of the highlighted text, and that it may not actually be linked to anything on the Canada Post website now. This one may be the one that Canada Post is using now:

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/business/shipping/international/compare/xpresspost-usa...

@boxnsox101 wrote:

Additionally, it is not implied, it is clearly stated. 2-3 day guaranteed delivery to major urban centres. Not only have I never experienced this 2-3 day delivery, but what I'm seeing is 3-4x that length to densely populated urban "areas".

9 days to Texas, Florida, NY, California is not even close to 2-3 days (regardless of whether they qualify as an "urban center" or not.

Do you live in a major urban centre, as defined by Canada Post? If not, you're never going to see that sort of delivery time as both shipping and delivery points have to be considered major urban centres by Canada Post in order to get that delivery standard. I live in a semi-remote location on Vancouver Island and I can't get next-day delivery for something sent by Purolator or FedEx to the interior of British Columbia.

@boxnsox101 wrote:

And ambiguous/marketing terms have no place here. This is a postal service not a late night informercial; there should not be any "marketing hype" when it comes to stated shipping times from a federal service.

I don't see anything ambiguous about a statement to the effect that 2-3 business day delivery is guaranteed between two major urban centres. To me, that would mean that a different delivery standard would apply if even one of those centres wasn't considered major and urban by Canada Post.

By the way, Canada Post became a Crown Corporation forty years ago. As such, it receives no government funding and is expected to operate in the same vein as a business in the private sector.

@boxnsox101 wrote:

That Priority Worldwide shipping estimate is shown on the same kind of page the Xpresspost USA 2-3 business day is shown. As if I'm going to trust that projection now. Furthermore, if you actually use the rate calculator you'll find it doesn't even give any estimate at all.

Just learn to read and understand the fine print and you should be fine. Also consider that COVID is still a thing and affecting pretty much all delivery services in one way or another.

parts_and_diecasts · ‎10-31-2021

regardless of how close you live to the CPC Mississauga Gateway, chances are that this parcel will get stuck in the Chicago ISC anyways. If you live in Mississauga, you are better off using Chit Chats (they offer USPS), they have quite a few locations in the West End, including at least one in Mississauga and Etobicoke.

the best kept secret about Chit Chats (other than the price) is that there is no customs screening (yes, you've read that right). so no endless customs delays at the Chicago ISC (CPC) or Detroit, MI hub (UPS). That's why you can see 3 business days to most East Coast locations, 4 business days to southern states like FL and TX, up to 6 business days to CA (sometimes shorter).

shipping speed and cost is of the essence when selling to the States, relying on CPC to do so is like showing up with a knife to a gunfight...

parts_and_diecasts · ‎10-31-2021

for my CPC afficionados (part 1 of 2) - sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words

Item dropped at Chit Chatsin Toronto by end of day on Oct 25, trucked across the border on Oct 26, deliver to final destination in Exeter, CA by end of day on Oct 28

The cost for this USPS First Class package was CAD$7.02 to be exact.

parts_and_diecasts · ‎10-31-2021

for my CPC afficionados (part 2 of 2) - sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words

Item dropped at Chit Chatsin Toronto by end of day on Oct 25, trucked across the border on Oct 26, deliver to final destination in Exeter, CA by end of day on Oct 28

The cost for this USPS First Class package was CAD$7.02 to be exact.

reallynicestamps · ‎11-02-2021

there is no customs screening (yes, you've read that right). so no endless customs delays at the Chicago ISC (CPC) or Detroit, MI hub (UPS).

Would that be because US residents have a duty free allowance of $800 and no federal sales taxes? (Internet/State Sales Tax is paid on purchase)?

Anything under that value would go straight into the mail stream.

In contrast the duty free allowance for importing from the USA to Canada is $150 and the tax-free allowance is $40.

marnotom! · ‎11-02-2021

Surely these packages have to be accounted for somehow at the time they're trucked across the border, though. (Or maybe before if the information is sent electronically?)

parts_and_diecasts · ‎11-02-2021

@marnotom! is correct, electronic submissions form. I still have to declare something electronically upfront at the time of printing the label (nature of the content, merchandise, value...), didn't mean to claim otherwise. but never seen a specific step in the tracking related to customs inspections, contrary to CPC and UPS

the screenshots I've shown previously are typical (in the order of things), regardless of final destination, from Toronto, it will always be the same order till and including the USPS Rochester, NY hub.

Note that I have yet to sell an item exceeding or nearing said US$800 daily limit on eBay, so there might be more scrutiny when the amount is closer to the limit.

With regards to shipping speed and related to the OP's original concern, I broke a new record yesterday, 1 business day from Toronto, ON to Chico, CA. Dropped Friday at Chit Chats and arrived at destination the following Monday (1 business day) at its final destination. It was an 8x6x4 parcel just under 0.5 lb for CAD$7.02 shipping cost. A couple of years ago, the Tracked Packet USA equivalent would have been CAD$17 and taken between 6 to 10 business days (I am not aware of current pricing of speed, haven't used CPC in a while except domestic).