Constant Problems With Canadian Addressing

[teenytrinkets]

I'm growing increasingly frustrated with Canadian addressing!

At least 10% of my Canadian sales are shipped to addresses that are not found in the Canada Post database. Sometimes it's an easy fix - like all the "Toronto" cities that have different postal destignations (like North York), but I've had some real doozies lately - where the buyer has a postal code listed for a completely different city/street address. Or the house number & street aren't even in the CP database, and the postal code doesn't match the city! I mean, the list goes on and on! It's a miracle these people even get their mail! And half the time when I message them - no response.

Here's the kicker: I can normally find their address in Google maps (even though CP doesn't have it in their database). And it's hardly ever a new community. It's just MISSING.

Here's my latest: Errington BC. Address doesn't exist in CP database. Google address, comes up as Parksville- easy fix. CP goes to deliver it... problem with address. Error. Rerouted. Delayed. Maybe not even going to be delivered, at this point. So, in other words - you can "fix" the address based on the fact that the address physically exists, but if it's not in the CP database, they don't know what to do with it!!!!

Funny - I NEVER have these issues for US sales! Does that mean their addressing database and delivery system are more sophisticated and up to date? Or they have less community addressing changes? Less rural communities?

So far I've been lucky and my items usually get there fine. I hope my latest makes it there, and without upsetting my buyer. It's taking a week longer than it should. 😞

[pjcdn2005]

I’ve haven’t ever noticed a problem with a Canadian address.  In those cases are you getting an error when you try to print a label?

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Maybe try printing with Shippo?

I've never had a parcel order returned for an issue with an address. I do notice some addresses are poorly formatted, but it's never been an issue with Shippo Canada Post labels.

Because a lot of my orders are letter mail, I have to manually copy the address from the invoice to print on a label. I notice a lot of poorly formatted addresses. Things like the street address line printed twice. If it's something really obvious, I fix it. If it's a long time eBayer, and their address is poorly formatted, I assume it's not an issue since they would have been ordering items with that messed up formatting for years.

I've only had one item returned to me as no such address. It was actually a few days ago. It was a guest checkout though, and they never got back to me with their correct address. I will likely have to refund it if they don't get back to me within a few days. That's 1 return out of hundreds of packages.

[ricarmic]

When you asked them about their address did you only ask via eBay messaging? If you did, I suggest also sending to their email address (if it is gone you can still get it by "replying" to the paypal payment).

When I have no response, I've had success when using the actual email address, I think folks sometimes ignore their ebay messaging.....this would be especially true of a guest account.

[reallynicestamps]

they never got back to me with their correct address. I will likely have to refund it if they don't get back to me within a few days.

Wellll, technically.

We are not required to refund when a shipment is returned as Undeliverable.

Ethically is another question.

And who pays for the shipping on an undeliverable shipment even if there is a refund?

[kawartha-ephemera]

Badly formatted addresses are the norm it seems, I especially appreciate those supplied in all lower case. Sure, machines can read them, no problem, but what about us mere mortals? Jeez, postal clerks and carriers must love such careless work. I cannot, cannot stop myself from fixing those ... also routinely copy and paste for lettermail. 

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

It's the buyers fault, but I'm not going to hold on to someone else's cash when I have the item, and they are clearly a guest user who likely doesn't check their e-mail associated with the account. I figure not everyone lives on their computer or has a smartphone with notifications...so I'll give it a week from the date of the original message, and then send a refund if they don't reply.

I will be out about 2.20 in shipping/supplies and some wasted time, but refunding it is the right thing to do from my standpoint. I have no idea what the eBay policy is, and I wouldn't fault another seller if they felt entitled to only sending a partial refund.

I have no issue with just refunding and eating the shipping. It's obviously an honest mistake on the buyer's part.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Formatting is actually really important for lettermail. Both poorly formatted addresses, and hand writing addresses can apparently result in delays.

I have a Brother Label printer, but I print directly from Microsoft Word instead of the label software because Microsoft Word has hot keys that make re-formatting the addresses very quick. The software that originally came with the label printer isn't very good for that.

[kawartha-ephemera]

@ilikehockeyjerseys 

Agreed, a correctly formatted and printed address is important. I print directly on envelopes using Micfosoft Word's mailing features too.

Before reading your comment I wasn't aware hot keys were available for this, would you mind pointing me in the right direction on how to set these up? What term might I try in the "How can I" help bar? 

Thanks.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I use a Brother QL-700 label printer. I don't know if I am using mailing features, I just use a custom page layout to match my label printer.

In Microsoft word, I go to page setup. I change the paper size to the same size as my labels 29mm x 90mm.

If I have a batch of orders, I will add all the addresses at once by opening each order from the eBay order page in a new tab. After adding each address, you can hit CTRL+Enter to force a new page for the next address.

Once you have all the addresses in word, if you hit CTRL+A that selects all. CTRL+B can add/remove the bold from eBay's formatting. Shift+F3 then can make everything upper case.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Interesting, never ceases to amaze me how inventive sellers are when it comes to their personal processes.

As you've described your process, you are not using the "Mailings" tab found on the ribbon. You've come up with another means of getting the software to bend to your needs though ... good one. I'm going to experiment with the keyboard shortcuts you described. Thanks.

I'm referring to the Office 365 version here but the mailing features have been included within Word for a long, long time. When looking at the "Ribbon" at the top of any Word screen there are a number of tabs, Home, Insert, Draw, Design, Layout, References, Mailings etc.  Within "Mailings" is where today's version of mail merge and envelope printing can be found. For those still using pre Word 2007, the Ribbon" has replaced those inpenetrable menus.