Expedited Lite for Canadian Sellers using eBay Labels

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

This just showed up hot off the presses.

https://www.ebay.ca/sellercentre/shipping/ebay-labels/canada-post-expedited-lite?mkevt=1&mkpid=2&ems...

Only available on eBay Labels: Ship small. Save big.

Package specifications

Ship with an envelope or a small parcel that meets the following criteria:

• Weighs no more than 200 grams

• No one dimension exceeds 41 cm (16.1”)

• Maximum volume (L x W x H) of up to 3,220 cubic centimeters

YAYYYYYY!!!!!

-Lotz

[intimewithmusic]

If anyone knows how to roll out a feature it's eBay. My guess is the "quiet opening" was intentional.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@intimewithmusic wrote:

Unless your scale is "special", 200 grams is 200 grams. Business policies have already incorporated the new "Only available on eBay Labels".  I doubt there is any problem using EL for other categories.  eBay would have to filter out specific ones from Business policies.

Another thought is it seems very odd Canada Post can offer an postal service exclusive to eBay without including  other online agencies (not just platforms) but everyone. The postal service belongs to Canadians. That includes everybody who sells online. Hypothetically will Etsy or Joe Blow Balloons also be allowed to make exclusive deals with CP too?

If Etsy or Shopify for example who doesn't have much in trading cards, offered the service with a slightly higher size/ weight  threshold to attract Canadian sellers of handpainted tea cups, magazines etc I wonder how that would that go over with potential Exp Lite sellers?

The point is, "Can our postal service offer one business "exclusivity"? I don't know but it seems weird.

I don't have any answers. I'm merely suggesting this may not be fully thought through. The benefit is that this is going to attract a lot of attention!

In the words of Red Rose tea "Only on eBay you say?... a pity."

I'm looking forward to see just how this plays out. In the meantime...

Anybody wanna buy ..half a magazine? ;>}

---

From original first order, actual weight was approx 130 grams. Dim weight worked it out to 219 grams (over the limit). Then I printed and it modified the measurements automagically to 5 x 5 x 5 cm. I could have voided but most likely it would have done the same thing over. I don't want to be sending out parcels, charging 1 rate and then have them be audited after the fact. Unfortunately that would be a pita vs pity. 

-Lotz

***When you see the math and how much a CP parcel  increases from what can be a very small package originally but when cubed is substantially greater on the final label you see how much of difference it can potentially make. (Expedited labels etc show the cubed weight when applicable vs the actual weight.) I believe years ago they showed both. Handprinted bills used to have a section for auditing.Now due to the miracle??? of AI all done automagically***

[intimewithmusic]

I'm familiar with your store. You may have a coin, stamp or card here and there. It was easy adding it to my business policies but when I went to update listings but I have nothing applicable. 

As you know I'm big on combined shipping. Ebay warns you in the release notes to be very careful with weights. Watch out there if you do combined shipping. Can you trust the calculator to combine items with more than one shipping service? 

They mention comics... You might get away packaging a raw comic to go under 200G but not one in a slab.  Let's hope the threshold is increased so this "feature" becomes more seller inclusive.

I don't have answers. Probably Ex Lite is Canada Post's beta with eBay.  This feature is coming from Canada Post not eBay hence the quiet release. Very soon, guessing here,  the service will be standard available to all platforms and businesses selling domestically.

This is a good time for feedback from those excluded by the shipping parameters.

[rocketscollectibles]

This "feature" is a BUST.

Another thought is it seems very odd Canada Post can offer an postal service exclusive to eBay without including  other online agencies (not just platforms) but everyone. The postal service belongs to Canadians.

This is clearly not a bust. Personally i already used it a few times, and it saved the trip to the office to send registered mail, it saved 40% on the postage cost, and it saved my customers signature at receipt. I understand this could be frustrating because some categories that could be eligible in size, are not eligible. But for those eligible, this service is actually awesome.

As i wrote somewhere else. This is obvious that this service was an initiative from eBay to grow the trading card market. Nothing else.  They aquired the platform TCGplayer (biggest competitor) a few months ago for like 300 millions US. We see more and more promos, coupons, and then this shipping service.

Canada post do not offer it to other platforms and everyone because this is an agreement between eBay and them. eBay obviously has a contract with them and pay for it. The trading cards market bring way more money than other categories. This is what paying for it. And i think it's obvious that this service is a service intended to this category. On the .COM it's been a while that trading cards has their specific service. 

[intimewithmusic]

Something else to think about...

Hardened packaging such as small air jackets or polymailers with cardboard stiffening weighs about 40 to 80 grams including the label and inserts. My cd mailer (without cd) weighs 60 grams. 

Will professional packaging be compromised by sellers to allow the contents to weigh more than 120 to 160 grams?

[vintagenorth]

I was just at my local little post office and mailing a parcel and the postmistress mentioned Lite Expedited was coming soon and asked me if I had heard of it. She said it is a Canada Post feature not just for eBay sellers. The post office must have had a bulletin about it already.

[intimewithmusic]

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@rocketscollectibles wrote:

"This is obvious that this service was an initiative from eBay to grow the trading card market. Nothing else.  They aquired the platform TCGplayer (biggest competitor) a few months ago for like 300 millions US. We see more and more promos, coupons, and then this shipping service.

Canada post do not offer it to other platforms and everyone because this is an agreement between eBay and them. eBay obviously has a contract with them and pay for it. The trading cards market bring way more money than other categories. This is what paying for it. And i think it's obvious that this service is a service intended to this category. On the .COM it's been a while that trading cards has their specific service. "

_________

   I understand Expedited Lite may benefit your business model but not others. I've already gone over that.  Not much of a debate there.

    I do not believe eBay has or will maintain an exclusive with Canada Post.  I don't think a civil service company has a right to exclude all other companies from using any publicly funded service. Canada Post is not eBay's courier.

   As far as whose idea this was first, like I said, I don't know. This is definately a Canada Post service.  Expedited Lite is not an eBay service.  Is it just for eBay?  That's another question.  Is USPS Media Mail just for eBay? As far as the shipping services eBay has in the US this is not the US.  Up here we don't take it kindly when public services give monopolies to private business. 

  I've said this service may be a way to lessen the load on Canada Post Lettermail.  Possibly CP is complaining to eBay about that and this was eBay's solution but CP didn't think things through.  That's a possibility.  Either way, if successful this will certainly bolster Canada Post coffers because as you said, Canada Post is charging you more. 

  I think it had a quiet opening because CP and eBay are field testing to see what happens with the stream of goods. Now that it's out there I would be very surprised if there are no reactions from other platforms and businesses. 

   While changes can still be heard the majority of sellers who do not share your business model should speak up and make suggestions.  If eBay doesn't listen Canada Post might. A more inclusive size threshold will help eBay keep the packaging professional instead of forcing sellers to over stuff lighter packaging just to remain competitive. 

   Why should a seller listing a slabbed comic with $25 Expedited Parcel be forced to compete with a seller listing the raw version with Expedited Lite to the same address for  $5?   Overstuffing lettermail has been an ongoing complaint since the beginning. It's about to get worse.  The "slab guy" is just going to wrap it in kraft paper. 

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[ricarmic]

IMO these recent examples of "breaks" we're getting from CP are a result of them trying to better compete with the Chit Chats, Shippo's etc of the world, but I could be wrong!

@vintagenorth  is giving me hope that "lite" will also eventually become available to the "over the counter" (stamps on the box) kinda folks like me....that would be another win!

As an interesting note, when they dropped the price of US tracked for us "over the counter" folks I decided to track EVERYTHING to the US now, meaning my average parcel cost is about 40cish more (to me), which means them lowering the price, actually means I'm sending them more revenue now! The same would hold true for expedited lite, I'd be more likely to send smaller value packages lite expedited because the price was so much lower, likely meaning overall they'd again be getting more $$$ overall out of me......

This might be a successful business model for them.....

[intimewithmusic]

Thank you! 

 for the Albertans...

"Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. "

Now let's see if they will raise the threshold to 400 grams!

-better yet make it a pound!

[msau4301]

Hi lotz!  Sorry if this has already been addressed but I do keep checking here and don't remember seeing it (I think I've read most of the 108 posts so far!) but I was curious what happend if I went to eBay's Shipping Calculator and put a sample size in (what I would use for say shipping Barbie clothes) of 35 x 26 x 3 and 150 grams (common weight for me). I just plugged in my parents postal code for destination as an example I just wanted to see if Expedited Lite showed up on the calculator and it did!! For my above size/weight from one part of Ontario to another it showed $6.87 with Expedited Lite and $15.12 with Expedited Parcel (huge difference!). If it is showing on the Help calculator (I'm talking about the one you get to when you hit Help & Contact at top of page, then search Shipping Calculator) it gave an amount so I would hope this would also show if we have "Calculated shipping" attached to a listing (I do, I think you do too?!) I was going to use a flat rate of $9 not knowing what province but if calculator is accurate it would be preferred by me anyways.

I don't have any listings going now since I take this week off with too much family stuff and travelling but I am hoping when I do re-list the calculator maybe kicks in!?!

[avidhiker-33]

@lotzofuniquegoodies, muchas gracias for starting this thread and sharing your experience with using Expedited Lite.  Wasn't aware of this until I saw your posts (guess I should check the seller boards more frequently!)

Good move by Canada Post imo.  Will likely cannibalize some registered mail fees and parcel post fees but should generate additional revenue for items that were previously unecomical to mail due parcel post rates applied to anything > 20 mm thickness.

[rocketscollectibles]

 was just at my local little post office and mailing a parcel and the postmistress mentioned Lite Expedited was coming soon and asked me if I had heard of it. She said it is a Canada Post feature not just for eBay sellers. 

Well that's misleading. I was assuming it's an exclusive agreement the way they write: 

That’s why eBay Canada has partnered with Canada Post to offer

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@avidhiker-33 wrote:

@lotzofuniquegoodies, muchas gracias for starting this thread and sharing your experience with using Expedited Lite.  Wasn't aware of this until I saw your posts (guess I should check the seller boards more frequently!)

Good move by Canada Post imo.  Will likely cannibalize some registered mail fees and parcel post fees but should generate additional revenue for items that were previously unecomical to mail due parcel post rates applied to anything > 20 mm thickness.

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@avidhiker-33 

Happy to be of assistance and for everyone else that has shared their experiences and concerns. Hopefully the remaining issues/concerns  can be resolved in a timely manner? Stay tuned.

-Lotz

[ypdc_dennis]

This new service is a reworking of something Canada Post was testing back in 2017.

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Proof-of-Concept-New-Lightweight-Parcel-Product/td-p/379...

...

ebay is probably acting as test bed for the new service.

I decided to become a beta tester with a sale yesterday. It's a movie that can be collected, but is not in an ebay "collectible" category, but since the shipping choice showed, I figured why not.

For an Ontario to Alberta shipment, 150g, 21x17x2cm

Comparing my possible choices (from low to high):

(1) Oversize lettermail, 3.19 plus 13% HST or $3.60 at the PO counter. But since I use discounted stamps my cost would have been closer to $2.50 for this method. No tracking or insurance.

(2) Expedited Lite, ebay label lump sum of $7.53 (I assume 5% GST is included) -- scanned without issues at the PO counter, and shows on the Canada Post website. Actual size values I entered do not appear on the label, instead 5x5x5cm is shown. Bug or feature? The help file indicates that dimensional weight is not used for this service, so perhaps intentional.  Has tracking, has option ($) to add signature, includes up to $100 of insurance.

(3) Registered Lettermail, 3.19 plus 9.75 plus 13% HST or $14.62 at the PO counter. But since I use discounted stamps my cost would be closer to $10.00 for this method. Includes signature, tracking, and up to $100 insurance. Very fast delivery (except when the buyer has to pick up at their post office).

(4a) Expedited Parcel, with my level 1 discount is $19.69 (with 5% GST) -- but since I use discounted stamps my cost would be closer to $14.50 for this method. Tracked, up to $100 insurance included with option to buy more, signature extra.

(4b) Expedited Parcel, with ebay's level 4 discount shows as $16.94 (with 5% GST) -- tracked, up to $100 insurance included, signature extra.

...

I can see myself using the new service if it expands beyond "collectible" -- in particular for light weight items that are thicker than the 2cm lettermail limit.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@ypdc_dennis wrote:

This new service is a reworking of something Canada Post was testing back in 2017.

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Proof-of-Concept-New-Lightweight-Parcel-Product/td-p/379...

...

ebay is probably acting as test bed for the new service.

I decided to become a beta tester with a sale yesterday. It's a movie that can be collected, but is not in an ebay "collectible" category, but since the shipping choice showed, I figured why not.

For an Ontario to Alberta shipment, 150g, 21x17x2cm

Comparing my possible choices (from low to high):

(1) Oversize lettermail, 3.19 plus 13% HST or $3.60 at the PO counter. But since I use discounted stamps my cost would have been closer to $2.50 for this method. No tracking or insurance.

(2) Expedited Lite, ebay label lump sum of $7.53 (I assume 5% GST is included) -- scanned without issues at the PO counter, and shows on the Canada Post website. Actual size values I entered do not appear on the label, instead 5x5x5cm is shown. Bug or feature? The help file indicates that dimensional weight is not used for this service, so perhaps intentional.  Has tracking, has option ($) to add signature, includes up to $100 of insurance.

(3) Registered Lettermail, 3.19 plus 9.75 plus 13% HST or $14.62 at the PO counter. But since I use discounted stamps my cost would be closer to $10.00 for this method. Includes signature, tracking, and up to $100 insurance. Very fast delivery (except when the buyer has to pick up at their post office).

(4a) Expedited Parcel, with my level 1 discount is $19.69 (with 5% GST) -- but since I use discounted stamps my cost would be closer to $14.50 for this method. Tracked, up to $100 insurance included with option to buy more, signature extra.

(4b) Expedited Parcel, with ebay's level 4 discount shows as $16.94 (with 5% GST) -- tracked, up to $100 insurance included, signature extra.

...

I can see myself using the new service if it expands beyond "collectible" -- in particular for light weight items that are thicker than the 2cm lettermail limit.

---

@ypdc_dennis 

@dinomitesales 

Thanks for sharing. Guess that test got put on the backburner until now after all the recent complaints sellers have been making about a lack of somewhat economical options for Candians.  Too bad it took 6 years to come up with a partial something and taking into consideration Light Packet Air US/Intl was poofed during that time for non domestic shipping.

-Lotz

-Lotz

[flipistics]

I had my first one today too.  11x11x12cm, 88g from rural Ontario to Nova Scotia. Cost was 8.31. The label showed 5x5x5. No issues with having it scanned in at the PO.

BTW, the shipping discount I have set in my preferences was applied to this as well (meaning I ate about $2).

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@flipistics wrote:

I had my first one today too.  11x11x12cm, 88g from rural Ontario to Nova Scotia. Cost was 8.31. The label showed 5x5x5. No issues with having it scanned in at the PO.

BTW, the shipping discount I have set in my preferences was applied to this as well (meaning I ate about $2).

---

@flipistics 

11 x 11 x 12 would make it either 1452 cubic cm or .290 grams if you use the CP calculation. The 5 x 5 x 5 cm automagic display is bizarre. On the eBay labels page it displays as Expedited Lite. On the label for my order it showed Expedited. What did yours show? Unless that is eBay's way to  disguise it as an eBay only service.

Have you figured out and easy painless method of adding Expedited Lite to any listings that it would be applicable to. Bulk edit always makes me nervous.

-Lotz

CP:

• Cubic volume / density factor = volumetric equivalent actual weight.
• The density factor is a number that shows the fact that items weighing a certain amount are generally of a certain size or volume.
• We apply a density factor of 5,000 (when measuring in cubic cm) or 139 (when measuring in cubic inches) to:
• Priority™
• Xpresspost™
• Expedited services™

[flipistics]

@lotzofuniquegoodies   Mine showed just regular Expedited on the label as well. It showed the actual weight rather than volumetric, which is probably the reason for it displaying 5x5x5.

Most of my listings don't qualify for it, so I just went through and tried to pick out the ones that did. I guess most of my media store would qualify, but there's really no reason to offer it over lettermail in that store.

[intimewithmusic]

To address a few posted questions:

Expedited Lite seems to be availble now through Business Policies

    The business policy I set up will attach to everything I sell.  (Photo)  It's possible to change all listings globally with a few clicks. Unfortunately nothing I sell is below 140 grams plus 60 grams packaging except a few items that don't sell in Canada.

   Unless you attach the policy to items one at a time it's up to eBay to filter out any categories or dimensions that don,t qualify at the moment the item is sold and the label goes to print.

   Could this be headed for a triple size glichalooza?  ;>}  I'm posting my business policy for those interested but I'm not using it until the effect on combined shipping and category/overweight filtering has proven to function. 

Still Skeptical 

   *I find it hard to believe eBay can pay/collaborate/manipulate the postal service into "exclusivity". Call it whatever you want but others should be involved in designing a postal service. 

   *I have a tough time with the limiting of content of postal items being mandated by a 3rd party. What goes in Canada's packages should be up to Canada Post not private business.  

    This has become a huge rumour mill. A previous poster stated eBay PAID Canada Post a huge sum of money to provide the service.  I don't believe that has happened here. I hope not.  In my industry (music) we call that "Payola".  The term was coined when record companies paid disk jockeys to play their songs.  We need to get the facts from Canada Post & eBay. 

  Why am I concerned when none of my items fit the criteria? 

   Unless the weight threshold was bumped up to at least 350 grams, it's a bust for me.  I'm concerned because of the two points above and, if this is going to be a bonafide CP service I want CP to know their?/eBays?  200 gram threshold excludes too many businesses.

   Who set the threshold and why? 

      To be sure Canada needs a new postal service like this. Given our growing population I think we're ready for it. That said Canada Post should provide it to all Canadians, all moms and pops, kids and Grannies, schools and charities and you and me.   ALL Canadian businesses are struggling with shipping costs and those are the ones who built Canada Post in the first place.

   Something about "Only available on eBay Labels" from the release I read yesterday doesn't sit right.  I hope when I wake up tomorrow someone from Canada Post will post the facts and there will be a great new  service announced for all Canadians and businesses.  

 eBay Businerss Policy attached:

[recped]

I'd speculate that "only available from eBay" actually means "not available at Canada Post retail outlets".