For CD/DVD sellers that ship using Canada Post to the USA, question for you.

[musicyouneed]

I have been using a service to take my CD/DVD sales over the border (Chit Chat prev Books to the Border) for 10 years.  I haven't used Canada Post for that forever.    I have been paying $8.73 CDN for 1 item at chitchats.  I don't know how Chit Chats will be affected so I am just getting prepared.  I will have to update my shipping policies.  My questions are:

1)  What is the actual cost of shipping a CD/DVD through Canada post to the USA?

2)  Do you use shipping service on eBay or something else?

3)  Do the labels print out on 6" by 3" Zebra or do I have to use paper and then tape it down?

4)  Any other things I should be aware of?

Your help is appreciated.

[ecgt]

If you buy Canada Post Tracked Packet USA labels through eBay you can ship most DVDs/Blu-rays and CDs for less than $10 CAD. Counter rates at Canada Post outlets are significantly more (sometimes more than $20 to ship a DVD/Blu-ray or CD).

Use the eBay shipping calculator to find rates:

https://www.ebay.ca/shp/calc/rates

[flipistics]

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@musicyouneed wrote:

I have been using a service to take my CD/DVD sales over the border (Chit Chat prev Books to the Border) for 10 years.  I haven't used Canada Post for that forever.    I have been paying $8.73 CDN for 1 item at chitchats.  I don't know how Chit Chats will be affected so I am just getting prepared.  I will have to update my shipping policies.  My questions are:

1)  What is the actual cost of shipping a CD/DVD through Canada post to the USA?

2)  Do you use shipping service on eBay or something else?

3)  Do the labels print out on 6" by 3" Zebra or do I have to use paper and then tape it down?

4)  Any other things I should be aware of?

Your help is appreciated.

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eBay's tracked packet negotiated rate with Canada Post for items up to 250g is about $8 (give or take a few cents). You can use the Shipping Calculator to get the exact amount for your area). The labels print out on a 4"x6" standard label.

Sendle appears to have disabled US shipping this morning.

ShippingChimp appears to have disabled all foreign shipping this morning.

EasyShip appears to be between $10 and $11 for tracked packet.

Note that the prices may change dramatically in the next few days, or Canada Post might ban US shipments all-together for the next while if there's no process in place to comply with whatever the new requirements are. We have no idea.

[dinomitesales]

I send a lot of media to the States. Most CDs/DVDs/Video Games cost around $8 or so via eBay's negotiated Canada Post Tracked Packet rates. Label needs to be purchased directly through eBay; can print on whatever paper you like - I use 4x6" thermal labels.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I print Tracked Packet on eBay. It is $7.25 under 100g, $8.09 under 250g, $9.91 under 500g, $12.82 under 1KG, $16.10 under 1.5KG, and $19.40 under 2KG. Anything above 2KG has to go Canada Post Expedited, but that won't be relevant to media. Most DVDs or CDs will be 250g or less, so $8.09.

The great thing about Tracked Packet is that it is one price regardless of where it goes. That makes it very easy to plan your prices around. The price does seem to change periodically. Someone else more knowledgeable about Canada Post could likely give you more details about how often it changes. 

To use Tracked Packet printed by eBay you do not need a Zebra printer. Unless you have other eBay accounts where you do additional sales, I would not buy a Zebra printer with your volume. If you do not own a printer, you can use a QR code provided to you to print the label for free at a Canada Post branch after you purchase it on eBay. If you prefer to drop your packages in a mail box, then look into either a monochrome laser printer, or a max capacity inkjet printer. Both will be very economical, and you will get more value out of them because you can use them for other everyday tasks. You can get free pouches for labels from Canada Post. If you ask at a local Canada Post branch for a reasonable amount, they might just give them to you there, but you can order a few hundred online every quarter for free.

You can also obviously tape the labels to the bubble mailer, or if you use white envelopes and can figure out how to get them into your printer without jamming you can print directly on to your envelope. I just find this to be a huge waste of tape when Canada Post gives out pouches for free. 

You do need a scale to weigh things, but if you are only selling CDs, almost every CD in a jewel case is going to be between 100g-250g packaged so you're probably safe to put 250g as the weight. If you are under, Canada Post will adjust the price. It won't get returned to sender. With that said, a scale is $10 so it's worth getting if you don't have one. 

Ultimately, it's super easy. It's cheaper than Chit Chats, and for a lot of people dropping stuff in a Canada Post box is very convenient. There isn't a lot to know.

[flipistics]

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@ilikehockeyjerseys wrote:

The great thing about Tracked Packet is that it is one price regardless of where it goes. That makes it very easy to plan your prices around. The price does seem to change periodically. Someone else more knowledgeable about Canada Post could likely give you more details about how often it changes. 

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It changes weekly depending on fuel surcharge changes. It usually only changes by a few cents though (in either direction).

[recped]

Here's a bit of (maybe) help......

Until the US makes a final decision on the Diminimus exemption the future for you is unclear. If the exemption remains at $800 then nothing will likely change for most sellers. If the exemption is set bvack to what it was up until 20916 (ie US$200) many sellers will not see any changes.

If the exemption goes to zero then anybody shipping to US buyers will have issues.

I do not know (I doubt anyone does at this) what will happen if the exemption is completely eliminated. I do know for sure that it completely goes away the US will be spending a lot of money to collect tiny amounts of duties. I could be no different that importing into Canada, customs in Canada simply ignore low value packages where tax/duty collected nowhere near covers the cost of collecting.

[musicyouneed]

Thanks for your detailed response.  Do you know what HS Tarriff code for CD's DVD's is?  Also if the CD is made in the US, do I put that, or do I just leave as Canada?

[flipistics]

You always enter the country the item was made in, not where you're shipping it from.

I use 8523.49 for CDs and DVDs, but you should verify that for yourself.

[musicyouneed]

I am surprised that shipping through Canada Post is cheaper than using Chit Chats.  I think that the only advantage using Chit Chats would be if I am shipping more than one CD.

[musicyouneed]

Hi thanks, I tried to enter that code 8523.49 and it wouldn't accept that code.  

[recped]

I ship via Stallion.....US delivery in 4 - 5 days in most cases

If I was shipping through Canada Post the odds of it getting there in that timeframe is slim to none.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

You enter the country where the item is made.

The Canada Post website has a page for looking up HS Codes: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/information/app/wtz/business/findHsCode?execution=e1s1

[blkdog444]

 Tracked Packet on eBay.