Has anyone successfully shipped an item to the Canadian eIS hub via Canada Post Lettermail?

[ecgt]

Trying to figure out if anyone has successfully had an item arrive at the Canadian eIS hub using Canada Post Lettermail.

We emailed eis@ebay.ca on October 19, 2025, looking for clarification concerning the Lettermail issue and have not heard back (other than receiving an automatic reply).

People's attempts to contact ebay employees, such as devon@ebay.com, have not received a response.

Since eBay has decided to completely ignore inquiries about this issue so far, we are considering taking a leap of faith an trying to ship to the hub via Lettermail.

Please let us know what your experience has been if you have tried to ship to the hub via Lettermail. Has anyone had any success doing so?

[brock-2115]

I'm wondering the same. 

If lettermail to the hub is not allowed, then how does ebay determine the amount to charge the buyer for tracked shipping to the hub? Since the listing doesn't have dimensions provided.

[recped]

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@brock-2115 wrote:

I'm wondering the same. 

If lettermail to the hub is not allowed, then how does ebay determine the amount to charge the buyer for tracked shipping to the hub? Since the listing doesn't have dimensions provided.

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EIS simply uses your domestic shipping charge and then adds what they think is appropriate to ship from the hub to the buyer, then they add any tariffs or taxes and that is what they charge the buyer.

If you are using flat rate shipping and no dimensions/weight are provided then EIS simply makes a guess based on the Category used for the listing.

Of course their guesses are almost certainly be on the high side and this is one of the reasons why the EIS charges can be ridiculously high especially for very light weight (and compact) items.

To ensure that EIS does not grossly overcharge buyers sellers should ensure that the weight & dimensions are given for all listings regardless if they are Calculated or Flat Rate.

[mrdutch1001]

"Lettermail" can only be used for shipments within Canada...so how does one expect to utilize "lettermail" for goods/merchandise destined for USA and/or other International destinations?

[recped]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

"Lettermail" can only be used for shipments within Canada...so how does one expect to utilize "lettermail" for goods/merchandise destined for USA and/or other International destinations?

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Because shipping to the EIS hub IS a domestic shipment. EIS will be the exporter and they will not be using Canada Post.

[ecgt]

The hub is in Mississauga. We can ship to the hub using Lettermail for this reason. However, eBay has not provided any guidance concerning whether or not they will accept Lettermail shipping to the hub in Mississauga, or if we have to ship using a trackable method.

[marnotom!]

I'm 80% certain that there was once a clause in the US eIS seller terms and conditions for sellers that explicitly stated that sellers had to use a trackable shipping method (or a shipping method with delivery confirmation) to get their items to the Illinois hub, but it’s not there now.

I’m 99% certain after checking the equivalent T&C for the Canadian version that there is also no explicitly stated condition in the “program rules.”

I did wonder if I was confusing the US eIS seller T&C with those of the old Global Shipping Program, and then I remembered that the GSP didn’t have a formal set of T&C for sellers the way eIS does.

[ypdc_dennis]

If lettermail is accepted it will have to have the eIS code (that lets them know which eBay sale it is) as part of the address. Although, eBay should be showing that to the Seller as part of the shipping process.

Lettermail would also need to be handled manually since it has no barcode. Tracked items will have labels that can be scanned to help automate the eIS processing.

[dinomitesales]

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@ypdc_dennis wrote:

If lettermail is accepted it will have to have the eIS code (that lets them know which eBay sale it is) as part of the address. Although, eBay should be showing that to the Seller as part of the shipping process.

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Yes, this is already implemented. The shipping address you're told to send your parcel to contains a line with a unique code that links your parcel to a specific eIS transaction.

There is no logistical reason why Lettermail items can't be used for eIS; the only reason I can fathom is that it might increase processing time per item at the hub, but that's only speculation because we have no idea what the actual procedures are for processing an eIS shipment at the hub.

The fact that eIS has been operational for nearly two weeks now and there has been zero statements on the matter makes it seem like it's not an issue (not to mention it's not called out in any official eBay pages or FAQ). Just think of the hundreds if not thousands of people who were enrolled in eIS and didn't even notice, or don't pay attention to these things. Surely there are many sellers utilizing Lettermail that just blindly sent off items to the hub without even thinking otherwise because no one told them it would be an issue.

We just need first-hand reports now to see how it's all going to work. There are a few people here and in the Facebook groups that are being guinea pigs (I'd do it myself if I was enrolled) - hopefully it all works out!

[dinomitesales]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

"Lettermail" can only be used for shipments within Canada...so how does one expect to utilize "lettermail" for goods/merchandise destined for USA and/or other International destinations?

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I think you're confused as to how the eBay International Shipping program works.

The service used to get the item to the domestic hub has nothing to do with the service used to get the item from the hub to the buyer. Just because something is mailed domestically to the hub in Mississauga via Lettermail doesn't mean eBay is obligated to forward it internationally using the same service.

[msau4301]

Just a thought since this has made me question something. If it is sent lettermail would it be sent with customs information somewhere? Inside the package that would need to be opened?

When we print a label with tracking, I thought the contents/customs information was known with the bar code. Will the eIS code tell them what is in side and the COO? Or do they have to open package to determine?

Way back I do remember buying items with Global Shipping and when they got to me they were in a Pitney Bowes box which would lead me to believe the hub opened the sellers package, checked it and repackage/relabelled to me from there. If this was to be done with every package when things got busy that would be crazy. For this reason I think the tracked/labeled package would pass through faster if that barcode has all the info but I'm not certain.

[byto253]

Wonder if the EIS code provided is scannable at the EIS?  I can't imagine them hand entering codes into a system to generate labels for forwarding.  In that case lettermail or parcel should not make a difference but it would be good to know for sure.  

devon@ebay.com can you check into this?

[marnotom!]

My understanding from the FAQ is that eIS only opens packages in rare circumstances. GSP packages were opened for inspection more frequently because the importance of having the item’s COO in the Item Specifics section of the listing was never successfully communicated to US buyers.

My understanding is that the code on the mailing label connects to a file on the item with the information the hub requires for a customs manifest or whatevz. I’m wondering if some of the delays at the hub we hear about for US eIS items are due to incomplete information in this file.

[reallynicestamps]

If this was to be done with every package when things got busy that would be crazy. For this reason I think the tracked/labeled package would pass through faster if that barcode has all the info but I'm not certain.

Good point .

Opening and repacking a package would take twice as long as the seller needed. Not to mention checking the required information. 

[chicweb]

I don't even think the tracking is used to link an item to an order... Since the code is in the address (with tracking or not), then it would be way more efficient for them to have an automated system that reads the addresses for all the packages (tracked or not).

Postal systems already has this (address scanner for lettermail that detects the postal code, as an example). It wouldn't be that hard to have an automated system to detect their special code on a label.

[byto253]

That is what I was thinking.  The Canada Post barcode is for CP to prove delivery, and the tracking number will not necessarily correspond to the ebay order info either since not everyone will use ebay labels. 

I expect that at the hub they scan or enter the EIS number.  It is the only way to be certain the parcel is connected to the final correct destination address.  I hope that there is a scanning system, manual for speed and accuracy would be scary.

[dinomitesales]

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@msau4301 wrote:

Just a thought since this has made me question something. If it is sent lettermail would it be sent with customs information somewhere? Inside the package that would need to be opened?

When we print a label with tracking, I thought the contents/customs information was known with the bar code. Will the eIS code tell them what is in side and the COO? Or do they have to open package to determine?

Way back I do remember buying items with Global Shipping and when they got to me they were in a Pitney Bowes box which would lead me to believe the hub opened the sellers package, checked it and repackage/relabelled to me from there. If this was to be done with every package when things got busy that would be crazy. For this reason I think the tracked/labeled package would pass through faster if that barcode has all the info but I'm not certain.

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These are just domestic transactions so they don't require any customs information to be in the package or on the label. Any customs-related information that eBay requires for the international leg of the journey is taken from your eBay listing. Or, failing that, they open the package and inspect the item themselves.

The question then becomes: how exactly does eBay link a specific package to a specific eBay transaction? There is a unique identifier in the address that you are told to include. So either eBay is using some sort of optical recognition technology to grab that identifier, or someone is manually typing it into their computer system at the hub. For barcoded items It's likely that they also have a method to scan the barcode and automatically link a tracking number to a specific transaction.