Help: Sending letter mail with tracking?

[phoenixhobbies]

Hello, I am trying to figure out and find answers to shipping hand made custom art standard sized trading cards... I'm hoping you can help...

I have heard in the last couple years, Canada Post is cracking down on anything not paper in stamp letter mail and returning to sender because you have to declare what is inside with tracking?

I make and sell hand made custom art standard size trading cards and am currently sending via "Snail Mail" letter mail with stamps. 1 stamp within Canada, and 2 stamps to the US. I am having multiple complaints about buyers not receiving their card after 15 business days from when I put it in the mailbox, from Canadian and US buyers. I read that even letter mail commonly gets held and delayed for weeks. None have ever been returned to me, thankful, -knock on wood-...

I would like to use tracking, but the cheapest rate within Canada is usually around $18.00 even with a small business/seller account discount. No one would buy my cards at that rate... Is their some how such a thing as cheaper tracking for letter mail? I know about "registered mail" but unsure how that works or how to create it online.

(Off topic, why is shipping more expensive within Canada than shipping to the US? I understand location, but an average of $18.00 within Canada and an average of $9.00 to the US, I've noticed in the past from selling and shipping lots...) But, I digress...

I use 5x7/A7/(invitation) envelope and use red "Do Not Bend" stickers on them, under the destination address far apart to hopefully not confuse the sorting and for the barcode that gets printed at the bottom of the envelope. I use printed sticker address labels, and another red "Do Not Bend" sticker on the middle back of the envelope (To show the buyer I'm putting care into my packaging/save my bacon lol)...

I make sure, what I believe the machine would read, the address is in correct order to not confuse sorting, ("House number">"Road name">"City"> "Province/State">"Postal/Zip code">"Country") all line by line. I use packing tape on the back outer part of the envelope to give it a secure seal, but I've been doing that for years and never had an issue before.

I do put my cards in a thin plastic trading card "top loader" to prevent bending/folding upon arrival, but the thickness different is not much. The end result thickness of my envelope is approximately 3mm? Again never had issues in the past with that. People seemed to receive the envelope within 7 business days.

Any ideas on what I can do, or am I at a loss and their is no such thing as cheap letter mail tracking and nothing you can really do to fast track letter mail delivery?

Thank you for your time and help, much appreciate.

[flipistics]

Wow, there's a lot here. I'll see what I can try to answer.

In Canada you can send anything via oversized lettermail that fits the size requirements and isn't prohibited or dangerous to the workers and machinery. Regular lettermail may be a little more restricted as it goes through the automatic sorting machines and has to be able to bend a bit around them.

For the USA, they've cracked down on it hard and only paper is allowed. If you have anything more rigid in there at all, it may be refused. If it's something commercial, I believe it has to include the proper paperwork even if it's lettermail.

You should not have issues in Canada with delivery. If you are, there's something else that's wrong. I send a lot of CDs and DVDs out via oversized lettermail, and I think I've had 3 not arrive or be late in the past 2 years. Almost all the comments I get mention fast shipping.

For registered mail in Canada, you can pick up registered stickers from the PO. I think you either have to pay over the counter when you mail the item, or you can pay online if you have a small business account. If online, you use the Electronic Shipping Tools (EST) to do it. I'd recommend also using postal indicia so you don't have to constantly stock the correct stamps. The cost to ship registered is $9.75 + regular postage. Honestly, you probably shouldn't bother unless it's an expensive sale.

Shipping to the States is cheaper because of some kind of postal deal we have with them. I agree that it doesn't make sense. It's really no different than someone from the UK being able to ship a small item across the ocean to our door here in Canada for cheaper than someone sending the same item from one town over within Canada (and we won't even mention the cheap shipping from China).

This is how to correctly address lettermail (it sounds like you may be doing it wrong, which may be affecting your delivery times):

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/kb/addressing/accuracy/addressing-mail-accurat...

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/articles/addressing-guidelines/canadian-addres...

I'm not currently selling cards (but I plan to sell things like postcards soon), and I plan to send them out in small stayflats as oversized lettermail. I don't want them to bend around the machinery.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Are you receiving only complaints of slow delivery, or are there cases of non delivery too?

I've no idea what a "standard" art card is in terms of format or size but if a 5 x7 invitation envelope is needed, the total weight could easily exceed 50 grams.

Are you weighing these, or having them weighed at the post office?
If they are being deposited in any convenient red CP box, those 5x7 fairly hefty envelopes are juicy targets to be pulled out of the mainstream for closer examination. That means someone, somewhere is going to eventually check the weight and postage. If any exceed 50 g they cannot be sent regular mail even if all dimensions are appropriate for regular mail. My point is even if your letters are found to conform In every regard checked mail is delayed to some degree. You didn't mention any returned mail, so it is being sent on it's way.

The postage comments are confusing, 1 stamp for Canada, 2 for the USA .... that doesn't sound right. What sort of stamp for what sort of weight are you using?

[femmefan1946]

WITHIN CANADA

You can send your products letter rate if they are less than 2cm thick and less than 500gr in weight.

The actual postage rate will vary with the weight.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/letters-mail/letter-size.page

TRACKING  WITHIN CANADA

You can Register your "letter" for $9.75.

You cannot buy a shipping label for letter rates or for Registration online. You have to go to the PO and buy over the counter.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/information/app/far/business/farLetter?execution=e3s1

Your Solutions for Small Business number will not get you a discount on these.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/business/small-business.page?

If your "letter" is between 200gr and 500gr Regular /Expedited Parcel maybe cheaper.

OUTSIDE CANADA

You must not use Letter Rates for shipment outside of Canada.

TRACKING OUTSIDE CANADA

Small Packet is NOT tracked.

Parcel rates vary with weight,dimensions and DESTINATION

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/information/app/far/business/findARate?execution=e4s1

These labels can be purchased online.

Use your SfSB account number.

You get a better discount buying through eBay and printing at home than you will at the PO counter.

There is no tracking on "letters".

Registration is not reliably tracked outside of Canada.  There is an old joke in the mail order biz that "Registered Mail" is foreign for "Steal Me".

I read that even letter mail commonly gets held and delayed for weeks.

Man bites dog is a headline. We hear about the unusual.

But in my 35+years in mail order, I allow 21 days for delivery between the USA and Canada-- going in either direction. It's normally faster but if you expect three weeks and it arrives in nine days, you are happy. If you expect five day delivery and it arrives in six, you are unhappy.

and another red "Do Not Bend" sticker on the middle back of the envelope (To show the buyer I'm putting care into my packaging

This will not impress the machinery and most of the handling your envelope gets is automated.

You need to use a strong stiffener, because the carrier on the last leg of the journey, normally separates mail for each household, then rolls them all together with an elastic band.

I would suggest Corplast which is lighter and stronger than corrugated cardboard. But it is expensive.

https://www.uline.ca/BL_1854/Plastic-Corrugated-Pads?pricode=DC492&AdKeyword=coroplast&AdMatchtype=e...

Corplast is what is used for lot of temporary street signs- like election signs.

Or use two pieces of corrugated card with the corrugations at  a 90degree angle.

Your card holder does the same job, I guess. (Others will read these posts who sell different products.)

their is no such thing as cheap letter mail tracking and nothing you can really do to fast track letter mail delivery?

Exactly.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Lettermail within Canada is extremely reliable. You can send merchandise lettermail within Canada. For International lettermail (USA, etc), you cannot send merchandise. You need to send that using a parcel service like Small Packet Air or Tracked Packet. That way, you can declare the contents. 

The only reason I can think of that you might experience delays in Canada is if you aren't putting the appropriate amount of postage on the letter, and it has been returned to you. Returns can take 1-4 weeks from when you originally sent out the letter. A toploader in a PWE likely qualifies for 1 stamp without anything else in the envelope. If a toploader in a bubble mailer is thicker than 17mm, it would technically require 2 P-stamps (or 1.94). 

The other reason you might have complaints about items not arriving is because you set up your listings with "lettermail" as the shipping service shown on eBay. When someone buys your item, eBay tells them it will arrive by a certain date. They base this information on which shipping service you state will be used. Their lettermail option causes sellers lots of problems because the time frame is shorter than actual lettermail time frames. Canada Post does not guarantee lettermail delivery dates. While most items get delivered within 7-9 business days, it's normal for items to take a little bit longer. Under your shipping policies, change the shipping service so that it is a generic economy service. Lettermail is economy, and you will show your buyer a more realistic timeframe. There is one within Canada that quotes 18 business days. Along with 3 days of handling, that's about 30 days in a worst case scenario. A buyer will see that when they check out, and if their item takes a few weeks to arrive, they will expect it and won't assume that the item is lost. With the lettermail shipping service, when the item doesn't arrive in a week or two, they will panic and assume the item is lost because eBay's checkout told them that it would arrive by then.

There is also a chance that you had people claim an item didn't arrive, when it actually did. This does happen from time to time. but most people who use lettermail will tell you this is extremely rare. If you're getting a high amount of claims within Canada from all different people, I would assume it's more likely that something is wrong on your end.

For USA shipping, look into Chit Chat or Stallion. 

[femmefan1946]

The value of a P stamps is 92c.

If you buy one there will be services charges added.

If you buy a booklet there will be sales tax.

But the actual postage value is 92c.

You could mail  a letter weighing 29gr anywhere in Canada using two 46c stamps. Or an 80c stamp and a 12c stamp.

Fighting an ongoing battle.

[phoenixhobbies]

Oh, forgot to mention the envelope with card total weight is 17 grams.

[phoenixhobbies]

Forgot to mention my tottal envelope weight is 17 grams.

[brettjet38]

When sending a letter under 30 g it "Must display $1.07 or 1 "P" stamp. Stamp rate $1.07" 

The Postal Rate is $1.07 not .92c

When you mail a letter 30g or less you must put $1.07 in asst stamps or ONE P Stamp.

The value of a P stamps is 92c.

WRONG you are getting a discount to buy a pack of six, but the value of each is $1.07 

If you buy one there will be services charges added.

If you buy a booklet there will be sales tax.

But the actual postage value is 92c.

WRONG it is $1.07

You could mail  a letter weighing 29gr anywhere in Canada using two 46c stamps. Or an 80c stamp and a 12c stamp.

WRONG the label Canada Post sticks to returned mail says "Insufficient postage must display $1.07 or 1 "P" stamp. Stamp rate $1.07" you cannot use asst stamps for only .92c.

Fighting an ongoing battle. - There is no battle, people just do not read the rules...

How much does it cost to mail a letter in Canada in 2023?

The cost of a Canadian stamp for postage within Canada is $1.07 for a postage stamp.

If you purchase stamps in a booklet, the price drops to $0.92 per stamp, but the value of each P stamp is $1.07, the current postal rate.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Hard to believe, but it seems you in fact do not understand the "rules". The postage value of a P stamp is currently 0.92, end of story.

Example
If I choose to use a P stamp in combination with other stamps for a piece of Regular 30g Letter-Post USA, the P stamp has a face value of 0.92, an additional 0.38 postage is required.
.92 + .38 = 1.30

[brettjet38]

No it is not & it is you who are clearly out of the loop...

[brettjet38]

No the P stamp has a value of $1.07 or whatever the new rate will be shortly.

What are PERMANENT stamps and where can I use them?

The PERMANENT™ stamp, identified with the letter P in place of a value, is always accepted at the current domestic postage price. If you buy a PERMANENT stamp today, you can use it anytime in the future.

One PERMANENT stamp can be used to mail a letter (weighing up to 30 grams) anywhere in Canada. You can also use PERMANENT stamps in conjunction with additional postage to mail larger letters, parcels or to send mail internationally.

The current domestic postal rate is $1.07 that is what a P stamp is worth when used in conjuction with other stamps, BTW

[marnotom!]

This was settled before Christmas thanks to some inside information from a reliable source:

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/CP-30g-Lettermail-Rate-What-is-it-1-07-or-0-92-The-quot-...

Single stamps are sold at a “premium” rate over the regular rate applied to stamps sold in booklets, coils or sheets.

[brettjet38]

I use facts taken from the Canada Post site, your "relieble source" is wrong as are you.

The P stamp has a value of the current postal rate of $1.07 no matter how you use them, period.

But, if you want to add more postage and waste your money go right ahead...

[brettjet38]

Single stamps are sold at a “premium” rate over the regular rate - NO THEY ARE NOT!

The current Postal Rate is $1.07, the current value of ANY "P" Stamp no matter how old or new it is and no matter what format you purchased it in, single, book or a roll thay all have a value of $1.07 EACH

[mrdutch1001]

Tracked Packet up to 100g weight to the USA is similar price to that of Small Packet of same weight when applying the Canada Post SFSB discount.

[femmefan1946]

When you buy a single P stamp you ALSO pay tax and a service charge.

The price of the stamp is 92c. The tax and service charge adds another 15c to the cost.

Put two 46c stamps on an envelope.  The counter clerk will  postmark them without complaint.

Because the price of postage is 92c.

Put an 80c and a 12c stamp on an envelope.

The counter clerk will  postmark them without complaint.

Because the price of postage is 92c.

Put a 2c stamp on an envelope and a 47c stamp and a 45c stamp.

The counter clerk will  postmark them without complaint.

Because the price of postage is 92c.

[brettjet38]

How much is a stamp in Canada 2023?

$1.07

Canada Post has announced that postal rates for all classes and sizes of letters and some services will increase for postage meter on Monday, 9 January 2023.

Single paper stamp for domestic standard letter 0-30g is $1.07.

Not .92c, you need to stop rehashing incorrect information to people...

[marnotom!]

---

@brettjet38 wrote:

How much is a stamp in Canada 2023?

$1.07

Canada Post has announced that postal rates for all classes and sizes of letters and some services will increase for postage meter on Monday, 9 January 2023.

Single paper stamp for domestic standard letter 0-30g is $1.07.

Not .92c, you need to stop rehashing incorrect information to people...

---

You need to read that thread that I linked to before you embarass yourself further.  Yes, $1.07 is the single stamp price, but if you buy a stamp pretty much every other way, the value of the stamp is considered to be 92 cents and a P stamp on an envelope will count as 92 cents towards the postage paid for the letter.

Believe me, I used to think the same as you, that 92 cents was considered a "discounted" rate, but the information I found to support my contention just doesn't exist.

The thread I linked to is filled with links to the Canada Post website and screenshots of Canada Post reference manuals.  You don't have to take my word or anybody else's word for it if you really don't want to, but if you're looking for hard evidence, read the thread. 

[brettjet38]

@marnotom! "P stamp on an envelope will count as 92 cents towards the postage paid for the letter."

No. it counts as a $1.07 towards the postage for the letter, I know I do it 

So for an oversized letter I use one P stamp (1.07) and stamps to make up the other .87c = $1.94

Every single "P" stamp has the value of the current postal rate $1.07.

What are PERMANENT stamps and where can I use them?

The PERMANENT™ stamp, identified with the letter P in place of a value, is always accepted at the current domestic postage price ($1.07).

If you buy a PERMANENT stamp today, you can use it anytime in the future.

One PERMANENT stamp can be used to mail a letter (weighing up to 30 grams) anywhere in Canada.

You can also use PERMANENT stamps (and it always has the current value) in conjunction with additional postage to mail larger letters, parcels or to send mail internationally.