New Canada Post Discount for SfSB Members Feb 17 - Apr 27, 2025 | PARCEL Rates As Low As $3.50?

[dinomitesales]

Here's an interesting tidbit of info that was sent to post offices on Feb 14. I've posted the relevant text below:

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Solutions for Small Business™ (SfSB) reduced rates on Expedited Parcel and Tracked Packet USA starting February 17

From February 17 to April 27, 2025, Canada Post Solutions for SfSB customers without a commercial parcel agreement may be eligible to receive an exclusive new discount.

What you need to know

• Expedited Parcel Discount:

  • Lightweight (for items under 500g) – discount of up to a 70% saving off counter rates where customers may see shipments as low as $3.50.

  • 10% to 20% off some current shipping rates when shipping an item that is up to 5kg.

• Tracked Packet USA Discount:

  • Up to 46% discount for Tracked Packet USA (Valid until June 25, 2025).

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A few notes from me:

• The first line says "customers without a commercial parcel agreement may be eligible to receive an exclusive new discount". I don't know why they chose to use the word "may" - there is no clarification on why anyone would be excluded from the promotion. I would expect anyone reading this would be eligible for the discount provided you have a SfSB account.
• Obviously the highest discounts (they call out $3.50) are going to be for very light items shipping within your own city or local area, but even still this could theoretically be cheaper than Lettermail... definitely seems like it should be cheaper than Expedited Lite (and good up to 500g).
• It's not clear if this is going to be available for labels purchased online, although I can't imagine why it wouldn't; whether or not it will be available to external shipping label platforms like eBay Labels is also unclear - we'll have to wait to see what eBay shows on Monday. This could be a "SnapShip only" promotion, or it could just be baked into Canada Post's API in which case the discounts should also show on eBay.
• The "up to 46% discount for Tracked Packet USA" isn't all that relevant to us, as I'm fairly certain the eBay negotiated Tracked Packet rates we get through eBay Labels is greater than 46%. For example, the "counter rate" of a Tracked Packet under 100g is $13.80 - 46% off of that would be $7.45, but eBay Labels is giving it to us for $6.35 (not factoring in fuel surcharge, of course).
• Unclear if this stacks with the current 10% off promotion for postage purchased at the post office counter, currently in effect until the end of February.

[greenssales]

Was this only sent to employees at the post offices? I can't find anything on the Canada Post website about this.

Hopefully it will apply to labels purchased online and not just counter rates. It would be a headache for everyone to have small business account holders showing up to the counter with dozens of packages to be labeled and paid for.

[ricarmic]

Us stamps on the box kinda folks hope it includes us too!!!

PS I've yet to figure out how the 10% off works, my calculations are different than the "machines" so far....but I've only had a couple to test it so far....makes it a pain to have to stick more on at the post office (so far I've thought I get a wee bit more off than the system is expecting)

[sin-n-dex]

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@greenssales wrote:

Was this only sent to employees at the post offices? I can't find anything on the Canada Post website about this.

Hopefully it will apply to labels purchased online and not just counter rates. It would be a headache for everyone to have small business account holders showing up to the counter with dozens of packages to be labeled and paid for.

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Oh I sincerely hope they don't require waiting in line at the counter for these discounts... there's a chatty Kathy at the post office I use and it takes her 20-30 minutes to do half a dozen parcels for someone who comes in completely unprepared (which is a lot of times). I put stamps on mine, so I can usually get away with dropping things off and leaving.

C.

[dinomitesales]

We get sent things like this at the post office before they're announced to the public. There’s no indication this is an “unadvertised sale” like the 10% February discount, so I would expect Canada Post to send out an email on it by the end of the weekend, or Monday at the latest.

[dinomitesales]

There’s no easy way to figure this out. The main problem is with the way the discount is applied on the computer, it’s done so at the very end of the transaction just before payment is collected, not during the actual “Ship It” process on the computer.

So when the clerk is at the screen where they enter the amount of pre-applied postage, they’re doing so against the pre-discount price. So if you apply 10% less postage to your parcel, and the clerk enters the actual amount of postage you’ve applied, then technically the transaction is going to proceed with you still owing money on the label.

I don’t think Canada Post even thought about how this would work for those who pay for their parcels entirely with pre-applied postage.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@dinomitesales wrote:

Here's an interesting tidbit of info that was sent to post offices on Feb 14. I've posted the relevant text below:

----------------------------

Solutions for Small Business™ (SfSB) reduced rates on Expedited Parcel and Tracked Packet USA starting February 17

From February 17 to April 27, 2025, Canada Post Solutions for SfSB customers without a commercial parcel agreement may be eligible to receive an exclusive new discount.

What you need to know

• Expedited Parcel Discount:

  • Lightweight (for items under 500g) – discount of up to a 70% saving off counter rates where customers may see shipments as low as $3.50.

  • 10% to 20% off some current shipping rates when shipping an item that is up to 5kg.

• Tracked Packet USA Discount:

  • Up to 46% discount for Tracked Packet USA (Valid until June 25, 2025).

----------------------------

A few notes from me:

• The first line says "customers without a commercial parcel agreement may be eligible to receive an exclusive new discount". I don't know why they chose to use the word "may" - there is no clarification on why anyone would be excluded from the promotion. I would expect anyone reading this would be eligible for the discount provided you have a SfSB account.
• Obviously the highest discounts (they call out $3.50) are going to be for very light items shipping within your own city or local area, but even still this could theoretically be cheaper than Lettermail... definitely seems like it should be cheaper than Expedited Lite (and good up to 500g).
• It's not clear if this is going to be available for labels purchased online, although I can't imagine why it wouldn't; whether or not it will be available to external shipping label platforms like eBay Labels is also unclear - we'll have to wait to see what eBay shows on Monday. This could be a "SnapShip only" promotion, or it could just be baked into Canada Post's API in which case the discounts should also show on eBay.
• The "up to 46% discount for Tracked Packet USA" isn't all that relevant to us, as I'm fairly certain the eBay negotiated Tracked Packet rates we get through eBay Labels is greater than 46%. For example, the "counter rate" of a Tracked Packet under 100g is $13.80 - 46% off of that would be $7.45, but eBay Labels is giving it to us for $6.35 (not factoring in fuel surcharge, of course).
• Unclear if this stacks with the current 10% off promotion for postage purchased at the post office counter, currently in effect until the end of February.

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@dinomitesales 

Interesting offering. It does sound very cloak and dagger mysterious! Needs to be a way for anyone hoping to test, a way to test by pre-purchasing. In trying to test with the stand alone calculator (was being hopelessly optimistic) it shows a 450 gram package from my address to my address at 15.59 Reg. Parcel. Tracked parcel same weight 22.59.  Testing signed in to my small business account gives an error message for both Canada and USA.

[ypdc_dennis]

These rates will not be showing on the Canada Post website until after midnight on Sunday. So no way to test until then.

[38e_avenue]

I have a few TP labels to be printed tomorrow morning. I will let you know, what will be the charge (for now, it's $7.29). 

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

The issue is the up-to designation and vague terms. So I won't get my hopes up because it sounds too good to be true.

They also blur the lines a bit if the rates advertised in the post don't include the fuel surcharge. My guess would be the 500g would be a similar service to Expedited Lite. Raising Expedited Lite to 500g, or introducing a similar servivce with a 500g limit could be a game changer if that is the case. 

Ultimately, if this results in people being able to get rates similar to eBay Tracked Packet and Expedited Lite at the counter, where they can use discount postage, I can see this being a big deal for sellers who do that. 

[reallynicestamps]

My local Postal Outlet has an in-house printed notice on their counter about February discounts.

I haven't paid much attention (stamps on the envelope, again) but I wonder if specific Outlets get special deals from time to time?

My PO is a PharmaSave.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@ilikehockeyjerseys wrote:

The issue is the up-to designation and vague terms. So I won't get my hopes up because it sounds too good to be true.

They also blur the lines a bit if the rates advertised in the post don't include the fuel surcharge. My guess would be the 500g would be a similar service to Expedited Lite. Raising Expedited Lite to 500g, or introducing a similar servivce with a 500g limit could be a game changer if that is the case. 

Ultimately, if this results in people being able to get rates similar to eBay Tracked Packet and Expedited Lite at the counter, where they can use discount postage, I can see this being a big deal for sellers who do that. 

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@dinomitesales 

@38e_avenue 

@ilikehockeyjerseys 

@ypdc_dennis 

3 Recent Ex. Lite packages from Alberta. All approx. 150 grams. Feb.

Quebec - 8.02

BC - 8.00

E. Ont - 8.46

USA Tracked

100 grams - 7.22

150 Grams - 8.05

400 Gram Package to down the street. Was 15.59

If there was a bit of ummm consistency/transparent explanation to actual amount charged that would be extremely helpful.

In testing the system now it appears those discounts HAVE been turned on. (eBay Calculator Tool and calculated shipping.) The 400 gram shipment that would have been 15.59 is now showing 11.00.

The formerly 7.22 tracked to USA is now 7.29. 8.05 updated is 8.29.

[38e_avenue]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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The formerly 7.22 tracked to USA is now 7.29. 8.05 updated is 8.29.

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TP price changes constantly and is adjusted (fuel surcharge?) every 2 weeks or so. 

[ricarmic]

@38e_avenue fuel surcharge changes every week, here's the link to it for anyone who needs it:

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/kb/company-policies/rates-taxes-surcharges/fue... 

[38e_avenue]

As expected. I don't really care if I pay 8 or 8.15.  

Our beloved CP provides more interesting puzzles to resolve 😉

I got 21 orders from a buyer (21 payments). I put all orders into one package, got 1 tracking number. 

Since CP allows to combine 5 orders only, the tracking was marked as valid 5 times, and 16 times as not valid. 

The result? I got 16 defects and will loose my TRS Plus status. 😉 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@38e_avenue wrote:

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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The formerly 7.22 tracked to USA is now 7.29. 8.05 updated is 8.29.

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TP price changes constantly and is adjusted (fuel surcharge?) every 2 weeks or so. 

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Shipments were a few days a part so not weeks. Important to note distance involved. Standard expedited is based on distance. With discrepancies BC shouldn't be the same as E. Ont/QC.

Explanation of charges eBay Labels - 

Carrier:

Canada Post

Estimated cost:

C $8.00

Estimate of charges CP - Real World

[flipistics]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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3 Recent Ex. Lite packages from Alberta. All approx. 150 grams. Feb.

Quebec - 8.02

BC - 8.00

E. Ont - 8.46

USA Tracked

100 grams - 7.22

150 Grams - 8.05

400 Gram Package to down the street. Was 15.59

If there was a bit of ummm consistency/transparent explanation to actual amount charged that would be extremely helpful.

In testing the system now it appears those discounts HAVE been turned on. (eBay Calculator Tool and calculated shipping.) The 400 gram shipment that would have been 15.59 is now showing 11.00.

The formerly 7.22 tracked to USA is now 7.29. 8.05 updated is 8.29.

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I haven't really seen any difference yet, but I'll probably wait until midnight to buy labels and check prices. I do know that Shipping Chimp has some insanely low prices for up to 500g (often equal to or cheaper than expedited lite within the same province, but more for greater distances). I wonder if they, along with eBay's expedited lite, were early tests for what Canada Post is going to be rolling out?

[sin-n-dex]

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@38e_avenue wrote:

As expected. I don't really care if I pay 8 or 8.15.  

Our beloved CP provides more interesting puzzles to resolve 😉

I got 21 orders from a buyer (21 payments). I put all orders into one package, got 1 tracking number. 

Since CP allows to combine 5 orders only, the tracking was marked as valid 5 times, and 16 times as not valid. 

The result? I got 16 defects and will loose my TRS Plus status. 😉 

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You can only put Canada Post Tracking on five orders? There's no limit on USPS as far as I know (I think I've had like 15 in one day, all paid separately). For CP I don't generally upload the tracking unless there's a need... like an INR. What happens if your buyer does an INR on 16 orders?

C.

[flipistics]

@38e_avenue  Can you not combine them using eBay's bulk shipping tool?

[38e_avenue]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

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You can only put Canada Post Tracking on five orders? There's no limit on USPS as far as I know (I think I've had like 15 in one day, all paid separately). For CP I don't generally upload the tracking unless there's a need... like an INR. What happens if your buyer does an INR on 16 orders?

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A good question, but fortunately the tracking works - it's only marked as "not validated".