New canadian sellers selling on ebay.com can sell and ship items to U.S buyers?

[treasuregalore2013]

Just wanted to know if a new Canadian seller that started selling on ebay.com is allowed to sell and ship items to U.S buyers?  Thanks in advance.

[femmefan1946]

Yes, but slow down.

Spend some time buying on eBay to get a feel for the site and for the customer experience.

This will also allow you to build feedback and customer confidence.

Sell low value items at first. Scammers watch for low feedback sellers and love to pounce.

You have 50 Free Auctions each month to wet your feet. Use them.

Don't try to pretend you are in the USA. Give the location of your product (not your location).

If you are selling on dotCOM, your biggest problem will be shipping. You will be forced to use Flat Rate Shipping which may cause some problems.

Pay close attention to the weight and dimensions of your parcels. Measure in metric. Canada Post rates have been based in metric since 1974 and any others you use will be inaccurate. This can be expensive.

[treasuregalore2013]

I have actually bought and sold some stuff on ebay but that was back in 2008 and for some reason i couldn't log on to that account so i had to create a new one.  

I like your idea of buying some stuff on ebay to build feedback.  I was thinking of selling low value items at first too.  Btw, should i be selling stuff on ebay.ca instead since the shipping costs is cheaper? (At least i think it is cheaper).  

Any other advice for a new seller?

[mr.elmwood]

Depending on the weight and size, shipping to the USA is cheaper. The market is much larger. I find that it is 20X larger.

Shipping vagaries cause a parcel to Hawaii, under 250 grams, to be about half the price of that to Whale Snot, NL.

Yes, I know, there is no such place. It is a euphemism for all remote addresses in Canada.

[femmefan1946]

 Btw, should i be selling stuff on ebay.ca instead since the shipping costs is cheaper?

Unless you are crossing the border to ship, you will be paying and charging Canada Post rates in either case.

If you list on eBaydotCOM, you will have to use Flat Rate Shipping, which will be problematical if you are using domestic parcel rates. (Works fine if your product can be shipped Letter Rate.)

On eBaydotCA ,you can use Calculated Shipping which , from an advertising point of view, looks more official to the buyer.

On both sites you can use US dollars, which Canadians understand. Americans understand only US dollars.

If you list on dotCA, and have both prices in US D, and shipping rates given to the USA, your items will show on dotCOM as well as on dotCA. Including to overseas customers who are more likely to shop on dotCOM than dotCA.

Americans are not only 10x our market, but are more willing to shop by mail/online than Canadians. One ot the things that makes us special.

[treasuregalore2013]

I forgot to mention that I found a company that crosses the border to ship but of course they charge a fee for that.

By the way, you said something earlier about listing where the product i'm selling is from and not where i'm from?  So lets say i have an item that says "New York casino and hotel", so even if i'm from Canada i have to say from U.S?  

[treasuregalore2013]

I forgot to mention that I found a company that crosses the border to ship but of course they charge a fee for that.

By the way, you said something earlier about listing where the product i'm selling is from and not where i'm from?  So lets say i have an item that says "New York casino and hotel", so even if i'm from Canada i have to say from U.S?  

Cause on the listing it says "item location" so wouldn't that mean where i'm selling it from and not where the location where the item says it is at?  So if i had another item that says for example (just a random example) "Australia casino and Hotel" but i'm from Canada that means i have to say item location is Australia? 

[rose-dee]

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@treasuregalore2013 wrote:

By the way, you said something earlier about listing where the product i'm selling is from and not where i'm from?  So lets say i have an item that says "New York casino and hotel", so even if i'm from Canada i have to say from U.S?  

Cause on the listing it says "item location" so wouldn't that mean where i'm selling it from and not where the location where the item says it is at?  So if i had another item that says for example (just a random example) "Australia casino and Hotel" but i'm from Canada that means i have to say item location is Australia? 

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The "item location" part of the description is intended to show the location from which the item will be shipped.  I don't quite understand your examples of casinos -- do you mean you're selling real estate?  In that case, obviously shipping isn't involved, but you'd need to check out the policies and restrictions for eBay's real estate listings.

It's possible to be located in one place (let's say Toronto, Canada), and have an item located in another (say, in a warehouse in some city in the US, or even another country), from which it will be shipped.  You'll see this often with US-based eBay sellers who actually ship from China, or vice-versa.  The "item location" information lets the buyer know where his/her purchase is coming from, how long it might take, and whether customs duties or taxes will be involved. 

It's helpful to be specific -- don't use vague, non-geographic locations like "Dealsville", "Discount City", "Sunny South", or similar useless descriptions that you see in some listings.  These tell buyers nothing about where their item is coming from, and may cause some to hit the "back" button. 

[treasuregalore2013]

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@rose-dee wrote:

The "item location" part of the description is intended to show the location from which the item will be shipped.  I don't quite understand your examples of casinos -- do you mean you're selling real estate?  In that case, obviously shipping isn't involved, but you'd need to check out the policies and restrictions for eBay's real estate listings.

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I only used the casino example because I had an item that was a New York hotel and Casino shot glass and wanted to ask about the item location which was why i put in the Australia casino and hotel item.  I could easily have said Australia's mug or cup.

The item i have is indeed from Markham, Canada.  I'm just giving it to a company who is going to drive to the states and then give the item to USPS.  So it should be ok to list the item as Markham, Canada since the item is with me?

[pjcdn2005]

It has nothing to do with where the item is originally from but where the item is being shipped from. I am guessing that in your situation, that you would mail the item in Canada if the buyer was in Canada. If you first send it to the U.S., then the item has to go through customs and then the Cdn buyer might have to pay extra taxes/duty etc. 

But if the buyer is in the U.S., and you or someone authorized by you is carrying that item to the U.S. to be shipped from there, the item is technically being  shipped form the U.S., not Canada. So...in your situation I would put both locations so that U.S. buyers would know their item is being shipped domestically and Cdn buyers would know their item is being shipped domestically. I've seen some sellers put something like....Niagara Falls NY/ Niagara Falls, ON

[treasuregalore2013]

But if i put something like, Niagara Falls NY/Niagara Falls, ON, wouldn't that just confuse people?  Should i also put in my description about the item that can be shipped from either Canada or U.S?  Or should i just leave it and people will understand? 

[femmefan1946]

Not really. BDR. Buyers Don't Read.

And anyone who is bright enough to actually read the shipping location is probably also bright enough to know how a border city works.

You have to protect yourself against the ones who read two words in the title and vaguely notice that there is a picture then bid,confirm the bid and finally read what they actually just promised to buy. Sigh. BDR.

So we'll integrate non-progressional evolution theory with God's creation of Eden. Eleven inherent metaphoric parallels already there. Eleven. Important number. Prime number. One goes into the house of eleven eleven times, but always comes out one. Noah's ark is a problem.- River Tam

[davickie]

Could you please expand on the flat rate shipping please? I am in Canada too and making fist steps selling on ebay.com. For example, I have listed an item and attempted to use the ebay.com calculator. It does not allow me to enter my Canadian zip code. So by default it is useless to me. So what I have attempted is putting an approximate number based on my theoretical estimate (let's say, $15 for a small package which can be potentially sent in a bubble envelope). But how, when I look at the listing shipping details, it says: Shipping and handling Shipping cost cannot be calculated. Please enter a valid ZIP Code. Item location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Shipping to: United States There is no mention of $15 I specified as shipping costs, when I filled out the form to list the item. What is the optimal way to provide shipping information, as well as figure out optimal shipping methods from Canada to US customers, given that it is going to be with Canada Post? Thank you.

[femmefan1946]

Unless you are crossing the border to ship, you will be paying and charging Canada Post rates .

If you list on eBaydotCOM, you will have to use Flat Rate Shipping, which will be problematical if you are using domestic (Canada Post ) parcel rates. (Works fine if your product can be shipped Letter Rate.)

On eBaydotCA ,you can use Calculated Shipping which , from an advertising point of view, looks more official to the buyer.

It does not allow me to enter my Canadian zip code.

Canada doesn't have zipcodes. We have postal codes.

On dotCOM you cannot use Calculated Shipping. You must use Flat Rate which does not require either.

So what I have attempted is putting an approximate number based on my theoretical estimate

NO NO NO NO !

Look at Canada Post's website and calculate your real actual confirmed shipping cost. Never try to estimate.

And use metric mesurements. Canada Post went metric in 1974. Anything else is approximate and rates can change on a millimetre or a gram.

Buy a digital metric scale. I got my Starfrit kitchen scale at Canadian Tire for less than $20. It weighs up to 5 kg, which is all I need. YMMV.

So if you are not selling in one of the categories with shipping caps (media/ books/ DVDs/ etc) go to Flat Rate Shipping if you are sure you want to list on dotCOM.

Scroll down to the International part of the drop down menu. DON"T use any USPS service, You will be screwed on the expected shipping times. Badly.

If you do run into the shipping caps, just move that item back to dotCA,where you can use Calculated Shipping.

Hmm. Beware of flat rates to Canada when your item will have to move by parcel.(over 2cm thick and over 500 grams ). I mention above that a 2cm thick paperback that costs less than$5.00 to ship by lettermail would cost over $12 to ship to Alberta if it was over 3 cm thick. ( And the same applies if a book weighs 501 grams instead of 500 grams)

BTW. Bubble envelopes are about 1cm thick before you put anything in them. And they can be bent.

[davickie]

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femmefan1946, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to reply.  I have more specific questions/issues, if you don't mind.

When I was creating the ad on ebay.com,  I only saw a long list of shipping options in the drop down menu, there was no option to pick flat rate shipping. I picked 'Standard Shipping from outside US'. Even when I try to edit the listing, I don't see the flat rate option.

On Canadapost.ca, when I am trying to calculate the shipping cost to the USA, it is asking me for the ZIP code or US state where the parcel goes. But I haven't sold the item yet, so how would I be able to know?

I did buy the Starfit scale - though I did not have such a great deal as you did :).

Thank you again 🙂

[lucitabby]

You might want to sell your items on ebay.ca - it is a bit easier as you get the Canada Post options.

[pjcdn2005]

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@davickie wrote:

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femmefan1946, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to reply.  I have more specific questions/issues, if you don't mind.

When I was creating the ad on ebay.com,  I only saw a long list of shipping options in the drop down menu, there was no option to pick flat rate shipping. I picked 'Standard Shipping from outside US'. Even when I try to edit the listing, I don't see the flat rate option.

On Canadapost.ca, when I am trying to calculate the shipping cost to the USA, it is asking me for the ZIP code or US state where the parcel goes. But I haven't sold the item yet, so how would I be able to know?

I did buy the Starfit scale - though I did not have such a great deal as you did :).

Thank you again 🙂

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When we say flat rate shipping we mean that you have to enter a specific dollar value for shipping rather than entering dimensions and weight and letting the ebay calculator figure out the cost. As mentioned, you can't use the shipping calculator on .com as it is for USPS so you have to set your own rate and for the U.S. enter it under Standard Shipping from outside US'. 

If you are using light packet,small packet or tracked packet to the U.S., the prices are based on weight, not on location so once you know what your  package is going to weigh and which service you are going to use, you can figure out the price.

[davickie]

Thank you for your replies.

Maybe I am an idiot, but where on canadapost.ca can I see the options for estimating cost of light packet, small or tracked packet? I could only find 'Find a Rate' calculator and it requires me to enter destination info:

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s2

Also, I did pick 'Standard Shipping from outside of the US' and added a shipping rate of $15 (even though it may not have been an accurate estimate). Yet the ad shows language that the shipping rate cannot be calculated because of invalid zip code (I assume this is because I am looking at it). Why would it calculate the rate, if I indicated a flat amount?

The item ID is 321683736967. To make things worse, it is not showing in search anywhere. But that's a whole other issue.

[pierrelebel]

If you are located in Canada and are shipping from Canada you CANNOT use the calculated shipping on eBay.com which is meant for users shipping from within the USA.

If you need to use calculated shipping and ship from Canada, you have no other option but to use eBay.ca

[davickie]

Yes, but to sell internationally, I would have to have a certain number of sales, and I haven't sold anything yet :).