eBay

ricarmic · ‎12-18-2020

I've been somewhat regularly pestering my PM to see if there's been any internal mention of delays etc allowing us faithful manual SP forms users to continue doing so.

So far answer has always been "no", I checked again today and the official start date is December 28th, which is a holiday for the PO anyway, so Tuesday December 29th we have to start doing the online customs forms for SP same as we do for tracked packet, expedited etc.

It's a good thing I remembered to bug her about it again today, for some reason I had it in my head it wasn't starting till the "mid January" timeframe when the new rates take effect.

Figured I'd put the date up for anyone else thinking we had till January sometime....

ricarmic · ‎12-23-2020

CP updates are rarely well done.

Too many times I've pointed stuff out to my local PM (that I learned here or within my trade) that they haven't gotten any information about yet!

This one was identified over a year ago, I put in reminders for myself, although I thought it was mid January till last week my PM advised it was Dec 28 (29), and my PM kept an eye out for me if it was going to be "postponed" at least.....no luck so far.

I think it will be worse for the PMs than it will be for us for the reasons you've identified, especially in small PO's like mine.... I've got a "plan" worked out with my PM to try to make life easier for us amongst the other problems she'll have on the 29th...

reallynicestamps · ‎12-23-2020

"Man plans: God laughs".

Living in a community where at 74 I am a youngster, there are a lot of technodolts in the PO lineups.

Even in my writers' group , there are two women who do not own a computer, never mind fancy stuff like printers and smartphones.

I suspect some official at the PO HQ decided everyone had a computer set up and did not make plans for exceptions.

Like when schools decided to go to online learning, leaving children living in poverty without the means to access lessons.

And I am baffled that with all that, they decided the HS numbers, which would probably simplify the job, were not necessary.

teenytrinkets · ‎12-24-2020

My regular counter clerk complains about this all the time. She serves a lot of seniors that don't have computers / printers.

It's so unfair of CP to put the onus of explaining rigid corporate decisions like this on employees of retail stores... don't they have enough to deal with already on a daily basis?

richardcm · ‎12-24-2020

I believe the purpose of forcing all packages that go through the package stream is to be able to know who sent it it from where and it’s destination. It is a security issue because the small packet stream was unaccountable. It is a world UPU change. Remember the fentanyl ongoing crisis. It was helped a great deal by unaccountable packages. The technology exists to make the small packet stream accountable.

Yes it is a pain compared to what it was. It puts more work on postal workers. It is a pain for those who do not have a computer or phone.

But in the end it makes for a slightly safer world or at least minimizes one way to do bad things.

ricarmic · ‎12-24-2020

I may be wrong but my recollection is that that is the reason we couldn't use lettermail internationally anymore for merchandise.

Today's version forces all merchandise to be packages and also allows manual forms that provide the customs declaration, "tomorrow"s version requires it ALL to come into the PO "electronically".

I'm not sure what the PMs have to type in today from the manual forms but I suspect it does not include the customs stuff and that's the piece that is now required to be provided electronically.

I just moments ago filled out my last manual CN22 ever............. 😞

teenytrinkets · ‎12-24-2020

I ship all my US shipments through ChitChats now, and it's a bloody DREAM. Most of what i sell is tiny cosmetics, and it's $5-$6 to ship. And it's soooo fast. Since I'm close to the BC/WA border, they take it across within a day, it's processed in Kent, WA the next day and then takes 1-2 days to reach anywhere in the US. One of my sales actually took only 3 days to reach the southern US! The buyer and I were messaging back and forth in disbelief! Lol

ChitChats Canadian service, however, is a disaster. I've had stuff go missing. The savings isn't worth it...

ricarmic · ‎12-30-2020

Well it is not as bad as I had feared!

I'm getting faster at turbo pasting and clicking the address bits into the online customs form.

I've got a working process with the PM that has the info we both need on the paper copy I put in the plastic pouch so she can zoom pretty quickly through them.

The biggest problem for me is that I need a larger envelope than before* so any of my items that were over 90g are often going over 100g so I'll have to adjust my free shipping pricing (I had been for the last year leading up to this, so it isn't a major change, I just didn't allow enough).

It still takes me about 3 to 5 minutes longer depending on the country and how wild the address is.

*the larger envelope does mean I have more room for the pile of stamps I put on the envelopes!

silverpinups · ‎12-30-2020

"I'm not sure what the PMs have to type in today from the manual forms but I suspect it does not include the customs stuff and that's the piece that is now required to be provided electronically".

The postal clerks type in the exact same information that you fill out online. Everything from addresses, sale or other, package contents and declared valve. You can see how time consuming that can be for a postal clerk when there's a lineup of people and why Canada Post changed their policy regarding this matter....

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎12-30-2020

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
Taping directly to package is not recommended. Makes scanning difficult.

I have taped directly onto my packages for the past few years and it hasn't been an issue for me. I just make sure I tape over the barcode very carefully (not overlapping layers of tape and no air bubbles there). I do have the pockets... I have merely misplaced them and I didn't want to order more just to misplace them again.

The postal outlet I go to print labels on a regular letter sized paper, so the odd times I can't print at home, I go there, have them print it, and then cut it and tape it onto my packages as well.

I do have a stash of maybe 20-30 manual CN22 small packet labels somewhere at home if anyone wants them... I stopped using them since I switched to printing my labels online. Message me if interested. Or are the manual CN22 completely not allowed now? Sorry if I missed some of the info in this thread.

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎12-30-2020

@reallynicestamps wrote:

Even in my writers' group , there are two women who do not own a computer, never mind fancy stuff like printers and smartphones.

I suspect some official at the PO HQ decided everyone had a computer set up and did not make plans for exceptions.
Like when schools decided to go to online learning, leaving children living in poverty without the means to access lessons.

Off-topic, I have a covid-related job right now (which I don't like but eh, at least I have a job) and I have indeed heard complaints from citizens that covid information are not readily available in print-form, rather they are mostly online, and it's frustrating for those who don't have internet access.

Which is true, but also, covid info gets updated almost every week, so it's also hard to keep the printed materials updated without resulting in a lot of wastage...

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎12-30-2020

@ricarmic wrote:
The biggest problem for me is that I need a larger envelope than before* so any of my items that were over 90g are often going over 100g so I'll have to adjust my free shipping pricing (I had been for the last year leading up to this, so it isn't a major change, I just didn't allow enough).

*the larger envelope does mean I have more room for the pile of stamps I put on the envelopes!

Would it not be cheaper to pay for 100g postage in person on the smaller envelope, than having to use a bigger envelope and put 200g worth of stamps on it? It's a $1.25 difference for domestic mail isn't it, so do you actually save more than $1.25 by using discount postage for 200g? Just curious...

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-30-2020

@zee-chan-jpn-books wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:

Even in my writers' group , there are two women who do not own a computer, never mind fancy stuff like printers and smartphones.

I suspect some official at the PO HQ decided everyone had a computer set up and did not make plans for exceptions.
Like when schools decided to go to online learning, leaving children living in poverty without the means to access lessons.
Off-topic, I have a covid-related job right now (which I don't like but eh, at least I have a job) and I have indeed heard complaints from citizens that covid information are not readily available in print-form, rather they are mostly online, and it's frustrating for those who don't have internet access.

Which is true, but also, covid info gets updated almost every week, so it's also hard to keep the printed materials updated without resulting in a lot of wastage...

An issue when everything is suggested complete with App for curbside pick up. Also, not very helpful for anyone using public transit. The looks one gets walking through a drivethu.

-Lotz

needsmorerobots · ‎12-31-2020

@silverpinups wrote:
Sorry, I’m a bit lost here. I thought the requirement was that customs information has to be entered online and printed out.

Yes, that is correct. Or you can have Canada Post send that info to your email address and have the Post Office scan it directly from your phone.

Doesn’t that mean that the postage and address label can be dealt with separately?

No, the post office scans your square bar code that Canada Post provides and prints off the sender and recipient address info with a scannable bar code. That info is placed in a clear plastic envelope bag and is attached to the package. No address labels are needed....

But..but I love my address labels. I'm really a stickler for a proper address. And I wrote some decent custom forms too.

*sigh*

Computers are making us pencil pushers at heart obsolete.

ricarmic · ‎12-31-2020

@zee-chan-jpn-books wrote:
@ricarmic wrote:
The biggest problem for me is that I need a larger envelope than before* so any of my items that were over 90g are often going over 100g so I'll have to adjust my free shipping pricing (I had been for the last year leading up to this, so it isn't a major change, I just didn't allow enough).

*the larger envelope does mean I have more room for the pile of stamps I put on the envelopes!
Would it not be cheaper to pay for 100g postage in person on the smaller envelope, than having to use a bigger envelope and put 200g worth of stamps on it? It's a $1.25 difference for domestic mail isn't it, so do you actually save more than $1.25 by using discount postage for 200g? Just curious...

Hmmm I'm not sure I understand what you are asking.

My buyers expect stamps on the envelope. and as far as I know I have to put the plastic pouch on the envelope, which makes me use the next up size of envelope plus the blasted plastic pouch itself (I designed items to be close to the weight limit in the good old days, things have changed a lot since then and I'm adjusting the "sizes" over time as well).

So for domestic it isn't a problem because I don't have to put the customs form on. It is only US/international that is affected, and as I knew that this day was coming, over the last year I've been doing things like: making the original item on US site double size to make the postal charge more reasonable against the item and the original sized is now on .CA with a punishing shipping charge added on to US buyers. All I have to do for the ones that are going over is put an extra $1 on the shipping charge on the .CA site for americans, the US listed double sized ones were already over 100g anyway.

(Fortunately for those of us in the trade real postage (not the illegal reused stuff) is obtainable for 50% or less of face so the $1.69 costs me 85c)

If I missed what you asked let me know and I'll try to answer.....

ypdc_dennis · ‎12-31-2020

@fergua3 wrote:
I have neither a printer nor smartphone. So how am I to get the 'square barcode' to the Post Office?

One work around (that I have used for other scan codes): If you have a phone with good enough camera, take a picture of the computer screen showing the 'square barcode' -- your post office/retail outlet should be able to scan the code from your phone screen image. Do make sure the image is large enough.

-..-

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-31-2020

Could you scan my code please? I don't have a printer or a phone.

-Lotz

fergua3 · ‎12-31-2020

I can report that taking a picture or a scan of the barcode from either the Canada Post website or the email they send you with the barcode in it does not work. I took several excellent scans to my Post Office on Monday and they couldn't read any of them with their barcode scanner.

Fortunately for me, the Post Office was in a Shoppers Drug Mart, which has free internet. The very nice folks at the counter showed my how to use my old iPhone (which a friend as loaned me) to connect to my email........I had NO idea I would be able to do that. Once I had access to my email it was a simple matter to open them one by one and they could easily scan the barcodes (actually qr codes) within.

I can also confirm that the people working at the Post Office have no ability to enter the Customs info for you....you HAVE TO do it online and bring in a copy of the qr code. UNLESS you are using a tracked service then they can do it, I believe. But for untracked small packets, you must do it yourself and bring them the code.

darak10 · ‎01-01-2021

ive experienced this already. the staff I dealt with - they have been there for years and are 2 of this PO's best employees - didnt even know they had to start typing everything in and they work there every day. As of yesterday afternoon they were able to type the info in electronically. This will create massive problems for the average person who are already wondering **bleep** is going on. It will create massive stress for folks who are already stressed out with this change and that change and that change and this change. Giant bureaucracies like Canada Post can always be trusted to snafu rollouts this universal. As simple as the supposed solution is being made out to be, it never resolves simply and will be a massive headache for most people for some time. This is a general rule of giant bureaucracies, they will ALWAYS make a complete mess when making broad systemic changes no matter how the PR release reads. Congratulations if you've got it figured out, it will be world class cluster____ for everyone else. A really bad idea to do in the middle of a pandemic not to mention the massive influx of parcels due to the explosion of online shopping in the last six months, but thats how government operations like CP work! You could have seen this coming 20 miles away.

darak10 · ‎01-01-2021

they knew before where the item was being sent from and its destination, it just wasn't able to have been monitored electronically. thats the purpose behind doing this, creating a magnetic ink trail, as paper trails are going the way of the dodo. Reason dictates by logical extension then since the infrastructure is being created for universal postal service tracking of previously untrackable items, there should be, on the horizon, zero additional cost associated with needing an item tracked. <cue sound of CP shooting themselves in the foot>...I bet theres all kinds of conversations going on in virtual boardrooms between CP executives about how the heck they are going to get around that one.

There is certainly a very distinct upside to this change, as ultimately this will mean we no longer will be getting the "sorry I didnt get the item" messages and associated INR claims....however that time is not now.

I have always envied folks who live close to the border who can just go across and mail their US stuff and get a tracking number for the basic media mail rate. When I discovered thats how their system worked I nearly soiled myself before spending the next several weeks cursing the troglodytes responsible for operating CP under my breath for charging me whenever I needed the same service, all the while running up perpetual year over year deficits, despite all the scratch they tallied up running what is essentially a protection racket. I am going to consider chitchats for US stuff now I think, less money in CP's pockets works for me if theres going to be less hassle associated with going there.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎01-01-2021

@darak10 wrote:
ive experienced this already. the staff I dealt with - they have been there for years and are 2 of this PO's best employees - didnt even know they had to start typing everything in and they work there every day. As of yesterday afternoon they were able to type the info in electronically. This will create massive problems for the average person who are already wondering **bleep** is going on. It will create massive stress for folks who are already stressed out with this change and that change and that change and this change. Giant bureaucracies like Canada Post can always be trusted to snafu rollouts this universal. As simple as the supposed solution is being made out to be, it never resolves simply and will be a massive headache for most people for some time. This is a general rule of giant bureaucracies, they will ALWAYS make a complete mess when making broad systemic changes no matter how the PR release reads. Congratulations if you've got it figured out, it will be world class cluster____ for everyone else. A really bad idea to do in the middle of a pandemic not to mention the massive influx of parcels due to the explosion of online shopping in the last six months, but thats how government operations like CP work! You could have seen this coming 20 miles away.

In speaking to a supervisor at Canadapost the other day regarding this topic, their expectation is for the agent to fill out these forms for their customers. Actually it was a first agent that had to confirm with the supervisor. The supervisors response was firm. Maybe this something that hasn't been passed on to the depots as well as it should have been? Going forward, expect lineups, if you are prepared or otherwise!!!

-Lotz