eBay

smkim23-3 · ‎03-13-2018

So I'm ready to start selling. Well almost. I got a scale, packing supplies, photos of the item, researched what I want to price my items at. Now I'm stuck at shipping. After sifting through a ton of information I'm still lost on what's the best way to ship domestically and internationally. And by best, I mean based on a cost benefit analysis. I'm looking for the sweet spot based on price and delivery of service. I'm a sole proprietor of my own business, so would signing up for a small business account on UPS or some other delivery service be the best option. Oh and it's more for a personal side business unrelated to my business. I plan to ship 5 items per week ranging in small to medium size. No more than 10lbs. Some guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

femmefan1946 · ‎03-13-2018

Canada Post hands down.

Unless your items are extremely heavy or bulky, Canada Post is cheaper than any other and delivers world wide through the Universal Postal Union.

Did you know that when a courier like UPS cannot deliver to an isolated or rural location, they sub-contract to Canada Post. (And still make a profit.)

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s1

These are the rates.

Play with them a bit.

Then sign up online or at the PO for a Small Business Solutions number. It's free and gives you discounts of 5% on services -- sometimes more.

And you can with that number get some better discounts by also signing up for Shippo, which is eBay's new shipping partner.

Shippo is new and there are some glitches, but we're getting there.

You can also use USPS if you live near enough to one of the Canadian reshipping companies like chitchatexpress.

Those companies are in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and I think Winnipeg.

(I can't use them because although I can see the US from my porch almost, it's actually a $60 ferry ride away.)

Bonus-- any profit made by Canada Post goes back into the national treasury, not to some foreign fat cat.

momcqueen · ‎03-13-2018

Winnipeg has its own freight-forward business called RunninRed; it’s totally separate from ChitChat. However, I’ve never used it.

ypdc_dennis · ‎03-13-2018

Be sure to get a free Canada Post Solutions for Small Business membership for shipping discounts when you buy labels online. If you ship more than 1000 parcels/year try asking Canada Post for a Commercial contract.

Canada Post parcel calculator:

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s1

For Canada:

* If under 2cm thick and less than 500g you can use oversize lettermail.

No tracking, one price covers all of Canada. From $1.80 (100g) to $5.05 (500g)

You can use discounted stamps to mail (bought on eBay, auctions, dealers for less than face value). Online shipping labels are not available.

...

* Canada Post Expedited Parcel (has an extra eBay discount if label is bought via Shippo)

Tracked, on-time guarantee or shipping refunded, up to 30kg in weight.

Has a fuel surcharge (rates change monthly based on fuel costs)

Has a dimensional weight adjustment (too big a package will bump up the shipping cost LxWxH in cm/5000 = dimensional weight in Kg -- higher of actual or dimensional is used)

When listing on eBay.CA you can use calculated shipping and eBay will do the work of displaying the shipping cost to the (potential) buyer's location.

For USA:

* Canada Post Small Packet USA (max 1kg weight, no tracking)

* Canada Post Tracked Packet USA (max 1kg weight, has an eBay discount if label is bought via Shippo)

* over 1kg use Canada Post Expedited Parcel USA -- similar to Expedited for Canada, except there is no ontime guarantee and one side of the parcel must be a minimum of 21cm in length (Canada parcels can be smaller).

Alternatives:

If you live in the right spot:

ChitChatsExpress (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax)

StallionExpress (Toronto)

RunninRed (Winnipeg)

DYKpost (Calgary, Edmonton)

are companies that allow you to use cheap (and tracked) USA domestic shipping.

The first two also have discounted flat rate Canada Post shipping to most areas of Canada.

-..-

tobey_arih · ‎03-13-2018

UPS has promotional offer for 40% off shipping for 8 weeks, domestically and outside the borders/ Ya might be able to reapply for it again after it expires.

If you sell high-price items in range of 400+CAD, CPC does not offer signature for any of their options. UPS does. Sig guarentees the recipient receives it.

DHL express offers 60% continous discount for export out of and import into Canada. They only offer 1-2 express shipping. But their costs are lower than UPS, even with 40% discount.

momcqueen · ‎03-13-2018

“If you sell high-price items in range of 400+CAD, CPC does not offer signature for any of their options.”

False. Xpresspost domestically has Signature embedded, and it’s a fee-for-service option on Expedited. Registered letter has it too. Outside Canada, a sender needs to investigate whether to Xpresspost or Priority, depends on the international country of destination. Can you explain the reason you thought otherwise?

Also, PayPal doesn’t require signature as part of Seller Protection until the transaction is valued at $825 CAD or more.

kawartha-ephemera · ‎03-13-2018

Simply put ... use Canada Post services unless you're selling by the pallet. If you're lucky enough to be located within a handy distance of a ChitChatExpress office that option would be worth exploring. Canada Post does offer signature confirmation if you feel that is necessary.