Which is the Least Expensive Shipping Service to US?

[sylviebee]

I wasn't paying much attention, but I've just re-opened my store and not realize that CPO is in full on strike mode and not rotating this time.  Can someone tell me the least expensive courier to the US?  I've sold a few things and have an offer I'd like to accept but the couriers I've checked out so far are really pricey.  There must be some service that competes with CPO prices?

[mrdutch1001]

Which carriers have you already checked out?...might help to know that before the community offers any suggestions ...

[sylviebee]

I've tried all of the biggies.

Was hoping maybe someone knew of a more obscure shipping service that I haven't heard of.

[reallynicestamps]

And where are you?
Chitchat and Stallion both carry shipments to the USPS for a small fee, mostly offset by the lower postal rates there.

I just learned that couriers become competitive with Canada Post at 900 grams but I suspect your purses are well below that weight.

[sylviebee]

Chitchat doesn't come to Kitchener.  I'll check Stallion out.  Purolator might be the lowest I've found but shipping is still about $50/purse compared to half that for CPO.

[sylviebee]

Stallion is here but I've avoided buying a car until I move and cabbing it there would be at a cost of about $60 (before the tip) so that won't work.  But thank you.

[mrdutch1001]

I sell on Etsy as well as eBay and one of the couriers that keeps getting mentioned by Etsy sellers is Sendle...

I personally know nothing about them and have not checked them out as I am unwilling to go with one of these other couriers as I am skeptical about the lesser known couriers(Like...are they going to be able to handle these additional volumes of mail? were they or are they prepared to handle the masses' demands on them  ... or are they going to eventually become overwhelmed with the increase volumes of mail? )

Personally, if the need arises, I will resort to UPS

[lotzofuniquegoodies · Accepted solution]

@sylviebee 

@mrdutch1001 

Have you checked out Easy Ship? It's integrated with many carriers including Sendle. Was unable to confirm details regarding location offices. There are free (50 shipments in a month) and subscription plans with larger discounts. You can test using the 14 day trial. Built in shipping rules tool. 

https://www.easyship.com/en-ca/couriers?utm_term=canada+post+discount&utm_campaign=NonBrand+|+US+|+E...

Easyship App for availability plus Expert help 

https://app.easyship.com/signup?_gl=1*ujy03a*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMTgzNTUuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXN...

[sylviebee]

I checked Sendle out and I might give them a try.  They have reasonable rates but horrible reviews on Trust Pilot.

Also considering taking and Uber to Stallion.

Or maybe CPO will get ordered back to work?  Coming to complete stop right before Christmas might force that option.

[sylviebee]

Yes, I did check out Easy Ship and they just called me as well.  I think I'll look a little closer.  I'm thinking if they include Sendle when they do comparisons that's a nod to Sendle.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

My best worse case scenario would be to find a workable workaround, spend hours on end updating my listings and then have the strike be over. Stress I really don't need.

[mrdutch1001]

I guess with Easy Ship/Sendle it  would be trial and error... especially when it comes to their pickup service> for reliability of pickup times ...that plus knowing the actual routes they service...

For myself, I am on a wait and see what happens with CP before I plunge into an unknown...

[sylviebee]

I agree.  I'm going to give it a few days.  Not really worried about a few late shipments.

Easy Ship provides rates and the rate it gives for UPS are really excellent and competitive with CPO.......... BUT the rates Easy Ship spits out are about half of the rates I get on the UPS site.

[recped]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

And where are you?
Chitchat and Stallion both carry shipments to the USPS for a small fee, mostly offset by the lower postal rates there.

I just learned that couriers become competitive with Canada Post at 900 grams but I suspect your purses are well below that weight.

---

USPS rate are no longer low, when you factor in currency exchange the difference goes from minimal to almost nothing. The only real "bargain" is Media Mail over 1lb.

For sure, USPS rates from the US to Canada are the same or more than going from Canada to the US.

[dinomitesales]

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@sylviebee wrote:

I agree.  I'm going to give it a few days.  Not really worried about a few late shipments.

Easy Ship provides rates and the rate it gives for UPS are really excellent and competitive with CPO.......... BUT the rates Easy Ship spits out are about half of the rates I get on the UPS site.

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The rates you get directly through the UPS site are always going to be pretty high - the reason you can get cheaper rates through EasyShip is that they're passing along fairly significant volume discounts that they negotiated.

The UPS rates directly through eBay Labels should be significantly cheaper than directly with UPS; NetParcel through PayPal is another site I use regularly which gives me even better rates than eBay Labels.

[sylviebee]

:-). Thank You.  I didn't fully understand how Easy Ship works and that helps.  

[mrdutch1001]

I have found that UPS rates through eBay for any of my currently listed items simply are not doable, and plunging into a relationship with one of those alternate couriers for which I have no prior knowledge or experience, is simply not something I wish to gamble with, so I will maintain "Time Away" and continue to wait it out until CP gets itself sorted...

[byto253]

Chitchats is in Kitchner, it has a drop spot at Intelcom (Dragonfly now).  I use the Ottawa drop spot and it works fine.  There are Chitchat bins to put your labelled shipments into. 

https://chitchats.com/locations

[sylviebee]

Thank You.  I'm going to try ChitChat.  That drop is very close to me and I appreciate the tip because that didn't show up on the site.  I remember when ChitChat used to post here (a lot). Hence the name ChitChat.  He's done a great job building that business.  

[sylviebee]

I've heard nothing but good about him here, but those reviews?  Not so good.