Why was my friend (a seller) charged for free shipping?

[pokemoncookie]

Hi everyone,

My friend and I are both new sellers. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sell my first item. My friend did. However, he was charged for free shipping. He bought an ebay label for the item he sold. Then he packaged it in a box and took it to Canada Post. He told a Canada Post clerk, "Shipping is free for this package." He replied, "Free? No, shipping is never free. It costs $8.60." So he paid that amount by cash.

My question is: If you offer free shipping to a buyer, will Canada Post charge you for shipping when you take your sold item there? Thank you for your replies.

[recped]

Canada Post does not operate as a charity!

Free Shipping means the Seller is paying the shipping.

FYI - You can print discounted Canada Post labels directly on eBay, you will have a lower cost than paying retail at the Post Office.

[marnotom!]

I think that if free shipping worked the way your friend thought it did, all sellers would offer it, no?

[38e_avenue]

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@pokemoncookie wrote:

He bought an ebay label for the item he sold. Then he packaged it in a box and took it to Canada Post. He told a Canada Post clerk, "Shipping is free for this package." He replied, "Free? No, shipping is never free. It costs $8.60." So he paid that amount by cash.

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I am not sure what happened here. What means "bought an Ebay label"? You mean discounted Canada Post label through Ebay? Clarify ......  

[mrdutch1001]

Apparently you and your friend do not understand the concept of "free" shpping, which is NOT free..."someone" does pay for it! If sellers offer "free" shipping, sellers are the "someones" that pay for it!

Sellers must include that shipping cost within the price of the item they are selling if they want to use the gimmick of "free" shipping....and it matters not whether the seller purchases a shipping label through eBay or goes directly to the post office, the seller PAYS for the postage to ship that package.

[brettjet38]

"However, he was charged for free shipping."

DId he offer Free Shipping when he listed the item? 

"He bought an ebay label for the item he sold."  ???

What did he purchase on ebay?

My question is: If you offer free shipping to a buyer, will Canada Post charge you for shipping when you take your sold item there?

Yes, of course they will!

If you offer free shipping to a Buyer for an item purchsed, then it is you who pays that shipping cost.

Otherwise you set up shipping rules when you list the item so the Buyers pays?

[brettjet38]

It's Very Apparent... 

[38e_avenue]

A lot of comments, but we still have no idea, what really happened. 

Maybe he printed the CP shipping label through Ebay? 

It happened many times to me: a CP clerk (an older one) started to measure and weigh my parcel. I needed to explain the postage has been already paid. 

Many years ago I had a little post office near my home (closed since) operated by two older ladies in their 70s.  Believe or not - they asked me many times: "are you sure it's legal to print CP postage at home"? 😄

So let us wait until the OP explains, what he means by "He bought an ebay label for the item he sold"  😃

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

This is a similar question to your other thread. 

There is no "free" shipping. Free shipping is just a marketing term for the buyer. 

If you're looking to sell trading cards, the closest thing to free shipping would be lettermail.

-You can ship multiple cards WITHIN CANADA in toploaders for about $2 (two P-stamps). 

-This is limited to packagess under 2CM in thickness.

-This costs more than $2 if it weighs above 100g (between $2-$6, up to 500g). A handful of trading cards will almost always be under 100g.

Keep in mind, this does not include tracking. The buyer can claim the item never arrived and because you have no proof of delivery, they will be entitled to a refund. Either through you refunding them, or the buyer asking eBay to step in and forcing a refund.

I've sold 10,000+ items this way and refunds are rare. Keep in mind, I don't sell Pokemon cards. "Lost" mail might be higher in different categories. 

The logic is that by lowering your input cost on shipping, the additional profit you make, or the additional sales you attract, will exceed the money you lose on a package being refunded every once in a while. 

If you don't plan to sell a high volume of items, I would just stick with Expedited Lite, which is about $8 but has tracking and insurance.

As far as your story goes. I think people are confused about whether your friend printed an address label or printed an actual shipping label. If they printed an actual shipping label, Canada Post would simply scan the package. They would not charge them for shipping because the buyer would have already paid eBay for shipping. As clarified in your other thread, it's not free.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I mean, if you look at the current articles about how much money they lose, they kind of are like a charity!

[pokemoncookie]

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for all your comments. To my surprise, my post inspired some many members to reply to my question. I haven't been able to get hold of my friend so I don't know the details of his situation.

Some of the responses brought up something interesting. I haven't been able to sell my very first item on ebay. I have two follow-up questions.

(1) Are ebay labels Canada Post shipping labels?

(2) Let's say that I purchase an ebay label, attach it to my package and then send it at a Canada Post office. Will Canada Post charge me when I have already paid the postage for the ebay label?

Thanks again.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@pokemoncookie wrote:

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for all your comments. To my surprise, my post inspired some many members to reply to my question. I haven't been able to get hold of my friend so I don't know the details of his situation.

Some of the responses brought up something interesting. I haven't been able to sell my very first item on ebay. I have two follow-up questions.

(1) Are ebay labels Canada Post shipping labels?

(2) Let's say that I purchase an ebay label, attach it to my package and then send it at a Canada Post office. Will Canada Post charge me when I have already paid the postage for the ebay label?

Thanks again.

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@pokemoncookie 

You will generate a label according to what your buyer paid for. Print it off and often best 1 for yourself for your records. It's best to put in a protective pouch. Your local CP outlet should be able to give you a few to get started. You will be paying eBay for the label. They will verify and correct if there was a mistake with additional charges. Make sure to confirm your information before creating. If you measure 20.5 cms....you should update to 21 cms. Same goes for weight. Additional info below.

Will let eBay help be your friend. Any further questions please ask away. 

https://www.ebay.ca/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-postage-labels?...

https://www.ebay.ca/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips?id=4085&st=3&pos=2&query=Labels...

-Lotz

[38e_avenue · Accepted solution]

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@pokemoncookie wrote:

(1) Are ebay labels Canada Post shipping labels?

(2) Let's say that I purchase an ebay label, attach it to my package and then send it at a Canada Post office. Will Canada Post charge me when I have already paid the postage for the ebay label?

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Nothing like "Ebay label" exists. There  is a "Canada Post label printed and paid through Ebay" instead. 

It looks like this: 

Since this is a genuine Canada Post label, you will be not charged again at the counter.  Just bring it to the post office and let it scan. Done. 

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Think of it this way. 

When you buy stamps, it doesn't matter whether you buy them at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Costco, etc - they are Canada Post stamps. Where you buy them is irrelevant. 

It's the same thing when you purchase a Canada Post shipping label online. It doesn't matter which platform (store) you use to buy the label (eBay, Canada Post's website, Shippo, etc). They are Canada Post labels. eBay offers other services like UPS and Fedex, Canada Post does not take those - you have to select Canada Post. 

The ONLY exception is if you use a third party shipping company like Chit Chats or Stallion. Those companies require you to drop off the shipments at specific drop off locations and not directly with Canada Post. This is not relevant for labels you print out on eBay, so ignore this unless you plan to use one of those third party shipping companies. 

1 - Purchase the label using eBay's system. 

2 - Print out the label, securely attach it to the package (You can just tape it on). 

3 - Drop the package off at the post office. They will scan it and give you a receipt. 

[reallynicestamps]

Note that you can get discounts on Canada Post labels when purchased through various companies which have negotiated deals.

First, Canada Post itself offers discounts on some services to customers with Solutions for Small Business accounts. (You don't have to be a business.)

https://sso-osu.canadapost-postescanada.ca/pfe-pap/en/registration/business?sourceApp=SMB&sourceUrl=...

EBay has negotiated special rates for eBay sellers. The best discount is on Tracked Packet USA where we pay 53% off the CPO counter rate.

Because I don't deal with the other companies mentioned, I can't speak about them. But those who deal with chitchat and with Stallion Express both feel their small fees are well worth their service , which basically carries your parcel across the border for USPS shipping.

[pokemoncookie]

Awesome! Your image makes everything clear and understandable. That's what I wanted to see. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[pokemoncookie]

Thank you for including the link in your reply and for your explanation.

[pokemoncookie]

I really appreciate you taking to talk about various platforms selling labels. Your explanation is informative and educational. Thank you.

[pokemoncookie]

Everything you've said makes a lot of sense. I appreciate you spending so much time to give me such a thorough explanation. Many thanks.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@pokemoncookie wrote:

Thank you for including the link in your reply and for your explanation.

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@pokemoncookie 

They will provide pouches at the counter but very sparingly. With a solutions for small business account you can order the pouches, 3 x 100 at a time to have on hand. They prefer you not tape them to package. Makes scanning much more difficult. You can also order stamps in quantity. Trying to recall if there is a min. order value for placing orders with cp for free shipping. Been awhile. 

-Lotz

As a side because not everyone has computer and may be bringing label id on their cell, they may be keeping more stock of the pouches on hand for when they (cp) does the printing for you.