eBay

sjcebuyer · ‎11-21-2020

tl;dr: Check the listing's shipping weight/dimensions for the correct unit. I found them changed from imperial to metric (e.g., 12 oz -> 12 g).

Over the past few months, potential buyers have messaged me, saying that they cannot calculate shipping on one of my listings. They enter a valid postal code, but it returns an error, saying it is invalid. After searching here for solutions and coming up empty (except for others sharing similar experiences), I found a solution and wanted to document it for others.

When creating/revising your listing, double-check the weight and dimensions (and the units). For the troublesome listings, I found measurements that were originally in inches and ounces now had the units of centimetres and grams, but the values remain unchanged. This resulted in very small dimensions/weights. Switching back to imperial units fixed the problem. Buyers were again able to calculate shipping.

Hope this helps

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-21-2020

It's probably best to enter your numbers in metric as that's the most accurate.

The majority of time the problem with the calculator is for US buyers who will get that same message. The official minimum measurements for Expedited parcel USA are smaller than the min. for domestic Expedited so in most cases the measurements need to be changed so that the measurements are at or above the minimum that Canada Post requires for that service.

femmefan1946 · ‎11-21-2020

Canada Post went metric in 1974. Using any other system will lead to errors.

If you use metric, you won't have the problem.

Remember that most of your customers who cannot get the shipping cost, will not contact you, they will just move on.

ypdc_dennis · ‎11-22-2020

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
... The official minimum measurements for Expedited parcel USA are smaller than the min. for domestic Expedited so in most cases the measurements need to be changed so that the measurements are at or above the minimum that Canada Post requires for that service.

Other way around.

Parcels for Canada have a minimum length of 10cm.

Parcels for the USA have a minimum length of 21cm.

Small/Tracked Packets for the USA have a minimum of 14cm length, max weight of 2kg.

https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGpscanada-e.asp

https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGpsus_int-e.asp

-..-

sjcebuyer · ‎11-22-2020

On Canada Post's own website, one can enter weight and dimensions in either imperial or metric.

I have small metric rules, but only imperial measuring tapes for larger items. The eBay UI should convert units or maintain them as chosen when creating the listing.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-22-2020

Ooops. I knew that lol. I'm not sure what the heck I was thinking when I typed that.

femmefan1946 · ‎11-22-2020

It will make the change--- badly.

Next time you are in the hardware store, or WalMart, or a dollar store, pick up a metric tape measure.

It's been 46 years.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-22-2020

Although I agree that it is best to use metric with the calculator, I don't think it is a certainty that using imperial will cause problems. But it does seem to happen once in a while and metric is probably more accurate.

If there is no metric tape measure available it's easy enough to use one of the online conversion tools...or a calculator. 🙂

I was looking for a new tape measure last year in Canadian tire and I was surprised to see that it is still possible to buy tapes measures that only show imperial measurements. I thought they would all be both systems or just metric but I guess not.

marnotom! · ‎11-23-2020

Considering that the construction industry has all but shunned the metric system, it doesn’t surprise me at all.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎11-23-2020

@sjcebuyer wrote:
On Canada Post's own website, one can enter weight and dimensions in either imperial or metric.

I have small metric rules, but only imperial measuring tapes for larger items. The eBay UI should convert units or maintain them as chosen when creating the listing.

Approximate a buck at your local dollar store (sewing section) Retractable dual sided 150 cm/60" tape measure in blue or red.

-Lotz