Non-standard Shipping options to the USA from Windsor, ON

[cybergameexchange]

I need to start adding tracking to my cheaper packages (<$30), Previously I would only track items that were above $50 but after recently getting burned I need to start tracking cheaper items but the cost with Canada Post would double some prices. I can use Registered Mail for within Canada but I need an option for shipping to the USA.

Currently I am looking for $16 all in when shipping to the USA untracked, with tracked it brings it up to about $22 which will double the cost of most of my items. 

I see chit chats can cut this cost in half but we don't have a location in Windsor, ON. They do offer a pickup service but thats another $11 so unless I have many packages that day, its not quite feasible but something I've signed up for, to use on busy days.

My question is, are there options similar to chit chats with a physical location in Windsor, ON?

[ypdc_dennis]

If using Small Packet USA (which is officially untracked), enter the internal tracking number on ebay.  USPS scans most items and ebay has access to those USPS scans, so you have unofficial tracking that ebay will accept for claims. I usually cover the "No" in black ink and just leave "Delivery Scan" visible.

[flipistics]

Dennis gave you good advise for the USA. Honestly for Canada I wouldn't bother with tracking for the cheaper items. Yes you may very rarely get burned, especially in video game categories, but you'll probably come out well ahead in the long run.

Let's take a best-case scenario of you being top rated with a store. You'd pay 10.8% fvf on video games. The cost to register the lettermail is $9.75 + tax (let's take 5% GST since we're looking at best-case scenarios) which would be $10.24. The FVF you'd pay on the registered portion would be at least $1.11, which means ignoring the drastic negative effect in your overall sales volume or account defects, you'd have to have at least a 3% "burned" rate for $30 orders in order for tracking to positively affect you, or an 11% "burned" rate for $10 orders.

I would suggest running some tests on your bubble mailers and labels. Check to see how easy it is for the labels to peel off. This is more of a problem in winter than summer, but it's important in general. Make sure you're using labels that are difficult to peel off without tearing. Some will peel off easily and lift at the edges, especially if near the corner of an item inside, which means they can stick to other mail items and come off. Different brands of bubble mailer also allow labels to stick better than others. I'd also recommend running the address through Canada Post's address checker and make sure you format it according to the guidelines rather than what the buyer inputs. This will reduce the liklihood of a mail carrier delivering it to the wrong address.

[mrdutch1001]

There is not a huge difference in costs between Small Packet and Tracked Packet to the USA.

With Basic SFSB discount rate applied  and as per the examples at today's rate:

250 g. pkg to Florida: Small Packet -  $11.30 vs Tracked Packet @ $11.98

500 g pkg to Florida: Small Packet -  $14.82 vs Tracket Packet @ $16.52

1 Kg. pkg to Florida: Small Packet  - $21.71 vs Tracket Pkt @ $23.63.