reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 03:20:06 PM new
I just came back from shipping several parcels. As of today Canada Post are
charging minimum density, based on the weight & size of parcels going to the U.S., but it appears "only" for Parcel Post items.
The items I shipped via Small Packet Air did not get charged or checked for minimum density. The computer prompts them [the clerks] depending on the weight, then after they input the measurements the shipping fee is calculated by the computer.
If you check your receipts you'll see "Minimum Density was applied" under any Parcel Post items going to the U.S.
The clerks at my PO had no idea why the Parcel Post items just had a major increase from last week. I must say, it came as a rather rude shock to me as well.
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heygrape
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posted on October 2, 2000 03:30:33 PM new
For months and months now I've watched as our Canadian neighbors have either gotten the shaft or totally ignored in their quest to join in on internet commerce.
And they complain very little, compared to the way we pitch a fit when we are done wrong. Canadians just seem to try to do the best with what they are dealt and accept it as normal because they are used to it, I guess.
I'm in the United States but I'm getting pissed about it.
It's about time our Canadian neighbors get a break on Something for crying out loud! Sheesh!
Thanks fer letting me vent.
Grapey
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anishnabeg
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posted on October 2, 2000 03:38:47 PM new
Yes, I got the shocker also. I packaged up an item today , double boxed in a larger box measuring 19" x 16" x 16" and what usually cost $9.00 - $10.00 Can parcel post to mail suddenly skyrocketed to $33.00 ! I brought it back and repackaged it and it still cost me $ 15.30. The days of safely packaging items to the states are numbered. I guess we are gonna have to learn metric measurements and do our own measuring too if we wanna be somewhat accurate when it comes to quoting prices in our item descriptions.
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reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 03:42:14 PM new
Hi ya Grapey. Thanks for the kind words. 
This "little" increase in shipping prices is going to be a real shocker for sellers that ship items over the 1KG mark. [2.2 lbs for our U.S. readers]
I know that I can't raise my fixed shipping quotes without losing a lot of bids so I guess I'll have to jack up my opening bids/reserves & hope for the best.
Totally bummed out in Ded Reer .......
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macandjan
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:11:48 PM new
It is so rediculous there is no natural border and the cultures are so similar. The only thing holding us apart is the "kings"
making sure they can keep their hand in our pocket.
They had a big piece in the paper here about how it disrupts everything when the presidential runners come to town because they must
close all the side roads and post cops at every intersection to create a safe corrider for them in their armoured limo. If nobody wanted to shoot them when they came to town they make sure someone will by the time they leave! If they are hated that much then where is the legitimacy of their government? It is a rule of force not law.
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jozi
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:12:46 PM new
Well that little tidbit might just push me to make a weekly trip down to Calais Maine in order to mail my packages.
Thanks for the info!
Jozi
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ehansen
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:36:06 PM new
I'm with you Josie. I'll have to hopping the border into North Dakota to ship my wares to my American bidders (which make up over 95%). Isn't a 30-50% income tax rate plus the 14% sales tax enough already? I'm tired of the gouging. Is our government completely against anything that would raise our standard of living? We live a few blocks from the wealthiest country in the world (with the wealthiest collectors) and we're constantly being held back from that market in some form or another, be it bizarre banking regulations or kill-us-all with taxes. Now it's Canada Post digging into our pockets? Enough!
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equestrian
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:45:00 PM new
Isn't there some problem in taking parcels across the border to mail them?
Whenever I cross the border they ask me if I have anything that I will be mailing or leaving in the U. S.
[ edited by equestrian on Oct 2, 2000 05:45 PM ]
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oldapostle
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:49:22 PM new
If the prices jumped that much it would
probably be benefical to compare prices
with the private couriers.
I was irritated enough a year ago when
I tried to open a merchant account for
on-line sales.
I finally went to the states and opened
a U.S account.
It is a shame that Canada is in the
stoneage when it comes to running an
on-line business.
You would think they would be trying to promote it.
Well they got me this time.
Not worth a drive to the border each
time I ship a package.
The 40% exchange will help with the lose.
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cdnbooks
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posted on October 2, 2000 05:51:51 PM new
...this 'minimum density' shows maximum density on the part of 'management' at Canada Post....
Reddeer, do you have any info on how it is calculated? I don't see anything about it on their web page (yet).
Bill
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anishnabeg
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posted on October 2, 2000 06:09:47 PM new
To calculate the Minimum Density Weight.
Length x width x height
= volumn ( cm 3 )
volumn divided by 6000
= Minimum Density Weight ( Kg )
The shipping rate is based on the greater of the MDW or actual weight.
[ edited by anishnabeg on Oct 2, 2000 06:11 PM ]
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Shoshanah
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posted on October 2, 2000 06:21:49 PM new
reddeer...same like grapey... ...
Seriously, that stinks...!
********************
Shosh
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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runaroundsue
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posted on October 2, 2000 06:33:30 PM new
My postal clerk was kind enough to leave me a new rate book and a cubing wheel before she headed off for holidays this afternoon.
To sum up:
The actual USA Surface parcel Rates have not increased one iota.
Where you will get into trouble is a large, lightweight package such as in double-boxing and foam peanuts. A lightweight package that does not meet their criteria for taking up it's size in weight needs to be cubed.
The price of the shipment is then determined by the cubed size, and this is the correlating weight they will apply to the shipment as per anishnabeg's mathematics above.
Only way around this is to make your shipments as heavy as they are large ...fill will newspaper instead of foam, and pack before you list so you know what it's going to cost ahead of time if you're quoting in your listings.
It stinks!...won't be selling any 3 foot ostrich feathers in the future. Either way, they'll get you with more costs. Heavy Canadian pottery might be an avenue to explore.
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reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 06:52:26 PM new
Runaround ..... Do you work for Canada Post?
The actual USA Surface parcel Rates have not increased one iota.
Correct, but I'm not sure what your point is?
The bottom line is that most items shipped via Parcel Post wil now cost you twice as much as they did just last week. It doesn't matter if they're Barbie Doll's, or 3 KG pieces of Pottery, unless you can squeeze them into a box with next to nothing for protective padding, you're in for a major increase in fees.
I shipped several items today, that I shipped out last week. All of them cost me plenty of $$$ more today, than they did last week.
I go to great lengths to make sure my items arrive without damage, and even Canada Post suggests 3-4 " of padding around the item.
That's pretty hard to do & still keep the min dens equation out of the cost factor, even if you do use newspaper to cushion the blows, which I always have.
Canada Post is just one more greedy corp that wanted their share of the online pie.
What else is new?
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runaroundsue
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posted on October 2, 2000 07:07:35 PM new
No reddeer...I don't work for the PO. I just have the local postal ladies looking out for me when they can.
I realize costs are jumping...I don't refute that. The base costs are the same, and I consider that a small mercy, as I guess they could've bumped them too.
I have been shipping quite a bit from other auction sites to Canadian customers, so I have been getting familiar with the cubing exercise.
What is going to happen though, is safety is going to be compromised for the size of shipments. Using smaller boxes will put your items at risk.
I have never been a proponent of foam peanuts, no matter how nice they look when you open the box.
In almost four years of selling primarily china and glass, I have had only one breakage.
I bubblewrap each item then pack newspaper tightly around the spaces...this has saved many shipments from damage, and you can fit it into a smaller box. I have in the past always paid more for my shipping than those that use peanuts as they weighed more...but always got there "alive".
In any case, this is going to be difficult, and we will have to see it an item even has any merit being listed due to this.
Unfortunately, I have a huge inventory of large, lightweight, low value items that I will have to market elsewhere if this is the case.
No more funky 50's lampshades...think jewelry I guess.
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stockticker
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posted on October 2, 2000 07:19:17 PM new
I am so glad I sell paper items.
Irene
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cdnbooks
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posted on October 2, 2000 07:34:22 PM new
Stockticker: Goodnight Irene. Sounds like you'll be sleeping better than reddeer.
Runaround, what is a cubing wheel?
Bill
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runaroundsue
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posted on October 2, 2000 07:46:45 PM new
Hi Bill...just ask for one at the PO. It is a round wheel that the clerks use in determining this dreaded minimum density. Just makes the math easier, but you can also use the formula in a post above if you like using a calculator.
The one lousy thing to watch out for is that the clerks will round off your cm to the highest 10th...they don't measure in inches, and if a box is 36cm, they will take it to 40cm.
I have myself arm with a cloth tape measure, postal scales and all their booklets/brochures...but I will still have to bite the bullet on the auctions I currently have running, as the shipping costs I quoted are yesterday's prices.
(I have 2 old sewing machines to ship out this week!...that should be a real adventure)
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AnonymousCoward
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posted on October 2, 2000 09:01:38 PM new
reddeer, anishnabeg and runaroundsue.
Thank you for starting this thread and the explanations.
I tried the domestic rate calculator and experimented with shipping to and from the same postal code.
runaroudsue, is it correct to say that the dimension should not be rounded up to the upper 10th, but the minimum density weight should be instead?
I tried a 30cm³ package and found the minimum density weight to be 4.5Kg and they charged $6.21 for a package up to 4.5Kg.
Then I tried a 25cm³ package and got a different price, $5.46 for a package up to 3.0 Kg. The calculated minimum density weight is 2.6Kg, but the domestic rate calculator rounded the rate as if it was 3.0Kg package.
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AnonymousCoward
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posted on October 2, 2000 09:22:40 PM new
It appears that intenational packages are also subject to the new minimum density rule, not only the packages to the US.
http://www.canadapost.ca/CPC2/intntl/info/intdistinfo.htm#regular
Here's a confusing quote from a Canada Post web page titled.
Features, Options and Pricing,USA DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
http://www.canadapost.ca/CPC2/intntl/info/usadistinfo.htm
For Purolator International and Air Parcels:
Prices are on flat rate, regardless of origin and destination points and are based on weight only.
A few lines below on the same page.
Important tips to remember for sending parcels to USA Destinations:
NEW . Minimum Density applies.
I guess it's bye, bye to the flat rate based by weight only.
edited to add the page title.
[ edited by AnonymousCoward on Oct 2, 2000 09:29 PM ]
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reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 10:20:01 PM new
Bill ..... It could be worse.
I've got a Postal clerk that "cheats" on the dimensions for me so now I'll just have to make sure she's working when I ship.
I also sell a lot of Small Packet items so at least for those pieces the prices will remain the same, for now.
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celebrityskin
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posted on October 2, 2000 11:12:40 PM new
reddeer:
Sent at least 30 parcels around the world this week alone, as late as 3:30 this afternoon and there has been ZERO changes in postage at this end...
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celebrityskin
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posted on October 2, 2000 11:15:12 PM new
Canada post is very regulated... changes don't start Oct. 1.
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reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 11:26:38 PM new
Oh, it must have all been a bad dream?
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upriver
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posted on October 2, 2000 11:27:12 PM new
The worst things about these frucks at Canada Post is their bloody arrogance & ignorance of business practices.
They had absolutely no prior announcement about this anywhere, not on their web site, not in news releases, not at the local post station -- I include postage amounts in all of my auction listings, and I run lots of auctions.
What this means is that on about 150 recently ended or current auctions, my postage quoted for the customer is now too low -- and I have to eat that! It's going to run into definitely a couple of hundred dollars needlessly out of pocket.
Canada Post knows for sure that they would ignite a storm of protest if they announced it ahead of time, so instead they screw everyone by sneaking it in the rear end!!
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reddeer
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posted on October 2, 2000 11:35:37 PM new
Yup, that's about the size of it.
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equestrian
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posted on October 3, 2000 08:06:48 AM new
Celebrity skin:
What part of Canada are you from? I'm going to my PO today and ask about this.
Upriver:
I've quoted shipping amounts in my auctions that are on right now, and am in the same boat as you. How can they raise the rates without any warning? They usually inform the public of increases in stamp fees before they implement them. Its very bad PR not to.
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RB
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posted on October 3, 2000 08:17:21 AM new
reddeer - the 'real' problem is going to be at Christmas. Can you imagine standing in line while the poor postal clerk has to measure each and every package?
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RB
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posted on October 3, 2000 08:19:17 AM new
jozi - you near St. Stephen? That bridge over to Calais gets pretty backed up!
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upriver
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posted on October 3, 2000 08:32:56 AM new
I have always only charged the actual postage, that what is listed in my auctions, but at least now thru Christmas, I'm going to have to factor in a 50 cent "handling fee", won't show it as such & I doubt it will make TOO much difference to bidders or number of bids, though the higher shipping cost will have some kind of negative effects I foresee.
But what is one to do? It will take about 400 auctions at that extra 50 cents each in order to recover from what I seriously calculate is at least $200 out the window!
Even though I am near the border, crossing over with packages is impractical.
The only good news for me is that I do have a home postage machine from Pitney Bowes, so no standing in lines come Christmas. I couldn't deal with that, too!
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