posted on October 22, 2000 06:31:38 PM
I finally have my first winning bidder from Canada. He sent me an e-mail wanting to know the amount for shipping, but he did not give me his address. I looked at the rate calculator on the USPS website for Canada and it seems that the postage would be $5.60 small packets - airmail.
Here is my question - would postage be the same regardless of where the package is delivered in Canada, or do I need the address to calculate postage?
My computer is slow and I didn't want to take forever searching the USPS website for the answer. Also, I didn't want my winning bidder to know that he is the first!
posted on October 22, 2000 07:00:05 PM
I wish I could, but problem is that I cannot go to my regular post office until Saturday because of my rl job. There is a contract post office in my office building, but they do not handle international mail.
I looked at the TOS in other auctions for the same type of item and it is not helpful. A few charge flat rates ranging from $4.20 to $10.00. Most say that the Canadian bidder has to contact them for the S/H rate.
Maybe I should tell him $6.00 and take the loss if it is not enough.
posted on October 22, 2000 07:05:34 PM
The Rate applies to the entire country.
For what it's worth, I've found the USPS rate calculator MORE ACCURATE than my local p.o. clerks. When they don't agree with the printout I take from the USPS site, I ask for an explanation - and so far, they have had to back down, because when they checked further, THEY were wrong.
Thanks, I feel more confident now. I'll e-mail my customer tonight with a firm price. On Saturday I'll go to the PO armed with my International Rate Calculator printout, my package and my measuring tape. I just hope that my new postal scale is accurate! Oh well, once I complete this transaction I'll be able to write a better TOS for Canadian bidders.
posted on October 22, 2000 07:20:08 PM
The website is more accurate then they window clerks or the Point of Sale system they use.
The only time that in-country location matters is if you are using Global Priority Mail. That service is not available at all location in a foreign country, especially in asia.
posted on October 22, 2000 07:35:54 PM
Depending on the weight and the value of the item, you will probably have to fill out a customs form. This is where the fun begins. Canadian customs can slap a duty on the item which also adds time to the delivery. Nothing against people in Canada, but it is a hassle to deal with everything. Unless you use Global Priority Mail, the shipping time can be as long as 2 weeks. When I have purchased items from Canada (which I don't do any more) I have seen the entire transaction (not using PayPal) take 1 month from the time I send to payment until I get the item. Unless I use Global Priority Mail (GPM).
For example, I sent an internal CD ROM to Canada and it cost $21.00 for (GPM) for 4 to 5 day delivery. Regular surface mail to Canada was 8.00 for 2 weeks delivery. Anyway the guy got slapped with a $19.00 customs duty charge on top of everything else. And, of course, it was all MY fault. Shipping that same drive any where in the U.S. is $4.30.
For me it is not worth the hassle, but you should let your own experience be the final measurement.
I used the rate calculator for Global Priority Mail and it came to $44. It certainly made my hair stand on end! USPS website said that it would take about 4 - 7 days for small packets airmail. Is that an extremely optimistic estimate?
posted on October 22, 2000 11:34:37 PM
That was probably Global Priority Guaranteed Mail. Much faster and more expansive. Of course, a couple of times I have checked the GPG site and gotten the rates for just Global Priority, which made it a shock when I got to the post office and saw the real rates.
"Western culture has practiced imperialistic conquest, racism,
slavery, persecution, intolerance, and oppression. So has every
other culture in the world. Only two things remain to be explained.
First, why was the West so successful at it? Second, why did
they repent?"
posted on October 22, 2000 11:45:15 PMI have seen the entire transaction (not using PayPal) take 1 month from the time I send to payment until I get the item.
I live in Canada, and on average, most payments from the U.S. arrive here in 4-6 days. If shipped via Air Post, my items are in the customers hands within a week.
If they pay via a CC, they'll have it in their hot little hands in approx. 1 week.
Considering how the USPS can sometimes take over a week to get something to the next State over, I'd say that's not too bad.
Anyway the guy got slapped with a $19.00 customs duty charge on top of everything else
FYI - The fee your buyer had to pay, would have most likely been Canadian Taxes [GST & PST], not Customs or Duty.
