lowprofile
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posted on July 4, 2001 09:48:40 AM
Whats the best way to mail books from Canada to the USA...
I find that the shipping is so much it cuts into the profit or...you have to charge too much to the buyer.
Any tips?
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 09:52:38 AM
Surface Post is the cheapest, but for real heavy items you might look into M-bags.
Most post offices don't know what you are talking about, so you have to get them to look it up. But they are all equiped to handle M-bag and it is in their computer system.
Do you live close to the USA border??
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lowprofile
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posted on July 4, 2001 09:57:51 AM
I used to live right on the border and had a pace lane pass...was great..but now I am about 3 hrs away..
I fast is surface mail to the USA..for the most part is it pretty good?
Mbags? what the heck is that?
Thanks
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capotasto
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posted on July 4, 2001 10:15:35 AM
An M-bag is a big canvas sack used for printed matter. I usually box my books and put the boxes in the sack.
Theminimum M-bag weight permitted is 11 pounds., max is 66 pounds.
Editied to say, this is US info.
Going other way, check with your PO.
[ edited by capotasto on Jul 4, 2001 10:17 AM ]
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 10:21:25 AM
Surface can be quite speedy---make sure you go to the USPS site and get the Expanded Zip Codes (four extra numbers)--that seems to speed it up. Speed is about equivalent to Media Mail in the states .
M-Bags (Meme-Destenaire) meaning same destination. Ask your post office if they find the information on it. I've never used it, but I know many book sellers who have.
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lowprofile
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posted on July 4, 2001 10:24:51 AM
This Mbag thing....do all the books in it have to go to the same address...?
Most of my customes..only buy one book...might be good for a set of encyclopedias
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 10:28:54 AM
Yes---same address. and you're right, it is only good for heavier shipments, over 1 kilogram
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 10:34:03 AM
what province are you in?? I'm thinking of starting a Book Run to the Border for other book stores in the area
not to confused with the infamous Beer Runs to the Border of my youth 
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suz23
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posted on July 4, 2001 11:27:12 AM
Depends on the size of the book. If it is softcover~ ie a small paperback like regency romance/ harlequin like Nora Roberts, betty neels. or s/f like heinlein or rex stout ( mystery ) this small paperback will go for $ 2.65 and you can charge $ 2.65 but with the exchange and a bubble mailer envelope you will make a small amount of money. It is the big lots that are bad but again there is that exchange . I find with a lot of 20 books you can charge $ 6.50 and it will be O,K. but you are in competition with lots like these that will go for $ 3.00 s/h in the states so you need to have a "nice" lot or take a cut in the s/h if you are selling many smaller size books you can ususally make a profit which I use to offset the big lots where I lose money. A big lot of over 65 books will probably work out the same for U.S and canada with the us exchange. I have stopped listing any heavy books as a single item as they cost about $ 6.50 to send or more and charging that much makes the buyer wary but a small hard cover children's book I can get away with $ 3.50 and make some profit to pay my time. This is again my usual long winded style! but I am not sure what size books you are sending or what lots etc. International rates~ they are cheaper usually to send overseas if it is one paperback ! I make some money off these type of books as I charge the exact U.S. rate ie it probably costs $ 3.00 surface and I charge $ 3.00 surface~ and that is currently 50% exchange~ but in reality I never make money s/h only break even and figure if I charge less to ship an item and get dinged heavily another item that I have made money on s/h makes up the difference and if I have made a fairly large profit on a book, I will often send airmail! my cost.
Air is very fast for me to go to the states and if it is to Britain can get there in a week! and I live in a small town that first the mail goes to a bigger centre . Good luck as I am branching out into selling other items besides books as the sh/ is always covered and maybe will put my high sellers paperbacks on abe! ( all figures are approximate.
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shaani
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posted on July 4, 2001 11:54:39 AM
Zazzie,
Beer runs to book runs. 
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lowprofile
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posted on July 4, 2001 11:56:33 AM
British Columbia
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 05:59:02 PM
I use small packet air and always include the zip+4 code.
Usually arrives within a week or less (except longer to the left coast)
Bill
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 06:08:47 PM
cdnbooks---
my books are bigger than your books..nenner nenner nenner!!
but when they weigh less than 1 kilogram, small pakage surface is the way to go if I'm mailing from Canada....with expanded Zip Codes
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 06:09:51 PM
lowprofile---Lower Mainland? or ......?
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:00:01 PM
Zazzie
Quality comes in small packages....
But with larger books, I just split them in two and send each half small packet.
Bill
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:02:38 PM
cdnbooks---this Abe/Half business is a stinker eh??
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:04:24 PM
...sometimes it is hard to be a loyal Canuck. You'd think by now Canada-Abe would do better for us....
Bill
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:07:42 PM
Victoria. B.C is a kingdom onto it's own.
I can't believe they would do this to the Canadian sellers. Are you on the Bookscanada list or Bibliophile list??
I hear all hell is breaking out there
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:11:56 PM
Zazzie
No.
Unlike you, I'm just a small time seller. When I make it to the big leagues.....
Bill
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:12:59 PM
I'm not the one with 'BOOKS' in his posting name
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:13:51 PM
Marketing, my dear. marketing.
Bill
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Zazzie
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:14:21 PM
Welll-----I've got to go cut up a worm.
A baby robin refuses to stay in it's nest and if I leave it on the ground my cat will have it for a snack---so I am now it's mother.
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 4, 2001 07:15:54 PM
That folks, passes for excitement in the great white north.
Bill
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pptrade
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posted on July 4, 2001 08:21:17 PM
Zazzie, as one who had been "mother" to many wee birds, mash it, mash it.
and Bill,
Oh the joys of our exciting lives.
Joyce
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cdnbooks
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posted on July 5, 2001 08:51:23 AM new
pptrade
I trust that is the worm you are mashing, not the bird!!!
Bill
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