Libra63
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posted on February 15, 2002 06:52:03 PM new
I have a small item to send to Canada. Is there a cheaper way to send something other than Globial Priority? Item is under $10.00 and weighs 2 oz. Any and all help needed. Thanking you in advance
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kahml
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posted on February 15, 2002 06:58:27 PM new
You can send it "Air Letter Post"
Airmail Letter-post 4 - 7 Days $0.85 Max. length 24", Max. length, height, depth combined 36"
Is that cheap enough?
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Libra63
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posted on February 15, 2002 07:09:40 PM new
It's a tie. Will it fit in that envelope? I like that postage though.
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tomyou
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posted on February 15, 2002 07:14:36 PM new
You can get a tie in a small envelope (9x6)easily and it will cost about $1.30
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Libra63
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posted on February 15, 2002 07:23:55 PM new
Tomyou-is that a heavy brown one. I am sorry to be asking all these questions, but is seems like I have more canadian buyers lately. Thats a really good price.
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litlux
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posted on February 16, 2002 09:34:23 AM new
Remember that Air Letter Post items don't have to fit in an envelope, you can use a box as well. I use Air Letter Post for packages up to 4 pounds. It has some size restrictions, but most items I sell fit within the requirements. The only drawback is that these can not be insured, nor can you get delivery confirmation. I have to explain to my Canadian customers that it is AYOR (At your own risk in case of loss of damage by the postal people.)
You can register them, but that brings the cost way up and most buyers are unwilling to pay.
On the other hand, of perhaps 100 Canadian shipments in the past year, only one went missing. I simply replaced the item as a goodwill gesture since I had saved over $100 on insurance fees in any case.
[ edited by litlux on Feb 16, 2002 09:36 AM ]
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Libra63
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posted on February 16, 2002 09:53:31 AM new
Thanks for all the help. I just returned from the Post Office. I had enough material with me to repackage the box just in case, but with my bubble envelope and 3 ties I mailed it for $1.85. Now I don't get to excited over much but this was something to get excited about. Now I can list this in my auctions. My buyer was also helpful. He did tell me not to insure it because they can't collect anyway. He also told me to fill out my customs forms right. Love thise kind of bidders. Now I am going to refund some of his postage since I only charge actual postage. Thanks for the info on the boxes, because I also sell jewelry and that should go for that also. Thanks a bunch all I knew you would come through for me.
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ok4leather
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posted on February 16, 2002 10:12:04 AM new
Litlux, how do you request payment from Canadian customers - I mean postal mo or paypal ? Im a novice with Canada shipments and 2 postal mo's we included with our bank drops were returned with foreign exchange msg and a service fee - I guess I should have taken them to the PO ? Any advice appreciated.
Ok4
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Libra63
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posted on February 16, 2002 10:18:44 AM new
I know you didn't ask me but mine paid me by paypal. You can also direct them to BIDPAY where they buy a money order with their credit card and then BIDPAY sends the money order to you. It is a Western Union Money Order and when BIDPAY gets the money they email you that it is okay to send the package and then I think it took 2 days before I got the money order. One bidpay emails you, your payment from buyer is good.
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ok4leather
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posted on February 16, 2002 10:32:49 AM new
Thankyou Libra - I made some really dumb mistakes on Canadian shipments and paid dearly for it lol Its nice to get paid for your auction instead of loosing everything and getting charged a return fee on top of it lol All my fault too !
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loony
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posted on February 21, 2002 04:55:35 AM new
From a Canadian:
I (as many Canadians do) manitain a US$ funds bank acct. The checks are clearly marked US$ and are payeable via Chasse Manhattan bank. There are no fees attached as in effect that is US$ drawn on US bank.
Canada post MO in US$ are exchangeable at any USPS outlet free. All Canadian Banks will sell US MO's which again should be free to exchange as MO=cash.
However small credit unions and S&L's do have the most bizzare fees and could pose problems. So far I have found my US$ acct checks are about the best.
Careful shipping to Canada using Global express and USPS express mail. These methods get handed over to Purolator which will not deliver to certain fringe/rural areas.After 30 days of frustration they simply return to sender as unclaimed (COD).
Steer clear of UPS to Canada. Their FEES are prohibitive. Example, a $9.00 auction will cost a Canadian about $40.00 in fees!
As stated LETTER MAIL is great!
USPS/Canada Post lets items in free when under $20.00 for personal use.
Never include shipping and insurance in the customs declaration form.
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Libra63
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posted on February 21, 2002 06:03:43 AM new
Thanks for your information. How much duty do you have to pay on a item that costs $7.20. That does not include S/H. In my envelope when I mail I also send on EOA notice along with the item as to show what was actually paid. Is that okay or shouldn't I do that? For what I sell sending the item to Canada isn't much more than to the US. Thanks again
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kengraham
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posted on February 21, 2002 08:07:43 AM new
I (as many Canadians do) manitain a US$ funds bank acct.
We do? I don't know a single person who has a US$ funds bank account. When I pay for an auction, I pay by Postal money order in US$ (easy to get), PayPal, or rarely, personal cheque. For personal cheque, I write the amount and US$$ after it, so I eat any exchange fees, instead of the person I send it to.
But I live way up in Northern Canada, so maybe folks nearer the border do the US$$ bank account thing.
[ edited by kengraham on Feb 21, 2002 08:10 AM ]
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loony
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posted on February 21, 2002 08:43:18 AM new
Libra
As I stated, all items that are valued under $20.00 CDN will enter duty free.That's about$13.00 US when shippes via USPS
Over $20. would cost a fee of $5.00 + GST and depending on the province Hosp tax or Pst
The max % is about 15% like as in Quebec.
On $7.20 it would be DUTY FREE as $7.20 x 1.6= $11.52cdn
If via UPS they charge $25 fee + taxes on the fee plus $5.00 +taxes on the fee to 'lend' the money to pay the duty.
They charge on the first $1.00 and do not respect the $20.00 waiver, hence a $9.00 item ended up costing me about $40.00 COD for something already prepaid.
UPS IS A BIG NO-NO WITH ME.
kengraham:
I refer to Ebaying folks.
We take all US$ recieved and open US funds acct. This way you are not charged the commission to convert funds and can convert anytime if needed at the current exchange rate.
When you write on a cdn funds checque 'payeable in US funds' the cashee will incur fees as high as $25 in the US. That will be one seller that will never deal with Cdns again.
But with a US$ funds acct the fee is non existant as in principal it is drawn on a US bank.
No matter on Ebay all sales are based in US$.
If you had paid in Cdn$ you would have had to write a check for $16.00 to pay a $10.00 auction and still the seller would have been hit with a 1% conversion fee (maybe 1.5%) and his bank or S&L would charge an additional $10-$25 fee.
All Cdn banks allow us to maintain US$ accts.
If you plan to Ebay a lot I'd suggest you open a US funds acct. This can be as easy as exchanging Cd$ and depositing into the new acct. This way you save the exchange rates which are charged every time you convert.
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Libra63
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posted on February 21, 2002 09:18:15 AM new
Thanks for the explination. I really do appreciate it.
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