posted on September 19, 2004 06:41:11 PM
Here's a quote from a Canadian seller's page. If they can't run their postal service any better than this, what hope do they ever have of conquering the U.S.?
<<There is no advantage to sending merchandise within Canada. In fact it almost always costs more to send something within Canada than to the USA, particularly with small parcels. I can send a small parcel to any of the States, even Hawaii, for 1/3 of what it would cost to send it to Eastern or Western Canada (this makes no sense to me). And sending one to Northern Manitoba is something else altogether. >>
posted on September 19, 2004 08:22:48 PM
I live in Canada, and I have to agree about the postal system. A couple of weeks ago I sold 3 small balls of yarn from my store to a Canadian buyer, they cost $4.50, and weighed about 3 ounces. Postage within Canada was $9.25. The buyer wouldn't pay it, and I didn't blame her, we agree not to go through with the transaction. I relisted, and sold the item within half an hour, cost of shipping to the US, less than $3, it doesn't make sense.
posted on September 22, 2004 08:35:02 AM
$9.25: That would be $5 for the cost of shipping and $4.25 for the postal workers retirement, disability and free health care, right?
posted on September 22, 2004 03:51:09 PM
I just put someone from Canada on my blocked bidder list.
Why? Well, after the second question for seller, I checked her feedback left. Seems she has issues with S/H costs. I had quoted her a cost of actual postage plus 40 cents.
The mailer I use for books costs me more than that, actually, I think it's close to a dollar.
posted on September 22, 2004 03:58:22 PM
Just sold an item to Canada.
U.S shipping 4.50
International contact me before bidding for shipping.
Never contacts,bids ,wins, pays paypal.
With U.S. shipping.
Refund his money ,tell him send the right amount 7.00 shipping.
Says he didn't think Canada was international.
Buys them all the time from U.S for 3.00 shipping.
Don't want it now.
He has now at least 1 nail in his Ebay Coffin.
And 1 Neg.
My SYSTEM now: whenever I get an "ASK QUESTION OF SELLER" question from CANADA, I automatically add the bidder to my BLOCKED B list so I can avoid the SURE-AS-GOD-MADE-LITTLE-GREEN-APPLES questions:
1) "Please declare my $300 scale as $10"
2) "EVERY SELLER on eBay ALWAYS marks MY items as GIFTS! What's WRONG with you & Ralph?"
3) "My sister, Gertrude, up thar in the Bay of Fondue, ships 10 stone moose-poop bricks to her son Elmer in TEXAS all the time for $0.39! So, how come you charging $3????? You Americaniski CROOK!"
4) "Whaddya mean my personal check from the FIRST WHALE-BLUBBER BANK of SUSKKATOON is no good in yer state?"
and on and on.....
"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2004
posted on September 22, 2004 07:20:54 PM
Tom,
Calmly reply that you are a customs enforcement agent for the U.S. Government, but as a courtesy to you as a valued customer, you will not report their past duty evasion incidents to your collegues in the Canadian customs service.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on September 23, 2004 09:56:51 AM
Heh, I had a nice little sale to canada- my buyer went to the post office, carefully translated AMERICAN dollars into CANADIAN dollars, and sent me a postal money order ... in canadan dollars...
She was mortified when I emailed her with the news that Canadian dollars won't work in California, and apologised profusely. Said it hadn't even occured to her!
When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
