posted on September 1, 2007 06:04:17 AM
After numerous requests and inquiries, we've decided to begin shipping to Canada through eBay.
Can anyone provide some insight / guidelines / tips?
We plan on using Intl. Priority for most items (our items range from 8 oz to 7 lbs).
We normally ship Fed Ex Intl. ground through our website, but after getting most of the customs fees billed back to us, we'd like to try a different route with the USPS.
posted on September 1, 2007 09:08:42 AM
How did you end up with the customs fee billed back to you?
Did the bidders accept the package?
Fluff,
Canadian and Japanese post office sell US $ denominated postal orders ,we can cash them at our post office with proper ID.
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Lets all stop whining !
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posted on September 1, 2007 09:45:09 AM
Money order drawn on Canadian bank or any foreign bank,most banks would not accept it,some may but it would charge you an arm or a leg to clear it.
Your bidders should go to a local bank and ask them to issue an intl cashier check or intl money order DRAWN ON A US BANK.
See,some of these overseas bidders do not know enough to specify they want an INTL money order or INTL cashier check,so they end up with a domestic one .
You can tell by looking at the cashier check or bank money order,on the bottom it would list the US bank .This is the bank which they have a corresponding banking relationship with and your fund actually come out of that US bank.
Also,if you ever receive a US $ postal order from Japan or Canada,better cash it at your post office than depositing at your bank,it could charge you a fee.
I know Wells Fargo Bank charges me 5 dollars for a US postal order!
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Lets all stop whining !
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[ edited by hwahwa on Sep 1, 2007 09:46 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2007 10:48:05 AM
My latested international shipment surprise was the new 5 item limit per box.
Pre-May 2007, you could attach an additional list to the customs form but no longer.
I had to rebox an international shipment last week. Had planned to ship Flat Rate Box and did not notice the new limit until I tried to print the forms.
posted on September 1, 2007 03:14:02 PM
Can yoy get around this 5 item limit by saying in one line-assorted small gift items??
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Lets all stop whining !
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posted on September 1, 2007 07:08:16 PM
>Can yoy get around this 5 item limit by saying in one line-assorted small gift items?<
Nope and I wouldn't even expect myself or the customer to ever see the package again if you were to try.
However, you can send 20 of the same type of item, ie: 1 item- description-hair pins qty-20.
If you have assorted items, they have to be individually described.
This shipment would be rejected by the 5 item limit:
item- 1: Description- hairpin short-brown qty:4
2: description- hairpin long-brown qty:4
There is NO tracking now on International Priority. Doesn't matter if the customs number is showing on-line or not.
Try to complain to the USPS about a lost or delayed internatianal Priority and they will laugh at you. You have 2 options- 1 send it and pray that it gets there or #2 insure it with UPIC or DCI so insurance pays off when it does not arrive.
I have not seen much of a problem with Canadian shipments other than longer shipping times but I have stopped shipping to most other places because of the new system. I do still have a few regulars that I ship to in the UK, Switzerland and Australia but each week I am seeing longer delays in the package leaving the US. They are getting held up in OUR customs system. Once they are in the receiving country, I am having to rely upon feedback from my customer that their shipment has arrived intact. Less than 20% are showing delivered on the USPS website.
I am already telling my regular that if they want shipments for Christmas, they need to have their orders in by Thanksgivings. I would not trust any international delivery to makeit on time after that.
Edited because ' :_no_space_D' turned on smilie faces WEIRD!
[ edited by LtRay on Sep 1, 2007 07:11 PM ]
posted on September 2, 2007 11:18:06 AM
We currently accept credit cards through our website, and Paypal and cards through eBay.
We recently found out that we get hit with the brokerage fees for Canadian shipments through Fed Ex. Our account is set up to automatically bill to our Amex card and because of that, we automatically get the brokerage fee billed to us each time. It's then up to us to get the fees back by comntacting the customer or billing it to their credit card.
Our rep suggested that we change to monthly instead of automatic billing - that way, although the broker fees get billed to us, we're not actually paying for them up front.
The whole thing seems like a load of BS to me - we ship 1000 + packages a month through Fed Ex. Sems like there ought to be another way or something easier.
That's why we want to dig in and see if the USPS route is any better.
posted on September 2, 2007 11:42:15 AM
I am in Canada. Over 80% of our sales are to outside of our Country.
Your Fed-Ex charges seem to be outrageous!
Most Canadians would prefer that incoming parcels are sent via USPS if at all possible not Fed-Ex or UPS.
I would make sure that on your listings you do state that all brokerage and Customs duties levied are the responsibility of the Buyer.
When a parcel with contents over CDN$20.00 goes through Customs here we are charged Goods & Services Tax (GST) plus Provincial Sales Taxes totalling $13-14% depending on the Province. There is an additional flat $5.00 Customs fee for doing the paperwork!
Canadians feel the $20.00 is ridiculous and it has been that figure since 1971 however...it is what it is and we cope with it.
Most Canadian addresses can be confirmed on PayPal so that should not be the issue it was a few years ago.
We have the same problems with Money Orders as you do. The USPS issues a GREEN DOMESTIC Money Order that cannot be cashed in Canada.
We opened an account at our Bank that is designated as a US$ account and we have no problem and there are no charges for depositing any Money Orders. Possibly you could do the reverse.
posted on September 2, 2007 02:16:02 PM
comebuy616 wrote: ...After numerous requests and inquiries, we've decided to begin shipping to Canada through eBay. Can anyone provide some insight / guidelines / tips?...
USPS is the best way to ship since your buyers won't be hit by the hefty customs brokerage fees of FedEx or UPS, so are unlikely to not pay them (so you do).
Postal Money Orders (PMO) re the best non-reversible form of payment and can be cashed at USPS outlets free of charge before you ship their item. Ask for International PMO in US$.
A merchant account is preferable for credit card payments as you have more control over complaints and refunds compared to PayPal.
comebuy616 wrote: ...We recently found out that we get hit with the brokerage fees for Canadian shipments through Fed Ex. Our account is set up to automatically bill to our Amex card and because of that, we automatically get the brokerage fee billed to us each time. It's then up to us to get the fees back by comntacting the customer or billing it to their credit card...
You can change the settings so you don't pay the customs brokerage fees - rather the customers do (as is supposed to happen). This can be avoided by using USPS, and your Canadian customers will be thankful for the lower charges they must pay.
posted on September 2, 2007 02:44:31 PM
We opened an account at our Bank that is designated as a US$ account and we have no problem and there are no charges for depositing any Money Orders. Possibly you could do the reverse.
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In many countries,the banks welcome US dollar deposit and a local customer can earn higher interest if they deposit US $$ in a US$ denominated savings account.
Unfortunately in US,we cannot do that with Euro or Yen or British pound.
posted on September 2, 2007 02:50:36 PM
Why cant you charge your overseas customers more for shipping which include customs fee?
If you ship 1000 + packages a month,you must have a way to set up 2 shipping rates-one Fed Exp domestic and one Fed Exp intl.
Someone said USPS priority packages going overseas is trackable,customs form is no longer trackable but the priority code takes its place and become trackable.
This is from the lady who posted last month on shipping to UK where the bidder accused her of gourging shipping fee and refuse to pick up the package at UK customs?
But then whether the priority bar code if trackable,is it good enough for Paypal seller protection ?
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Lets all stop whining !
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posted on September 4, 2007 03:42:41 AM
tway,
Look into FedEx IPD to Canada.
I'm not sure what the volume requirement. I can have items drop shipped through my supplier and they converted to FedEx IPD this year. Shipping costs to Canada are now less than USPS Priority.
WEIRD!
