Shipping is Wacko in Canada!

gemsinbloom · #1 2009-02-24, 11:28am

I normally do not do a lot of shipping, especially within Canada but I had to this past week because of my bead sales in the garage. So I assumed it would be cheaper to mail within Canada than overseas or to the US.

WRONG!

I had a huge shock this morning. I was mailing a small bubble envelope to the next city over and they were going to charge me over eight dollars. He said it would be cheaper to ship it to Timbuktu. Omg, why I asked? He said talk to your government. Well this is just crazyyyyyyy talk.

So we opened the package and made it flatter and then it was just a little over a dollar. MORE CRAZY TALK!

And don't get me started on the one to Ontario.

So if I ever want to get serious about selling my lampwork online I am going to be sticking to pressed beads......

What an eye opener this week has been..........

tiggybubba · #2 2009-02-24, 1:56pm

Three words.....
Canada.Post.Sucks!

flamemoth · #3 2009-02-24, 2:11pm

It's so ridiculous it's embarrassing really...

volkanokaren · #4 2009-02-24, 3:49pm

Holy crap%%$#%^$%#%^$%$#%^^$#@##@&!!!!!!!

Karen
Volkano Exotik

Firebrand Beads · #5 2009-02-24, 4:08pm

WOW! Now I understand why one of my distributors up there has UPS be their broker!

SteveWright · #6 2009-02-24, 4:48pm

It is around $19 to send a USPS Priority package to Canada.

The USPS made it appear a bit more affordable and came up with a smaller box for $10.50. The punch line, the box is too small to accept the required Customs forms envelope.

Steve

gemsinbloom · #7 2009-02-24, 4:54pm

I am still reeling in shock.

IT.SUCKS.BIG.TIME

How am I suppose to become a famous lampworker? LOL

Firebrand Beads · #8 2009-02-24, 4:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveWright

It is around $19 to send a USPS Priority package to Canada.

The USPS made it appear a bit more affordable and came up with a smaller box for $10.50. The punch line, the box is too small to accept the required Customs forms envelope.

Steve

USPS clerk suggested the Tyvek envelope for that. You put the box in the envelope, and the customs form in the pouch sticks to the envelope. Awkward but it works.

teachertracey · #9 2009-02-24, 5:06pm

My mom used to be a postal clerk in the Thousand Islands in NY. Canadians would carpool to come to the states to mail things. They would pay other people to travel to the states to mail things. She was amazed at the huge number of Canadians who used our postal services. Now this was in the eighties, so it is probably worse now. I complain about our mail, but I think you all have it worse.

gemsinbloom · #10 2009-02-24, 5:11pm

I may be rethinking my business plan.....It may make more sense to stick to local shows rather than online sales. Darn. I was really having fun on Etsy.

CelesteK · #11 2009-02-24, 8:26pm

LOL!! I lived in Canada during the 80's and we griped and made jokes about the postal system then. Obviously, it's still just as bad...

Celeste

gubnavnania · #12 2009-02-24, 8:53pm

My cousin lives in Vancouver and he didn't received any mail for more than 3 months. Turned out, the Postie returned all his mail back to senders without warning.

Carolyn M · #13 2009-02-24, 9:56pm

I don't press all my beads, just most of them. My beads are wrapped in tissue, then in bubble wrap, than in a hard mailer and finally into a bubble mailer. They always go through the mail slot and can be mailed as a light packet which is $1.86 under 100 grams and $4.40 or something over 100 grams down to the US. It is cheaper within Canada.

I break even on my mailing, and it really is a pretty good deal. Most of my beads are sold to 2-3 ebay customers and I can mail uo to 5 sets this way for $4.40.

BTW, UPS from the US is the biggest ripoff ever. They charge huge amounts of brokerage just to get your stuff across the border in addition to the mailing cost and then customs on top of that. I will never buy from a US company that ships only UPS.

Oh and I have never had a package go astray and I sell pretty much a set a day. So Canada Post isn't so bad.

Cathy at the Beach · #14 2009-02-25, 7:37am

Carolyn I am with you all the way.

I have been quite happy with Can Post. Size counts. Those envelopes are cheap- it all a matter of flatness!

I have had several nightmares with UPS from the US. I once ordered a bottle of essential oil froma company in North Carolina. It was a 1 lb bottle that cost $25. UPS charge me $62 for clearing it. Now if a US company will only ship via UPS (like harbour freignt) I won't order from them.

I concur- NEVER ORDER ANYTHING VIA COURIER FROM THE US.

Occasionally, Can Post will charge a $5 clearing cost as well as our gst and pst. I find this only happens in one out about 15 packages ordered. I have no idea how some many escape the charge- but it always makes me smile!!

gemsinbloom · #15 2009-02-25, 7:41am

Wow, what is up with that?

I had some packages go missing a few years ago from some beading buddies, totally sucked! I really don't trust the postal service much but what can we do?

I think postal workers that are found guilty of these type of crimes (I saw stories about workers in the US keeping the mail in their houses instead of delivering) should have the book thrown at them. JAIL TIME! It is theft, no matter how you look at it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gubnavnania

My cousin lives in Vancouver and he didn't received any mail for more than 3 months. Turned out, the Postie returned all his mail back to senders without warning.

gemsinbloom · #16 2009-02-25, 7:43am

That hasn't been my experience and I had a package go missing about six weeks ago. She still has not received her beads, sigh.

If you are mailing that way, it is because they assume what is inside is paper. If it is not paper then it goes parcel rate. This is what I understand anyways..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolyn M

I don't press all my beads, just most of them. My beads are wrapped in tissue, then in bubble wrap, than in a hard mailer and finally into a bubble mailer. They always go through the mail slot and can be mailed as a light packet which is $1.86 under 100 grams and $4.40 or something over 100 grams down to the US. It is cheaper within Canada.

I break even on my mailing, and it really is a pretty good deal. Most of my beads are sold to 2-3 ebay customers and I can mail uo to 5 sets this way for $4.40.

BTW, UPS from the US is the biggest ripoff ever. They charge huge amounts of brokerage just to get your stuff across the border in addition to the mailing cost and then customs on top of that. I will never buy from a US company that ships only UPS.

Oh and I have never had a package go astray and I sell pretty much a set a day. So Canada Post isn't so bad.

gemsinbloom · #17 2009-02-25, 7:44am

Size does count and I am going to mail a package tomorrow and try and to beat this mess. I am keeping it very very flat but mind you, I have to say it is paper, nothing else. If customs discovers it is beads they can send it back. This is my understanding anyways...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathy at the Beach

Carolyn I am with you all the way.

I have been quite happy with Can Post. Size counts. Those envelopes are cheap- it all a matter of flatness!

I have had several nightmares with UPS from the US. I once ordered a bottle of essential oil froma company in North Carolina. It was a 1 lb bottle that cost $25. UPS charge me $62 for clearing it. Now if a US company will only ship via UPS (like harbour freignt) I won't order from them.

I concur- NEVER ORDER ANYTHING VIA COURIER FROM THE US.

Occasionally, Can Post will charge a $5 clearing cost as well as our gst and pst. I find this only happens in one out about 15 packages ordered. I have no idea how some many escape the charge- but it always makes me smile!!

gemsinbloom · #18 2009-02-25, 7:45am

Never ever have packages couriered to Canada! I learned the hard way some years ago too. It is a financial nightmare. I have tried to explain this to suppliers in the US, some understand, some do not care.

gemsinbloom · #19 2009-02-25, 7:46am

What is a hard mailer? How can you keep your packages so flat with all that wrapping?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolyn M

I don't press all my beads, just most of them. My beads are wrapped in tissue, then in bubble wrap, than in a hard mailer and finally into a bubble mailer. They always go through the mail slot and can be mailed as a light packet which is $1.86 under 100 grams and $4.40 or something over 100 grams down to the US. It is cheaper within Canada.

I break even on my mailing, and it really is a pretty good deal. Most of my beads are sold to 2-3 ebay customers and I can mail uo to 5 sets this way for $4.40.

BTW, UPS from the US is the biggest ripoff ever. They charge huge amounts of brokerage just to get your stuff across the border in addition to the mailing cost and then customs on top of that. I will never buy from a US company that ships only UPS.

Oh and I have never had a package go astray and I sell pretty much a set a day. So Canada Post isn't so bad.

Cathy at the Beach · #20 2009-02-25, 8:33am

Far as I know- the the cardboard mailing envelopes must fit through a slot. If they don't fit through, you are upped to the next size which means more money.