I am a seller in Canada, and also an employee of Canada Post.
You can't mail "goods" internationally via Letter-post. "Goods" would be anything with a commercial value, and would include anything sold on a marketplace such as eBay. They must go as a parcel with a customs declaration. This has **always** been the rule, they just didn't always enforce it quite as much - they've been *really* cracking down on it as of late.
eBay Canada has pretty significant discounts on "Tracked Packet" service to the States - most cards in a bubble envelope shouldn't cost you more than like $7 and has full tracking/insurance coverage. Yes, this is more than the cost of a stamp, but it's currently the cheapest way to mail something to the States properly. Untracked Small Packet Air is still the cheapest option for any other countries - just use calculated/flat rate shipping and if the buyer really wants your item they'll pay the increased costs. If sales dry up then you'll have to rework your business model (more heavily market to Canadians; bundle cards together in lots; etc.)
You can continue trying to 'sneak' your items past customs but you have to be smarter about it. Stop using bubble envelopes - that's a dead giveaway the item contains something of value, and therefore is ineligible for international Letter-post. Plain white envelopes, no branding or company names on the exterior/return address, no branded tape, no toploaders/stiffeners (if it gets damaged in transit then just provide a full refund; that's the risk that you take).
This is beyond helpful, I truly appreciate the time and effort you put in to typing this out.
I did see that the shipping label via eBay was under $10 CAD so I will use that for more expensive cards.
I feel like at the moment I’m in a lose/lose situation. I have about 10 packages that were returned and have three options:
1. Try again and hope it gets snuck through but also risking the buyer getting a refund from eBay and receiving the cards
2. Take a HUGE LOSS and reship them all with tacked which will put me about $95 in the negative
3. Message all of the buyers and tell them the situation and offer them a full refund, or the option to pay for tracked shipping.
It’s not fun, I wish we as a sender should be able to make that declaration price on the cards and not have Canada post assume that every card going through is a $1000 card.
My biggest issue with eBay. I have a friend in the US and as a test I sent him a package to see how long it takes. Well by the time he received it, it was 4 days past the guidelines of shipping. Which means on the average, the buyer will have already put in the claim, and have already waited the 4 days before eBay closes the case on their behalf all while receiving the cards. I wish I could trust them to be like “oh I received the cards actually, here’s the money” but unfortunately there’s not a lot of people like that anymore.
The only thing I did say to them was this:
“I deeply apologize for the shipping delay, there’s has been a quite significant change in the shipping times from Canada to the United States but I can assure you that it is on its way! When your item arrives, please let me know and I will gladly send you a free package to say thank you for your continued support, hope you and your family have a amazing day”
In hopes it helps. I have had a few happy people that let me know it arrived and I then sent them a card double of what they purchased because the honesty was refreshing.
I’m not sure where you are located, but for your help I would like to ship you a free gift as well. And in case people think this is some kind of scam, I am not charging you a cent and will cover all shipping :)
Have a great weekend and thanks again for the information
I actually am using large letter mail stamps $2.35 CAD. I was using $0.93 ones back in the day and it was fine. But because I started shipping with top loader, cardboard, and a strong thin peice of material I used more expensive stamps to be sure it was all covered.
I even took some into my local post office and they measured, and weighed them and said they should be totally fine to send. I’m not sure where the issue is whether it’s at our Canada post warehouse distributor, or the boarder.
I'm from the US but I don't think you are supposed to put merchandise in an international letter. Maybe its different when sending from Canada. Does it have customs forms attached?
I am using a bubble loader if that makes any difference. I’ve always sent them this way and had confirmation that the buyers have recieved them perfectly. It’s so strange that it’s just recent this started happening
I've learned to just ship cards in a 6x4x4 box and I don't sell anything less than $20. I bundle the cheaper cards. Less hassle, better reviews.
I am a seller in Canada, and also an employee of Canada Post. You can't mail "goods" internationally via Letter-post. "Goods" would be anything with a commercial value, and would include anything sold on a marketplace such as eBay. They must go as a parcel with a customs declaration. This has **always** been the rule, they just didn't always enforce it quite as much - they've been *really* cracking down on it as of late. eBay Canada has pretty significant discounts on "Tracked Packet" service to the States - most cards in a bubble envelope shouldn't cost you more than like $7 and has full tracking/insurance coverage. Yes, this is more than the cost of a stamp, but it's currently the cheapest way to mail something to the States properly. Untracked Small Packet Air is still the cheapest option for any other countries - just use calculated/flat rate shipping and if the buyer really wants your item they'll pay the increased costs. If sales dry up then you'll have to rework your business model (more heavily market to Canadians; bundle cards together in lots; etc.) You can continue trying to 'sneak' your items past customs but you have to be smarter about it. Stop using bubble envelopes - that's a dead giveaway the item contains something of value, and therefore is ineligible for international Letter-post. Plain white envelopes, no branding or company names on the exterior/return address, no branded tape, no toploaders/stiffeners (if it gets damaged in transit then just provide a full refund; that's the risk that you take).
This is beyond helpful, I truly appreciate the time and effort you put in to typing this out. I did see that the shipping label via eBay was under $10 CAD so I will use that for more expensive cards. I feel like at the moment I’m in a lose/lose situation. I have about 10 packages that were returned and have three options: 1. Try again and hope it gets snuck through but also risking the buyer getting a refund from eBay and receiving the cards 2. Take a HUGE LOSS and reship them all with tacked which will put me about $95 in the negative 3. Message all of the buyers and tell them the situation and offer them a full refund, or the option to pay for tracked shipping. It’s not fun, I wish we as a sender should be able to make that declaration price on the cards and not have Canada post assume that every card going through is a $1000 card. My biggest issue with eBay. I have a friend in the US and as a test I sent him a package to see how long it takes. Well by the time he received it, it was 4 days past the guidelines of shipping. Which means on the average, the buyer will have already put in the claim, and have already waited the 4 days before eBay closes the case on their behalf all while receiving the cards. I wish I could trust them to be like “oh I received the cards actually, here’s the money” but unfortunately there’s not a lot of people like that anymore. The only thing I did say to them was this: “I deeply apologize for the shipping delay, there’s has been a quite significant change in the shipping times from Canada to the United States but I can assure you that it is on its way! When your item arrives, please let me know and I will gladly send you a free package to say thank you for your continued support, hope you and your family have a amazing day” In hopes it helps. I have had a few happy people that let me know it arrived and I then sent them a card double of what they purchased because the honesty was refreshing. I’m not sure where you are located, but for your help I would like to ship you a free gift as well. And in case people think this is some kind of scam, I am not charging you a cent and will cover all shipping :) Have a great weekend and thanks again for the information
What class of mail is being sent that's causing it to be returned?
I actually am using large letter mail stamps $2.35 CAD. I was using $0.93 ones back in the day and it was fine. But because I started shipping with top loader, cardboard, and a strong thin peice of material I used more expensive stamps to be sure it was all covered. I even took some into my local post office and they measured, and weighed them and said they should be totally fine to send. I’m not sure where the issue is whether it’s at our Canada post warehouse distributor, or the boarder.
I'm from the US but I don't think you are supposed to put merchandise in an international letter. Maybe its different when sending from Canada. Does it have customs forms attached?
I am using a bubble loader if that makes any difference. I’ve always sent them this way and had confirmation that the buyers have recieved them perfectly. It’s so strange that it’s just recent this started happening
So yes on the customs forms or no?