CANADIAN EBAYER'S BATTLE THE NIGHTMARE OF S&H.......

Ebay Canada is a great place to spot unique and often difficult to find items. Unfortunately, alot of South of the Border Buyers, or International buyers shy away because they feel they are being ripped by Canadian Sellers shipping and handling charges. We are, in some cases, being categorized as a element that uses shipping as a way to further our profit.

I am going to use this guide to explain what I feel are legitimate reasons for our shipping costs. Also I will give some tips on how to keep shipping costs down for Canadians. American buyers may full well benefit themselves by using some of these suggestions.

TYPES OF SHIPPING CANADIANS CAN OFFER OUR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

USA... standard letter-post, other letter-post which includes non-standard and oversized, parcels...which include small packet and light packet, expedited...which gives the customer tracking and insurance. Also available is purolator international and xpresspost-USA

INTERNATIONAL - OTHER COUNTRIES...same as above except for expedited which changes to air parcel and surface parcel, and expresspost is international.

FACTS INTERNATIONAL BUYERS MUST CONSIDER:

1) Our postal fee's are high compared to some countries.

2) Due to the situation in the world today with the fear of terrorism, customs can be slow in processing a pkge.

3) Tracking is only available with expedited, expresspost and purolator. Small packets are not trackable but confirmation of mailing is automatic with sellers receipt. Canadian sellers can provide registration on letters but this is a very costly way to go.

4) Yes, at times delivery can be slow...however if you are receiving an expedited parcel from Canada, and are following it through Canada post on the net, look how fast the parcel arrives at the customs distribution centre. Usually 1 to 2 days. Then see how long it takes to clear customs and process through your postal system. Surprising isn't it.

5) When comparing items on different Ebay sites, you will find in 70% of the cases that the starting price or Buy It now price is much lower in Ebay Canada.

6) Give Canadian sellers a chance to show there stuff. We in most cases are honest and committed sellers. Yes...we have bad apples too..as with everywhere else. It does not matter where the seller is from....check them out, check the shipping costs, do some comparison shopping....

GOOD ADVICE REGARDING CANADIAN SELLERS AND SAVING MONEY ON SHIPPING.

1) GET A VENTURE ONE CARD FROM CANADA POST. You will save 5% on certain shipping venues. Also you receive your basic 100.00 insurance for no cost...BIG plus that!!! Check into it folks. No hassles in applying!!!

2) BUY YOUR EXPRESSPOST ENVELOPES BULK. Saves you 5% on costs. YUP...Buy four at one time and there is a 5% savings.

3) BUY YOUR ENVELOPES FROM DOLLAR STORES OR CARD SHOPS. WHY??? Because, when cards become out dated, the envelopes will be sold in bundles of 100 in most cases, at a much cheaper rate than regular envelopes. Does it really matter they will be every color under the sun.

4) RECYCLE YOUR BUBBLE WRAP FROM PARCELS YOU RECEIVE. DO SO WITH THE BUBBLE ENVELOPES ALSO.

5) THIS IS THE BIG ONE THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT. Buy yourself an inexpensive shredder. You can kill two birds with one stone on this one. REMEMBER...Identity theft is not just on the computer. Your thrown out personal papers are a great source for the people who like to steal identity. Use your shredder to destroy this type of waste paper and then use it for packing. A huge savings here folks, plus you are doing your part to help recycle.

6) LOOK INTO BUYING BULK LOTS OF STAMPS FROM STAMP DEALERS ON YOUR EBAY SITE. The last wholesale lot of Canadian stamps I bought cost me $75.00 with shipping and I was able to retreive over $130.00 of usable stamps. (not Cancelled.) I then turned around and sold the balance of the lot to a Canadian stamp Collector.

7) GO TO YOUR LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE FOR BOXES. Not your grocery store but your convenience store. WHY...Because they will have a better assortment of sizes, and they are always happy to have them taken away.

8) ANOTHER TWO IN ONE MUST ITEM..... Kitchen scale...great for watching your waist and excellent to figure your postal rate. Mine is within one gram of the postal Weigh Scale...so I have no problem getting costs out to my customers from around the world. OH..THE WAIST...WELL OK I PERSONALY DON'T USE THE SCALE TO HELP WITH MY WAIST...Do not tell anyone!!!!

If you beleive this guide has been helpful, please press the "yes" button. The more yes hits allows this guide to be more exposed for Ebayers to read and perhaps gain some insight.

HAPPY EBAYING folks

Windypointwaves.