Canada to U.S Mail:

In every single deal I make with someone in Canada I paste this into my notes section:

When sending from Canada, please use the Blue & White Airmail Sticker!

Canadians, here is the thing. If you take the time to ask your Post Office to affix the Blue & White Airmail sticker to every outgoing parcel. It will save a ship time of up to a month, sometimes more. I am happy to provide more details by email if you are interested. But just doing this gets a package to the U.S. in 5 days, instead of the normal 3-5 weeks! Since I discovered this 2 years ago, everyone who has honored my request has seen the same marked improvement in shipping time! It is a free service from your Post Office. You don't pay anything for it. So please, ask for the "Airmail"

sticker! This information applies to shipments anywhere in the U.S., not just Alaska!

Thanks!

pat-alaska

So here is the long version of it.

Long before 9/11 I was dealing with people from Canada all the time. Hockey cards mainly, and in some cases multiple deals. Well this meant similar sized packages going to and from the same addresses. I did allot of Team trading in the 1990's. So I was astonished at how sometimes a small box or even envelope would take 3 weeks, or 4, or 5 weeks. And then the next package would take 5 days. So with the help of several people there, we looked at things and figured out it was just a difference of marking things with the airmail sticker. Well that and how efficient the Post Office in each area is. Thats basically what it comes down to.

Now when you ask the people who work at these places you get a different answer, or explanation or even excuse every time. So basically my opinion is that they do blame security concerns since 9/11, they blame customs for inspections, and they have a list of other things they can say effects the mail getting from A-to-B. But basically without the "Airmail" sticker it takes on average 3 weeks. Now many things can effect that. If you get a single card in a plain envelope, that can take anywhere from 5 days to 3 weeks. Without the airmail sticker. But with the sticker it usually is under 10 days. Now if you use their official envelope you do have to pay more, (I think its like our priority mail here in the US). So now and then I get word from someone that I will have to pay them more for shipping if I want it that way. So then I explain my findings further. Since I have started asking people to honor this. I do get a much faster turnaround. 99% of the time, people ask and get the free label. So it saves everyone allot of headaches.

Some tell me that their Post Office wont give them the stickers because they arent allowed. One seller sent me a scan of the 10-12 pages he was given when he asked, another seller now gets a roll every few weeks just because he asks the right person.

US to Canada Mailings:

Now the other side of it. Is almost the same thing. But even with the proper labeling. Including customs declaration forms and Airmail stickers. The average time for a small package to get to Canada from anywhere in the US is 3 weeks. I do have a note about that in my terms when I sell. Unfortunately many Canadians that are on Ebay dont realize its their own Postal system at fault. And not the US based seller, or the US Post Office. My turn around time for sales is generally 3-5 days, or less. My US, and any European customers get their items within 3-6 days of me mailing them. But Canada, takes at least 3 weeks, and then sometimes longer. So please Canadians, understand it isnt us. Its your Postal System that is messing up everyone!

At least Paypal, is now on-board. When they would require a complaint could only be made within 30 days that made dealing with Canadian issues difficult. 45 days is now standard, though I have heard they are considering changing it to 60 days. I would encourage them to make that apply to anything that has to cross a border. Now the only major drawback to get paypal on board with is returns to Canada. They require tracking. And right now all Canada has, runs $6.00+ per package. Instead of the $0.55 Delivery Confirmation we pay per package in the United States.

I hope this has helped.

Though please understand these are my opinions only.

I do not work for, or am I affiliated with: Ebay, Paypal, The US Post Office, or the Canadian Mail system.

A bit more explanation is available in my About Me section. Also feel free to ask any questions, through my user id. I am not an expert by any means on Postal regulations, but I am happy to pass on my expereience.