shipping to Canada: Tips

[x2drich2000]

Generally speaking, I usually avoid shipping to Canada due to the hassel, expense, and worries of something happening. That said, I made an exception recently. Payment was made using F&F so funds couldn't be pulled back if things went sideways, I shipped using the quickest USPS way possible even though it was more expensive, and packed the card so that it would be safe even if it got run over by a truck. With all that, the number one thing that made me feel OK about the sale was that the buyer has been an active participant on the board for years. A lot can be said for knowing who the other party is and for getting multiple solid references if you don't know them. There's no way I would have done the deal for someone new to the board or had just signed up in the last couple years.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

We ship a dozen or so packages to Canada each auction. USPS all the way or your buyer can get hit by mysterious charges by UPS or Fed EX (not customs) and frankly USPS seems quicker. Pack it like it's a Faberge Egg.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

We ship a dozen or so packages to Canada each auction. USPS all the way or your buyer can get hit by mysterious charges by UPS or Fed EX (not customs) and frankly USPS seems quicker. Pack it like it's a Faberge Egg.

have you had any hiccups? are their tiers of shipping?

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[Jim F]

I have been seeing posts like this for years. Put the card in an envelope and head to USPS. Get yourself a tracking number and off you go. No problem. It's Canada, not somewhere half way around the world. It may be too expensive but the buyer pays shipping anyway.
I ship dozens of packages a month from Canada to the US and only remember 1 issue in the last decade.
If it's a high value item, FedEx all the way, never use UPS for cross border shipping. Make sure the buyer is aware that customs charges will apply if you're not comfortable sending at a lower value

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Jim F

I have been seeing posts like this for years. Put the card in an envelope and head to USPS. Get yourself a tracking number and off you go. No problem. It's Canada, not somewhere half way around the world. It may be too expensive but the buyer pays shipping anyway.

I ship dozens of packages a month from Canada to the US and only remember 1 issue in the last decade.

If it's a high value item, FedEx all the way, never use UPS for cross border shipping. Make sure the buyer is aware that customs charges will apply if you're not comfortable sending at a lower value

The story I read the other day involved a seller sending an item bought on Ebay to Canada. He had to send to eBay authentication before it could go to Canada. Authentication sent it to a PO Box in Canada, but somehow it was bounced back to the US as undeliverable, and it did not return to ebay, but rather was labeled as lost. EBay froze the account of the seller, through no fault of his own. After nearly two months, eBay paid back the seller. The card was sold by USPS to a lost merchandise buyer, and the card ended up on eBay again.

I don't believe anything like this will happen to me....I mean, I sent boxes from Thailand by 6-8 weeks boat ride that arrived safely. But I also wasn't sending a valuable card either and didn't care if some necklaces and film got lost.

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[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by todeen

He had to send to eBay authentication before it could go to Canada.

I find this part of the story suspect, as I was under the impression that eBay authentication was only for domestic orders.

[bnorth]

It is expensive but I have used USPS Priority Mail Express International with high end cards to Canada.

Also send cheaper stuff in a PWE to Canadian members without any problems.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by todeen

have you had any hiccups? are their tiers of shipping?

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I had one package that bounced around a bit, but I have had much less difficulty with USPS than I did with UPS.