seapotato Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I haven't had much experience selling too many things other than polybags and minifigures so I am always very surprised by how much larger items and parcels cost to ship. I always end up charging too little for shipping and my profit is almost nonexistant or I end up selling at a loss. I was hoping to create a shipping price guideline so people can refer to it for the future. This will probably change once the new postal rates come into effect next month though. Any help would be appreciated from seasoned sellers! Small bubble envelope (good for polybag or minifigs) Within Canada - $1.34 To US - $2.65 International - $5.20 Small parcel (size of Captain America set) Within Canada - $11.83 Quote
Guest eightbrick Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Thanks! This is Canada Post, right? Quote
@rtisan Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Excellent idea! I`ve been meaning to get on this for quite some time. International shipping seems to be where a substantial amount of business is, so having a proper set of rates for those who wish to sell is crucial. Quote
lobo1969 Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Cheap shipping options outside of North America (Europe, Australia,etc) is what I'm wondering about. Non surface tracked options from Canada Post is well over $75 for bigger sets... Quote
seapotato Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 yes canada post with regular shipping. no insurance or tracking. parcels over I think 500g automatically gets a tracking number for things shipped within Canada.Thanks! This is Canada Post, right? Quote
Veegs Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I learned that shipping to PO boxes in Canada adds around $10 or so if I remember correctly, so I updated most of my listings to reflect that. I use CanadaPost.ca and put in the box dimensions and weight (I use 2 kg as my benchmark, I think) to get a very good idea of what costs are going to be. For anything over a certain amount I also get insurance (I think it's $1.95 for every $100) so when I shipped some HP Castles this Christmas I ended up getting $300 in insurance just in case something went wrong. I try to factor that into my shipping and handling costs, too. I'm not willing to risk shipping larger/rarer/expensive items without insurance and tracking. Ebay buyers have a lot of power! Quote
seapotato Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 Yes I would definitely add insurance and tracking onto larger parcels that are worth more. I just haven't listed any for sale yet I have tried using the canada post shipping rate calculator and sometimes it's not too accurate... I also pack some stuff into a big bubble envelope and that throws off measurements when I'm trying to figure out shipping. Quote
seapotato Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 The shipping rate for small international packets has increased from $5.20 to $6.51. Quite the jump! (I can't edit the first post?) Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 Ugh can I just complain how ridiculous shipping prices are in canada. I sold a LR stagecoach set for $65 and $7 shipping (can't change shipping cost on amazon for some reason), amazon takes a giant cut. Cost me $21.28 to mail the box and that was with a 5% discount with the venture one program. Basically I only make $11. Not even worth it I'm surprised every time I mail a parcel it always ends up way more than yhe estimate. Grr. Quote
peenutz Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Yea... I sold some friends animals, thought it would cost 1.90 for shipping, as it was just a bubble envelope, but it came out to 2.5cm thick, so instead it came out to 14.70... I won't tell you how much I lost on that transaction... Quote
lobo1969 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I don't sell on Amazon but if you are not allowed to charge actual shipping that is rediculous. As bad as shipping within Canada might be I'm finding the shipping rates from the USA into Canada are getting worse than rates from Canada TO the USA! Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 Peenutz, I know how you feel. That has happened to me two or three times :( Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 I have to ship a large parcel this week to Norway. Not looking forward to finding how much that's gonna cost. :( Quote
@rtisan Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I have to ship a large parcel this week to Norway. Not looking forward to finding how much that's gonna cost. Ouch!!! Ya that`ll cost a pretty penny. Anything larger than an envolope. How large a parcel if you don`t mind me asking? Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 it's two of the LE frozen dolls, so just slightly bigger than the two. I haven't packed it up yet LOL but it's bulky enough. Ouch!!! Ya that`ll cost a pretty penny. Anything larger than an envolope. How large a parcel if you don`t mind me asking? Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 Yea it's weird. Someone said if you have an older account you don't have control over what to charge for shipping and amazon has a flat rate for everything. It's always something ridiculously low like $7 or $11 even if it's a large box like the QAR. It costs at least $23-25ish for that! :S But then they charge the same shipping for a book that costs me $2.20 to ship. It's so strange. To be able to charge different shipping rates, you would have to open up a new account. Or so I've heard. I don't sell on Amazon but if you are not allowed to charge actual shipping that is rediculous. As bad as shipping within Canada might be I'm finding the shipping rates from the USA into Canada are getting worse than rates from Canada TO the USA! Quote
wilandirene Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Don't forget shipping rates for letters (including bubble mailers) have gone up since April 1st so adjust your price accordingly. I don't sell boxed sets on eBay (never tried Amazon) due to the enormous shipping costs. And if you try to pass that cost onto the customer you end up not being competitive anymore. I try to keep packages under 1kg and even then it's $20 to ship. When I buy from the US it's expensive too. I think I've been charged $30-40 for just 1 medium box to get here. 1st class mail (bubble mailer) costs $8 at least if I'm not mistaken. Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 $1.80 to ship a bubble mailer within Canada now. Quote
seapotato Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 It ended up costing $109.43 by boat, after the 5% discount. it is only covered for $100 insurance but I wanted to get more. I couldn't buy additional insurance unless I ship by air and it would be well over $200. I am worried they might get damaged since it takes like 9 weeks to deliver. Ouch!!! Ya that`ll cost a pretty penny. Anything larger than an envolope. How large a parcel if you don`t mind me asking? Quote
weakside Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 It ended up costing $109.43 by boat, after the 5% discount. it is only covered for $100 insurance but I wanted to get more. I couldn't buy additional insurance unless I ship by air and it would be well over $200. I am worried they might get damaged since it takes like 9 weeks to deliver. Wow. Hope you had enough margin on the listing to make decent profit on this transaction. Too bad your buyer couldn't be from BC to save you all this hassle. yeah, it's usually under $2 to add another $100 for insurance but by boat is different I guess. I've never shipped internationally before. Since I'm in Ontario...whenever I get notification something has sold, I'm a bit happier when I see on the order form the buyer is within my province. Cheaper and arrives at the customer in 1-3days only. Quote
wilandirene Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 It ended up costing $109.43 by boat, after the 5% discount. it is only covered for $100 insurance but I wanted to get more. I couldn't buy additional insurance unless I ship by air and it would be well over $200. I am worried they might get damaged since it takes like 9 weeks to deliver. Wow too bad it cost so much even by surface. Hope you let the buyer it'll take 4-6 weeks to get there (did the post office really quote 9 weeks?). That's what I worry about when I ship larger packages overseas, the fact they could chargeback and then receive the package afterwards :( Quote
jeff_14 Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 I've found that my auctions do very well by being willing to sell worldwide. I just state that the buyer pays actual shipping and I usually can sell my sets for the going ebay rate or more since it seems like most US sellers only ship within the US. Canadapost.ca is a great tool to quickly calculate shipping, especially since brickpicker lists the box dimensions. Quote
seapotato Posted April 14, 2014 Author Posted April 14, 2014 Luckily there was a pretty big profit margin, plus i sold in USD so I get a tad more after the exchange rate. I belive the guy said up to 2 months (which is really 10 weeks?!) but I had written that in my posting and have been in communication with the buyer. Extra insurance is $2.05 plus 13% tax by air but I guess it doesn't apply by surface! I almost never run auctions anymore, just BIN and Ive had no problems selling internationally. Granted most are small packets but ive only had one item get lost out of hundreds of transactions. Quote
lobo1969 Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 It ended up costing $109.43 by boat, after the 5% discount. it is only covered for $100 insurance but I wanted to get more. I couldn't buy additional insurance unless I ship by air and it would be well over $200. I am worried they might get damaged since it takes like 9 weeks to deliver. This is an eBay sale? You have to be careful shipping surface even with a tracking number because if the buyer lodges a non delivery compliant against you and you can't provide proof of delivery after 30 days (I believe?) even with the tracking number, eBay could rule against you, the seller, and give the buyer a full refund. This is an old scam some buyers may pull by asking for slow cheap shipping and then screwing you over with a non delivery claim after just 2 weeks. International shipping I always quote tracked air services which usually scare away most international buyers unfortunately. Its too damn expensive to ship out of Canada overseas. Quote
seapotato Posted April 14, 2014 Author Posted April 14, 2014 Eeep. The buyer has 100% feedback so hopefully this is not the case! Sent from my iPod touch using Brickpicker Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.