Canada Post ~~ Flat Rate Shipping Program

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Canada Post Flat Rate Box Promises Shipping Benefits for Canadian eBay Sellers and Buyers

On May 16th, 2008, Canada Post quietly launched a new Flat Rate Box shipping program for items shipped through eBay. "Canadian eBay users ship millions of parcels through Canada Post each year," Canada Post's John Swettenham said in a CBC news release. "That makes the eBay community an extremely important customer base." This program promised to assist both sellers and buyers particularly when items are combined and shipped together.

The program was released quietly; the original CBC news release, which did not contain a lot of particulars, is at CBC May 16th news release. I wrote this page in response to the fact that little information about it was available.

The Benefits of Using the New Flat Rate Box 

The benefits of using a Flat Rate Box can be a savings in time - less measuring or weighing. Also promised are a potential savings in cost, a simpler shipping process through eBay's online shipping system (if you do not already use it) and the usual advantages of Canada Post's Expedited mail service.

In Brief, Here Is How It Works 

You must use a specially designed box from Canada Post that is only available on eBay. While it is 'free', you must pay $1.95 plus tax to have three boxes shipped to you. The box measures 28 by 21.5 by 14 centimeters and you can use the box for items weighing up to 5 kilograms.

You pay just one charge for as much as you can put in this special box. Regional rates will be $9.99, national rates $12.99 and USA rates $17.99. Since all Flat Rate Boxes ship with Canada Post's Expedited service, they will include the usual benefits including free tracking and delivery confirmation, on-time delivery guarantee within Canada and $100 of insurance for loss or damage. This box is not good for any other class of service. It can only be used for the Flat Rate program with labels created, purchased and printed through eBay's online shipping tool.

Simple Steps For Obtaining and Using the Flat Rate Box 

Order boxes online through Canada Post's eBay store at eBay Item Number 280268605006.

Your boxes will arrive flat. You must assemble and seal them using shipping tape.

Next purchase and print the expedited shipping label at eBay's online shipping tool.

Affix the label to the flat rate box and pack it with any number of items, up to 5 kilograms.

Finally, seal using shipping tape and deliver to any Canada Post location.

Find More Information About Canada Post's Flat Rate Shipping Boxes 

More information is available at at Canada Post's Flat Rate Box eBay store. There is a helpful section called Frequently Answered Questions and a chart defining the regional and national terms.

Your Opinion Regarding Canada Post's New Flat Rate Box Shipping Service 

Do you think this new shipping service will help your eBay business?

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Yes

JaguarJulie says:

I would think this shipping service will help the traveling squid project once it hits Canada -- it's currently touring the U.K.! ;)

The_Homeopath says:

I'm in the US where we've had flat rate boxes for a while - I love them!!

Treasures-By-Brenda says:

I hate to be the first to comment here particularly since I have not received my boxes yet and, therefore, have not used the new Flat Rate Box system although I do ship all of my eBay parcels through eBay's online tools so that part will not be new to me. Have you used the Flat Boxes? How is it working for you and your customers? I think it has great potential, especially for Canadian customers who choose to buy more than one item from one seller and have them combined for shipping. I'll be watching for your comments. Brenda

No

Treasures-By-Brenda says:

Almost eight months have passed since the launch of this new service. I have to admit that I was thrilled at first with the idea. I did manage to put the box to good use because I sold many boxed sets of books that perfectly fit into one of Canada Post's Flat Rate Boxes. That made the boxes convenient and cost-effective when items were shipped to the far reaches of Canada (from Ontario) and to the U.S.

I think, however, that many eBay sellers were disappointed because they thought they would be able to use these boxes to combine items and help the customer save money on shipping costs. The box, however, turned out to be too small to enable one to pack much into it and, in many cases, did not provide much if any cost savings.

I am not sure what you would have to send to be able to put 5 kilograms in the box -- the book set that I mailed many during and since the summer filled the box to capacity and it weighted in at less than 3 kilograms. Other than these book sets, I think I have only used a couple of the boxes for other combined purchases.

In my mind, the perfect box would have combined the benefits that this one has as discussed elsewhere on this page but they would also have given a better price savings on the cost of shipping.

What do you think? Have you had success or failure with these boxes?

Brenda

 
 
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Canada Post in the News 

Airlines in Canada post fall in passengers
The softened demand in air travel has seen both WestJet Airlines and Air Canada post drops in passenger load for June. Reuters reported Tuesday that ...
Northern roadside attractions grace Canada Post stamps
Two eye-catching roadside attractions based north of 60 ? one in the Yukon and one in the Northwest Territories ? are featured on Canada Post stamps that ...
Canada Post Seeks 20% Increase in Price to Mail Letter by 2014
The cost of mailing a domestic letter would rise to 57 cents (49 US cents) in January from 54 cents today, Canada Post said in a statement today from Ottawa ...

Shipping Scales/Postage Meters 

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Bubble Wrap 

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Bubble Envelopes or Mailers 

I do recommend buying shipping supplies on eBay, just be careful to do your comparison shopping. I buy much of my bubble wrap and bubble envelopes from an eBay store in Toronto. They usually arrive at my front store the next day!

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Poly Envelopes 

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Tyvek Brand Envelopes 

I do use Tyvek envelopes and every one that I have purchased has been purchased through eBay. They are great for shipping lightweight clothing items! (I usually add a piece of cardboard for support.) Often, if a t-shirt is thin or small, it will ship as an envelope -- saving the customer a lot of expensive postage charges!

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Packing Tape 

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Packing Peanuts 

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Tape Dispensers 

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Shipping Boxes 

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I Look Forward to Using the Flat Rate Box, When Appropriate, To Ship Any Items From My EBay Store to You! 

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These Items Are From My eBay Auctions 

If this space is empty, it means that I do not have any auctions running at the moment!

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Please 'Weigh In' On This Canadian Shipping Option and On This Page! 

JaguarJulie wrote...

You know surprisingly, I have had LOTS of sales to Canadian customers. I can't wait for the USPS to make it simpler and more streamlined to prepare my shipments online rather than having to take them to the post office. Great resource of a lens!

ReplyPosted December 03, 2008

alteredkat wrote...

Ah yes, the familiar shipping via a competitor-less Crown Corporation LOL...I know it too well too! Kudos from a fellow Ottawa-tarian! :o)

Thanks for commenting on my banana bread recipe lens! I appreciate it!

ReplyPosted November 19, 2008

poddys wrote...

Flat rate shipping is a great idea. 5***** for a nice lens.

ReplyPosted October 27, 2008

Reggie_Marigold wrote...

I sent this to a friend of mine that does more on etsy than ebay due to shipping charges. Not sure it'll help her as I'm not sure if most of her business is Canada or US. Either way though informative lens.

ReplyPosted October 27, 2008

The_Homeopath wrote...

Flat rates are awesome!

ReplyPosted October 26, 2008

 
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