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Question regarding US shipping to Canada

Started by CAMPER49,

13 posts in this topic

CAMPER49

CAMPER49

Posted
Posted

I am purchasing a pile of comic books on eBay as a favour for a friend of mine who isn't very internet savvy.

I have a general question regarding US sellers on eBay shipping internationally (not using the fraudulent Global Shipping Program...that's a whole other story).

Say I, as a Canadian, purchased 16 comics from a US seller whose auctions specifically state the shipping cost is $12 for the 1st comic plus $2 per additional comic with no indication there is a weight limit. This would indicate I'd have to pay $42 shipping for 16 comics, correct?

So after the purchase I get an invoice stating shipping is $60 and IF there's any excess, I'll get a refund on shipping. Only IF....

So my question is....should I pay the $60 and hope that I'll get money back in a possible excess payment or should I stick to the $42 as quoted in the auctions?

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Firespitter

Firespitter

Posted
Posted

I would ask for clarity on the disparity of cost. It's possible that they miscalculated or Ebay isn't adding up the comics properly.

 

Shipping is very expensive. I just sent 4.5 lbs. of comics to someone in Canada and it was $42 before insurance to send it flat rate. If I didn't use a flat rate mailer, and sent it slow boat to china, it would have cost $55.

-Terry

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bababooey

bababooey

Posted
Posted
I am purchasing a pile of comic books on eBay as a favour for a friend of mine who isn't very internet savvy.

I have a general question regarding US sellers on eBay shipping internationally (not using the fraudulent Global Shipping Program...that's a whole other story).

Say I, as a Canadian, purchased 16 comics from a US seller whose auctions specifically state the shipping cost is $12 for the 1st comic plus $2 per additional comic with no indication there is a weight limit. This would indicate I'd have to pay $42 shipping for 16 comics, correct?

So after the purchase I get an invoice stating shipping is $60 and IF there's any excess, I'll get a refund on shipping. Only IF....

So my question is....should I pay the $60 and hope that I'll get money back in a possible excess payment or should I stick to the $42 as quoted in the auctions?

If his shipping is starting at $12 then he's using first class & I think 16 books in a flat rate envelope might be close to the 2 lb weight limit - if it's over or preferably boxed and over then your ballpark priority rate would be $42-ish. I'd go back to the seller based on the miscalculation & ask for clarification of service & discuss packaging if he was starting out at $12 bucks.

2c

edit - if you're paying enough to cover better packaging/service ask that he do that

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skypinkblu

skypinkblu

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You can only send up to 4 lbs first class and with a box, 16 comics should go over (if packed correctly).

 

Medium Flat rate boxes come in 2 sizes, the one that is smaller, but deeper will fit a bunch of comics, but doesn't have room for packing. I've sent cheap books to myself that way, but not nice ones.

 

The shirt size one would be too tight with 16 books, IF it's packed properly, so they might be going with shipping priority by weight.

 

I'd ask how they are going to pack before going with the cheaper rate and here are all the choices they would have

 

www.usps.com

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FineCollector

FineCollector

Posted
Posted
Does DHL still ship between the US & Canada? Or is it only for non-North American shipments now? I can't remember. They might be a better option? Just a thought.

 

DHL makes international shipments. In Canada, they're called Loomis, but it's the same company.

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Doktor

Doktor

Posted
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Fair enough. I'm betting they have their "brokerage fees" a lot like UPS... ie. unless you pay for overnight. I just remember using DHL for my day-job a number of times & at least the shipments always seemed to go smoothly. I don't remember their rates though.

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CAMPER49

CAMPER49

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UPS is just as bad.

I just purchased some books from a seller in Poland not knowing they were going to be sent UPS.

They arrived today...the UPS driver just left the package outside on my sundeck in the swirling snow. Thankfully the package was unharmed, this time.

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