Some IAP members won't ship to Canada!

[Smitty37]

Only part of it

One of the biggest things that burns my butt is that there are quite a few people who are willing to ship to Canada, but to do so they charge a $10.00 service fee above and beyond the extra shipping price. I have had this happen more times then not, and what I get for an answer when I question it is,"it takes time to fill out the custom forms, so who am I to expect them to not get paid for their time". These are the people that I don't do business with, because I know how much time it takes to fill out the custom forms compared to what you have to do to mail a regular parcel in the states. And personally I think that if I'm nice enough to pay their asking price and the extra postage costs, that they should be honest enough to not charge me any extra to sell it to me.
Len

It depends - on small flat rate box weighing 4 pounds or less or first class mail weighing 4 pounds or less. There isn't much difference handling Canadian or USA shipments.

If it does not fit in a medium or large flat rate box and weighs more than 4 pounds or has a value above a certain amount the picture changes and it is in fact quite a lot more work requiring special handling.

It changes to a different 4 part customs form that must be placed in an clear plastic envelope on the outside of the package with a copy on the inside of the package, they must be stacked so the copy showing the postage paid shows. Some I have to go to the USPS website to print because of limits in my postage software. In short it is not always just a matter of "filling out a form" sometimes it is entirely different handling. There is supposed to be an invoice both on the outside and inside of the package showing the value of the the items....

Personally I don't charge for that, but don't tell me I don't do an extra $10.00 worth of work on some shipments to Canada.

 

[Ruby pen turning]

One of the biggest things that burns my butt is that there are quite a few people who are willing to ship to Canada, but to do so they charge a $10.00 service fee above and beyond the extra shipping price. I have had this happen more times then not, and what I get for an answer when I question it is,"it takes time to fill out the custom forms, so who am I to expect them to not get paid for their time". These are the people that I don't do business with, because I know how much time it takes to fill out the custom forms compared to what you have to do to mail a regular parcel in the states. And personally I think that if I'm nice enough to pay their asking price and the extra postage costs, that they should be honest enough to not charge me any extra to sell it to me.
Len

I've never heard of this on the forum. Are you tossing out a comment about companies in general or does this pertain to IAP members and member/vendors shipping to Canada?

I have never seen anyone on IAP charge more then what postage costs to ship to Canada.

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

One of the biggest things that burns my butt is that there are quite a few people who are willing to ship to Canada, but to do so they charge a $10.00 service fee above and beyond the extra shipping price. I have had this happen more times then not, and what I get for an answer when I question it is,"it takes time to fill out the custom forms, so who am I to expect them to not get paid for their time". These are the people that I don't do business with, because I know how much time it takes to fill out the custom forms compared to what you have to do to mail a regular parcel in the states. And personally I think that if I'm nice enough to pay their asking price and the extra postage costs, that they should be honest enough to not charge me any extra to sell it to me.
Len

I've never heard of this on the forum. Are you tossing out a comment about companies in general or does this pertain to IAP members and member/vendors shipping to Canada?

I have never seen anyone on IAP charge more then what postage costs to ship to Canada.

I would think most actually charge less than it cost to ship to Canada. When vendors only charge excatly what the P.O. charges we lose money, not by much but stll over a years time it adds up. Cost of Labels, packing material, etc. Not complaining as this is also a cost shipping here in the states and is part of doing business and we're happy to do it but saying some Vendors here charge extra to ship to Canada just isn't true.

 

[Smitty37]

Right on

One of the biggest things that burns my butt is that there are quite a few people who are willing to ship to Canada, but to do so they charge a $10.00 service fee above and beyond the extra shipping price. I have had this happen more times then not, and what I get for an answer when I question it is,"it takes time to fill out the custom forms, so who am I to expect them to not get paid for their time". These are the people that I don't do business with, because I know how much time it takes to fill out the custom forms compared to what you have to do to mail a regular parcel in the states. And personally I think that if I'm nice enough to pay their asking price and the extra postage costs, that they should be honest enough to not charge me any extra to sell it to me.
Len

I've never heard of this on the forum. Are you tossing out a comment about companies in general or does this pertain to IAP members and member/vendors shipping to Canada?

I have never seen anyone on IAP charge more then what postage costs to ship to Canada.

I would think most actually charge less than it cost to ship to Canada. When vendors only charge excatly what the P.O. charges we lose money, not by much but stll over a years time it adds up. Cost of Labels, packing material, etc. Not complaining as this is also a cost shipping here in the states and is part of doing business and we're happy to do it but saying some Vendors here charge extra to ship to Canada just isn't true.

You know it Roy. One thing for sure is that PayPal charges an additional 1.5% for international transactions whether from PayPal or Credit Card. So that's $1.50 on a $100.00 order that we almost never include in the added charge. Also I use 3rd party insurance when I insure and it costs about a dollar more for the same insurance amount to Canada.

Small FRB less than 4 pounds - $5.15 to USA including delivery confirmation. $12.95 to Canada with no delivery confirmatioin. 1.5% of value added paypal fee, a dollar added insurance. Cost for $100.00 shipment $7.80 +$1.50 + $1.00 $10.30 I usually charge$7.00 -$8.00...So even when I don't insure it runs me $1.30/$2.30 more than I charge.

 

[Haynie]

Here is a thought. If they don't ship to Canada, send them a PM telling them how much business they are losing, like how much you WOULD HAVE spent with them, and what you WOULD Have bought. Then tell them you will spend that and more with someone who does ship. Complaining on a web forum won't get you very far. Speaking with your wallet just might.

 

[Smitty37]

Here is a thought. If they don't ship to Canada, send them a PM telling them how much business they are losing, like how much you WOULD HAVE spent with them, and what you WOULD Have bought. Then tell them you will spend that and more with someone who does ship. Complaining on a web forum won't get you very far. Speaking with your wallet just might.

I personally would take a little umbrage at that kind of a PM.

Where I will and will not ship is a business decision having nothing to do with any individual member here.

 

[Haynie]

Business decisions change based on customer demands. I run a business and learned quickly that no business decision is set in stone. When the wallet talks I listen.

 

[Smitty37]

Well maybe changes in your business based on a ad hoc PM suggestion on a web forum works for you. If it does that's great for you, but it isn't part of my business plan.

 

[chriselle]

As a Canadian living in Japan I find it sad that.... a package shipped from anywhere in the US will get to me faster than say... a package shipped from Seattle destined for Vancouver.
Also, that I would rather buy from the US over Canada as shipping is usually MUCH cheaper.
The only thing I do like about Canada is the option of surface shipping. It's really a bummer USPS discontinued surface shipping.

Japan has THE best post, mail, delivery services in the world. It's really quite impressive.

 

[pensmyth]

Mack,
Let me be one to apologize. I have an ad in the Deals & Trade section and it does say that the posted amount "includes shipping in the US only". That is my fault for not paying attention and being more descriptive. What it should say is "the price includes shipping in the US, any other countries would have to include the actual cost of shipping". I do and have shipped to Canada and the UK as well as other countries. Sorry:redface:
Andy

 

[Lucky2]

I'm talking about people in general not companies, and I have no experience with anyone on this site as I've just become a member and have not had a chance to try to purchase anything from a fellow member. So I am sorry for the comment, I didn't realize that we were to just talk of what other members of this site does, I thought we were talking about shipping in general. I'll read the title of the posting more carefully next time, and keep it in mind when posting.
Len

 

[Mack C.]

Mack,
Let me be one to apologize. I have an ad in the Deals & Trade section and it does say that the posted amount "includes shipping in the US only". That is my fault for not paying attention and being more descriptive. What it should say is "the price includes shipping in the US, any other countries would have to include the actual cost of shipping". I do and have shipped to Canada and the UK as well as other countries. Sorry:redface:
Andy

Hi Andy; No apologies necessary really. I should have read into your post that the shipping to Canada would be somewhat more expensive.

I was just too lazy to pm you for a clarification, then wait for the reply.

I was really just hoping penturners in the US would see that it's no more difficult to mail stuff to us in Canada as it is to mail it within the US.

I do see the selling notation sometimes as CONUS only and wonder why!

 

[greenmtnguy]

Sometimes we forget that we are the International pen group

 

[Smitty37]

Hmmmm

Mack,
Let me be one to apologize. I have an ad in the Deals & Trade section and it does say that the posted amount "includes shipping in the US only". That is my fault for not paying attention and being more descriptive. What it should say is "the price includes shipping in the US, any other countries would have to include the actual cost of shipping". I do and have shipped to Canada and the UK as well as other countries. Sorry:redface:
Andy

Hi Andy; No apologies necessary really. I should have read into your post that the shipping to Canada would be somewhat more expensive.

I was just too lazy to pm you for a clarification, then wait for the reply.

I was really just hoping penturners in the US would see that it's no more difficult to mail stuff to us in Canada as it is to mail it within the US.

I do see the selling notation sometimes as CONUS only and wonder why!

Probably because "Zoned Shipping cost is based on the distance - For instance a 10 pound priority mail package from my place to NY is $12 and change - same package to Hawaii is $31 and change, just a tad less for parcel post. So if you ship a lot of stuff that does not fit a priority mail FRB and you need to ship parcel post or regular priority mail the costs can get pretty high.

 

[Chatham PenWorks]

penguin you did tx proud

Reactions like this, to an obvious joke, and ****in' on people's classified ads doesn't help your cause any. If a vendor is already worried about shipping to Canada, the thought of having to deal with a rude customer, if an issue does arise, is not gonna relieve that worry.

 

[pens by david]

No big deal here do it all the time ,Love your country Visit all the time ,take the 5th wheel and away we go forgot passport one time had to come back to Coeur D Alene to get them LOL left 5ther at boarder and back in 1 1/2 and then away we go...

David