posted on November 16, 2000 11:39:00 AM new
I am so incensed with Canada Post that I have sent a letter to the Toronto Star, not sure if it will do any good but it might help if all Canadian sellers with the same problem, either lodge a complaint with Canada Post or/and also write to the Toronto Star.
Here is a copy of the letter:
I have a small Internet business, I am registered and have a vendors permit
and have been selling on line for two years now. However Canada Post, seems
determined to put all small businesses, OUT of business because of their
rates for mailing packages to other Countries.
It has been very hard to compete with the USA for selling on the Internet,
but now Canada Post have made it almost impossible to compete. Packages used
to be sent by weight to different countries, now it does not matter if the
item weighs up to 3.5 kgs, the price is the same. However, it is NOT the
same price as is used to be. Packages over 1kg in weight, are now priced by
width, height and length and then the density is charged at ridiculously
high prices. Here is an example.
A package measuring 27x21x25 centimeters and weighing 2.1kg sent via air
mail to The Netherlands, costs $43.15.
A package measuring 28x21x26 centimeters and weighing 2.1kg sent via air
mail to The Netherlands is $51.05.
This means JUST TWO CUBIC CENTIMETERS costs an extra $7.90, where on earth
does Canada Post get off charging those kind of prices! This means that when
you go to the Post Office, you had better make sure that the person
measuring your package for mailing, is concentrating 100% and is measuring
it VERY accurately. It doesn't happen though, because most of the time they
are too busy to measure packages EXACTLY!!! If I had not measured mine
before I went to the Post Office, I would never have discovered that 2
centimeters would make so much difference. I only found this out because the
measurements by the person at the Post Office were 2 centimeters different
than mine, she didn't measure it EXACTLY and when I told her that 2
centimeters can make a very big difference in the price, I was told "Oh no
it does not, it goes on weight"!!!!!! Well, for all the people with small
businesses and all the people at the Post office, I feel that people need to
know about this. I have already lodged a complaint with Canada Post, but am
still waiting to hear from them, although it will not do one iota of good.
It is unfair, we have no other choice but to use Canada Post, for regular
mail deliveries, they have no competition and seem to put their prices up
whenever they want to and charge however much they want to charge. The
service could also be much improved, but that's another story!
I suppose we could always try a courier, but their rates are even higher and
this is most definitely not an option. At least courier companies have some
competition.
Today when I went to the Post Office, I was told that in January the small
packet postal rates (packages that weigh less than 1kg) are going to
increase, luckily there will not be such a dire increase in these prices, as
there was in the over 1kg rates, but still, it is an increase and the price
of stamps is also going to increase, AGAIN!
Of course, Canada Post will blame the airlines for charging them more to
ship packages overseas, like they blame other Countries for air mail taking
10 days to get here from the USA. How can a small fry like me go head to
head with a giant corporation like Canada Post, well I can't, I could never
get them to change anything on my own, but if there's anyone else out there
that is upset with Canada Post, please tell them. Perhaps if they get a few
complaints they may take a bit of notice. I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to
try.
Sincerely
Another thing that our friends in the USA don't realize either, is that unlike USPS who GIVE their boxes away, Canada Post give us NOTHING!! We have to pay for everything, I don't charge my customers a handling charge, I only charge them what it actually costs to mail things. I suppose with over 600 positive feedback on Ebay and no negatives, I am doing something right, but I am so frustrated with the way Canada Post does business. It is so very hard to compete with USA sellers and Canada post is just determined to ruin the Canadian economy. Oh by the way, we also have to pay taxes on postage stamps.
Thanks for allowing me to spout off, I hope this information gets all over the Internet and shames Canada Post!
posted on November 16, 2000 01:03:43 PM new
I don't know if this will help any, but... when I lived in Southern California, there were several "courier" companies that would pick up mail and packages twice a week. They drove to Mexico and mailed everything from there because the postage rates were so low. Is it possible to do the same thing with Canada/USA? I'm not suggesting that anyone do anything illegal. The "cross the border" service was well advertised and used by a lot of big businesses in California so I assume it was on the up and up. Apparently the cost savings made it worthwhile to pay the courier.
posted on November 16, 2000 01:16:44 PM new
I have never heard of a cross the border service, but you can bet I will see if it exists here in Canada. if it doesn't, there might be some enterprising person out there who would like to start one. Mmmmm, good thought.
posted on November 18, 2000 04:59:24 AM new
Just another thought... if you can find someone on "this side" of the border who will provide the service, they could bring you the free priority boxes, tapes, etc. What you could save on buying boxes, etc. could help pay for the service.
