posted on April 23, 2001 06:00:26 AM new
Just a note to remind everyone to check the rates given by your postal clerk if they seem out of line. I buy a lot of books, tapes and DVDs from the USA (I am in Canada). When the seller finds out I am in Canada, they send me some bizarre "new" shipping rate. I have asked them to question these as I know what the actual rate should be, and in 9 times out of 10, they come back with a much better rate. I would like to think these sellers are not the type of people who try to get a few extra bucks by bumping up the shipping to out of country buyers
I know there is a difference, but to go from $3.50 to $7.00 for a single video tape sent USPS air mail is a rip.
posted on April 23, 2001 06:19:45 AM new
Just checked the rates and it would be $3.75 for a 1 lb. package, for example. The only way you could really get $7.00 out of that is if the seller is sending it in a flat-rate GPM envelope.
Of course, it does depend heavily on the weight of the package (no pun intended). If the seller is using a heavier type of packaging that might push the weight up to 1 1/2 lbs. for example, that airmail rate does jump dramatically to $5.05.
posted on April 23, 2001 10:07:00 AM new
If they want to be picky you might look into having a friend in the Americas receive packages for you and then resend them, or pick them up when you visit them. This will not work for everybody but for those that live within 30 minutes of the border it can. Or you might look into renting a post office box in the US if you don't have willing friends. Just remember that you may have to pay customs duties if you bring back more than the limits. If I was still in contact with my friends in Canada I know that I would do it for them.
Then again, if you and your friend go to each other's home often enough, you can have package trades during your visits, along with the normal birthday presents, wedding anniversary gifts, graduation gifts, etc...
This only works if the travel would occur regardless of whether or not either of you need to deliver anything.
If you are travelling for business in the States, and will be staying at the same place for a month or two you could always have it sent there. A family friend was working on a project in Winnipeg for 6 months and would fly back home on the alternating weekends (the company paid for the hotel, but not most of the flights). He was always taking back things from coworkers. It wasn't anything big, normally just small items that they wanted to have delivered for children's birthdays. Other coworkers might fly home on the other weekends. It ended up being quicker than paying for airmail. This idea came up more because of time restrictions rather than cost, as the person could receive the item the same day as it was bought.
I've been using Ebay since 1998!
