Combined shipping to Canada thru eIS

[duffy4444]

    Has anyone had any problems combining orders into one shipment to Canada, and going thru eIS?

    I have a Canadian customer (pre-sale) who wants to save a few bucks on shipping a couple of my items to him in Canada by combining them. I would only use eIS in Illinois...

Thanks!

Cheers, Duffy

[wastingtime101]

eIS auto-combines some categories, but not all categories. eIS will restrict "lots" because of customs paperwork.

Does the buyer want multiple of the same item? Like (looking at top result of your listings): 5 skeins of embroidery floss in different colors?

If the answer is yes, then just create a separate listing for the buyer with exactly what they want. Don't list it as a lot, just list it as 5 of the same item with the correct weight and package dimensions.

If the buyer wants different things like the avon thimble and the lego set then no, those can't be combined.

Hope that makes sense?

[duffy4444]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

eIS auto-combines some categories, but not all categories. eIS will restrict "lots" because of customs paperwork.

Does the buyer want multiple of the same item? Like (looking at top result of your listings): 5 skeins of embroidery floss in different colors?

If the answer is yes, then just create a separate listing for the buyer with exactly what they want. Don't list it as a lot, just list it as 5 of the same item with the correct weight and package dimensions.

If the buyer wants different things like the avon thimble and the lego set then no, those can't be combined.

Hope that makes sense?

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@wastingtime101:

    Thanks for your response. He/she wants a couple dinnerware plates from one listing, plus some matching soup bowls from another listing, for instance.

    Not only do I not trust Canada Post any more than I trust the USPS with avoiding damage to porcelain dinnerware (I always am a bit over the top with protection against damage), but eIS handling of customs forms, etc., raises a big question mark in my mind.

Cheers, Duffy

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

OK if they are all dishes/bowls, you can put them together and call it a "set" in the listing title.

Set of 4 plates and 4 bowls Noritake porcelain

Keep it simple like that, and it's a custom listing for that buyer, so they already know what they're getting.

The buyer may be scared off by the ship cost for a listing like that due to size/weight of box - sooooo make sure they really want it before you go through the effort of creating a listing for them.

Also, if they are buying multiple items from the same listing (non variation, just straight up multi quantity) then eIS will combine the rate based on weight.

[marnotom!]

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@duffy4444 wrote:

Not only do I not trust Canada Post any more than I trust the USPS with avoiding damage to porcelain dinnerware (I always am a bit over the top with protection against damage), but eIS handling of customs forms, etc., raises a big question mark in my mind.

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I'm a bit confused as to the point you're making here.  Canada Post often handles "last mile" delivery for eIS shipments, particularly to rural or remote locations, but not always.  As for eIS' handling of customs documentation, depending on the shipping method used, the information being presented to customs might be entered electronically and/or be part of a more lengthy manifest that includes all items being shipped.  I believe it's semi-automated and based on the information in the listing title and Item Specifics.  The few items I've purchased that were handled by eIS did not have customs documentation on the package.

Back to your actual question, I agree that creating a separate listing for this buyer is the best way to go if the items are of a similar type.

[dbfolks166mt]

@wastingtime101 wrote:

eIS auto-combines some categories, but not all categories. eIS will restrict "lots" because of customs paperwork.

Does the buyer want multiple of the same item? Like (looking at top result of your listings): 5 skeins of embroidery floss in different colors?

If the answer is yes, then just create a separate listing for the buyer with exactly what they want. Don't list it as a lot, just list it as 5 of the same item with the correct weight and package dimensions.

If the buyer wants different things like the avon thimble and the lego set then no, those can't be combined.

Hope that makes sense?

@wastingtime101:

    Thanks for your response. He/she wants a couple dinnerware plates from one listing, plus some matching soup bowls from another listing, for instance.

    Not only do I not trust Canada Post any more than I trust the USPS with avoiding damage to porcelain dinnerware (I always am a bit over the top with protection against damage), but eIS handling of customs forms, etc., raises a big question mark in my mind.

Cheers, Duffy

     The nice thing about EIS is once the seller has the package to the EIS hub their job is done. It is up to EIS to handle all the international paperwork and the shipping leg and the seller has virtually unlimited seller protection from any eBay claims or chargebacks for whatever reason. 

[duffy4444]

   I'm a big proponent of eIS, as it has taken the sting out of international shipping, and I use it all the time... I'm only concerned about the best procedure to combine items and actually get them to my Canadian customer properly... It seems like making one "dinnerware set" as one item is the wisest way to go.

    I think I'll contact the customer and see what she wants to buy, so I can make a special listing for her. At the same time I'll prepare her for a possible shock when she sees how much the shipping may still cost.

Thanks, everybody!

Cheers,

Duffy