US to Canada Shipping Rates

[pearce.ehm]

International shipping prices (specifically from the US to Canada) are crazy high, I'm honestly amazing any business is happening, and one of the reasons I rarely longer use eBay these days - for example, $20 USD to ship a couple stamps, taking upwards of a month to arrive, we all know that's ridiculous). 

My question though, is back in the day (over a decade or ago) I use to work for eBay. We would routinely bust sellers with inflated shipping costs for fee avoidance, as back then, the selling fees were based on the item and not the shipping cost. Put up a $1 item with a $99 shipping cost, and you're only having to pay for the $1 item. Again, it's been a while, but that was the gist of it. 

I haven't kept up with any of the policies since, but is this still a thing? I've noticed there's no way to report shipping fees like there was back in the day, so I thought I'd check in and see if things have changed.

Or are there any legitimate reasons/changes that have happened on the seller's side to crank of the shipping costs, is it just US to Canada that's bad? Just trying to make sense of the crazy shipping prices I'm seeing here and there.

Thanks in advance for any information or updates!

[therogue-trader]

ebay fees are charged on item price+shipping cost so fee avoidance like that isn't a thing

usps international shipping costs are high in general though, that's just how it is

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@pearce.ehm 

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@pearce.ehm wrote:

International shipping prices (specifically from the US to Canada) are crazy high, I'm honestly amazing any business is happening, and one of the reasons I rarely longer use eBay these days - for example, $20 USD to ship a couple stamps, taking upwards of a month to arrive, we all know that's ridiculous). 

My question though, is back in the day (over a decade or ago) I use to work for eBay. We would routinely bust sellers with inflated shipping costs for fee avoidance, as back then, the selling fees were based on the item and not the shipping cost. Put up a $1 item with a $99 shipping cost, and you're only having to pay for the $1 item. Again, it's been a while, but that was the gist of it. 

I haven't kept up with any of the policies since, but is this still a thing? I've noticed there's no way to report shipping fees like there was back in the day, so I thought I'd check in and see if things have changed.

Or are there any legitimate reasons/changes that have happened on the seller's side to crank of the shipping costs, is it just US to Canada that's bad? Just trying to make sense of the crazy shipping prices I'm seeing here and there.

Thanks in advance for any information or updates!

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The item price for a $ and shipping for $99 was fee avoidance. 

Fees are now charged on the total amount a buyer pays including shipping.

Some sellers include part of the item price in their shipping cost.  I don't think this is a wise decision but it's not against policy.  

Always look at the TOTAL amount of the item including shipping to determine if it's a good price or not.

Sellers need to ship WITH tracking to have proof of delivery.

Shipping with tracking is expensive.  1st class for a package up to 8 oz is 12.25

9 oz is 20.75

[guangxi_hone]

I shipped many envelopes with stamps to many countries. Always first class for 1 or 2 oz., current rate is  $1 or so.

They always reached destination. No tracking number unless it was high value . That was 10 years ago but I do not think anything changed much. Philatelists tend to concentrate on their collection rather than on scamming for some dollars filing false case "item not as received" and getting refund from Ebay. 

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@guangxi_hone  

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@guangxi_hone wrote:

I shipped many envelopes with stamps to many countries. Always first class for 1 or 2 oz., current rate is  $1 or so.

They always reached destination. No tracking number unless it was high value . That was 10 years ago but I do not think anything changed much. Philatelists tend to concentrate on their collection rather than on scamming for some dollars filing false case "item not as received" and getting refund from Ebay. 

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The other reason sellers ship with tracking is to keep their top-rated seller status.  

[7606dennis]

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@guangxi_hone wrote:

I shipped many envelopes with stamps to many countries. Always first class for 1 or 2 oz., current rate is  $1 or so.

They always reached destination. No tracking number unless it was high value . That was 10 years ago but I do not think anything changed much. Philatelists tend to concentrate on their collection rather than on scamming for some dollars filing false case "item not as received" and getting refund from Ebay. 

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Yes, it is possible to ship such items without tracking provided the seller is willing to trust the integrity of the buyer.  There is no seller protection at all against an INR dispute without tracking.  Of course, shipping anything internationally can be risky these days. 

[collectionstudios]

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@therogue-trader wrote:
ebay fees are charged on item price+shipping cost so fee avoidance like that isn't a thing

usps international shipping costs are high in general though, that's just how it is

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No, that's not how it is. It doesn't cost US $20 to send a couple of stamps to Canada.  Maybe $11.64 for 6 ounces.

Rates are here:

https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

And you can also use eBay Standard International Shipping for maybe a buck or so less,

[7606dennis]

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@collectionstudios wrote:

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@therogue-trader wrote:
ebay fees are charged on item price+shipping cost so fee avoidance like that isn't a thing

usps international shipping costs are high in general though, that's just how it is

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No, that's not how it is. It doesn't cost US $20 to send a couple of stamps to Canada.  Maybe $11.64 for 6 ounces.

Rates are here:

https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

And you can also use eBay Standard International Shipping for maybe a buck or so less,

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I suppose that would depend upon how one shipped them and the insurance and packaging used.  However, I tend to agree that it seems a tad high.  Of course, if the stamps are of any substantial value to collectors I'm not sure I'd simply ship them in a First Class Letter as has been suggested.