Canada Post Woes

[StoneyCreekKnitters]

I am having a dilema about my shipping prices. I live in Canada and ship via Canada Post. The shipping prices are insane here. I try to keep my shipping costs down as much as I can for my customers.

Today I just shipped 2 baby hats (to the same person) and it was flat enough to go regular mail so it cost $4, great! The only problem; no tracking :( If I wanted to send it with tracking it would have been $17! I have changed my policies awhile back that I only provide tracking on orders over $30. I feel like if I put my shipping prices up to cover tracking that I will lose out on sales but I hate not sending with no tracking.....do other Canadian shippers have issues with this? What do you do?

[EvesLittleEarthlings]

I send everything with no tracking. With over 900 shipments, I have had only one lost and that was the buyer's fault as they provided the wrong address.
Almost everything I make goes to the US, but I have shipped overseas without tracking too.
ps. I think the shipping rates are reasonable and my service with CP has been very good.

[Former_Member]

I totally understand. I just simply don't include tracking with my shipments. Because I don't carry any really expensive items, I'm not so worried about it. One day though, if I had a piece worth, say, $75 or more, I may include tracking. Unfortunately we just have to deal with the cards we are dealt. Good luck decision making!

And you're right, the key is to keep the package as flat as possible!

[Former_Member]

I hear you! Canada Post prices are insane!
Unfair for small businesses :( I was losing money for my first couple of sales because the shipping was $13 for a small soap bar sized item...

[TheOttSpots]

Same as above. I ship wood too, so it can get super expensive.
I ship everything small packet AIR. It gets there in 2 weeks.
I've been doing this for 2 years now and have only lost one package.

Just put everything in your policies. No much you can do.
Good Luck!

[StoneyCreekKnitters]

I will clarify that I find the extra cost for tracking through CP insane, just regular mail is fine. When you compare what the US is paying it seems so out of whack, it makes it hard to compete. I love the ladies at the post office, they know me and I always have good service, no complaints there. I just wish tracking wasn't so expensive....

[EvesLittleEarthlings]

USPS is deeply in debt and they did raise their prices this year, so the rate difference is not as bad as it used to be.
I was a bit concerned when CP did away with surface shipping, which I used all the time. I had to raise my shipping costs by $1.80 or more on all my items. It has not made a bit of difference to my sales and the items do seem to get there faster with the air shipping.

I agree tracking is way too expensive

[StoneyCreekKnitters]

Thanks guys, I think I will continue to do what I have been doilng in order to stay competitive and keep costs down for my customers. I feel better knowing that I am not the only one that has to ship with no tracking.

[StoneyCreekKnitters]

*doing my son was trying to "help" with my typing

[CardsbyJeweleighaB]

I don't pay for tracking... so far only one item has been lost, and then it showed up months later. I made her a new order though.

[Former_Member]

I'm in the US and I share your woes! I've had one order to Canada since the recent increase in international shipping via USPS. It was a multiple item order which I had to put in a box. Well, the total order was $27, leaving me with having to pay $18 out of pocket--and that was without tracking or insurance! I was not about to go back to the buyer and ask for more money.

I had originally thought that I would try to eat some of the international shipping cost but now I'm just in a quandary on what to do. I can't even begin to think about provide a tracking #.

In short my dear, you are not alone.

[WintergreenDesign]

I generally ship with no tracking except orders that are over $100 then I feel it's in my best interest to ship both with tracking and the included insurance.

[Winterwomandesigns]

I lost a nice sale because of the shipping cost to Canada, and I was not even going to charge the customer the full amount. I went back and froth about increasing the shipping for out of the US and finally just decided to raise it 75% of the cost hoping that I would not chase away all my international sales.