Appropriate DSR's?

[TanguayFan]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a card on eBay. The seller charged $17 for shipping which I agreed to, since I have no problem paying for shipping provided I receive equal service vs. cost. I paid for the item on the 11th of January. By last week, I still had not received the package, a tracking number, or any sort of shipping notification from the seller. I politely sent an e-mail to the seller advising that I had not received the package, and was curious if I could have the tracking # so I could check and see if it got stuck in customs. I advised I wasn't yet overly concerned given the unreliability of cross border shipping times. He replied two days later, explaining that he was away and couldn't give me the number but that the item had indeed shipped. Yesterday, the package arrived, postmarked on the 21st, with $12 shipping attached, (which in my estimation meant I was overcharged by approximately $3 for handling) and the seller waited 10 days to ship. I will leave a positive for the transaction, but what would be appropriate DSR's? I'm thinking 2 for shipping time and 3 for shipping costs and communication. But I'm flip-flopping on the shipping costs, whether it should be a 2 or 3.....anybody care to add their two cents worth?

Rob

 

[jdg573]

I would go with the 2 and 3. I figure 3-4 days to get to the post office and ship is ample time, but 10 days is pretty extreme in my mind. As for the shipping cost, I don't mind paying a little bit extra but $5 extra seems high in my mind. I would leave positive but ding the DSR's for sure

 

[v3rs3]

For Canada buyers, I have to get the customs form, drive down to the post office, wait in line, then wait for them to scan each custom label and get my receipt. It can take up to 30 minutes to an hour every post office visit depending on how busy they are.

Seems like you're wasting your time. If you aren't sending it registered you're just going way too much out of your way.

If your package is considered a flat, you don't have to have a customs form. I use 6x9 mailers and never fill out customs forms unless the package is too thick to be considered a flat (4+ cards). Just throw 3-4 stamps on it and put it in the box.

 

[Khabby]

I've had bubble mailers from the U.S. with and without
customs" stickers.
Received 2 bubblers from the same area/shipped same time {Chicago}. the one without the sticker arrived several days before the stickered one did.

Seems like you're wasting your time. If you aren't sending it registered you're just going way too much out of your way.

If your package is considered a flat, you don't have to have a customs form. I use 6x9 mailers and never fill out customs forms unless the package is too thick to be considered a flat (4+ cards). Just throw 3-4 stamps on it and put it in the box.

 

[bigben913]

Seems like you're wasting your time. If you aren't sending it registered you're just going way too much out of your way.

If your package is considered a flat, you don't have to have a customs form. I use 6x9 mailers and never fill out customs forms unless the package is too thick to be considered a flat (4+ cards). Just throw 3-4 stamps on it and put it in the box.

My po also requires me to do the customs forms on everything outside of the US. I used to be able to get away with it at some but not anymore. I think its because they have value.

 

[JohnnyDrama]

That changed as of Jan 1st. At least here it did. Packages all require customs forms. Especially if you don't want to risk the card being thrown through a sorting machine and chewed up. Bubble mailer's have to be a certain thickness for hand packing. I do that by putting in a packing peanut or wad up some wrappers.

And my post office doesn't even bother measuring the thickness of the package. If they see a bubble mailer they automatically start reaching for a customs form to be attached to it.

It did here as well because everything going cross-border needs a form.

 

[TanguayFan]

Also, the seller charged for tracking. If you know of another way to track a package to Canada that's cheaper than Registered, by all means please let me know. Registered packages to Canada all require Customs labels as well.

As for faster packages that arrive to Canada, that's because they get machine sorted without the customs label. Machines are faster than hand sorting. But you also risk it being damaged.

I'm not disputing that I paid for tracking (although technically, I didn't get any "tracking" since he didn't ever provide me with the number), and I didn't bat an eyelash at the cost....I knew what it was before I bid. However, if what you say is true about bubble mailer, time, filling out customs forms, etc, then how come that cost doesn't get put in by the majority of other sellers? For instance, a normal, non-insured/tracked bubble mailer costs $1.95 in postage. Most sellers charge somewhere in the range of $3.50 to $4.00 for shipping from the US to Canada, thereby charging me $1.55 to $2.05 for misc. handling/packaging. Now in this instance, the postage was $11.95, so he's charging me $5.05 for handling/packaging. If sellers have to go through the same rigamarole, regardless if it's a normal bubble mailer, or tracked/registered, then aren't his handling charges a little excessive?

Thanks to everybody for their input so far....

 

[Kehfee]

Man I wish I could just put my packages in my mailbox and the carrier would pick it up.

Couple that with free mail forwarding (I think they do that) and I'm jealous of the USPS.

 

[Dewwen]

I love US buyers. I can print out the shipping label at home and put it in my mail box outside. For Canada buyers, I have to get the customs form, drive down to the post office, wait in line, then wait for them to scan each custom label and get my receipt. It can take up to 30 minutes to an hour every post office visit depending on how busy they are.

Chris - My local Post Office does not make we wait in line. I order the customs forms on line, throw on a couple of $0.75 stamps, and just drop the envelopes at the counter. I do not get the customs receipt, but those are pretty useless anyways. Saves a lot of time...

As for the DSR's - I would give shipping time a 1. No excuse for 10 days to send. I'd go with the 3 on shipping cost, as it does take time to prepare the registered mail.

Dan