The Canada Post in London Drugs threatened to call the police on me...

[mikeydcalgary]

I would look into a service such as

http://chitchatsexpress.com

I use a similar service here in Calgary to ship all my packages to the US and it is much cheaper and provides tracking.

 

[cburt]

I'm sorry to hear of your hassles at that particular CP outlet. There are definitely some real idiots who work for CP, and like several people have said, better to just go to another location where you'll face less of a problem. I've found that it always depends on the location you go to and who is working when you go as to how things unfold. Some employees know more than others, and some are just sticklers. I usually frequent about three different outlets in my area, and I often deal with the manager at one of those outlets - she is very polite and very good. But I have often wondered if her "take" on the "rules" is correct. I asked another location and they say she is wrong. I told her that and she said they are wrong. So sometimes you literally get no where. Find a location where you get no hassle. I'd avoid the London Drugs location and the boneheaded employee who works there. There are so many options out there. Good luck!

 

[carlyazfan]

I recently had a bubble mailer returned to me as being ineligible for Oversize Lettermail to the USA, and wanting more postage to be placed on it. For years I have been putting a $1.80 + a $1.20 stamp on my mailings to the USA, with no problems. Sometimes into a public mailbox and sometimes dropped off at the counter of a postal outlet (Shoppers or LD). Since then, I now put a small disclaimer on the front of the bubble mailer: "Cardboard/Photo(s). Please Do Not Bend". So far, so good (fingers crossed).

Dave.

 

[Mbenz7846]

I think part of the issue here is that items sent via "lettermail" to the US bypass customs where the light packets do not.

 

[Triple B]

Also, FYI...I have always declared my contents as "photos". I've been doing it for 15 years with ZERO problems. I'll tell them it's photos in a rigid cardboard holder to prevent bending and no one has said a word to me. Maybe this could be a solution?

 

[CeddieB]

I would hazard a guess that the issue has to do with the 2nd sentence of the first paragraph.

" Letter-posts items are composed of paper or other materials with the general characteristics of paper ( ie tickets, photographs, etc) "

So if you are sending your card in a plastic top loader it is not eligible to be sent as letter mail.

I don't agree with it, but that is the reason I was given at 2 different post offices.

I had the exact same issue yesterday for a package to the US (2 cards, toploaders/team bag/bubble envelope). One particular post office nearby always wanted to charge my the $6.84 'Light Packet', but one a couple blocks away was OK with the $2.95 Lettermail, so I've been going there for about a year. Yesterday, the 2nd outlet charges me for Light Packet; I ask why, she asks what's in the package, I said photos, she said it has to be "actual paper letters" to be Lettermail. ?? Seems like luck of the draw on who you get.

I am just going to go the $1.20 + $1.80 stamp route from now on.

 

[aflamesfan]

I had the exact same issue yesterday for a package to the US (2 cards, toploaders/team bag/bubble envelope). One particular post office nearby always wanted to charge my the $6.84 'Light Packet', but one a couple blocks away was OK with the $2.95 Lettermail, so I've been going there for about a year. Yesterday, the 2nd outlet charges me for Light Packet; I ask why, she asks what's in the package, I said photos, she said it has to be "actual paper letters" to be Lettermail. ?? Seems like luck of the draw on who you get.

I am just going to go the $1.20 + $1.80 stamp route from now on.

Whenever they ask me, I just say documents.

If the cards are worth more I will use a different service to ship them to the US, such as a forwarder like DYKpost - https://www2.dykpost.com/us-bound-shipping/. I can print the labels off USPS through my ebay.com account.

I just pay the $3.50 USD or whatever + $1 CDN for the DYK service. Just under $5 USD for tracked shipping? I'll take that every time. The only problem with them, is that they only 1 location by Malborough mall.

 

[CeddieB]

Whenever they ask me, I just say documents.

If the cards are worth more I will use a different service to ship them to the US, such as a forwarder like DYKpost - https://www2.dykpost.com/us-bound-shipping/. I can print the labels off USPS through my ebay.com account.

I just pay the $3.50 USD or whatever + $1 CDN for the DYK service. Just under $5 USD for tracked shipping? I'll take that every time. The only problem with them, is that they only 1 location by Malborough mall.

Thanks for the link! I'm going to check that one out.

 

[creasecollector]

Dang, that must have been a little awkward and frustrating. I would try another location next time and hope for the best. I've been charged more a few times, but usually they are pretty good about it.

Best of luck!

 

[winniescards]

The one thing that some people do not understand is that postal outlets are not Canada Post.The postal outlets are owned by what ever business they are located in.Most all the employees receive very little training and are often just students that are there for a part time job.

Also after reading this thread I see there seems to be a lot of people that will do a lot of things including telling a lie in order to save a buck or two on postage.Postal employees have a job to do and if some decide to follow the rules I certainly do not consider them idiots.


And from the original poster
"This is where it gets awkward. So before the LD supervisor was called I've had my phone out recording my pre-stamped packages from eBay."

Would you walk into another place of business and without asking permission.Pull out your phone and start taking pictures. That sounds like it may be illegal by itself. Canada Post would not likely have a problem with the picture taking had you ask for permission before you started.

I total understand that sometimes Canada Post often get criticized for the service that they provide. I do it myself sometimes.But when you consider the amount of mail they handle and what small percentage actually in cures problems.It is really nothing.But when it effects you personally than it seems like it is the end of the world.And I understand that. But the alternative is always some of our great courier services that are out there.And unless you have some sort of business in or own a business yourself be prepared to spend a lot on shipping.If anyone thinks that the cost of mailing is ridiculous now.And trading has almost come to a stop.Wait until the only other way is courier.

Just a few of my thoughts on this, Winston.

 

[Reinhart]

Would you walk into another place of business and without asking permission.Pull out your phone and start taking pictures. That sounds like it may be illegal by itself. Canada Post would not likely have a problem with the picture taking had you ask for permission before you started.

Now a days a lot of people take picture or video for documentation purposes. Let's say I wanted an item at a later date or wanted to see if Amazon sells it for cheaper, I take a picture of said item. 1 second.

Or if I'm shipping cards and a buyer says they never received an item, I can check my video file to see if I indeed forgot it. I would know either canada post lost it (honestly, never happens), or something else

The one thing that some people do not understand is that postal outlets are not Canada Post.The postal outlets are owned by what ever business they are located in.Most all the employees receive very little training and are often just students that are there for a part time job.

Also after reading this thread I see there seems to be a lot of people that will do a lot of things including telling a lie in order to save a buck or two on postage.Postal employees have a job to do and if some decide to follow the rules I certainly do not consider them idiots.

Not a student, but that doesn't matter.

People are not trying to save a buck. It's the fact that for most people 99% of the time 2.95 is acceptable, so are 99% of postal office workers breaking the rules?

I also asked this on facebook and someone said he was told photos with plastic protection is okay but not cards. So we have so many different conflicting stories. Nobody would complain or try to "save a buck" if it was consistent and if all the employees are using the same rulebook.

 

[Reinhart]

Also, FYI...I have always declared my contents as "photos". I've been doing it for 15 years with ZERO problems. I'll tell them it's photos in a rigid cardboard holder to prevent bending and no one has said a word to me. Maybe this could be a solution?

Would not work with her.

I said that once, and I also said "you can open and check it if you want", not actually thinking she would.

Well she grabs an utensil and opens the package (inside was a future watch auto). I had to pay for another bubble mailer

 

[darnitsyrup]

Would not work with her.

I said that once, and I also said "you can open and check it if you want", not actually thinking she would.

Well she grabs an utensil and opens the package (inside was a future watch auto). I had to pay for another bubble mailer

Crazy, similar to Triple B I've always just declared them as "postcards" and never had an issue. I'd be looking for a new spot (or time of day when the employee isn't working) to send my cards.