Shipping Cards from Canada to the States: a helpful hint?

[netsinah]

Thought I'd pass along what might be a helpful pointer for some: make sure you include the little blue/white sticky the post office in Canada gives away that says: "Air Mail Par avion" otherwise your package will likely go by ground delivery and be delayed big time. I usually put the sticky on both the front and back of the bubble envelope, so the post office doesn't miss it, to ensure it goes by air. This of course applies to any out of country mailing.

I suspect some people pay for air mail but omit the blue/white sticky, then they've got unhappy people in the States (or elsewhere) who wait longer than usual, for a delivery from Canada. Those same senders may sit there and blame Canada Post whereas it's their own omission that's responsible.

Having said that, it's even more expensive to ship from Canada to the States or elsewhere, with our new postal rates that became effective this year, especially if tracking ship is purchased. I've often found people in the States who can't understand why Canadians charge more for ship. I note however there are lots of budget problems with the US Postal Service and numerous outlets are being shut down; we'll see if they raise their postal rates down South...

Finally and for a different but somewhat related suggestion, I always scotch tape all 4 corners of any bubble envelope I send, as extra protection to make sure the envelope won't break open or fall victim to "prying hands". So far, my bubble envelopes have always made it AOK (touch wood).

Hope this helps out a few of the newer collectors...

[Wickabee]

I just about dropped dead when I saw the new rates for tracking. Insane.

[Mike1433]

I note however there are lots of budget problems with the US Postal Service and numerous outlets are being shut down; we'll see if they raise their postal rates down South...

they go up every year here. and awhile back i was out of town for work, stopped to mail a package off, and the post office had one of those postage printers you can buy for your own house, the guy said they were downsized and had their computer system taken away, and were given the little printer to make up for it.

Finally and for a different but somewhat related suggestion, I always scotch tape all 4 corners of any bubble envelope I send, as extra protection to make sure the envelope won't break open or fall victim to "prying hands". So far, my bubble envelopes have always made it AOK (touch wood).

one thing i find that works great, I bought the security tape, the one with thread running through it to make it really strong, i pull off a peice big enough to cover the flap that folds over and "adheres" and wrap it about 1/2 inch around to the front on both sides

[skyride39]

great tips. especially the ones about the air mail sticker.

and yeah USPS works 6 days a week versus canada post 5 days. big difference having to work 52 extra days a year.

[durangatang]

great tips. especially the ones about the air mail sticker.

and yeah USPS works 6 days a week versus canada post 5 days. big difference having to work 52 extra days a year.

Most Canada Post locations I have seen are open 6 days a week....

[skyride39]

Most Canada Post locations I have seen are open 6 days a week....

sorry to clarify i meant canada posts only delivers 5 days where USPS delivers 6 days a week on Saturday. Yes Canada post has offices open on Saturdays to accept mail, sell stamps, etc but no actual deliveries to homes take place on Saturday, where USPS will deliver.

[Crosby 87]

. I note however there are lots of budget problems with the US Postal Service and numerous outlets are being shut down; we'll see if they raise their postal rates down South...
..

They did in the past month a bubble mailer w/ 1 card in toploader sent parcel went from $1.95 to $3.25 sent to canada.

[Mike1433]

do they possibly sort, and drive the semi's loaded with packages/letters across the country on saturdays? When i worked at ups, the only saturday deliveries were next day, 2 day, and express. so the drivers were only out for an hour or 2, with like 20 packages in their truck, but we worked til 4am saturday morning, unloading, sorting, loading and sending out trucks to get everything ready for monday morning

[ravens_creed]

Yeah, I am finding that a lot more packages are arriving to me from the US fro $3 shipping and not for the closer to $2 that it used to be, sorry you guys got dinged by a price hike also!

I also can't believe how much I pay now to send ANYTHING to the US. If the package goes over the 100g mark (3.53 ounces), after tax, it costs me $5.17. That is highway robbery!!!