Sending to Sweden with tracking - Canada Post is driving me nuts

[peacefrogdog]

I asked this before but Canada Post is giving me a hard time.

I'm sending a package with high end cards to a member here in Sweden and due to their value I want tracking. There are a couple of thick patch cards, and originally I put them in their usual protection and into one of the old UD Premier boxes, and then in a bubble mailer. OF course it was fairly thick, and was originally told that it would have to be sent as a package via courier or Express, costing $50!

So I looked on the Canada Post website, where I thought it said that for letter post, the dimensions had to be < 2 cm thick (and be able to fit through their little slot they have). So I repackaged things to fit those dimensions and went back. I was told that only DOCUMENTS can be sent registered mail to Sweden, and since this was clearly not a document I'd still have to send it as a package costing $50. When I said what the website said about the maximum dimensions to qualify as letter post (and thus for registered mail) I was told that "it doesn't matter what the website shows" because the 'front line' people at Canada Post make the decisions.

Please help me here - how have you sent to Europe with tracking? Is the thickness of the cards the thing which is screwing me over (because I can't pass them off as documents?) If I sent a regular card in a bubble mailer to Sweden, would they still charge me for a package because it's "not a document"?

How have you gone about shipping cards to Europe witih tracking and not get charged $50??

Rene

 

[Hama]

I've sent cards overseas via Registered Mail and have never been hassled by anyone. My suggestion is to go look for another postal outlet - some of the folks working the counters have no clue on what can and can't go a certain way

 

[Magootz]

Paper is a document, my Post office always accepts it. You are technically not allowed to use expresspost even to the US if it's not a "document". Anyways I use DHL, have a buddy that works there and it costs $15-20 for one day with his discount. I'm pretty sure it's normally $50

 

[Fritz]

The thing that I get a kick out of is the fact that they say it must be a document. Why the heck would anyone put a document in a bubble mailer in the first place?

Any time they ask me I just tell them i'm mailing photos... which isn't entirely a lie so much as a slight fib haha.

 

[peacefrogdog]

I've sent cards overseas via Registered Mail and have never been hassled by anyone. My suggestion is to go look for another postal outlet - some of the folks working the counters have no clue on what can and can't go a certain way

Hama: did you send in a bubble mailer, and didn't get any hassle?

I'm wondernig if mine, because they are thick patch cards, and I added extra protection, that it stood out as being something other than a document.

 

[Magootz]

I'm wondernig if mine, because they are thick patch cards, and I added extra protection, that it stood out as being something other than a document.

It's the same thing as sending a thick patch to the US, I use a bubble mailer inside the prepaid envelopes, they never ask me what's inside. Nobody can tell if it's a document or not. I don't think they have the prepaids for overseas though.

In the end, it's still paper with protection that your sending, no different that sending a certificate that can't be bent.

Good luck

 

[KabbyKev]

It's the same thing as sending a thick patch to the US, I use a bubble mailer inside the prepaid envelopes, they never ask me what's inside. Nobody can tell if it's a document or not. I don't think they have the prepaids for overseas though.

In the end, it's still paper with protection that your sending, no different that sending a certificate that can't be bent.

Good luck

I always get told unless I just protect the card(s) with cardboard, I can't send the XpressPost envelopes to the US or abroad :badmood:

I tried pleading my case once about how there is no way in hell I would send with just cardboard protecting the card - it has to be in its plastic. They strongly advised against it because IF customs opened it that would be a problem...not sure why the "paper only" rules outside the country, but it's a bit dumb if you ask me.

Kev

 

[peacefrogdog]

They only have the large prepaids to overseas that costs $50.

So essentially it sounds like if I just had a standard card in a regular top loader, but in a bubble mailer, it would be easier to say it was a document.

But with 3 thick patch cards, it would be hard to pass it off as a document (the Canada post guy thought it was a CD) .

 

[Hama]

I have sent in padded mailers - no issues at all. They should be happy - they got my postage ($3.75) + $12.50 for the registered mail.

Here's the sheet from Canada Post - the $3.75 postage falls under the non-standard rate http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/tools/pg/prices/CPinter-e.asp#1418224

 

[peacefrogdog]

I must have got a couple of jerks at the last two outlets. The last guy pretty much just said that the Canada Post website was inaccurate. What a waste of my time!

Hama: have you sent any thick cards , and did they allow that as well?

 

[Hama]

As long as they stay within the requirements, you're fine. If they hassle you about the website - tell them to look it up in the Canada Postal Guide - that's where it comes from - if they actually look at it...

 

[quincy]

What Art said. On many counts.

 

[Jobu]

I always use the prepaid Expresspost for cards. The P.O. in my village doesn't like it but the one in the town where I work will let me do it. They are quite nice. I put the cards in sleeves and toploaders in a team bag and then in a used #000 bubble mailer. It then goes inside the prepaid Expresspost envelope and gets sealed. Never had a problem and I have done well over 50 trades this way. No problems with Customs either!

 

[Ferrian1]

Same as the others, I've shipped thick cards in a bubble mailer, and just ask for registered without an issue (that includes some Ultimate slabbed cards recently). I just asked for registered and paid that fee in addition to the postage.