Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

You must be doing something wrong. The option for International Letter is still available.

I've sent about three and working on a fourth in the past couple of weeks. Here's today's!

@sandyrusty, Thanks for the note, that is what I was hoping, I've just never done it that way before, always printed labels through paypal.

@C2Cigars and @Sportzcommish, it looks like you haven't been converted over yet. They are phasing it in, but rest assured you will soon be redirected to paypal.shipstation.com. Unless you have a direct link to access the old paypal ship now wizard?? The ones below both redirect to ShipStation...

https://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

I won't click on those links then.

We may need to either buy international stamps either at the PO or online, if PayPal's ceases being an option. I'll put up with the inconvenience as I love trading with my Canadian partners.

Edited to correct wording from convenience to inconvenience.

Thanks everyone! Just to close the loop on this one, I am using a standard envelop with cards in 1/3 plastic 9-card sheet sandwiched with cereal box (light) cardboard and appying the 1st Class Intl Mail Letter rate ($1.30). This is your basic PWE with no tracking.

There was a rate increase in August, so my earlier post ($1.20) was incorrect. Rates change frequently so always check for current rates as this thread ages. Or, you can buy Global First Class Forever Stamps so you don't have to worry about rate changes.

I feel the need to respond. Since starting eBay and breaks in August our policy is PWE unless otherwise stated. If they do not fit PWE then bubble mailers it is. I do not use cardboard as I feel it just adds costs and not much for protection. I use 9 card sheets and fold them then wrap in invoice and seal er up. No complaints yet. Depending on weight I get charged either regular postage or overweight for either domestic or USA. International is very rare. If you go and just ask for overweight stamps it is hand sorted and considered unmachinable. Now getting to bubble mailers etc can be tricky. If they stay under weight and under thickness again both domestic and USA are very fair. However if either goes over then you start to pay. Most for me was $19.80 CA to Texas and $14.00 in Canada. As C2C can attest for the most part as a Canadian it costs more to send a parcel east or west than it is south. I did online example of a Blaster of 2021 Prizm Baseball based on counter pricing and to ship to NB vs TX it was $22 CA to NB and $11 to TX for the exact same thing. I have small busines card that helps by offering discounts and incentives so it is worth applying for if you are able. I try to use PWE whenever possible to keep my shipping rates as low as possible. For breaks you need to show the ultimate in low cost shipping so there are more penny sleeves and top loaders used than a normal trade.  I hope that helps in some way even without amounts as that part is pretty easy to find out.

Using the Flat Rate Padded Envelope can save a lot of money. https://youtu.be/UAYvBv1fcU8

Was just recently forced over to ShipStation.  I did a package for Canada; saved $3.00.  But...ShipStation effing sucks!!!

Previously you would get an USPS Customs shipping label for direct mailing to Canada. And it included a default $200 insurance. Now you get an USPS shipping label for direct mailing to ShipStation in New Jersey and then they apply an USPS Customs label and forward it. And it only includes $100 insurance.

If I had done it the previous PayPal way or through USPS, the package would have arrived in Canada Customs on the 12th.  The package arrived at ShipStation on the 11th. As of today, the 14th, ShipStation has yet to deliver it to USPS.

ShipStation is NOT worth a $3 savings.

What a difference a day makes...4-5 times as much!

The change has finally happened to me as yesterday I was able to print first class international postage using PayPal, and then today I go to do the same, but to Finland, and I was forced to transition to ShipStation, and no more regular international postage. It goes straight to package or flat rates. And I agree with your assessment, Chuck.

It'll be a huge inconvenience for me as the two post offices I pass on my way to work do not have a kiosk - only one sells stamps but you must go through a clerk. The nearest kiosk is the opposite direction and about 20 minutes away. It is on the way to the card shop, so maybe not such a bad thing, but I sure will hate not being able to print international postage in my jammies.