Ebay seller won't ship to Canada... advice?

[sitchensis]

I see you are on Vancouver Island. I’m just to the north on an island in Alaska.

A lot of companies won’t ship to Alaska (Cabela’s), when I need something shipped I have the option of having it shipped to a transportation service CARE OF: my name and address. The transportation service then ships it C.O.D. I have used both Northland, and Alaska Marine Lines which are barging companies with their headquarters in Seattle and multiple offloading ports in Alaska communities.

I’m not sure if there is a similar service for barges leaving Seattle and offloading in Vancouver but it’s something you may want to look into.

[DWMarch]

@antonio107

To the OP,

Have you attempted to just ask the seller if they’ll ship to Canada in a private message? I’ve had very good success with that; often times, a seller will put “U.S. only” on the assumption that they’ll have to deal with a barrage of complex international orders that require courier mail and the like (though I have bought video games from Japan before shipped surface mail - do NOT recommend it). I’ve found at least a dozen sellers responsive to this; at worst, they’ll charge you more than it actually costs to ship said skirt with USPS, but they will still do it.

Anyhoo, best of luck with your Ebaying!

Yes, I did ask them but they said they aren’t shipping to Canada right now. I am not sure if I should ask them again.

[sitchensis]

check out: Clipper Vacations | Seattle to Victoria Ferry & PNW Vacations

[Kyla]

@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed

It might’ve been longer ago than you think. “Featherlou” hasn’t posted here in awhile.

Ugh, you expect me to be able to keep up with people changing their usernames? I have enough trouble remembering the name the first time.

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Kyla

They’re too lazy to fill out the little customs card? It’s my only explanation.

Not too long ago, I sent featherlou a small package. It did take like, two minutes to fill out the customs information. :eek::eek::eek:

@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed

It might’ve been longer ago than you think. “Featherlou” hasn’t posted here in awhile.

@Kyla

Ugh, you expect me to be able to keep up with people changing their usernames? I have enough trouble remembering the name the first time.

Hey, I’m sitting right here!

I think your options have been well-covered, DWMarch. I just wanted to commiserate - it chaps my ass mightily when I find something I want online, and it’s either, “No shipping to Canada” or exorbitant shipping to Canada. I know that USPS will cost a little more than shipping within the US, but not the $50 for a small package that a courier charges! Newsflash to people selling stuff in the US - Canadians are enthusiastic embracers of technology, and we want the shit you’re trying to sell. It really, truly isn’t that hard to ship from the US to Canada and vice versa. Like Kyla says, it take filling out a very small customs form and buying different postage - your local post office can handle this easily.

[ReticulatingSplines]

All right, I’ll tell you all why we don’t ship to Canada.

It’s retribution, for sending us Celine Dion.

[Rain_Soaked]

@ReticulatingSplines

All right, I’ll tell you all why we don’t ship to Canada.

It’s retribution, for sending us Celine Dion.

This retribution will continue on and on in circles. Now, because you won’t ship to us, we are forced, FORCED to send you Justin Bieber.

Can’t we stop this cycle of madness?

[ReticulatingSplines]

@Rain_Soaked

This retribution will continue on and on in circles. Now, because you won’t ship to us, we are forced, FORCED to send you Justin Bieber.

Can’t we stop this cycle of madness?

Yes, it is time to end the hostilities between our people. We will begin shipping to your country. All we ask for in return is an official government apology for Justin Bieber and 30 cases of Moosehead to be shipped to my apartment.

As a show of good faith, we will stop making fun of Newfoundland immediately.

[Rain_Soaked]

We have no problem having the government apologize.

The 30 cases of Moosehead are causing a bit of problem. Apparently, we have to fill out some customs form thingy.

Anyway, this is a good step.

Finally, we do apologize for the carpet bombing of Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil shows. That was just uncalled for. We deeply regret this.

[iamthewalrus_3]

@Kyla

They’re too lazy to fill out the little customs card? It’s my only explanation.

I sell on eBay and don’t ship out of the US.

I use eBay to get rid of stuff I don’t want and hopefully make a few bucks. A lot of it’s small enough that I can use the mail meter at work and just give our shipping department cash, so I don’t have to go to the post office. It’s not the 2 minutes filling out the form, it’s the 10 minute walk to the post office and the 10 minute wait in line. I haven’t seen any evidence that my stuff sells for appreciably less than comparable items that are internationally shipped, so I don’t think there’s any incentive for me to bother with it.

I choose the US-only shipping option, and add an extra line in my listing that apologizes, but re-affirms that I don’t ship out of the US. I still get emails requesting it on about one in three auctions, but I generally don’t respond to them anymore. Some people took my polite refusal reasonably, but some people kept bugging me and once I had someone call me a name. I’m sure the OP is polite, but even the polite queries get annoying after a while.

I recognize that there’s a lot of suck for non-US people trying to use US-centric sites, but it’s not high on my list of wrongs to right.

If there’s something you really want, I’d make your very first question be: “I will pay $x extra above your costs if you’ll ship this to Canada. Interested?” Even if the money isn’t that much, it’s a signal to the seller that you’re willing to pay for extra service. Or you could offer to burn some Celine Dion cds as a gesture of goodwill.

[MPB_in_Salt_Lake]

@Fear_Itself

Because 13 years ago, I was convicted of DUI. That makes me persona non grata in Canada, and to rehabilitate my visitor status, I have to pay a non-refundable $800 fee, and I may or may not be granted rehabilitation.

I have heard of this, but wasn’t sure if it was an Urban Legend or not—Is this a lifetime ban for those who don’t rehab their visitor status, or does it expire after X number of years?

I have only been to Vancouver and Montreal but was never asked about a possible criminal background.

[Fear_Itself]

@MPB_in_Salt_Lake

I have heard of this, but wasn’t sure if it was an Urban Legend or not—Is this a lifetime ban for those who don’t rehab their visitor status, or does it expire after X number of years?

Lifetime ban until you jump through all the hoops, or get elected President of the US:

Larson and Singer say a president of the United States can expect to bypass the rehab process and be given special permission to enter fairly quickly.
But a special waiver is good for only 30 days.

If you get caught trying to conceal your conviction, you can be banned from Canada forever with no chance for rehabilition. Canadian border crossings can check the NCIC (which the FBI shares with them under an agreement) for convictions that aren’t even on your driving record any more.

I have only been to Vancouver and Montreal but was never asked about a possible criminal background.

Happens more often when you drive across the border.

[DWMarch]

@iamthewalrus_3

I’m sure the OP is polite, but even the polite queries get annoying after a while.

That’s why I only asked once. I don’t want to bug them.

If there’s something you really want, I’d make your very first question be: “I will pay $x extra above your costs if you’ll ship this to Canada. Interested?” Even if the money isn’t that much, it’s a signal to the seller that you’re willing to pay for extra service. Or you could offer to burn some Celine Dion cds as a gesture of goodwill.

I have considered writing to them again and saying “I notice you’ve had this item up for auction for several months now and can’t get rid of it. Re-list it for up to $20 and charge $10 for shipping and I will buy it today, Paypal verified, et cetera.” I figure offering six times the asking price ought to at least get them thinking about it.

Also, a kind doper in the US emailed me to offer to ship the item to me… so I go to check on the listing (which was there when I made my OP) and they’ve taken down all of their listings! I leave it in the hands of fate now. If God/fate/etc wants this particular dream of mine to come true, it shall… if not, so be it.