Ebay Canada
Hello my name is David, and I'm an eBay addict, its been a week since my last "win".
Jesting aside it is addictive. But I'm managing. I found that one way to control spending was by using a "Global Mastercard" to feed my paypal account. This Mastercard looks and acts like a Mastercard but has a zero credit limit. Meaning the money has to be in the account before it can be spent. Not sure how widely available this kind of card is, mine it from the local credit union.
The words in the article about being aware of the postage are especially important to us international shoppers. I've learned to avoid US Priority Post like the plague. It costs much much more and takes much longer. It is not uncommon to see a boxcar with a price of $5.00 show a shipping rate of $22.00. Yep thats the cost of one N gauge car to Canada. But it does not end there. Canada Post charges another $5.00 fee (I guess to send my signature back to the US post) and of course hits me with GST. Because I have to come in and sign for the purchase the parcel must be handled by a postal worker who fills in a card to be mailed to me to tell me to come into the post office (I think I get three days to do this) and sign for the item. So that takes time. Much more expensive, much longer to deliver, have to pick it up in person; none of this applies if it is shipped International FIrst Class. That same box car will go for about $4.00 and comes directly to my post box down the street.
The down side of not signed for delivery is I must take the risk the parcel will arrive. I've spend over $1,000 in past two years on line (did I say I was addicted) and only once did a boxcar not arrive. I can live with one loss if I save $20+ per purchase. If err When I order my DCC system online I'd go with the Priority Post guarentee. On the other hand I'd not go to eBay for something like that anyway but will order it online from an American Supplier (Fifer are you listening?).
I buy a fair bit from the UK as well (nothing that plugs in as the voltage varies). Similar story just this time avoid what they call simply "signed for" mail. Postage from China is dirt cheap and I've bought switches and LED's from China. Indeed my first online eBay purchase came from China. I bought "100 white people" . No I'm not a racist, that's what they were called - now I've got lots and lots of evenings of painting tiny white N-people.
Under the sad but true category: I can buy the same item from the USA or from the UK and have it shipped to my house in Alberta for a fraction of what it costs to ship the same item from a seller in Canada. By fraction I mean Canada Posts rates are three to four times as much. Puts Canadian sellers at a distinct disadvantage. Those near the US border actually take their stuff across the border to ship it at a much lower rate. Seems Canada Post is a crown corporation which tries to run as a business and does not get anywhere near the government funding that other contries put into their postal services. Good for the tax payer I guess, not so good for the Canadian eBay seller.
One last warning - UPS. A seller in the US sent me an item via United Postal Service. Shipping fee was much much more expensive. Once it arrived I was hit with more charges, broker fees, delivery fees, etc. In the end total shipping was about six time the cost of the item. Only need to attend that class once - Lesson Learned - NO UPS for this on line shopper.