quote:Originally posted by watrocket:
I recently had an issue where I sold an item that had a shipping weight of 1 oz to a customer in Canada. I had looked at USPS.com for a shipping rate quote, and was quoted a rate around $2.00 using 1st class parcel. When I tried to use Paypal to create the shipping label, I was forced to ship Priority and for nearly $20. Needless to say, I drove myself to the Post Office and paid them in cash the $2 fee. Paypal only gave me the Priority rate, even though I never offered Priority thru my listing.
Because PayPal postage and the USPS website will not handle first Class International I use the downloadable USPS Shipping Assistant to print all overseas delivery labels. I ship mainly computer disks so my parcels are small enough for first class International, which is available through Shipping Assistant. Shipping Assistant prints the customs form/delivery label, you have to pay for it at the PO because it does not link to your PayPal. I like it because I always print my labels first as a PDF file (using Cute PDF) and then with my laser printer. That way I always have an exact copy of the shipping label & receipt on hand without using paper. This has come in handy several times with undelivered items.
2oz first class to Canada coasts me $1.49 using the Shipping Assistant.