My maiden experience with Zonos/Canada Post - so far so good!

[phc64]

After conducting a number of experiments on the Zonos app, I became confident enough that Zonos was correctly calculating the tariffs on compact discs (HTS 8523.49.30.00) as $0.00 to turn shipping to the US back on for compact discs only. Because of the C$3.99 Zonos fee (even on tariff-exempt goods), I increased my shipping rate to the US by C$3.00.

I had my first US sale just a few hours later. Everything went smoothly on the Zonos app. I paid the $3.99 fee and got my Declaration ID. (On the 'confirmation page', there is a 'cancel order' link. So if you (or Zonos) make a mistake, you can immediately cancel it.) Apparently the only receipt you get from Zonos is a QR code on the confirmation page. (Since I have never owned a smart phone, that may be a bit of an issue.)

Because US-bound Canada Post shipping labels cannot currently be purchased on eBay, I had to go to the Canada Post site. On the 'customs' page, you are asked to enter the Declaration ID from Zonos. (Until you get to the 'customs' page, there are no indications anywhere on the Canada Post site that there are any new burdensome requirements to ship to the US). Because for me the Canada Post 'small business' discounts are nowhere near the eBay discounts, the shipping label cost me $11.03 vs. about $7.50 on eBay.

One curious thing is that when you print out the shipping label, the Declaration ID does not appear anywhere on it. The Canada Post website did not ask for the country of origin, so that field was blank on the label.

I usually drop small parcels into the mailbox outside my local post office, but I decided to drop it off inside to make sure everything had been done correctly. The postmaster immediately said she would have to scan the QR code from Zonos, which I didn't have (I did have the Declaration ID, but she didn't need that). I asked her to scan the shipping label's barcode, and since no alarm bells went off, it appeared to have been accepted. We then concluded that if you get the shipping label at a postal outlet, the clerk needs to scan the Zonos QR code, but that this is not the case if you get the shipping label online. I asked the postmaster whether the blank 'country of origin' field on the label was a concern and she said it was not.

So in spite of my raising my US shipping rate, my net costs were about $4.50 higher to ship the item than it would have been last week.

Zonos still appears to be erroneously applying tariffs on phonograph records (HTS 8523.80.10.00). Phonograph records are exempt from tariffs for the same reason compact discs are.

[regs43]

For the Zonos charge does your credit card show $3.99 CAD or was it billed in USD and convereted and if so was it indeed 3.99CAD in the end? Just curious as I would like to open shipping up again but want to bake these fees into my process lol

[phc64]

I was charged CAD$3.99.

While experimenting with the Zonos app this afternoon, it appears that Zonos is now waiving the fee on tariff-exempt shipments.

[vintage_america]

Thanks for that info. Is the app called ‘Zonos Prepay’? The reviews for it like 2 stars out of 5 so I’m just wondering if it’s the right one.

I really don’t want to eat the tariffs for USA sales but if it’s a last resort I’ll consider it.

[regs43]

Thanks I'll play around with it a bit more this afternoon/evening. I managed to get my Canada Post account synched with tmy Zonos account (which was not that easy as Canad aPost intructions are lol), but it doesnt show what the tariff charge will be if you let them bill you later, so I wouldnt recommend that at this time lol.

[dinomitesales]

I can confirm that if you buy the label online, there is nothing new the clerk at the post office needs to do. It's a "scan the tracking number and go" process, just like it's always been. They only need the Declaration ID if the postage is being purchased at the post office.

The clerk you were dealing with was likely just a bit confused. This is all extremely new and it will take a while for them to get used to it.

[sylviebee]

 I'd be happy to pay a $3.99 fee, but when I try to use it they want to bill me around $25 for the service plus duty owing.   I wonder if I'm doing something wrong?

Zonos is also want to charge duty on US made items and I thought US made is duty free.

[byto253]

Do let us know how the shipment flows through the system over the next few days.  Appreciate the sharing of experience.   

[dinomitesales]

It seems like every time I open the Zonos app it asks me to relaunch because it's been updated. This is good, they're actively updating it.

At the moment, I can add (seemingly) anything, and if the Country of Origin is "United States" it's charging me absolutely nothing. Zero duties and zero processing fee. This is good. I hope this is how it will continue to work.

[sylviebee]

dinomite.... that's what I was expecting but it's not what I'm finding because when I do an estimate they are charging duty for US made items.  I'll try again later.

[raanana]

Thanks for sharing .Do we have to by labels on CP page  or there is an option to pay at PO ? I'm always using stamps and would like to continue .

[dinomitesales]

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@sylviebee wrote:

dinomite.... that's what I was expecting but it's not what I'm finding because when I do an estimate they are charging duty for US made items.  I'll try again later.

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When you open the Zonos app are you selecting "calculate" or "ship" on the bottom row? Make sure you're selecting "ship" (and that you're logged into your Zonos account at the time).

[dinomitesales]

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@raanana wrote:

Thanks for sharing .Do we have to by labels on CP page  or there is an option to pay at PO ? I'm always using stamps and would like to continue .

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You can still buy your labels and use stamps at the post office as you've always done. You just need to do this extra step through the Zonos app, and then give the Declaration ID to the clerk so they can enter it when processing your transaction on the computer.

Any duty payable must be paid directly through the Zonos app using the credit card. It can't be added onto the transaction and paid at the post office, and can't be paid for using stamps.

[fergua3]

i thought there was a mimum charge of $80-$200 for each package entering the US?

[dinomitesales]

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@fergua3 wrote:

i thought there was a mimum charge of $80-$200 for each package entering the US?

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Shippers (in this case, international postal systems) had the option of two duty-payment methods:

1) Ad valorem duty, which is the actual amount calculated based on the item's declared value and the country of origin; or

2) A flat duty per package ranging rom $80-200 depending on the country's tariff rates.

Canada Post went with Option 1. They are charging the actual (ad valorem) rates.

[fergua3]

oooh, that's how it works.  That's somewhat better.  Not sure who would choose option 2 though?

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

Fantastic news. I'll wait a week to see how things progress before bringing everything back online (should not have taken it offline but canada post should have been more clear that they would have a solution in place and ready to go on day one, but i digress).

Is there any webpage from Canada Post with thorough instructions on how this operates?

[palmerstonpicks]

got it:

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/kb/sending/sending-faq/how-to-prepay-us-duties...

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

Thanks! 

Canada Post says "Copy the key to add it to your Canada Post account preferences." <--- I can't find those. Where do I enter the Zonos account Key in My Canada Post account?

[raanana]

Thank you !!
Selling postcards and stamps,as per US government site there are no tariffs,so hopefully nothing to pay extra.
Probably mail will take longer than now to be delivered ,hopefully it will be fine with buyers.
Some US buyers are really impatient,just got INR case on 13th day after the shipping (