eBay

phc64 · ‎08-29-2025

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.

heartovermind · ‎08-30-2025

if you are not using the phone version of the app,
does that mean you are using the web version?
I'm haveing issues with it producing the correct HS code,
apparently.

ilikehockeyjerseys · ‎08-30-2025

You have to double check everything with the AI tool. If you sell a variety of different items instead of the same types of items, it is going to be annoying. Aside from some outliers, I sell 4-5 different types of items so I keep a list of my HTS codes that I can refer to.

In my experience, the camera AI feature gets it close but wrong every time. I've even tried things like scanning the UPC code of a popular item. It very clearly understands what the item is from the photos of the item or the retail hang tag (the tag includes the UPC, bar code, and written info about the item).

For example, it will tell me that it is a "Adidas Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Jersey", which is correct. It will get the original MSRP correct (although, it will put the US MSRP of $179.99 even if I am dealing in CAD), but the COI will default to Vietnam when these jerseys are made by Adidas in Indonesia. It also arguably gets the HTS code wrong but when dealing with a jersey there are some distinctions where it's a bit harder to find the appropriate HTS code because there are some very minute distinctions like pullover vs sweater, knit, materials, etc.

I suspect that the point of the AI tool is to give people sending "garage sale" items with no provenance and no receipt a "good enough" efficient method to show that they tried to pay duties in good faith without deliberately falsifying information to their advantage.

I'm not suggesting that there aren't liabilities to sending something with false info, but it wouldn't shock me if the idea is that Jim who sends one item a month to the US is unlikely to get in big trouble with CBP if the Zonos app tells him his hockey jersey with no COI tags is made in Vietnam instead of Indonesia. Where as in the event of some sort of issue the CBP has with the customs declaration, someone entering the COI and HTS manually would have a more difficult time arguing that they did not deliberately put the wrong COI, HTS, or value to their advantage.

fergua3 · ‎08-31-2025

i'm glad to see Zonos is starting to be of use for Canadian sellers. But how are you guys going to actually collect the tariffs from the buyer, now that you have a way to submit them to US Customs?

tryubik-useonlyasdirected · ‎08-31-2025

@fergua3 wrote:
i'm glad to see Zonos is starting to be of use for Canadian sellers. But how are you guys going to actually collect the tariffs from the buyer, now that you have a way to submit them to US Customs?

It would be greatly beneficial if eBay would create a line below Shipping that we can enter the duty/tarrif amount. All items will now require the addition of the base charge to clear the package + any actual duty/tarrif charges. I'd also love a line for the full HS number so it is declared ahead. Now is not the time for ignorance and the more buyers and sellers can learn about the system the more opportunity we have to petition our governments and engage in our democracies.

tryubik-useonlyasdirected · ‎08-31-2025

@sylviebee wrote:
Where do you find the zonos account pin?

I'm on the desktop version. Using the browser tool you can see three headings along the left navigation bar "Account Key" is the third and last option under 'Account'. If you click on that it takes you to a page showing your "API Keys" the second key, literally "Account key" is the one to use. If you click on the token it will automatically copy and paste to your clipboard to bring it over to CPC.

Good luck

bonecrusher86 · ‎08-31-2025

Below are instructions at Canada Post for Zonos. I'm having problems. For one, the "13-character code" is twice that lenth; and for the other, there's no instructions on how to add that Account Key "to your Canada Post account preferences."

I spoke with a CP customer service agent, and they don't know anything about this; told me a manager would contact me within 48 hours. That has elapsed, I suspect I'll be waiting a few more days.

Connect your Account Key

Once you have added a payment method and your account is approved, you'll receive a Zonos Account Key that you will need to add to your Canada Post account preferences.
To locate your Zonos Account Key:
- Navigate to dashboard.zonos. com
- Click on Settings
- Under Integrations, you will see your Zonos Account Key. This is a 13-character code that allows you to connect your Zonos account to your Canada Post account
- Copy the key and add it to your Canada Post account preferences.

regs43 · ‎08-31-2025

@bonecrusher86 wrote:

Below are instructions at Canada Post for Zonos. I'm having problems. For one, the "13-character code" is twice that lenth; and for the other, there's no instructions on how to add that Account Key "to your Canada Post account preferences."

I spoke with a CP customer service agent, and they don't know anything about this; told me a manager would contact me within 48 hours. That has elapsed, I suspect I'll be waiting a few more days.

Connect your Account Key
Once you have added a payment method and your account is approved, you'll receive a Zonos Account Key that you will need to add to your Canada Post account preferences.
To locate your Zonos Account Key:
Navigate to dashboard.zonos. com
Click on Settings
Under Integrations, you will see your Zonos Account Key. This is a 13-character code that allows you to connect your Zonos account to your Canada Post account
Copy the key and add it to your Canada Post account preferences.

after 1.5 hours of looking the other day I found it lol!

when you click "create shipping label" in the dashboard it brings you to create a label. On the right hand side click "cancel and return to cart" Thats where the preferences page is lol (NOT WELL LAID OUT AT ALL)

dinomitesales · ‎08-31-2025

Yeah, the instructions on this Canada Post page for setting up automatic billing are a little incorrect and confusing (maybe it's changed since this page was written).

Under Step 1 you need to follow the link to create a Zonos Account. This appears to be different than the Zonos PrePay app account, as I wasn't able to log into my Zonos Account with the credentials from when I created the Zonos PrePay app account. When creating the Zonos Account you need to give them a bit more information including a company name (I just gave them my full name as I don't operate under a registered business name) and company website (I just linked to my eBay store page); you also need to provide a credit card for billing purposes.

Then in your Zonos Account go to "Settings" --> "Account Key" and the account key will be there for you to copy. It is not 13 characters like stated on that Canada Post page (maybe they confused it with the 13 characters on the Declaration ID); it's like 50 characters long.

Then, go to Canada Post SnapShip and sign into your account (not your Canada Post Solutions for Small Business Account page on canadapost.ca). You will see "Account preferences" at the top. Click on that and you'll see the box where you can paste the Account Key and hit "Save".

sylviebee · ‎08-31-2025

zonos won't allow me to save my CC info. How did you get it to save your payment info? The "save" button isn't activated for me.

dinomitesales · ‎08-31-2025

@sylviebee wrote:
zonos won't allow me to save my CC info. How did you get it to save your payment info? The "save" button isn't activated for me.

I just entered the information from my credit card and it worked. Maybe try a different card if you have one? If it's not working then I would imagine it has something to do with the card itself, or some sort of limitation therein (like the site not supporting VISA debits, or other prepaid credit cards like those offered by KOHO or Neo Financial).

Or if you're trying to do it on mobile maybe try on a computer (or vice versa)?

sylviebee · ‎08-31-2025

Thanks for the help. Just got off zoom with a zonos rep and it looks like my page got somehow mixed up with Australia (or something). Lots of glitches until they can fix the bugs.

ypdc_dennis · ‎08-31-2025

Considering Australia Post has also signed up with Zonos, no surprise Zonos is mixing up the 2 postal systems as they scramble to get this all working.

hold.your.own.media · ‎09-01-2025

New problem: Zonos has removed the Account Key from my account. Billing info etc was added yesterday and 2 keys were visible. Now nada.

Zonos app still won't let me sign in with the same credentials. What a sh!% show.

phc64 · ‎09-01-2025

I have not received any e-mails from Canada Post at all. I simply set up the Zonos account, paid the $3.99 fee (which they appear to now be waiving on tariff-free transactions), then bought the shipping label on the Canada Post site where I entered the Declaration ID. My Zonos and Canada Post accounts are entirely separate and not integrated at all. But I haven't used them since Friday. They may have changed the process since then.

minijunkie · ‎09-01-2025

Keep us posted (pun intended) on if the shipment gets delivered and no additional fees or hassles.

sylviebee · ‎09-01-2025

I just went through all this but I can't print the label. Has anyone managed to do that, or do we have to go to the PO to manually ship. I always get parcel pickup.

bn880 · ‎09-01-2025

I refuse to use it, its an american business, to use and charge a fee for american tarriff calculations, which we are then asked to pay for americans. a slap in the FACE. Canada Post should at least hire a Canadian company.

marnotom! · ‎09-01-2025

@bn880 wrote:

I refuse to use it, its an american business, to use and charge a fee for american tarriff calculations, which we are then asked to pay for americans. a slap in the FACE. Canada Post should at least hire a Canadian company.

Such as . . . ?

sylviebee · ‎09-01-2025

Nevermind my previous question about printing my label. Worked in other browser.

Finally got my label printed, but that was one long tedious process with a lot of help from posters here. (Thank You.)

There was no charge for zonos and it looks like it's all set to go.

So good system for USA made items. 🙂

bn880 · ‎09-01-2025

Such as employees at Canada Border services, or Canada Post OR ... maybe, just a table of rates that is available for viewing. (though there are many capable IT companies in Canada, lol) It doesn't have to be any MANDATORY company, that takes a fee first of all. Let alone a US one.