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.

[phc64]

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@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.

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Postal services can only use brokerage firms approved by the US customs authorities, and they have only approved US firms. (As of last week, they had only authorized two firms for postal services around the world to work with, but there are likely more now.)

[phc64]

I have now successfully gone through the Zonos/Canada Post procedure for a second time, and this time there were two welcome differences. There is now indeed no longer a processing fee on tariff-free transactions, and this time they did e-mail me a receipt.

[anthonyallen_jp]

It has been a few days since your Dropoff withn the Zonos account linked to your Cpost account, did you get billed for it yet? My understanding supposed to see it charged if any Due after Customs Clearance.

[dannyblue]

Zonos is charging duty and fees for records that are made in EU countries. So far there is nothing to pay if records are made in Canada, USA, UK, Japan, Brazil and Russia. I sell on Discogs too and had to disable my US shipping because a lot of the records I have for sale are made in the EU. I hope Zonos updates that because from what I understand all recorded media is tariff free.

[phc64]

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@anthonyallen_jp wrote:

It has been a few days since your Dropoff withn the Zonos account linked to your Cpost account, did you get billed for it yet? My understanding supposed to see it charged if any Due after Customs Clearance.

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My Zonos and Canada Post accounts are actually not linked. I go through each process separately. (I never received any of the e-mails from Canada Post others have mentioned.)

Zonos billed my CC immediately on Aug 29 (this was a few hours before they dropped their fee on tariff- free shipments). Canada Post billed my CC for the shipping label on Sep 2.

[phc64]

My intitial shipment of Aug 29 has now been delivered. Two more shipped on Sep 2 are shown as having cleared customs in Chicago on Sep 4 one minute apart.

[byto253]

Appreciate knowing the COO of those.  Where some tariff free?   I am shut down until the new year but am closely watching to learn before starting up in the new year!

[packagedealvintage]

@tryubik-useonlyasdirected  I think you'd have to add 2 more numbers to your declaration. The 9709.99.00 isn't enough for the Zonos app, I think you need to add the final 2 digits to be clearer on what you're sending (silverware, furniture, other) in order for the Zonos app to recognize the HTS category and correctly assess it as free. 

[packagedealvintage]

Is it working with PCs yet? Or do you still have to ship via cell phone? I haven't read all the comments here but I got as far as those saying you can't use Zonos on a PC, only the mobile app, and I'm wondering if that's changed? I never ship from my phone, I only use my laptop. I haven't added USA shipping back to my items yet but I sell a lot of books that are of USA origin so if I can get Zonos working properly and everyone seems to be having a positive experience with it, then I'll likely try it. I just can't use my mobile for everything. 

[apmtrade]

1. Automatic billing with a Zonos Account (preferred): With this option there is no change when it comes to creating a shipping label with Canada Post SnapShip™ or Shipping Manager.

Using PC OK.

2. Manually pay duties with the Zonos App: Before creating a shipping label using SnapShip or Shipping Manager you need to pay duties via the Zonos app and receive a Declaration ID. 

Only  Mobile phone. i0S - Android devices.

[dinomitesales]

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@apmtrade wrote:

1. Automatic billing with a Zonos Account (preferred): With this option there is no change when it comes to creating a shipping label with Canada Post SnapShip™ or Shipping Manager.

Using PC OK.

2. Manually pay duties with the Zonos App: Before creating a shipping label using SnapShip or Shipping Manager you need to pay duties via the Zonos app and receive a Declaration ID. 

Only  Mobile phone. i0S - Android devices.

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The app has a web version available for use on computers. Can be accessed through app.zonosprepay.com 

[syl-7276]

Does ebay have any plan integrating Zonos anytime soon?

[flipistics]

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@syl-7276 wrote:

Does ebay have any plan integrating Zonos anytime soon?

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I think I read somewhere that Canada Post's systems aren't set up yet for integrating with Zonos for 3rd party clients (like eBay Labels). I'm not sure eBay can integrate it until that happens.

I would expect eBay's first priority will be getting eIS running anyway. Anything else would likely happen after that.

[eriekexouwyrn0]

There is also no longer a way to link your Canada Post account to Zonos through CP to use the service that charges the tariffs to your Zonos after the fact. The instructions given by Canada Post simply don't exist on the webpage.

There is no such thing on the Canada Post webpage called "Account Preferences" under the shipping tab.

Steps to Connect Your Zonos Account to Canada Post 

Sign up: for a Zonos account and get your account approved.

Obtain: your Zonos Account Key from your Zonos dashboard by going to Settings > Integrations. Log in: to your Canada Post online account. Navigate: to Shipping > Shipping Tool. Select: Account preferences. Paste: or enter your Zonos Account Key into the designated field under the automatic billing option. Save: the changes to complete the connection.

[regs43]

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@eriekexouwyrn0 wrote:

There is also no longer a way to link your Canada Post account to Zonos through CP to use the service that charges the tariffs to your Zonos after the fact. The instructions given by Canada Post simply don't exist on the webpage.

There is no such thing on the Canada Post webpage called "Account Preferences" under the shipping tab.

Steps to Connect Your Zonos Account to Canada Post 

Sign up: for a Zonos account and get your account approved.

Obtain: your Zonos Account Key from your Zonos dashboard by going to Settings > Integrations. Log in: to your Canada Post online account. Navigate: to Shipping > Shipping Tool. Select: Account preferences. Paste: or enter your Zonos Account Key into the designated field under the automatic billing option. Save: the changes to complete the connection.

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Its in a really stupid place

if you create a shipment from Dashboard

Then on the top right right when the label page opens click "Cancel and Return to cart"

The account preference to link your account is then on that page

Took me like 1.5 hours to find it. I am getting tariff free items with the Manual app, so I havent been using automatic billing but I do have mine set up and I just select manual key each time as I prefer to know my cost upfront

[bn880]

Guess it didn't matter after all as CP (employees) is on their insane strike again. 😛

Wish I would get raise offers like they keep getting... 

[latigojo]

Thank you so much for takin the time to share this.  Very much appreciated from this seller!!!!!!!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@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?

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@fergua3

According to the explanation below it's too bad CP----->USPS couldn't have come up with a robust internal way of collecting tariffs from buyers(receiver of goods) vs sellers (sender of goods) like couriers can and always have been able to (where/when applicable). Just kept the processing charge reasonable. Would have been soo much neater than needing to get a 3rd party involved like Zonos. 

How UPS and FedEx handle duty payments

Established customs infrastructure: As private commercial carriers, UPS and FedEx have long-standing, robust infrastructure for processing international shipments and managing customs clearance on behalf of customers. 

Brokerage services:

• Advancing funds: For shipments with duties owed, these carriers pay customs authorities upfront to avoid delays. They then bill the recipient for the advanced funds, plus a disbursement or brokerage fee.
• Collection on delivery: When duties are billed to the recipient, they can be collected in several ways:
  • Online payment: The recipient can pay the fees online through the carrier's tracking page before delivery to avoid surcharges.
  • Payment on delivery: Drivers may be able to collect payment at the door, but some carriers add a surcharge for this service.
• Ultimate liability: While the default is for the recipient to pay, if they refuse the shipment or decline to pay the fees, the original shipper is typically held liable for the unpaid duties. 

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