CanadaPost small packet rates

As promised, I've made up a table for the small/light packet rates. Canada is not included because there is no parcel flat-rate. You can refer to the enormous table in the price guide PDF and cross-reference with the rate code and rate zone PDF (both PDFs found on this page). Or you can use the find-a-rate calculator tool on the CanadaPost website. Note that you'll need the destination postal code to accurately use the calculator.

USA	0 - 100g	100g - 250g	250g - 500g	500g - 1 kg	1 kg - 2 kg
Small Packet (surface) max: L: 600mm, L + W + H: 900mm	$5.05		$7.20	$10.70	n/a
Small Packet (air) max: L: 600mm, L + W + H: 900mm	$6.45		$8.55	$13.25	n/a
Light Packet max: 380mm x 270mm x 20mm	$1.92	$4.00	$6.40	n/a
International	0 - 250g		250g - 500g	500g - 1 kg	1 kg - 2 kg
Small Packet (surface) max: L: 600mm, L + W + H: 900mm	$5.65 - $6.00		$7.65 - $8.10	$12.85 - $13.65	$18.85 - $20.00
Small Packet (air) max: L: 600mm, L + W + H: 900mm	$7.75 - $8.20		$14.90 - $15.80	$29.20 - $31.00	$45.60 - $48.40
Light Packet max: 380mm x 270mm x 20mm	$3.75	$7.52	$12.80	n/a

The small packet rates include $100 coverage for loss/damage.

I've just listed the min-max range for the international rates because the final price depends on the specific country to which you're mailing. To determine exact cost, you'll need to find the rate code for the destination country and check that the desired service is available. Here is a link to the country listing information. You'll then need to cross reference that with the more detailed information in the Canada Post Prices PDF that I provided links to above and in my lettermail post.

CanadaPost lettermail shipping specs

My first step to understanding shipping is to get all the definitions together. Canada Post has separated the rules for dimensions from the weight/price list on their website. They have also separated the destinations onto different pages. So here's the grand-total lettermail scheme all in one table.

Sending an item as lettermail is the cheapest option, though it doesn't include any insurance or tracking by default. To get delivery confirmation, you need to send your item as "Registered Mail", which costs $7.25 for within Canada, or $12.50 for international destinations. That's on top of the lettermail postage price. Sending it as a small parcel might be cheaper because then tracking is included in the price.

Lettermail

		CANADA	USA	INTL
Standard (max: 245mm x 156mm x 5mm)* (min: 140mm x 90mm x 0.18mm)	Weight	Price
	Up to 30g	$0.52	$0.96	$1.60
	30g - 50g	$0.96	$1.15	$2.30
Non-Standard/Oversize (max: 380mm x 270mm x 20mm) (min: 140mm x 90mm x 0.18mm)
	Up to 100g	$1.15	$1.92	$3.75
	100g - 200g	$1.92	$3.20	$6.40
	200g - 500g	$2.65	$6.40	$12.80

*Note that for USA/INTL, the max width is listed as 150mm.
For all the fine print, see the Canada Post Guide to Lettermail.

They have one page, which is not easy to find, that has a very nice PDF with all the relevant information in one place: Canada Post Prices. Or, you can see a list of all the PDFs. I recommend the main "Canada Post Prices" one.

My next step is scanning through these docs to make a handy reference table for the small/light packet rates.

Shipping confusion

As a new etsy seller, I have to say that the most confusing thing for me is setting shipping rates. CanadaPost has a ton of information online, but that doesn't make it much easier. There's lettermail, light packet, small packet, parcel post, not to mention all the pricey priority xpresspost courier stuff. Lettermail has 3 rates depending on weight, before you're into oversize and then there's 3 more weight categories. If that's not enough, there's also dimension and thickness rules. The small/light packet rates have weight and dimension rules, but it's more about the sum of the dimensions than any specific one, and on and on.

Etsy adds an extra layer of complication by offering a secondary shipping cost that would apply if the person bought more than one item. This is great and something I would definitely like to offer, but it brings up the problem of the weight restrictions. 1 or 2 cards fit into one rate, but if you add a third, then it bumps into the next one, and if you add a fourth, you're starting to look at the thickness restriction. Ideally, I'd like to find one envelope that could work for lots of things, but if I just go with something larger then the shipping costs will be a deterrent.

Currently, I am using a larger envelope with thick backer board. I'm looking for a replacement for that backerboard since it's both costly and weighty. I think it's perfect for protecting my photos, but for my cards, I'd love to find some smaller cardboard mailers,. The only ones I've seen are for letter-size pages which moves you into oversize lettermail. Bubble mailers are way too thick even with nothing in them.

I will report back with what alternatives I find.... I'm sure there's others starting out who will encounter the same issues.