Help with USPS!

I'm a newbie insofar as selling here on A-mart. I have a question about shipping to Canada.

I sold an item and naively went down to the local PO and said: "I need to get this to Canada." I sent it Global Priority Mail. The buyer then e-mailed me of his disappointment that I'd used GPM instead of "parcel post" since he would have to pay a large fee to take delivery of the package.

I suppose I deserve a bad rating for shipping GPM instead of parcel post -- I can accept that. But can someone explain to me why the global priority mail option would be more costly to the receiver than parcel post?

Naturally, I won't be shipping anything outside of the USA after this experience, but I'd like to know what I did wrong.

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the explanation. I apologize for being a little slow on the uptake here ...

Are you saying that there is no difference in the "brokerage" fee if I ship Parcel Post versus Global Priority mail. If that's the case, then I don't understand the receiver's disappointment.

The declared value of the item is $200 (US). The receiver e-mailed me saying that it will cost $42 (I don't know which currency) to take delivery of the package, because I did not send it Parcel Post.

When the buyer asked if I would ship to Canada, I went on the USPS web site to get an idea of cost. Global Priority Mail was fairly quick and reasonably priced. Parcel Post was in the same ballpark pricewise, IIRC, but took a "month of Sundays" for delivery.

So I told the user that I could ship GPM. In his defense, he did say to ship "Parcel Post" but until yesterday, to me that was synonymous with "the Post Office" (versus UPS or FedEx).

that hits the nail on the head the person in canada did not want to pay duty on the item. i run into this all the time, i sell auto parts on ebay, someone ask me at least once a week to lie and fill out the custom info as a gift and under 20.00 in value. but if something happens to an item thats worth hundreds who do you think would want their money back. allways us global express it protects the seller and the honest buyers well thats my to cents send me a check for what you think it's worth
dan albaugh
www.n21.com/ibo/1411514

I just wanted to say "thanks" for all the help you guys gave me. So, thanks, guys!