Hello, all! Everyone seemed very on board for a rant post, so I figured that I may as well give the people what they want- rant numero uno, coming up! For those of you who are new to the blog, I am Canadian. I know that people often expect Canadians to be polite, easy going, and quiet but today I refuse to be silent any longer!
Canadians like to shop, okay? We are people, just like the rest of you. We don’t understand why shipping for a $6 pin has to be $32 USD from Chicago to Winnipeg but at the end of the day if we really want the item, we are willing to pay for it. A lot of my American friends will complain when there is a $20 minimum spend for free shipping- Canadians typically have $50-100 minimum spend, if there is free shipping at all. We just accept that free shipping isn’t a thing and move on with our lives.
And then you come to the sites that don’t even offer shipping to Canada- LILY PULITZER AND POSHMARK, I’M LOOKING AT YOU. Lilly Pulitzer is not a small company, by any stretch of the imagination. From everything I’ve seen on the Facebook groups, Canadians (and people from many other countries) love their products, and yet they only allow shipping to a US address. If you have the money to pay people to sit and paint designs instore, I’m sure you can hire someone to figure out international shipping.
As my Style File Friday post on my Lilly for Target dress explained, I had to jump through a million different hoops to buy a dress. I had to find it on Poshmark using an incognito browser window, have Charlotte make a Poshmark account, and then ship it to me once she received it. If Charlotte hadn’t been willing, I would have been out of luck, all because I happen to live in Canada. Poshmark won’t let you make an account if your IP address isn’t in the US, so every style blogger who says “use Poshmark for great deals” is inadvertently ignoring everyone outside of the US. I know that it’s not on purpose but it starts to get irritating very quickly to continually see Poshmark, Poshmark, Poshmark. “Here’s a site to get really good deals but you can’t actually use it.”
Dear companies,
Please stop excluding us from your company. I don’t know if you all have a grudge against Canada, but if we are willing to pay a much higher price with the exchange rate AND pay the bizarrely high rate for shipping, why will you not allow us to buy your products? Did a Canadian check you into the boards one too many times that you have proverbially shoved us all into the penalty box of capitalism? Please don’t treat us like the unwanted cousin.
The Historian
Dear bloggers,
Please be aware that if you are American, you probably have the widest and most varied access to stores, companies, and products. Your readership might not, and if you only ever recommend things that I can never buy, it makes it tough for me to want to keep reading your blog. The internet is global and your reach is further than you think- if nothing else, please recognise in your post that it may not be available in all countries.
The Historian
RANT OVER.
Canadians, have you found any ways to deal with the lack of options? Global peeps, do you ever run into shipping issues?
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin’
Hello and Welcome!
I’m the Historian, and I am here to celebrate all things history, style, culture!
What to expect:
Sunday- Culture, including books, ballet/arts, and travel
Monday- History including book recommendations, documentaries, and interesting histories!
Wednesday- History Bite (a short bite of interesting history)
Friday- Style File Friday, including fashion history, favourite pieces, and resources.
Have a question or something to say? Let me know what you think at anhistorianabouttown@gmail.com!
I love a rant! I didn’t know that about Canada, I would have thought it would be easier than that considering how close our countries are, that really sucks
Funny, I never realized that Canada would be considered international shipping. I always think of North American as “one” shipping zone.
Wow I find it completely absurd they don’t offer international shipping!! They’re missing out on opportunities galore!
This seems grossly unfair. I wonder how well these companies would do with their Canadian customers.
Ah man, I am so sorry. I cannot believe that in 2017 this is an issue. That might be a viable business for any US entrepreneur: charge like $1 to buy items then have it shipped to Canada for cheaper??? IDK
I’m really hopeful that someone will actually make a service for this. I mean, Winnipeg is fairly close to the border, but even shipping there and picking it up means you are using a $40 tank of gas and potentially paying customs/duties. I don’t understand the disconnect!!
Don’t ship to Canada?! What?! That seems crazy. Don’t they know Canada is the best? And that’s coming from an American. We shouldn’t have stuff shipped to us because we’re bonkers. We should be the ones that are punished, not you.
I think it’s really that they don’t want to deal with it, but once you set up a system (like they use for domestic shipping), it wouldn’t be an issue!!!
I don’t even bother looking at US online shops anymore…the shipping fees to the UK are usually far too prohibitive. There’s quite a lot of sea in the way though, so although I think postage is too high, Otis in some way to be expected. No excuse between US and Canada though, you folks should have some kind of deal going!
*It is …not “Otis”. I have no idea who Otis is ?
I would like to think that Otis is a compassionate and understanding entrepreneur who appreciates his Canadian customers ?
Bwahahaha! We love you Otis!
Cath Kidston is one of my favourite brands and shipping costs an arm and a leg BUT IT IS CROSSING AN OCEAN. A few bigger companies use Borderfree for shipping, but those are few and far between…
I’ve not ever heard of Poshmark. I don’t get how US companies don’t ship to Canada. That’s ridic! Surely you are neighbours ?!? I do hate how much international shipping is anywhere but get there more costs associated. Not offering it all is the worst though.
That’s what I don’t understand- if someone is willing to pay the higher cost, why remove the choice altogether??
Exactly it doesn’t make sense! They could make more money which is surely the aim of the game ?!?
I had no idea it was so hard to get shipping to Canada. I totally agree with you, there should be an easier way. Rant=justified.
Thank you!! A lot of Americans i know think I’m nuts but it gets to be very frustrating ?
Wow! I didn’t realise that Canada was excluded so much!!!
We’ve been put in the corner ?
Poor you!!!
Dang, that’s the worst! I never realized that shipping items to Canada would be more expensive than the US. I’m sorry you have to deal with that. :/
Ohhhh man do I hate international shipping! I want to cry when I see that a company won’t ship outside the U.S. (whhyyyyy) and it’s something I want. It means going through a lot more hoops just to get it – so much so that I usually won’t bother.
Also, why is it like $14 to ship anything to Ireland??? I just don’t get it – the thing I want weighs like nothing?? It’s so frustrating!
oh man, I feel you and I’m not even from Canada. I tend to have the same issue with a lot of companies from US.
I always hate suggesting Poshmark – though I absolutely adore it – because I do know that it’s a problem. I don’t know if Thread Up sales internationally or not but it’s another I have found that has a lot of high name brands available most of the time. It’s not as wide of a selection but it’s there.
Lilly and Posh really should start doing international. It sucks to not only pay shipping once, but twice when you really want an item!