Shipping from the States

[Cobster]

What's the most reliable (and reasonably priced) way to ship something from the States? w/insurance?

Also, curious, do they check every box that goes across the border?
I don't think the stuff I'm getting will have a receipt as it's done via email, so wondering how that'll work itself out?

 

[Edifice]

Have it shipped to you through U.S. Postal Service as FedEx, UPS, Purolater will ding you with large fees but that also depends on the value of the item.

 

[Cobster]

We're looking at a value of around $700-$800 US.
What kind of fees will UPS/Puro/FedEx charge?
Thanks.

 

[Edifice]

Well, one time I had a laptop shipped from Chicago and UPS dinged me $250 for the delivery when it went through the border.

I would suggest you have the person undervalue the item and ship it through USPS this way you only get dinged like $80.

 

[DirtyDave]

Have it shipped to you through U.S. Postal Service as FedEx, UPS, Purolater will ding you with large fees but that also depends on the value of the item.

Purolator picks up fed ex at the border, and UPS picks up the USPS. Pretty much screwed either way. If it is written up as a gift you shouldnt have to pay duty.

 

[Moraff]

Of course if you declare a lower value and something happens to it, you only get the lower value.

 

[netbull]

I have an account with FedEx and used them several time to ship to Canada. One time was a sandwich Grill which was heavy but not too expensive. I used a somewhat big box and it came out to be about $30 through FedEx group international. Filled out the custom form, declared the proper value- $120 and it reached my buddy hassle-free a week later. For smaller packages, regular FedEx services are good too.

 

[Cobster]

Could my friend get away with sending it as a gift, but still declaring a value on it? (insurance shipping)
Or I can't have the best of both worlds in this case?

 

[jimmyf]

What's the most reliable (and reasonably priced) way to ship something from the States? w/insurance?

Also, curious, do they check every box that goes across the border?
I don't think the stuff I'm getting will have a receipt as it's done via email, so wondering how that'll work itself out?

Although not as convenient you could have it shipped to Niagara Falls or Buffalo NY and go for a ride to pick it up. The UPS Store will receive your package and hold for thirty days for $10.

 

[Cobster]

Don't you have to pay a yearly fee to do that?
I know because my friend has a UPS box and pays a yearly fee split with 3 other guys.
I'll check it out myself tomorrow to see if they offer a 30 day temp fee of some sort. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Stradler]

As mentioned above the best way is to have the shipper under value the contents, customs rarely opens packages but you will have to pay duties. I know that FedEx has it own broker, so if it sent by them and gets stopped by the border you will definetly have to pay the brokerage fee on top of customs. The best way I find is get it shipped by Us postal to you house. I found that when I shipped it to my business I always got dinged with GST plus Canada Post handling fees.

 

[james t kirk]

US Post.

Anything else will have HUGE fees (brokerage, etc. attached to it.)

Talk about a complete SCAM. A complete cash grab on the part of UPS, FED Ex, etc.

It takes a couple days more by mail, but you save large...

 

[Hammerstein]

I was looking at a set of doors for my jeep on ebay and the seller will be shipping with Fedex. I called Fedex and the answer I got on brokerage fees was:

value of item is $200 - $350 the fee is $36
value of item is $350 - $750 the fee is $46

from $750 and up add $5 to the fee for every $250 for the value of the item.

before this another set of doors with UPS I was told the fee would be $63.43. Also when they hit the border the goverment wanted a cut of 14% of the value.

 

[papasmerf]

a lower declared value would cause problems if the shipment is lost or damaged. I would suggest going through a Customs exporter. You use a boned broker and arrange either common carrier or private delivery service. You pay for transport and custom fees.

I recently shipped $20k in computer equipment via common carrier and did it for less than half of FEDEX GROUND with full insurance.

 

[Cobster]

So what I'd like to know is, what if my friend packs it up as though it were a gift, but still puts a value on it for insurance reasons. Will they still ding me for provincial tax?
Since the product was made in the US, I can't get nailed for duty, just tax.

 

[Garrett]

Some things to be aware of...

o the customs people are not fools. They know people will try to cheat.
o since 9/11, I see a lot more random searches. I have seen families with small children turfed from their vehicle and the car searched. Odds are low, but it could happen to you.
o if you are caught underdeclaring, be prepared to bend over every time you cross the border. I know people this has happened to.
o be careful with the gift declaration. It is no guarantee.

Generally, it works well. When customs makes a mistake, they are very good about processing refunds.

 

[lickrolaine]

So what I'd like to know is, what if my friend packs it up as though it were a gift, but still puts a value on it for insurance reasons. Will they still ding me for provincial tax?
Since the product was made in the US, I can't get nailed for duty, just tax.

you need to declare a value in any event,but with a gift there may be a maximum value you can have,then pay the taxes on left over amount.

 

[tboy]

Cobster:

How are you paying for it? BECAUSE if you pay via paypal, credit card, Western Union there will be a record of the transaction and if you misquote the value you WILL get caught. Not only will you have to pay the taxes and duties owed but you'll get hit with a fine as well.

USPS is THE best way to ship bar none. I don't care what anyone says about couriers, they are rip off artists when it comes to cross border shipping. For eg: I was visiting a friend in the US and forgot my cellphone on his coffee table. He sent it to me UPS and they charged ME $75.00 brokerage fee...Unfortunately for me since my buddy sent it to me at my work, UPS put the fee on the company tab so I HAD to pay it....

The beauty of USPS is that a) they are usually the cheapest b) They have NO brokerage fees (or if they do, I have yet to see one on about 20 shipments) and c) Postal outlets are all over the place if you're not home when Canada Post tries to deliver it. (where couriers have limited locations).

Trust me cob, if you go the courier route you're in for an ass fucking....

 

[Keebler Elf]

I get stuff shipped all the time. It's a crap shoot whether or not they'll open it, but I think what's on the label plays a significant part.

The killer is the service charge RevCan tacks on. I may only pay a couple bucks in GST but then they tack on at least $5 handling and now I'm paying $10+ just for customs to open $5 worth of product.

That being said, I dunno how much can really be done about it.

 

[tboy]

DO NOT USE UPS ofr cross border shipments. They WILL fuck you over with their Customs brokerage fee. In fact, there is a classa ction lawsuit against them for it.

Fedex will NOT charge Customs Brokerage if you use International PRIORITY service.

USPS is fine if you can wait a week or so. USPS is great, Canada Post will find a way to delay it though!

As for undervaluing, stop being a cheapskate. Customs people aren't stupid when it comes to those scams. It's jsut not worth the risk for fifty bucks.

Holy shit rub, I thought we were up to our old tricks again with your post in that other thread but nice to see we're still on the same page hehehehe

For the most part, I've never had any delays with USPS and in fact, more often than not, it comes before I am expecting it.