Shipping US to Canada

[Richard Carlstedt]

Well, This is Enlightening, but still do not understand what to do.
Two weeks ago I sent a package (coincidentally also 7" x7" but 5 inches tall) to Canada to a friend
It had some gears valued at $50 and weighed 4 1/2 pounds
By US Post Office it was $57 and by Fed Ex it was $52, so it went FedEx
And this was not a web price, I got both person to person before I sent it

Maybe i need to ship from South Carolina ?

 

[DanP]

I guessing these are model spark plus. A full size spark plus should cost no more than $2 or $3 to mail to Canada, Europe I guess more. Shipping to Australia is expensive.

 

[stevehuckss396]

No. Cant mail a spark plug to canada for 2 or 3 bucks. Cant even send one around the states that cheap. I can send plugs in the US for 3-4 bucks. Cheapest to canada is 10.50. If the envelope is thicker than 1/4 inch or the value of the contents is more than zero, cheapest way into canada is 10.50 because it is considered a package. Maybe it's cheaper coming from your way to here but that's what it is here. I can ship to canada cheaper if I just put them in the envelope unprotected and lie about the value. Not doing that so 10.50 is the cheapest that I know of. If anyone knows of a cheaper way, my ears are wide open.

 

[DanP]

Well the package I talked about was $10.50 so I guess it's a flat rate, $10.50 is OK.

 

[petertha]

I think you can send 4 letters for 2$ these days.

The only price break (if you want to call it that) Canada to International is 'small packet airmail'. Must be under 2 kg (=4.4 pounds). Any more & it gets bumped to a higher category. As an example I entered 10x10x10 cm weighing 0.5 kg (1.10 lb) Alberta to Michigan. Small packet = 11.75 CDN. Next level up, faster & tracking = 19.72 CDN. Note 1 USD fetches 0.75 Kanuckistan dollars these days.
I think USPS might have something similar but not 100% sure.
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s1

Anyways, glad you got it resolved. Now it should be rinse & repeat

 

[stearmoth]

Steve - although many do and get away with it ... don't ever "lie to the Queen". As a Canadian, I see the high cost of shipping and brokerage (if using a courier) as the issue, not the remote chance of paying duty on an item made in the US and shipped from the US.
My recommendation is to identify the goods and their actual value. Then no one has to explain the unexplainable to a customs agency anywhere.
FWIW
Charlie

Hi Charlie,
Do you remember me? I wanted to build an Aeronca E-113 in 1/4 scale after the Chenery plans, which I have. I am now retired and want persue this project.
Sorry, I didnˋt find another way to contact you but this! I would appreciate if you would send me an email to h.u.gautschi at bluewin.ch, so I could ask you more questions about your build. I would appreciate your help very much!
Kind regards
Hans, Switzerland

 

[David Morrow]

It's not so much Duty ( which would likely be 0.00% because of the NAFTA free trade agreement ), but GST and possible PST (depending on province) when arriving in Canada. Additionally, there is often a customs clearance processing "Fee" which should not be mistaken for duty or taxes. UPS loves the processing fees. It can be hit or miss on the various costs because there would seem to be some flexibility at the point of arrival if Canada Customs just waives it through or decides that a charge is in order. I find that stuff under $50 US usually bypasses all of the fees and taxes.

I have a lot of stuff sent to Canada with a variety of carriers - Fedex, UPS, USPS / Canada Post. Fedex seems to be the best by far with the postal system being a distant 2nd, and UPS being the worst by a country mile. And the freight cost is a different matter still from the other fees and taxes.

 

[stevehuckss396]

Well here we are a year and a half later and I believe I have it figured out. USPS is by far the cheapest way to ship my plugs. They ship in an envelope that is only 5 X 7 and less than an inch thick. I have sent them to Canada, Australia, UK, Germany as well as other places. I have shipping cost and declaration forms all figured out. Biggest problem I have now is how to format an address on the envelope when shipping out of the country. In that case I simply ask for help from the customer. With covid the shipment sometimes take an extra few days to get there. With international shipping, tracking is not an option but in the us a tracking number is provided asap.

 

[L98fiero]

It's not so much Duty ( which would likely be 0.00% because of the NAFTA free trade agreement ), but GST and possible PST (depending on province) when arriving in Canada. Additionally, there is often a customs clearance processing "Fee" which should not be mistaken for duty or taxes. UPS loves the processing fees. It can be hit or miss on the various costs because there would seem to be some flexibility at the point of arrival if Canada Customs just waives it through or decides that a charge is in order. I find that stuff under $50 US usually bypasses all of the fees

I find that if it's under $200 CDN Canada Post seldom sends it through Customs so no taxes/duties and if they do, I think their processing charge is $5, way less expensive than UPS. That's one of the reasons I won't buy from some eBay sellers, they will only ship to Canada with the Global Shipping program, it ends up slower and costs more because you never know how Pitney-Bowes might classify the item though I suppose it may be easier for the seller.

 

[wherediditgo]

Also I find that EBay's Global Shipping is just a money grab as they charge fees for items that are duty free such as books and USED items. AND then they add a disclaimer that you you may still have to pay duty and other fees! As far as I'm concerned the import and duty fees should be left up to the buyer to take care of. I think EBay sellers need to wise up and stop using the shipping program!

 

[David Morrow]

Thanks you for the heads up on the Global Shipping program at eBay. I don't buy much there but that is still a good tip.

 

[SmithDoor]

Any time I shipped to Canada I just used UPS and large loads on truck.

If I was Shipping to Canada I use ground it slower but big saving.

Dave

Well, This is Enlightening, but still do not understand what to do.
Two weeks ago I sent a package (coincidentally also 7" x7" but 5 inches tall) to Canada to a friend
It had some gears valued at $50 and weighed 4 1/2 pounds
By US Post Office it was $57 and by Fed Ex it was $52, so it went FedEx
And this was not a web price, I got both person to person before I sent it

Maybe i need to ship from South Carolina ?

 

[dsage]

Smithdoor:
What you are forgetting is your poor customer. It has been mentioned here already. When the package arrives in Canada via UPS they always charge a brokerage fee (money grab to shuffle paper sometimes $30) and regarless of goods value the GST tax (replacement of duty of about 15% of declared value). They don't seem to wave low value items as might be the case normally.
So we can order something worth $1 from the US and end up with additional $30 charges to receive the package. More times than not the package has been damage as well. UPS is IMO the worst choice for us. The other couriers aren't much better.
USPS is the best. Most low priced items come right to the door with no extra fees. Slower for sure but.....
And these days because of US Postal service woes MIGHT take a long time. Sometimes not so bad.
As you mention the "large load" sort of buries the $30 brokerage fee but large loads worth large dollars always attract the 15% GST. There's no escaping that.

 

[olympic]

USPS only. I once bought an item that the seller shipped by UPS without telling me, and paid almost three times its value before I was through.

As for Global Shipping, I do not buy from sellers who use it. It's slow, really expensive (often including "customs" fees that do not apply), and impossible to track. If US eBay sellers could see their listings as we see them (they're not shown all of those additional charges) they might understand why so many people avoid buying ....

 

[SmithDoor]

Sounds like they have changed.
I also only export
I did no importing.

If shipping via ship watch FOB it is freight on board ship. It cost my over $500.00.
In the American FOB was fright on board truck.
For exporting it FOT fright on board truck cheeper.

Dave

Smithdoor:
What you are forgetting is your poor customer. It has been mentioned here already. When the package arrives in Canada via UPS they always charge a brokerage fee (money grab to shuffle paper sometimes $30) and regarless of goods value the GST tax (replacement of duty of about 15% of declared value). They don't seem to wave low value items as might be the case normally.
So we can order something worth $1 from the US and end up with additional $30 charges to receive the package. More times than not the package has been damage as well. UPS is IMO the worst choice for us. The other couriers aren't much better.
USPS is the best. Most low priced items come right to the door with no extra fees. Slower for sure but.....
And these days because of US Postal service woes MIGHT take a long time. Sometimes not so bad.
As you mention the "large load" sort of buries the $30 brokerage fee but large loads worth large dollars always attract the 15% GST. There's no escaping that.

 

[SmithDoor]

Did not know.
Just put the steel on truck and did here any thing else.

Dave

Smithdoor:
What you are forgetting is your poor customer. It has been mentioned here already. When the package arrives in Canada via UPS they always charge a brokerage fee (money grab to shuffle paper sometimes $30) and regarless of goods value the GST tax (replacement of duty of about 15% of declared value). They don't seem to wave low value items as might be the case normally.
So we can order something worth $1 from the US and end up with additional $30 charges to receive the package. More times than not the package has been damage as well. UPS is IMO the worst choice for us. The other couriers aren't much better.
USPS is the best. Most low priced items come right to the door with no extra fees. Slower for sure but.....
And these days because of US Postal service woes MIGHT take a long time. Sometimes not so bad.
As you mention the "large load" sort of buries the $30 brokerage fee but large loads worth large dollars always attract the 15% GST. There's no escaping that.

 

[ajoeiam]

Smithdoor:
What you are forgetting is your poor customer. It has been mentioned here already. When the package arrives in Canada via UPS they always charge a brokerage fee (money grab to shuffle paper sometimes $30) and regarless of goods value the GST tax (replacement of duty of about 15% of declared value). They don't seem to wave low value items as might be the case normally.
So we can order something worth $1 from the US and end up with additional $30 charges to receive the package. More times than not the package has been damage as well. UPS is IMO the worst choice for us. The other couriers aren't much better.
USPS is the best. Most low priced items come right to the door with no extra fees. Slower for sure but.....
And these days because of US Postal service woes MIGHT take a long time. Sometimes not so bad.
As you mention the "large load" sort of buries the $30 brokerage fee but large loads worth large dollars always attract the 15% GST. There's no escaping that.

If you think UPS is bad - - - - - I would like to introduce you to DHL. UPS is a grab and a half but DHL goes one better!

With DHL you are expected to use insecure web forms to transmit your personal information and detailed information about the product to them so that they can properly 'import' the item. I've bought large ticket items in the past (large equipment hauled as a single load on a semi-trailer) and was able to self declare with no need for some brokerage service to charge me to look up the item code and print it on an form. With DHL - - - - - I would have needed to travel with my papers in hand to a Canada Border office in my nearest large city and hope that they would process my shipment. With Covid raging - - - - that was a non-starter. The first thing listed was the fees that they were collecting for their 'work'. What was fascinating was that it took 10 business days to get the process done - - - - good thing we have computers to make things faster!

International shipping used to be a lot easier and much simpler.
Governments seem to be adding headaches with absolutely goofy requirements that sound oh so reasonable until you have to figure your way through the bloody minefield! (rant off)
Shipping and logistics companies have found some very interesting ways to seriously increase their profits!

 

[Cogsy]

As for Global Shipping, I do not buy from sellers who use it. It's slow, really expensive (often including "customs" fees that do not apply), and impossible to track. If US eBay sellers could see their listings as we see them (they're not shown all of those additional charges) they might understand why so many people avoid buying ....

Over the years I've approached several sellers when I *really* wanted/needed an item an couldn't get it anywhere else and showed them the shipping charges being quoted to us. I've never had a seller offer me a different shipping method. It seems (anecdotally) that anyone who offers Global Shipping just isn't interested in the hassle of handling international shipping themselves. So I guess they don't sell much overseas so they don't consider it a big market so why bother helping some random guy out when he asks - it's all a vicious circle.

I just did a quick search on eBay: for a carb to suit a Stover CT (you could easily fit it in your hand) $102.00 shipping from Ohio to Western Australia. Plus my government will tack 10% GST onto the total value of the purchase including the shipping cost.

 

[stevehuckss396]

If the seller put it in a bubble wrap envelope instead of a box you would get it for around 20 bucks. Last time I shipped to Australia I think it was 22 bucks. USPS first class international. The only problem is I cannot print a shipping label and dump it in the box. I have to take it to the post office to have it labeled and sent. If it will save someone 75 bucks I will make the 3 mile drive.

 

[wherediditgo]

I have contacted a few sellers in the States requesting that they ship with out using Global shipping and they have been very cooperative and shipped with out using it. I just explain that used items, books and items costing less then $200 dollars CDN( are usually) exempt from duties and import taxes. BUT the global shipping is a money grab by EBay after all they only need to make changes to the system to exempt these charges on such items.
Also if you see exhortation shipping costs for items it;s because they don't want to be bothered with shipping to your location.