Canadian Mail Customs Question

[Cheap Thrills]

What is the best way to get a package across the boarder with the least amount of time in customs? Mark it as "Gift" ? "Return for repair" ?
Or just do it like the registered mail that took 5 weeks? :rolleyes:
I need to sent a couple of things and hope they get there before Christmas..
T.

[Tom Brown]

It depends what it is.
If it is something that could pass for being worth $20, just put a value of $20 on it. That will eliminate the taxes on this end.
Person to person mail marked "Warranty repair" does not go over well. You could get the recipient into some trouble doing that.
As far as the time goes, just send it regular mail. It will get here in 2 weeks.

[DeltaSigBoater]

If you were closer to the boarder I'd say just walk it over and mail it in Canada :idea:

[photo chick]

You could send it Fed-ex..... OR give it to me along with a first class roundtrip ticket and I'll get it there :D

[Cheap Thrills]

It depends what it is.
If it is something that could pass for being worth $20, just put a value of $20 on it. That will eliminate the taxes on this end.
Person to person mail marked "Warranty repair" does not go over well. You could get the recipient into some trouble doing that.
As far as the time goes, just send it regular mail. It will get here in 2 weeks.
Thanks Tom. I need to get this done ASAP. It always sneaks up on me when I want to do stuff like this. I hope they get there on time.
You could send it Fed-ex..... OR give it to me along with a first class roundtrip ticket and I'll get it there :D
How bout two coach tickets and you and I join the Mile High Club on the way?:p I'd love to see Canada. :D
T.

[voodoomedman]

You could send it Fed-ex..... OR give it to me along with a first class roundtrip ticket and I'll get it there :D
Negative Ghostrider. Less red tape if it goes USPS.

[DeltaSigBoater]

Negative Ghostrider. Less red tape if it goes USPS.
What about DHL :idea:

[voodoomedman]

What about DHL :idea:
Personally I would go USPS. I don't see much competition in DHL and don't hear of use of them going to Canada much. However, there are strict regulations for every country and private carriers shipments are very much scrutinized. Big Brown is anal about everything being correct so they are not held liable and it doesn't keep other customers packages from going through. The biggest thing I see from Fed-Ex is that a shipment will get through no problem and then a month or two later the shipper gets the bill for the duties and taxes. Ole Tom Brown probably has some good suggestions being north of the border and seeing how easy things come through with what carrier. The best thing I can say is do some research and figure out the best way. Stretching the truth may be one thing but don't outright lie if you plan on sending packages ever again. You get caught once telling a lie about the values and you will be on Canadian customs blacklist and every shipment from now on will be scrutinized. Another reason to use USPS is because of the cost. The situation at hand here is personal shipping. If this high value items then a private carrier would be best. But the cost is prohibitive without a daily account and the incentives that go with volume. Of course if you want it there in 1 day then UPS or FedEx it is but again there is a large cost associated with that. You can send it Canada Standard which is ground service but the recipient will not only pay duties and taxes but also brokerage charges.

[voodoomedman]

What about DHL :idea:
And you may have gotten the diatribe for nothing. I said USPS as in United States Parcel Service.

[Cheap Thrills]

Personally I would go USPS. I don't see much competition in DHL and don't hear of use of them going to Canada much. However, there are strict regulations for every country and private carriers shipments are very much scrutinized. Big Brown is anal about everything being correct so they are not held liable and it doesn't keep other customers packages from going through. The biggest thing I see from Fed-Ex is that a shipment will get through no problem and then a month or two later the shipper gets the bill for the duties and taxes. Ole Tom Brown probably has some good suggestions being north of the border and seeing how easy things come through with what carrier. The best thing I can say is do some research and figure out the best way. Stretching the truth may be one thing but don't outright lie if you plan on sending packages ever again. You get caught once telling a lie about the values and you will be on Canadian customs blacklist and every shipment from now on will be scrutinized. Another reason to use USPS is because of the cost. The situation at hand here is personal shipping. If this high value items then a private carrier would be best. But the cost is prohibitive without a daily account and the incentives that go with volume. Of course if you want it there in 1 day then UPS or FedEx it is but again there is a large cost associated with that. You can send it Canada Standard which is ground service but the recipient will not only pay duties and taxes but also brokerage charges.
Interesting information there. I use USPS for standard letters and have had pretty good experience in that aspect. But recently sent some mail Via. Registered Mail (USPS) it took forever getting there worried me to death. the letter (Important Documents) were never scanned at any of the stop points. I didn't know if it had left the drop off point for 4 weeks because that was the only scan they made. I am worried about sending packages if I send them now and they travel like Registered Mail, the chances of them getting there before Christmas is slim.
Thanks for the input.
T.

[spectras only]

CT , I use Fedex through the company I work for , and usually get stuff in 5 working days in Canada , a little longer from the US . When used UPS , they charged me brokerage fees amounting more than the good was worth itself :mad: .

[voodoomedman]

CT , I use Fedex through the company I work for , and usually get stuff in 5 working days in Canada , a little longer from the US . When used UPS , they charged me brokerage fees amounting more than the good was worth itself :mad: .
Yep and the shipper who sent it to you from the states got a bill a little later on and then fought with FedEx over those charges. Somebody has to broker those shipments and it isn't free.

[voodoomedman]

Correct. FedEx has almost exactly the same brokerage charges as UPS.
But I wouldn't know. It's not like I'm familiar with the industry or anything. ;)

[BoatPI]

Use USPS unless it is too large. It should breeze through. Fedex stuff can be held up easily and held for duty or GST and you have to pay. Fedex will charge it to your account sometimes.

[Tom Brown]

Yep and the shipper who sent it to you from the states got a bill a little later on and then fought with FedEx over those charges. Somebody has to broker those shipments and it isn't free.
Interesting. They always charge the Canadian recipient. No exceptions.
I was not aware the American sender was charged too. The people who send me things through UPS have told me they don't pay anything beyond the initial shipping charges but they might have just said that to be nice.
The Canadian can specify a customs broker other than the shipping company and the shipper will honor it. They have to.
UPS is still the most expensive broker in the game but not by much anymore. USPS is the way to go in almost all circumstances and pretty much as fast. The only issue with USPS is they aren't as convenient as a courier that will pick up the package at the source door and even make sure the shipping documentation is correct.

[voodoomedman]

I said FedEx not UPS. UPS is receiver unless the shipper is setup as an NRI.
Interesting. They always charge the Canadian recipient. No exceptions.
I was not aware the American sender was charged too. The people who send me things through UPS have told me they don't pay anything beyond the initial shipping charges but they might have just said that to be nice.
The Canadian can specify a customs broker other than the shipping company and the shipper will honor it. They have to.
UPS is still the most expensive broker in the game but not by much anymore. USPS is the way to go in almost all circumstances and pretty much as fast. The only issue with USPS is they aren't as convenient as a courier that will pick up the package at the source door and even make sure the shipping documentation is correct.

[BoatPI]

If you plan on shipping a plain Fedex envelope that that is easy and not looked at hard. It takes 48 hours to most any place in Canada and is almost half of what UPS charges for overnight/2 day envelope.

[SummitKarl]

What is the best way to get a package across the boarder with the least amount of time in customs? Mark it as "Gift" ? "Return for repair" ?
Or just do it like the registered mail that took 5 weeks? :rolleyes:
I need to sent a couple of things and hope they get there before Christmas..
T.
I just sent some shirts up there via USPS ground..$5 postage and 2 weeks to get there..I just declared what it was and said it was worth $10, seems that it sailed right through

[voodoomedman]

If you plan on shipping a plain Fedex envelope that that is easy and not looked at hard. It takes 48 hours to most any place in Canada and is almost half of what UPS charges for overnight/2 day envelope.
I would check to make sure that brokerage charges are included in that. UPS Express and Expedited prices include the brokerage charges. It is Canada Standard that the recipient will be charged the brokerage charges. I'm not saying that it is not included with FedEx. I'm just saying to check. When things get complicated I bring in my Int'l specialist. This stuff gets waaaaaaaaaaay confusing. Domestically published air rates for FedEx are much more than UPS. After discounts it is a different story but published air costs more with FedEx.