shipping to Canada

[Hillargh]

Originally Posted by c&w's mama hahahahaha... thanks. He worked for a small business a few years back that sold very expensive instruments (more than a quarter of a million dollars, US) and I know they freaked when things got stuck in customs, who wouldn't a small business or otherwise... but these are used items- not worth much (as the world market goes), so I thought it would be different. But I do get his point that something is being sold- not sent as a gift. And I'd never seen it addressed here. My thanks to you for responding!

I think you'd have to have a prettttty rare GM or some bomb woolies to rank in comparison to those items LOL

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DS Forum

[croth7]

Originally Posted by mommy24babes I quizzed our pp lady while there getting estimates for shipping the other day. For packages coming from the states Canada post can track them by the customs number once they enter Canada. You have to call in though it doesn't work to put the number in yourself. One thing I didn't realize is that all our packages except letter mail include $100 insurance on them. Makes me a bit less nervous mailing things out without being able to get dc. Not sure how it actually works but better than nothing.

I had a package get lost that I was shipping to the US. I called Canada Post after 4 to 6 weeks and they asked me for some information found on my receipt. They advised me that I would need to wait 75 days prior to an investigation being open. After the 75 days, I called back and they did a search for the package. I received a letter in the mail a week later and they told me that I would be receiving a cheque for the amount/declared value (filled out on the custom form) for the item. Less than a week later I received a cheque for the item that was lost from Canada Post.

I hope this helps. The 75 days is a really long wait though.

[Computermama]

Originally Posted by c&w's mama so, my DH keeps telling me I need to pay tarriffs and taxes because I am exporting/selling goods into Canada... they're used dipes, for goodness sakes! how hard can this be?! how do I figure that out? I have looked at the USPS site, I have the customs forms, I'm usually pretty good at figuring things out... what do you guys do to keep transactions on the level and not get things stuck in customs?

No no, the person on the receiving end pays any tarriffs/taxes/customs fees, not the exporter. If I order something larger from the US I get hit with them occasionally. It usually has to be 30+ dollars in value before it even gets looked at for that kind of thing.

Things do take a while to clear customs occasionally. I could be in the US in about 2 hours on the highway, but expect that things shipped to me will take 2-3 weeks on average, sometimes a week, sometimes 4-5 weeks. It's pretty random.

[c&w's mama]

Originally Posted by Hillargh I think you'd have to have a prettttty rare GM or some bomb woolies to rank in comparison to those items LOL

I just read that to DH and I'm still laughing... bomb woolies ...

Originally Posted by croth7 I had a package get lost that I was shipping to the US. I called Canada Post after 4 to 6 weeks and they asked me for some information found on my receipt. They advised me that I would need to wait 75 days prior to an investigation being open. After the 75 days, I called back and they did a search for the package. I received a letter in the mail a week later and they told me that I would be receiving a cheque for the amount/declared value (filled out on the custom form) for the item. Less than a week later I received a cheque for the item that was lost from Canada Post. I hope this helps. The 75 days is a really long wait though.

great info... I am definitely filing this thread away for future ref.

Originally Posted by Computermama No no, the person on the receiving end pays any tarriffs/taxes/customs fees, not the exporter. If I order something larger from the US I get hit with them occasionally. It usually has to be 30+ dollars in value before it even gets looked at for that kind of thing. Things do take a while to clear customs occasionally. I could be in the US in about 2 hours on the highway, but expect that things shipped to me will take 2-3 weeks on average, sometimes a week, sometimes 4-5 weeks. It's pretty random.

Lightbulb!! mama! just what I needed!


now I feel like I can ship with confidence- thanks all!

[My_Tree_Grows]

Originally Posted by c&w's mama so, my DH keeps telling me I need to pay tarriffs and taxes because I am exporting/selling goods into Canada... they're used dipes, for goodness sakes! how hard can this be?! how do I figure that out? I have looked at the USPS site, I have the customs forms, I'm usually pretty good at figuring things out... what do you guys do to keep transactions on the level and not get things stuck in customs?

It's the Canadian recipient who pays the additional customers fees and taxes. We can get hit pretty hard, actually (if you've ever wondered how much Canadian mamas actually end up paying for an item from the US, in addition to the exchange rate ). If the seller lists the value on the forms as $20 or less for a purchase, or lists it as a gift up to $60, then the recipient won't be assessed additional fees when it gets here. The standard information on the packages I receive is "used diapers" with a value of $10.

Before anyone jumps on me about the legality of listing as a gift rather than a purchase, please consider 1. I'm simply giving information and you all have free will 2. I've never, ever, ever heard of customs cracking down on inaccurate paperwork on small used diaper shipments 3. Canadians are constantly expected to pay more for the exact same products as our American friends, then further exploited by outrageous Canada Post rates, and it all gets very tiresome indeed. Compare some of the prices and selection on Amazon.com vs. Amazon.ca, or Canadian vs. American BRU, if you have free time.