Best way to ship an expensive item to Canada?

[Xellos2099]

Today on ebay I just sold an semi-expensive worth around 350 item and need to ship it to Canada. I charged 15 for shipping, what seems to be the best and safest way to ship it? USPS, fedex, ups? Since the buyer wanted a tracking number, i am leaning on ups and fedex. But how much would it be to ship it that way to Canada?

 

[Pepsi90919]

throw it across the border and pray

 

[jfall]

why not go to the shippers website and get a quote?

Either way, I'm betting that it's going to end up costing you more than the $15 you charged

 

[intogamer]

Can't help ya without the details, what item is it?

You can do USPS International Express Mail.

edit: Also USPS Priority Mail can do as well it. But USPS says it doesn't offer tracking. The customs has a barcode with a tracking number. USPS and Canadapost will scan it and you can check on the websites.

I believe they don't state tracking for Priority mail is because no all countries support it. But being in a developed country you can get it.

 

[shabby]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
throw it across the border and pray

Heh that might work.
Use usps, avoid fedex/ups at all costs.

 

[Dean]

My wife uses UPS and USPS only now after numerous troubles with Fedex and Purlator

Nothing gets caught up in customs as they always get the paperwork right. With any new suppliers, she makes sure they use UPS or USPS. Simply less hassles.

 

[Xellos2099]

Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

 

[Pepsi90919]

make sure the duty is COD

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

 

[BabaBooey]

USPS Global priority

 

[Xellos2099]

well, no way express mail is going going to fit in the 15 dollar shipping budget.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
well, no way express mail is going going to fit in the 15 dollar shipping budget.

just remember you gotta *cough cough* mark it as a gift and declare it low *cough cough*

 

[Xellos2099]

one of the problem of declare it low is that I need to put insurance at the same price. low custom = low amount of insurance, which I through is a bad combination for a high price item

 

[isekii]

Ship it International Priority Mail (AKA Air Mail).

I think it automatically comes with insurance too.. no tracking tho.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: isekii
Ship it International Priority Mail (AKA Air Mail).

I think it automatically comes with insurance too.. no tracking tho.

Expressmail comes with up to $100 insurance.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

GST is 6%...

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

GST is 6%...

I thought you guys paid more for recieveing packages? Or am I referring to a different Tax.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Paper
Pen
Calculator
Trebuchet
Knowledge of Trigonometry and Physics.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

GST is 6%...

I thought you guys paid more for recieveing packages? Or am I referring to a different Tax.

well it's usually GST and PST put together, which in Ontario comes to 14%

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

USPS is the way to go...it can be tracked only until it reaches Customs..when it enters into Canada, Canada Post does not follow the tracking means...UPS and FEDEX are horrific for overcharging duties etc into Canada

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

GST is 6%...

I thought you guys paid more for recieveing packages? Or am I referring to a different Tax.

well it's usually GST and PST put together, which in Ontario comes to 14%

So yeah the guy is screwed if Xellos2099 declares it at $500 or something

 

[tfcmasta97]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Why is that? is fedex ground to Canada really that bad? It is not that heavy, it is only a semi-heavy cell-phone. Anyway, let say I do usps first class international. I am able to semi - track it with the custom code? It is an iphone shipped to Canada.

yes it is a semi trackable. all custom forms have a barcode plus customs number. The expressmail has one built in. my airmail package from hong kong does not have any of these features.

Just do USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail. You can use your usps boxes. If you insure it at a high price you will have to declare it at that price.

Canadians have to pay 17% GST I believe.

GST is 6%...

I thought you guys paid more for recieveing packages? Or am I referring to a different Tax.

It's called "Bullshit" and we're charged it every time something comes over the border worth more than $18

 

[syee]

UPS, Fedex (and I'm guessing any other courier company) is going to charge you a "brokerage fee". which essentially is to cover the cost to do "paperwork" to import your time over. It's based off the value of your item to a certain extent. USPS for some way doesn't charge the brokerage fee, since I'm guessing because you fill in the customs declaration form when you mail it.

However, GST and PST will probably be applied to it (varies from province to province), and depending on the item it might be subject to duties (it depends on where the item is made).

The Gift under $25 is a good way to get around it. It's going to be tough to get a tracking number for the item through USPS. I think they can do DC for you, for a fee. If you live near a border town, have you considered driving over to Canada and mailing it instead? You'll be hard pressed to send the item with tracking for under $15.