Canadians read this before mail ordering from USA

[Kent]

I've been buying stuff mail order from the USA from years, all sorts of stuff. But today I ran into a nasty snag. I had some DCC hardware shipped express mail back on March or April. Some strange deal the US Post office now has instead of the express mail switching to Canada Post at the border as it did in the past and Canada Post collecting the duty, the US Post Office now turns express mail over to Purolator Courier! Not the I have anything against Purolator, but the custom taxes are now collected by a private company called PBB.

So 4 months or so later this PBB mails be an invoice for $21 duty and broker fees, I didn't respond for a few days until I could figure out/remember what it was for. So I mailed a check. A almost two weeks later I get a letter from PBB threatening me that if I did pay they'd send a collection agency after me and make back reports to the credit bureau to wreck my credit rating.

I confirmed with the back that they have in fact cashed the check. And called them, got voice mail, jerks like that love to hide behind voice mail, and left and somewhat hostile message, and told them to call me back if they had the nerve to.

ok, the end point I want to make is if you want to buy from the US and get fast shipping, have it sent UPS, or FedEx. But stay away from the US Postal Service and Purolator. From my past experience with UPS and Fedex that handle duty themselves. NOTE: the does not effect mail sent by "regular" US Postal Mail, just fast/express service like Global Mail Express.

I've posted this on the train forums I'm active on, if you see other places this info may save somebody problems, feel free to repost it or link to it.

[Kent]

I've been buying stuff mail order from the USA from years, all sorts of stuff. But today I ran into a nasty snag. I had some DCC hardware shipped express mail back on March or April. Some strange deal the US Post office now has instead of the express mail switching to Canada Post at the border as it did in the past and Canada Post collecting the duty, the US Post Office now turns express mail over to Purolator Courier! Not the I have anything against Purolator, but the custom taxes are now collected by a private company called PBB.

So 4 months or so later this PBB mails be an invoice for $21 duty and broker fees, I didn't respond for a few days until I could figure out/remember what it was for. So I mailed a check. A almost two weeks later I get a letter from PBB threatening me that if I did pay they'd send a collection agency after me and make back reports to the credit bureau to wreck my credit rating.

I confirmed with the back that they have in fact cashed the check. And called them, got voice mail, jerks like that love to hide behind voice mail, and left and somewhat hostile message, and told them to call me back if they had the nerve to.

ok, the end point I want to make is if you want to buy from the US and get fast shipping, have it sent UPS, or FedEx. But stay away from the US Postal Service and Purolator. From my past experience with UPS and Fedex that handle duty themselves. NOTE: the does not effect mail sent by "regular" US Postal Mail, just fast/express service like Global Mail Express.

I've posted this on the train forums I'm active on, if you see other places this info may save somebody problems, feel free to repost it or link to it.

[Anonymous]

A little research shows that the reason the US post turns over the Global Priority Mail to Purolator in Canada is that the USPS guarantees a delivery by date and the Canadian Post was not delivering the packages in a timely manner. This caused Canadians receptients to complain and want shipping refunds from the Untied States Post Service. So the USPS had to outsource the service. Actually, I don't understand how you got the package before you paid the duties, but??? Anyway, don't blame the USPS for a problem that was created on your end. And BTW, our company refuses to ship products to Canadian addresses due to the problems you had and the fact that the buyer always blames our company and United States shipping services rather than the Canadian Post service and Canadian Tarrifs for slow service and delays. It also seems that most Canadians blame American Companies for the tarrifs charged. I don't know how many time I've been asked in the past by Canadians to lie about value on Customs Declarations so they can beat the tarrifs WE charge.

[Anonymous]

A little research shows that the reason the US post turns over the Global Priority Mail to Purolator in Canada is that the USPS guarantees a delivery by date and the Canadian Post was not delivering the packages in a timely manner. This caused Canadians receptients to complain and want shipping refunds from the Untied States Post Service. So the USPS had to outsource the service. Actually, I don't understand how you got the package before you paid the duties, but??? Anyway, don't blame the USPS for a problem that was created on your end. And BTW, our company refuses to ship products to Canadian addresses due to the problems you had and the fact that the buyer always blames our company and United States shipping services rather than the Canadian Post service and Canadian Tarrifs for slow service and delays. It also seems that most Canadians blame American Companies for the tarrifs charged. I don't know how many time I've been asked in the past by Canadians to lie about value on Customs Declarations so they can beat the tarrifs WE charge.

[Anonymous]

I've gotta admit, that Canada Post absoluely sucks at all aspects of what they do. From delivering mail to customer "service". It has to be THE most pathetic industry in Canada.
Thanks for the heads up, though. I'll keep it in mind.
Tim

[Anonymous]

I've gotta admit, that Canada Post absoluely sucks at all aspects of what they do. From delivering mail to customer "service". It has to be THE most pathetic industry in Canada.
Thanks for the heads up, though. I'll keep it in mind.
Tim

[jsanchez]

If you ship US air parcel post or letter post. It should still be the same. It usually takes my packages about 7 to 10 days to reach their Canadian destination.

[jsanchez]

If you ship US air parcel post or letter post. It should still be the same. It usually takes my packages about 7 to 10 days to reach their Canadian destination.

[Kent]

I'm not trying to blame the UP Post Office, just poining a a problem that can really screw up your day. I'll just be more selective on shippers for now on.

[Kent]

I'm not trying to blame the UP Post Office, just poining a a problem that can really screw up your day. I'll just be more selective on shippers for now on.

[CP5415]

I haven't had any problems with Canada Post. All the items I have sold & then delivered through Canada Post's Express Service arrived within their delivery schedule.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[CP5415]

I haven't had any problems with Canada Post. All the items I have sold & then delivered through Canada Post's Express Service arrived within their delivery schedule.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[der5997]

My 2 cents (Cdn$ [:)] would be that if you do mail order out of the US, don't expect fast service, take it as a pleasant surprise. That's because of the things mentioned so far in this thread. Also, research the actual final price you will pay . Compare that to the LHS price (even with your travel cost to the LHS factored in [mine is the gas for a 3hr round trip]) If the savings are there and are real, go for it. But, in my experience, the hassle isn't often worth it.

[der5997]

My 2 cents (Cdn$ [:)] would be that if you do mail order out of the US, don't expect fast service, take it as a pleasant surprise. That's because of the things mentioned so far in this thread. Also, research the actual final price you will pay . Compare that to the LHS price (even with your travel cost to the LHS factored in [mine is the gas for a 3hr round trip]) If the savings are there and are real, go for it. But, in my experience, the hassle isn't often worth it.

[Anonymous]

Folks, Canada Post OWNS Purolator Courier outright, and has for many years.
It's Canada Post who specifies who USPS gives the shipment to.
Think about why.
Either use regular mail, which is cheapest, or UPS, which is quite a bit more.
Fedex is a lot more.
regards
Mike.

[Anonymous]

Folks, Canada Post OWNS Purolator Courier outright, and has for many years.
It's Canada Post who specifies who USPS gives the shipment to.
Think about why.
Either use regular mail, which is cheapest, or UPS, which is quite a bit more.
Fedex is a lot more.
regards
Mike.

[Anonymous]

Actually the USPS has been shipping overseas and that means to Canada also by the ALICE P FERGUSON AIRLINE AND STORMDOOR CO[:D][:D]for years. The airline uses the most update equipment too. They have the cleanest Ford Trimotors in the industry...very dependable...even if they are just a tad slower than a DC3. Their best service only takes a month to travel from Detroit to the Canadian border, so cheer up, someone has to pay for all that AV GAS. These planes don't fly on the GREAT AMERICAN MEAL, BEANS[:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Actually the USPS has been shipping overseas and that means to Canada also by the ALICE P FERGUSON AIRLINE AND STORMDOOR CO[:D][:D]for years. The airline uses the most update equipment too. They have the cleanest Ford Trimotors in the industry...very dependable...even if they are just a tad slower than a DC3. Their best service only takes a month to travel from Detroit to the Canadian border, so cheer up, someone has to pay for all that AV GAS. These planes don't fly on the GREAT AMERICAN MEAL, BEANS[:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Well, all mail is slow if it doesn't use rail, so dont complain.

If it was slow and it was rail shipped, then start pointing fingers.

[Anonymous]

Well, all mail is slow if it doesn't use rail, so dont complain.

If it was slow and it was rail shipped, then start pointing fingers.

[Anonymous]

Whatever service you use, I'd suggest NOT using UPS into Canada. Yes, they do their own customs brokerage, BUT they charge you plenty for this service!

I bought an inexpensive lens a while ago on eBay, added $10.00 for "Parcel Post" shipping. A short while later a local delivery agent (we don't have UPS delivery in my area, so they farm it out to local contractors) came to my door with the package and an invoice for $54.00! No way I said, return it to the sender as I've already paid the postage.

I emailed the seller telling him this, and when he got it back he did send it by US Mail Parcel Post. The result - no charges whatsoever! I "saved" myself the $54.00 (the lens was only US $65.00). I later found out UPS charges $30.00 or so for their customs brokerage, and added on HST tax and goodness knows what else to arrive at their figure. I'm told the more expensive UPS Air Service doesn't do this, but I've never tried it.

I also won Model Railroader's Model of the Month in August 1999. They had the page laminated onto a nice wood plaque, and sent it along with my payment to me via UPS. I had to pay the $55.00 brokerage fee as I knew the package would probably include the check from MR. I sent off a note to MR. who refunded me the UPS fee. Never again would I choose UPS!

Bob Boudreau
Canada

[Anonymous]

Whatever service you use, I'd suggest NOT using UPS into Canada. Yes, they do their own customs brokerage, BUT they charge you plenty for this service!

I bought an inexpensive lens a while ago on eBay, added $10.00 for "Parcel Post" shipping. A short while later a local delivery agent (we don't have UPS delivery in my area, so they farm it out to local contractors) came to my door with the package and an invoice for $54.00! No way I said, return it to the sender as I've already paid the postage.

I emailed the seller telling him this, and when he got it back he did send it by US Mail Parcel Post. The result - no charges whatsoever! I "saved" myself the $54.00 (the lens was only US $65.00). I later found out UPS charges $30.00 or so for their customs brokerage, and added on HST tax and goodness knows what else to arrive at their figure. I'm told the more expensive UPS Air Service doesn't do this, but I've never tried it.

I also won Model Railroader's Model of the Month in August 1999. They had the page laminated onto a nice wood plaque, and sent it along with my payment to me via UPS. I had to pay the $55.00 brokerage fee as I knew the package would probably include the check from MR. I sent off a note to MR. who refunded me the UPS fee. Never again would I choose UPS!

Bob Boudreau
Canada

[Anonymous]

id just like to say canada post is fully to blame they are the most eneffcient unproductive company on the planet every time i have ordered anything from the states canada post has managed to *oops, paint spill* it up in one way or another

[Anonymous]

id just like to say canada post is fully to blame they are the most eneffcient unproductive company on the planet every time i have ordered anything from the states canada post has managed to *oops, paint spill* it up in one way or another

[Anonymous]

We ship to Canada using USPS Airmail Service. You are right to expect whopping duties through UPS. Many of the mail order businesses use Global Express because the recipient is required to sign for the goods when they arrive. This may help in winning credit card disputes when a customer tries to say they never received their merchandise.

Many times using Global Express can cause the mail order firm problems when the recipient is not available and the courier returns the goods back to sender. Now you have an angry customer and the goods have to be reshipped all over again.

I would just let good old airmail do their thing. It might take a day or two longer but in the long run your get your package and we'll keep a happy customer. The other advantage is that Canadian Post sometimes doesn't even bother to collect duties on lower value packages...so we have been told.

Dale

[Anonymous]

We ship to Canada using USPS Airmail Service. You are right to expect whopping duties through UPS. Many of the mail order businesses use Global Express because the recipient is required to sign for the goods when they arrive. This may help in winning credit card disputes when a customer tries to say they never received their merchandise.

Many times using Global Express can cause the mail order firm problems when the recipient is not available and the courier returns the goods back to sender. Now you have an angry customer and the goods have to be reshipped all over again.

I would just let good old airmail do their thing. It might take a day or two longer but in the long run your get your package and we'll keep a happy customer. The other advantage is that Canadian Post sometimes doesn't even bother to collect duties on lower value packages...so we have been told.

Dale

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by internethobbiesThe other advantage is that Canadian Post sometimes doesn't even bother to collect duties on lower value packages...so we have been told.

Shhhhhhhhh! Don't let that get around!

[:o)]

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by internethobbiesThe other advantage is that Canadian Post sometimes doesn't even bother to collect duties on lower value packages...so we have been told.

Shhhhhhhhh! Don't let that get around!

[:o)]

[Bikerdad]

Wasn't NAFTA supposed to eliminate crap like this?

[Bikerdad]

Wasn't NAFTA supposed to eliminate crap like this?