shipping Q's

[mickeys_girl]

Can someone please tell me the cheapest way to send things back to Alberta? Can you also tell me if it makes a difference who the packages are for? Like, for eg., if I'm sending it as a X-mas gift to a friend, does it still count towards my $750 CAD that I can bring back? I'd heard something about being able to ship packages of about $50 as gifts, and not having to claim them, but am unsure if it is true. I plan on buying all my Christmas presents down there, but not if it is going to cost me an arm and a leg for shipping, then duty on top of that because with the packages I happened to go over my limit. I'm super confused about this, and would not like to get into trouble at customs. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[SnowWhite]

Why not email customs and ask them directly. They are the ones that will be able to give you the exact info you need. As for shipping, you may find it cheaper to ship from the US to alberta, than shipping from your place in alberta to another location in Alberta. Canada Post is very expensive to ship inside Canada. If you do email Canada Customs, keep a copy of their response to you somewhere safe just incase there are any problems. Just my 2 cents......

Rob (Snowwhite's DH)

 

[Amberle3]

Just remember that when you ship things across the border to Canada the recipient usually has to pay customs and handling fees. In some cases the customs fees are waived if it's a gift, other times not. Several times now I've received gifts and had to pay anywhere from $5 to $40 just to receive them.

Also keep in mind that when you cross the border with more than your $750 allowance, you receive a special (lower) duty rate on the first few hundred dollars of your overage. So for Alberta where there's no provincial tax you'd pay the 7% GST and the last I saw of the special rate it was 4%, for a total of 11% in fees paid only on the amount that you're over. So if you're over your limit by $200, then you should pay $22 in fees.

Unless your overage includes more liquor or tobacco products than your limit allows, then you're paying a lot more.

 

[disney funseeker]

Definitely do not get any Disneyworld stores to ship because it will cost you an arm and a leg.

My SIL ships gifts to us from North Carolina all the time from the post office. She marks them as gifts, lists the contents and it is always under $50. When they arrive here, they are never opened by customs and we never end up paying anything extra.

 

[SnowWhite]

There shouldn't be any duty if she has spent the appropriate amount of time in the US. That is why I am saying contact Canada Customs and you may need a document from them to prevent duty from being charged. I too have been charged duty on a couple of occassions.

Rob (Snowwhite's DH)

 

[Pokemom]

The cheapest way to ship is usually thru the Mail. Canada Post only charges $5 for a brokerage fee. Most of the courier companies charge $30 - 40 for a brokerage fee. The actual shipping cost is usually lower through the Mail also. Don't forget that you will be charged based on a volume weight, rather than actual weight in most cases. Use as small a box as possible. My sister sent a large metal wall hanging home to Alberta from Florida last Christmas and it took about a week. The cost through the Post Office was about half of what it would have been with UPS.

 

[dsneygirl]

When you come through customs and fill out your declaration card on the plane there is a box for "goods to follow" you would check "yes" and the officer will give you a separate form to fill out. However it's not like they communicate with Canada Post so you will probably be charged and then have to apply for a refund. Therefore mail it to yourself not the recipient.

Can you just pack an empty suitcase and pay the overage on the luggage? I think it woul be cheaper in the long run.