Shipping to Canada - which is cheaper?

[ChrisnSteph]

USPS or UPS? I'm having trouble using their sites so I'm curious if anyone here knows. It's for package that's weighs about 1.5 lbs. Thanks!

 

[Amberle3]

From a Canadian's perspective - use USPS. It'll probably take a little longer, but it's cheaper for the recipient. I've only once received a package by UPS that didn't require me to pay for handling and brokerage fees, and that was because the sender managed to pay for them. Twice now I've received gifts by UPS that cost me $30-$45 in UPS fees before I could take possession of them.

 

[Micheme]

Another vote for USPS, i've gotten tons of stuff from ebay from the US and I ALWAYS ask for it. I got burned with UPS on custom and brokerage fees, never again.

The person you send it too will be very thankful for it.

 

[maddiel]

USPS is much better than UPS if you are on the receiving end. Other couriers charge the excessive tax-collecting brokerage fees too, but UPS is the worst, IME.

 

[debm]

I don't know what it is like on the receiving end in Canada but I do know when I ship to Canada it is cheaper for me to use USPS. I can ship Priority Mail for similar costs as US Priority Mail. The only thing I've found is that it can sometimes take awhile--perhaps it gets held up in Customs?

 

[RC Fan]

I agree. UPS is a rip-off! I have had good luck with USPS though.

 

[Amberle3]

I don't know what it is like on the receiving end in Canada but I do know when I ship to Canada it is cheaper for me to use USPS. I can ship Priority Mail for similar costs as US Priority Mail. The only thing I've found is that it can sometimes take awhile--perhaps it gets held up in Customs?

It can take a while because Canada Post really and truly sucks. It's very bizarre really, because sometimes you'll get fantastic service, and other times not. Last month I mailed a letter to someone in my same city, and it took 9 days to get there!

 

[Seahunt]

We ship to Canada all the time at work, and always use USPS Global EMS - costs more than USPS Air Parcel Post BUT it's express service and offers online tracking (and includes up to $100 free insurance), and still has the benefits of USPS service on the Canadian end (less expensive customs charges compared to UPS). The online tracking (through USPS.com) is worth it's weight in gold to us - just being able to look and tell the customer exactly where the package is, as in "Hey, that shows it "Arrived in Canadian Customs" on such and such a date" is great!