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Topic: No Shipping To Canada? |
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:09 am |
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I've noticed lately a lot of ads with "USA only" attached to them. I can understand not wanting to ship overseas, etc. But shipping to Canada through USPS (especially for smaller items) is not much different than domestic US shipping. Even the difference in price is miniscule. I know it's up to the seller what they want to do, but I would like to know what makes shipping to Canada so difficult for some sellers in the USA.
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:21 am
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There are forms to fill out and such that some folks don't want to do. Also there are fees tacked on by the gov. in Canada that in some cases are pretty stiff!! Some buyers in Canada ask sellers in the USA to lie on the paperwork and say that the item is a gift or that a $2000 guitar is only valued at $73 in order to avoid those fees.
I think a lot of folks just want to avoid any hassle. I personally just box the stuff up, get paid via Paypal and send it off and let the buyer deal with the tarriffs and fees. |
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Al Szwarc
From:
Metuchen, New Jersey, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 9:38 am
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| There is often a delay in the transit. And it occurs in both directions. The biggest problem is just not knowing what the delay is and when delivery will take place. I send insured and people get upset when delivery takes longer than a week and they want me to begin tracking a package. Then they tell me they will never buy from me again. I'm not sitting on it; its sent. I would prefer not to ship to canada simply to avoid the indignance. What happened to all that polite canadians are supposed to have. al |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 9:38 am
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I was under the impression that NAFTA did away with all tariffs between the US and Canada by 1998. Not true?
Are there any fees, besides shipping, when transferring goods between the US and Canada? Edited to add - does the direction matter?[This message was edited by Dave Mudgett on 15 June 2006 at 10:39 AM.] |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 9:43 am
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| Yeah - the delay issue is real. Fedex Ground just gave an 11-day estimate for shipping from Canada to US. One clearly must be willing to be patient. But I was told that extra tariffs and fees were a thing of the past. |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 10:45 am
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| Quote: |
| Are there any fees, besides shipping, when transferring goods between the US and Canada? Edited to add - does the direction matter? |
There shouldn't be duty charged on anything if it's made in the U.S., but depending on the carrier, they may charge brokerage to clear the item into the country, for instance UPS' brokerage fees: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/receiving/customs/fees.html and of course any applicalble state, provincial or federal sales taxes.
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“I always knew that there was something out there that I needed to get to.
And it wasn't where I was at that particular moment."
-Bob Dylan
[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 15 June 2006 at 11:46 AM.] |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 11:00 am
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Al,
We have a reputation for being polite? Wow, that's nice to know.  |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 11:01 am
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I can certainly relate to this. I've done a LOT of buying and some selling across the border. What it seems to boil down to is how much any company or individual wants your business. American companies like 'L.L.Bean', 'Land's End' and 'Cabelas' do a HUGE mail order business with Canada and they make shopping with them an easy experience... they want you to come back obviously. I order from L.L.Bean a few times a year and they're super organized...they calculate customs charges and remit them on your behalf so everything is on one single invoice charged to your credit card. They must also have found a way to expedite getting their shipments through customs because an online order from them usually arrives in 4 business days by USPS. I've had less success with musical gear vendors...'Elderly' isn't bad, but slow to process orders. They DO go after Canadian sales though. The companies who refuse to ship to Canada just flat out aren't interested enough in your business to find solutions to shipping and processing challenges. The most common excuse seem to be " I have no time to go to the post office or fill in the forms". These folks have their money made....they just don't care. I've had really good luck with individuals either from the SGF or eBay...whatever. Most of the time people have had no objection to shipping by my preferred method (USPS) or to filling in a form. (even for an item of low value)
As for free trade, this is how I understand it: For items 'manufactured' in the U.S. or Canada there are no 'customs' or 'duty' levied on cross border transactions. However, we Canadians must pay the appropriate GST and PST (federal and provincial sales taxes) on the item as well as a 'handling' fee. Also the courrier companies add on a 'brokerage' fee to process the item across the border and that can be a big charge. I think I paid UPS about $80Cdn brokerage for my used steel. It varies from one courrier to another. That's the main reason why I always try and have purchases sent by USPS...it's way cheaper.
Edited to add:
Oops! Sorry Greg, you had the brokerage stuff covered. We were typing at the same time I guess.
[This message was edited by Bill Miller on 15 June 2006 at 12:04 PM.] |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 11:03 am
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| * [This message was edited by Bill Miller on 15 June 2006 at 12:03 PM.] |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 11:10 am
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| Yes, Bill, I must add as well that I've had great experiences with many on the forum who were willing to ship to Canada no problem. Actually, the nicest people I've ever met have been on this forum. I was only referring to recent posts I've seen that specify USA only. I was curious about possible scenarios that discouraged them or reasons they avoid it. Al stated a good point, and that kind of correspondence would be discouraging. I've asked for tracking numbers on pedal steels only. I've just been patient with the rest. It's important to point out to the buyer that it may take up to two weeks, and that properly tracking a parcel costs extra money. I recently sent a few thing to the US, and informed the buyers/receivers that they may have to wait two weeks regular mail. When I order something from the US, I usually tack on some extra money to get it to me faster. Everyone's been more than accomodating. [This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 15 June 2006 at 12:11 PM.] |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 11:50 am
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One of the reasons is to discourage the "farming" of forum addresses and the scam e-mails from Nigeria (or wherever) about wanting to buy what is listed but they want to send you a check for $3000 more than the items so you can cash it for them......
It's not that most do not or won't sell to Canada. |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 12:56 pm
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Personally, I'm about ready to quit shipping to anywhere but the 48 states. Foreign stuff always requires me to fill out forms. Then the packages get lost. Then the customer files a claim with PayPal, then I get a chargeback - even though I have proof of shipment. The the package shows up or comes back to me or just vanishes alltogehter. It's getting to be a real pain in the donkey.
In March, I sent two packages on the same day - one to Austia and one to Austrailia. The postal worker mixed up the customs forms on the two packages - sending them to different countries. Of course neither customer got their package but both were quick to harrass me about where the items where that they had paid for. All I could give them was the customs number that showed both packages had left the US. Both payments were refunded by PayPal, both packages vanished. Well, the one going to Austrailia did come back to me a couple of days ago. Now I get to try to ship it again.
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Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10
www.16tracks.com
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James Brown
From:
Mt Uniacke, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 4:34 pm
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| So much for free trade!!! |
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Don Discher
From:
Sault Ste Marie,Ontario,Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 3:30 am
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| I'm fortunate to live on the border and I travel into Michigan 3 days a week.If you live within 2 or 3 hours of the border you're better off having large items shipped to a U.S. postal outlet and picking it up there and all you pay is the 15 % taxes.The brokerage fees are sometimes as much as the item and takes alot longer to receive. |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 4:53 am
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| My last Canada shipment- and my LAST canada shipment- took over 3 weeks and involved threats from the buyer towards me, right before the item finally arrived. If they can't get it together on delivery times I can't send stuff there. It is unreasonable to have such delays but they occur with alarming frequency. A friend in Toronto wanted to buy a tele copy from me last year and it took over 6 weeks to deliver. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 7:00 am
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I think this thread has backfired on me..........now no one will ship to Canada! 
Seriously, folks.........no USA shipper has had a problem with me as a buyer. Patience and knowledge of the postal system helps. USPS is the best way to ship bwtween borders. UPS and Fedex gouge with their brokerage fees, which USPS doesn't charge. The form everybody is talking about takes 10 seconds to fill out: contents and worth. Ask the postal clerk the maximum time it will take, and then inform the buyer. If they cause you trouble, it's their personality - not the international deal itself.
I can relate with overseas orders, though. There's a lot that can go wrong or get misunderstood. I once shipped a pedal to England and had the buyer ask for his money back when it didn't arrive after three weeks. I asked him before the sale if he wanted to pay extra for faster shipping. He declined, so it went on a boat for two weeks and slowly made its way through the system. He got it in a month.
As a buyer, I usually will add money to the shipping and ask the seller to purchase a 3-5 or 5-7 day delivery or whatever the extra will buy me. If they're on paypal, I can make up the difference instantly if it goes over my added amount. It's all about relationships. |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 8:23 am
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| We Canadians have to fill out a form to ship to the U.S. too, and as Chris says, it's not any big deal. One other thing, and I mean no disrespect to anyone, but it is important to get the shipping address and form particulars letter perfect. Whether you're doing the paperwork yourself or having someone at the post office do it, make sure to eliminate errors before the package gets swallowed up by the system. I say this because I've seen what havoc can result from a simple spelling mistake or wrong postal code digit. When shipments get held up in Customs or in sorting facilities it's usually because something about the labeling has confused the electronic scanners and it gets shunted aside for someone to process by hand...eventually. I'm referring to postal system...the courriers usually find a way to screw it up no matter what you do. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 10:00 am
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I ship stuff all over and its never been particularly worse outside of the U.S. As a matter of personal experience the European and Canadian postal services seem to be quite a bit better than ours.
------------------
Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website
[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 16 June 2006 at 11:01 AM.] |
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Al Szwarc
From:
Metuchen, New Jersey, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 11:03 am
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| Hey Chris: Yes you do have a rep for being very polite you lovable bugger. One more thing; a lot of my sales are through eBay and there is a winner from Canada that beat out a guy from Pennsylvania by a buck or two. If I ship to Pennsylvania he will have it in three days and be a happy satisfied customer that will give me glowing feedback. That's just a better situation for me as a seller. |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 12:10 pm
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NON-DISCRIMINATING SELLER ONBOARD: Canadian neighbors & Forumites, I've got a Zumsteel D-10 for sale in this FOR SALE: INSTRUMENTS section which I will gladly ship to Canada. Using the funds to buy a Canadian made Fulawka. Show me the money!  steve t[This message was edited by steve takacs on 16 June 2006 at 01:12 PM.] |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 12:39 pm
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| Al, I got strings from Bobby Lee in three days USPS air mail and a pickup from Bill Lawrence in, I think, six days...also by USPS and also from California. (3000 mile trip) I was more than satisfied! I think people exaggerate the problems they have shipping from the U.S. to Canada. Delays can happen...they've happened to me, but as long as I've avoided UPS or FedEx things have mostly been great. Like I said, business must be pretty good for companies than can afford to blow off sales opportunities due to an occasional frustrating experience. |
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A. Roncetti
From:
Toronto,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 12:51 pm
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| I've had mixed results with sending and receiving.Most of my transactions have been great. Regardless of the destination, if it's outside the country there are always forms to fill out. No big deal really. I have found it really depends on the value of the item.I bought a steel off Bobbe Seymour and had no trouble at all.But that's just my personal experience. I say if the item is insured for the correct amount then then everything should end up in the right place even if there are delays in the shipment process.Incase it gets lost or damaged make sure it's covered before it leaves the seller. My 2¢ |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 1:45 pm
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The USPS where I live is a joke, with 45 minute lines and almost no parking - so I do everything by UPS. They have a surcharge on Canadian shipping that nobody likes to pay, so I had to eliminate Canada from my bid listings.
If the USPS would let us print postage on line and drop packages in a box at the post office, I'd be more than happy to do it - but we HAVE to physically hand the package to a USPS agent, and it's just not worth the hassle. UPS makes it easy but expensive; USPS is cheap but a royal pain in the rear. It's a drag. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 5:12 pm
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Chris,
There are not SUPPOSE to be any tarriff's or any extra payoffs to custom's or anything else if a product is being shipped to a manufacturer in Canada for any kind of update work or warrantee work .....You could have fooled me !!....I had a Fulawka pedal steel that needed updateing under warranty for a guy who just bought it from me ......I had Fed Ex fill out all the paper work , and Fed Ex sent the steel to Ed Fulawka in Canada ....Canadian Custom's LOST an 85 lb pedal steel, it went back and forth for a while from the USA to Canada , then nobody could find it , and all because there was no money attached to it , and no brokers were handling it , so Canadian customs just sent it back because they couldn't make any money from it ....It took so many phone calls to Canadian customs to get this straightened out , and the pedal steel FINALLY got to Ed Fulawka almost 2 MONTHS LATER !!...... and you want to know why us folks from the USA don't want to deal with sending items to Canada ??.... Free trade my _ _ _ !!.....
I don't care how much I am offered for an instrument , I will NOT send it off to Canada .....It's just not worth the aggrivation .... It's a shame that you Canadian's have to deal with this situation.... I really feel for you ..... I have friends in Jamaica that go thru the same ordeal !!..... Greed on the part of the government .....Shame .......Sincerely, Jim |
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... so I ended up waiting 4 weeks for a $150 item with a $90 bill from UPS for taxes and brokerage 