Add Keywords
 

I just thought of this one. On the Customs form, there is a space where you can say what the classification should be. Those are listed on the Canada Customs website but you need a Law Degree to figure them out! Most people leave it blank and let Customs determine it. They do that by what you write in the description. When I am sending something across the border, I always add Keywords:

"Dog clothes - USED" or "Dog Clothes - CRAFTS"

Either of the above seems to get them classified into a Duty-free category.

I agree. If I am trying to sell something on eBay, I ask the Post Office to give me a quote for shipping it to Texas and Quebec. So often, it is cheaper to send it to Texas!! How silly is that! But, like I said earlier, I'd really like your 'Media Rate'.

Awesome post!
Thanks for educating people on how to ship to Canada!

I'm a huge internet shopper, since I can do it from work, lol.

I only have items shipped to me by USPS. If vendors don't ship USPS, I don't purchase. I HATE UPS with a passion.

I think I am going to have to go that route too!

I just got 'dinged' again! I ordered bullysticks. Because I knew I would have to pay shipping/customs charges, I ordered alot. My bill came to $66./$64. Cdn. The UPS charge was $14. to ship and $40. Brokerage and taxes!! After I picked myself up off the floor, I emailed UPS and asked for a breakdown. They sent the following, and a link to information on their website. I'm adding it all in here. Unbelievable!

It's definitely USPS for me from now on!!

With UPS, it's not only that they charge you an arm and a leg, they also have the worst customer service and they're incompetant.

A few years back, I had a shipment from UPS. I received that notice that they stick on the door because I wasn't home. So I left a cheque with the amount that I owe for their "brokerage, handling" and whatever bulls**t charges (about $27). The next day, UPS guy took the cheque and left the package. I thought all was well.

Months later, I receive a letter from UPS saying I owe $27, plus interest for a package I received and never paid. I called UPS, got the run around and spent HOURS trying to get to the bottom of it. Turns out UPS applied my cheque to the wrong account. While they were trying to locate what account they applied it to, I was getting letters from collections for $27!!! I called UPS and told them to stop the harassment, if I owed $27, I would pay the measly $27. The service rep on the phone said "yes, the letters will stop" but a few weeks later, I was getting phone calls from collections.

After months and months of me calling and complaining to leave me alone, UPS told me I had to contact my bank and get a copy of the cheque that I wrote them. So I did that, faxed it in and after about 8 months, it was finally settled.

After all this, you think I would get a letter of apology from UPS or SOMETHING. Nope, nada. UPS made a mistake, harasses me and doesn't even apologize.

So YES, I hate UPS!

Bringing a dog into Canada
 

As if all those taxes on goods were not enough.I just spoke to Canada Customs as I wanted to bring a dog in from Europe.Canadians are also taxed
Gst and Pst on the purchase price of a dog.For example if a Canadian living
in B.C purchased a dog at 3500 US and taking into consideration the currency conversation factor, it would cost and additional 445.51 in taxes.
Clearly just another tax grab!:rolleyes:

I sent some gently used dog clothes to a Canadian member yesterday and they madw me fill out a customs form. I put dog clothes on it and the postal lady said lets put used on it and value 5.00. It cost me about 4.oo to ship. I hope the receiver doesn't have any problems with it.

That package should get to them with no problem. Customs will not bother going through and charging taxes since it's marked as used and only $5 :thumbup:

I feel your pain. I'm a Torontonian living in LA currently. Online shopping became a lot less complicated when I moved here.

'Used' is one of those magic keywords that seems to slide things through the border easier. However, I find right now that things are taking much, much longer than usual! I am waiting on several items that have hit the 3 week mark!

I know! I'm a big time online shopper (cuz I can do it from work, lol) and everything is taking twice as long as it usually is, and the usual time is long enough. With the exchange rate and Christmas coming, I think things are now going to take a month to get here :eek: !

shipping to Canada
 

Well i always mark it as a gift and value it at under $20 even if it cost more than that. My customers in Canada told me to do this. I wasn't aware of all these fees that were behind it but I am sure it saved them lot of money by me doing that. Is it better if i do not mark the pack as a gift? I don't put my company name on the envelope on overseas items i just use my name.
Thanks for the info
Melinda
Sassy-Petwear

wow im sorry:( I shipped something to Canada before and everything went fine

As a Vendor, you just have to be careful. Canada Customs will randomly open packages and if they open yours and discover something worth a great deal more than you are saying it is worth or a commercial invoice inside, you can be fined.