Do You Ship USA >>> Canada?

redsquid2

redsquid2

Rockabilly Interim Pardon Viscount
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Aug 31, 2011
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I went more than a year without shipping anything to Canada. So when I showed up at the post office a few days ago, and I looked at the price for International Priority (or whatever they call it), it was +-$35.00. I went with the regular parcel rate of about $15. That was one thing. Now they ask for a phone number on the customs form. Then there is a listing of what is in your package, and I think, "If I list 'knife,' some bureaucrat along the road is going to have an aneurysm."

I guess I will continue to write the words "camping tools" for a description, assuming I continue to ship to Canada. If the postal worker at the counter asks me for more specifics, I can tap into my imagination. I have seen how some people when they hear the word "knife," they have some kind of primal reaction, like assuming I am a killer because I have a knife, or just because I make knives. So I guess I have said enough.

It boils down to my question: is it still worth shipping to Canada? With the regular parcel rate (about $15 in this case)?
 
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I ship to the USA from Canada all of the time. Yes shipping is more expensive, but if you pass that on to the buyer then you're not out any money.

I usually specify what kind of knife it is. Kitchen knife, camping knife :) etc. I've never had any problems.

There are certain types of knives that aren't allowed in Canada, but in general most knives are allowed up here.
 
You could put "silverware" or "kitchen utensil". Although, I don't think the USPS or customs cares one bit if you ship a knife.
 
Autos and gravity knives such as balisongs are illegal to make or here. A title like "knife" certainly might encourage the opening of the package. Yes, it's necessary to pass the cost along to the buyer. Almost all the supplies I buy in the USA which are most of what I use come in Inter. Priority because that's the way it's done.
Frank
 
redsquid2 said:
I went more than a year without shipping anything to Canada. So when I showed up at the post office a few days ago, and I looked at the price for International Priority (or whatever they call it), it was +-$35.00. I went with the regular parcel rate of about $15. That was one thing. Now they ask for a phone number on the customs form. Then there is a listing of what is in your package, and I think, "If I list 'knife,' some bureaucrat along the road is going to have an aneurysm."

I guess I will continue to write the words "camping tools" for a description, assuming I continue to ship to Canada. If the postal worker at the counter asks me for more specifics, I can tap into my imagination. I have seen how some people when they hear the word "knife," they have some kind of primal reaction, like assuming I am a killer because I have a knife, or just because I make knives. So I guess I have said enough.

It boils down to my question: is it still worth shipping to Canada? With the regular parcel rate (about $15 in this case)?
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Isn't flat rate packaging still available ?
It goes to Canada, but with weight limits


It is not prohibited to ship a knife
They ask on thoose forms to keep track of the $ that gets shipped in and out of the country by category then the economist and politicians use it to do whatever they do.

Go to the US ost office website and read the regulations
Read about the Harmonization code
Once you come in with the code number in the form, it moves through the system faster because no one has to look up the code
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...or-shipping-to-Canada?p=12682288#post12682288

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ription-to-ship-a-knife-from-Canada-to-the-US
 
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'Cutlery' is a good one. The flat-rate priority envelopes (regular and legal size) are about $24 to Canada - weight limit is 4 pounds.
 
Danke42 said:
The description is more for tax and duty than catching prohibited items.
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This part is true. Thing is, you just don't know what is going to happen when you receive or ship across the border. I had one package hang up for 4 weeks at the border...no clue why. Also the delivery companies like Fedex will charge the receiver brokerage fees that can be up to half the value of the item which is stupid. USPS has way more reasonable brokerage fees.

I live close to the Sumas border so I have my stuff shipped to Ship Happens which is a receiving place that I pay $3 when I pick up my parcel. I save on shipping costs, no brokerage fees, and I bring my stuff across the border in person. Seldom a hassle then and they often don't even charge me taxes. Although I got checked out a bit closer when I told them the knife making supplies I had were for knife making with my students. The agent picked out a bowie blank I had for one of my students and asked me to name one elementary school in Canada that would allow a child to have a knife like that! I had to sit for 15 minutes while he checked out our school on line and decide maybe an outdoor environmental school would make an exception.

Randy
 
I ship USPS first class international package. Can be up to 13oz, I think i pay about $7 to Canada for 4oz The first few ounces are the majority of the cost price doesnt go up proportionately
 
Perhaps I should mention sometimes the packages are X-rayed. I like to stay upfront on whats in the package.
Frank
 
And don't ship UPS or Fedex, right? Those get a customs brokerage charge to the customer. Could one of you Canadians explain this?
 
Atlas Knife Company said:
And don't ship UPS or Fedex, right? Those get a customs brokerage charge to the customer. Could one of you Canadians explain this?
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Ugh, I had to pay ups $40 in "brokerage" fees to UPS just for sandpaper!

They charge the buyer for brokerage fees, because they fill out the customs paperwork. Such a ripoff. There are no extra fees when you guys ship with USPS, even though the upfront cost is a little more.
 
I've shipped hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of knives to Canada in the past year. I use camping tool in the description, but I've also used knife in the description too. Didn't seem to make much difference.
 
Atlas Knife Company said:
And don't ship UPS or Fedex, right? Those get a customs brokerage charge to the customer. Could one of you Canadians explain this?
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It's a bit of a scam. They levy an extra fee on all shipments for "brokerage" there was a class action over it with UPS but they slithered out of it. Most of these little shipments from a NAFTA country don't need any special treatment. If you're sending 100 knives to a retail store that would be a different case.

It was just a cash cow to them. If you ship via USPS it will normally cross without issue. High value stuff will still get dinged for tax and duty though. Around $400 seems to be where they want the vig.
 
Shipping in Canada even by mail is expensive simply because the the population is so small and the are of service is huge. The population in all of Canada is about the same as in California.
Frank
 
Atlas Knife Company said:
And don't ship UPS or Fedex, right? Those get a customs brokerage charge to the customer. Could one of you Canadians explain this?
Click to expand...

When shipping by mail, we pay seven $ for the post office to Brokerage the paperwork for boarder crossing

When shipping by UPS FedEx, DHL whoever they have their own brokerage division and hose you for fifty-ish dollars. 'Then we pay sales tax on top of the value of the item including on all those fees.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_broking
 
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