Shipping to Canada - need advice

J

Justin King

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Nov 8, 2009
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I have a customer in Canada who is a member of the Canadian military, who would like to purchase a knife from me. The catch is that he is deploying in just over a month. My experience tells me that there is about a 15-25% chance that the knife will be delayed in customs and he may not recieve it before he ships out. Does anyone know of a way to insure that the knife is not held up in customs?
Alternately, can anyone give me some info about shipping items to deployed Canadian military personell? In case it works out that I can send it to him after he deploys? I do this regularly for U.S. troops but have no idea how to go about sending to Canadian troops in forward areas. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
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The only way is through a courier service ups, purolator and so on but be sure the customer is willing to pay the fees.

Bob
 
What Bob said. Canada Post charges 10% for delivery, 90% for storage. Send it to a home address so it can be forwarded overseas if Canada Customs screws up.
 
No reliable way with Canada Post... I placed an order last Thursday and its being delivered today (fast). I have also placed orders that have taken 2-3 weeks in customs alone..

Carriers like FED-EX/UPS have guaranteed times but will charge arm and a leg for brokerages fees...
 
I appreciate the replies. Any tips on the item description on the customs form? I don't want to be misleading but also don't want to attract undue attention.
 
I'm shipping one tomorrow . Labeled fishing/hunting supplies . It is not untruthful , it is a bird & trout knife .
 
If you ship it to a home address in Canada, the family can then go to a family resource center and have it shipped to his post or station for free. It will travel by military mail and will (usually) not be checked. As for sending from the US to Canada, just ship it normal and there shouldnt be a problem, label it a knife or hunting supplies and no worries. The problem with Fed ex is that you pay a fee to ship and then the customer also pays a fee for "forwarding" and possibly customs fees and taxes.
 
"Tasker Field Tool", I called it. We'll see. Does anyone just put "knife" or "cutlery" on the form? I usually write "utility knife in sheath" when filling out the customs forms for AFO/APO addresses and I have never had a problem or a delay, but evidently this is a whole different ball game.
 
I have received knives from the USA. USP will really screw that up if at all possible.
I have everything sent USPS mail service. You must make sure to fill out and attatch the declaration slip. Declare the knife as cutlery with a value worth of between $50 --$100. Ship by your own name not some company or operating name and do not place a bill or invoice inside the package. I'll bet you will have it go through smooth and with no stopping in customs. By the way I get literally dozens of packages from the USA and almost none have duty charges on them when done THIS way. Frank
 
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