Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

[Harmon C.]

I have some Corvette parts to ship to a friend in Canada and need to know the best way. They are not very heavy maybe 10 pounds.I have read storys on here about how parts dealers cost restorers in Canada lots of money and want to avoid this if I can.

Lyle

[Terry D.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Lyle
I've used both UPS ans FedEx without any problems. FedEx is usually cheaper.
Terry

[Larry M.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

I was told by a Canadian that USPS shipments from the US to Canada are much more economical than UPS. In fact, the issue arose over an ebay item I was selling, and he specifically requested USPS for that reason.

[Eric J.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Over the years I have shipped lots of parts to Canada. Use the post office. If it is over 4 lbs. You will need to fill out the long declaration form. Make sure you declare it correctly (i.e. gift...) and label it as "used Auto Parts" This way the tariff on the other end will be the lowest. (I was told there is no tariff on used auto parts, not sure if that is true, but I always labeled my ebay stuff that way without any complaints) If the part is worth a lot it is probably a good thing to get insurance, because the declared value has to be visible on the outside of the box (on the form). UPS is much more thorough on collecting tariffs I have been told. In fact my customers told me to avoid them at all costs... Eric #3,182

[Robert Willis]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

I have had good luck with USPS , but I think the insurance is only good while it is in the US. Once the parcel is transfered to Canada Post you can't track it etc. I have never been stung with lost parts but it is something to keep in the back of your mind. A cheap gift is tax free unlike buying a part from a bussiness.

[Warren L.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Have brought lots of tooling and some tools from the states to North of Toronto never had anything damaged or lost. Only problems ever were with UPS so I avoid them always.

********s told a guy shipping me the stuff had to be on two forms and so there were two custom broker charges. Waste of time to sit on the phone to try and resolve.

For some reason if the stuff is under 300.00 canadian I never got charged anything other than GST or if there was it was a 5.00 charge.

I never ship the fastest way I think USPS has about five choices usually used the middle one.

Warren

[Wayne M.]

US Postal Service -- by far the best way

Lyle, as the others have said, it's the best; for up to 90% of my eBay purchases I beg the U.S. seller to use them; the rest insist on their UPS or FedEx and I get dinged.

Go to their site http://ircalc.usps.gov

and enter "Canada" and "weight". You get a menu of about 15 ways to ship and the cost of each. Usually, for items up to about 2 lb, airmail lettter is as cheap as surface/economy. Over 4 lbs Airmail Parcel post is the same price as economy at 4 lbs, then gradually gets more expensive as the weight rises (eg. about $16.75 for 4 lbs; $22.25 for 10 lbs (vs.$18.25 for economy). They claim 4 to 6 weeks for economy, but I've gotten parcels 10 days max by this method. There's also size and weight limitations in there via USPS, but they're not onerous.

The others (UPS or FedEx) charge full bore federal sales tax plus a "broker" fee, which can amount to $20+. Plus, you have no idea the hour the truck will pass by (if you're lucky enough to have a tracking # to know the day), so you have to hang around the house all day.

The post office at this end, on the other hand, usually lets it go with no charge if the item is small, or if only the small green declaration sticker was required (not the full blown document) and a value under $15 or no value was written by the sender. Max by post office is a $5.35 service fee plus 6-8% of the declared value for federal sales tax (US converted to canuck bucks) or no fee at all if they don't have to collect tax.

[william e snyder]

Re: US Postal Service -- by far the best way

i just shipped a coil usps was cheap and smooth i used air freight and paid $6 if you have ever tried to claim ins with ups hope you do not need to. they are unbeleivable and not regulated as an ins provider from what the state of vt told me.

[Greg L.]

Re: US Postal Service -- by far the best way

Lyle,

I have to agree with the majority here...use USPS and not UPS! Once in a blue moon I get dinged a very small customs fee but they are few and far between. UPS nailed me around $40 extra everytime PER BOX and they were never any faster than the postal system. Their 2-3 day delivery often took over a week and the postal system usually takes around 7-10 days.

The only time I would ever use UPS again is if it was a very high dollar or rare item and that is because it can be tracked where as USPS and Canada Post can't track a package once it crosses the boarder. Even at that I would probably use Fed-Ex instead.

Since being burnt by Paragon and UPS last fall I will not even consider using anyone or company that uses only UPS and will only give out my credit card number for the order AFTER I get the shipping charges so that I know that the order is being shipped via USPS.

The postal system is economical and reliable and my #1 choice!

[Harmon C.]

UPS insurance

I bought two exhaust manifolds on E-bay and they were shipped UPS. They arrived and one was broken so I called UPS and they said no problem we will just pick up the compete shippment in the broken box. I wanted to keep the good manifold but they had to have the complete shipment.I let them pick it up and then they said it was packed improper sent the package back to the seller. I called UPS and said now I have no parts you throwed out the claim sent the parts back to the seller and he won't answer his phone. I had no parts and lost my money and they said thats our policy so I never use UPS and if I did I would not pay for insurance.
Lyle

[Rick A.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

US Postal by far is the cheapest for our Canadian friends - you need to be sure and fill out a customs form, and state what is in the box is a gift

[Grant W.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Shipping any parts to Canada you will have to declare the value. Canada customs wants their fair share of Taxes - gift or no gift.If you put a value of 10.00 most likely your friend will not get dinged for duty. Put Used auto parts. If its 20.00 Value or more GST and PST will apply. If you feel you can wrap it well and not get damaged then go with the lowest value like 10.00 and ship it USPS mail. I remember I got dinged almost 10 bucks for a 20 dollar item but that was 2 or 3 years ago. They may have changed the duty regulations within the last 2 years. If you ship UPS or Fed Ex then your friend will have to pay a brokerage fee when it arrives and that is about 40.00 plus all your taxes. Anything else I can help you with let me know. Grant

[Gerard F.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Hi Grant,

Got any more stuff left? You've probably been getting a number of calls since the last Restorer.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Grant W.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

Hi Jerry
I haven't forgotten I still have some zinc phosphate solution for you as promised. But the supply is getting very low thanks to you. Hard stuff to get and red tape for chemicals is near impossible to get any more. I guess for the next generation of restorers they'll have to use spray can paint to try and duplicate the finish but we all know it isn't the same. When the weather gets better I'm going to see what I have left in the barrel and will send you your stash. I bet this stuff will be like gold in the future. Thanks, Grant

[R N.]

Re: Shipping Corvette parts to Canada

You can track USPS shipments once in canada. Just enter the USPS tracking # on the Canada Post webpage. www.canadapost.ca I've tracked many shipments this way, it works real well.

kurt