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Kenny Durrant

Kenny Durrant

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I'd like to hear from those that have shipped packages to other countries. I'll be shipping a package hopefully to Canada in the next few days. This will be the first time shipping outside the U.S. I was talking to a vendor here one day and he said he was having trouble with the USPS so he started using UPS. I've always used USPS and haven't had any issues and I like the tracking and insurance that's included for just under $9. When I had a sizable amount dollar wise I got nervous and used UPS. It was a little more expensive but I didn't want to chance an issue. So the question "Who do or would you use to ship to Canada"? Thanks
 
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I sent International in early December to Europe - got there fine with USPS (all fingers and toes were crossed). I believe as soon as it hits the border, the Insurance and tracking ends.

Canada, I would use USPS.

Note: Sent a letter from Ohio to Chicago took 3 weeks in early February... :mad:
 
I've sent an old Atari to Bolivia and custom Ruger 10/22 gunstocks all over the world. It takes a long time, and you do have paperwork to fill out when you mail it. But I have never had any problems other than accidentally undercharging the shipping. It can get crazy, even to Canada. I have never used UPS to othet countries. Only USPS, but now its hard to trust them to deliver to the next town over.
 
Kenny ..... . The tracking does not stop at the border. . The insurance should also continue .... that's part of what you are paying for when you buy international postage.

If given the tracking number, any recipient in Canada can track a package mailed in the US by going to the USPS.com website. . This tracking follows the package right to its ultimate destination of the addressee. . USPS and CanadaPost co-operate on facilitating this service.
 
As a Canadian I prefer USPS over the dipsticks at UPS any day. The USPS package will arrive in Canada and customs examines the package and if applicable they will charge the sales taxes and add about $10Can, on it goes to the post office or outlet near you and they put a slip in the mailbox. Then you go pay the tax and get your package. If it is a low value it goes straight into the mailbox. Tracking can be followed with either postal system.

UPS may get the package to Canada a little faster, charge the tax and 2 or 3 times the brokerage and if in a city drop it off at the door and run. If like me just outside the city, will pass it on to a contracted company to deliver it, hand it off to the post office to deliver, or hold the package for pick up and they only do pick up between 4:00pm and 8:00pm.

The post office has never lost a package.

Ask your recipient which they prefer and I'll bet they prefer the mail.
 
I see you're in Texas too. I've shipped to canada several times over the last 3 or 4 months. Its always usps small flat rate box and costs usually around $27.00 with no extra insurance ..it has always arrived safely
 
You should look into first class mail if the package is small. It's cheaper than small flat rate boxes. The USPS like Canada Post has a find a rate section and you put in the dimensions, weight and destination of the package, resulting in all the options and costs.
 
I have family in Canada. When I ship things to them I use USPS. I have never had an issue with them getting the packages in good condition. Customs takes a few days, but that is with all shippers.


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Thanks for the input. I shipped it off today with USPS. I guess we'll see what happens. It went to a fellow IAP member so we might be able to hear from both ends of the deal.
 
As an old (I really mean former) international shipping agent, After 40 years in the business, I have no qualms about shipping internationally with either carrier... USPS or UPS, though if I had a package of value would likely go with FEDEX or DHL rather than UPS, even though I believe that UPS is now owned by the Duetsche Post... don't hold me to that as it's been 15 years since I worked in the industry.

I buy my pepper mill inserts for the crush grind mills out of Canada and receive tracking from Canada post all the way to my door. USPS tracking does continue, but is only as good as the foreign post is to update.... I sent a bowl to UK and it had tracking, but seemed like the UK never updated the tracking... haven't hear otherwise but have to assume the bowl made it to UK. Shipping internationally through ETSY is a little funky, as it ships domestically to their foreign handling station near Chicago and then you more or less lose track of it there,.
 
In my experience, USPS is reliable, and meshes seamlessly with Canada post. If it charges a customs clearance fee, it's reasonable.

UPS is ridiculously expensive in terms of fees. Once it hits the border, the fees can easily be higher than the cost of the item.

If it was a choice between UPS or nothing, I'd go with nothing. UPS isn't an option, in my opinion. I've been burned with huge fees every single time.
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
In my experience, USPS is reliable, and meshes seamlessly with Canada post. If it charges a customs clearance fee, it's reasonable.

UPS is ridiculously expensive in terms of fees. Once it hits the border, the fees can easily be higher than the cost of the item.

If it was a choice between UPS or nothing, I'd go with nothing. UPS isn't an option, in my opinion. I've been burned with huge fees every single time.
Click to expand...
UPS is a forwarding company, much like FEDEX, DHL, CMAS, and other courier companies I can't remember the names of now (My memory doesn't go much past yesterday anymore)... they make their money from the fees they charge... documentation fee, Shipper's export document, consolidation fee and various others that I've fortunately forgotten... they make little money from the actual freight rates. What they do make there comes from charging a freight rate, then consolidating multiple shipments to get a lower freight rate ... their profit from freight comes on the spread between the two rates.
 
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