Shipping to Canada, help please!

[VictoriaL]

I have a gift to ship to a friend in Canada. I checked out the rates from the US Postal Service and UPS. UPS was several dollars less expensive, so I decided to use that service (like I did last year). I had a question and called customer service, and the rep told me that, when the package is delivered, an additional charge will be assessed the recipient. I was so stunned, I didn't quite "get" which type of charge, an excise tax, maybe? Anyway, this just figures. It will cost as much to send the gift as it did to buy the gift, and then it will cost my friend almost as much to receive it? Does that make sense?

I got lost in the postal service website, and can't quite figure out if they do the same thing. So I will call them tomorrow.

So, I know that there are many Canadians on the BB, and you may receive packages mailed from the States. What really happens? I'm so embarrassed that I might have sent my friend a Christmas gift last year and she was charged for receiving it!

[Kayaksoup]

If you send it UPS, they will charge the recipient. Trust me. I have received parcels before that cost me 40$ to liberate from customs. Go USPS all the way.

[Canice]

I don't know why that is, but it's so! I send only USPS to Canada. Or kayaksoup woulda had one "dear" jar of salt, lol. ;)

BTW, I sent a can of chipotles in adobo to Malaysia the other day (gotta love these boards) and I was told that I didn't have to fill out a customs form since the box weighed under one pound. Just thought I'd mention that FWIW.

[funnybone]

You can send gifts to Canada - up to $60 and the recipient will not be charged anything. You MUSTmark it as gift and it must be under $60 for the charges not to apply. I do this all the time since all my family is in Canada. Now if a Canadian person buys something from the US, then this is where the duty and taxes come into play. The key is that it is a gift!

[Kayaksoup]

You can send gifts to Canada - up to $60 and the recipient will not be charged anything. You MUSTmark it as gift and it must be under $60 for the charges not to apply. I do this all the time since all my family is in Canada. Now if a Canadian person buys something from the US, then this is where the duty and taxes come into play. The key is that it is a gift!
You know, the parcel I got WAS marked as a gift. It wasn't duty or taxes that UPS charged me, it was a Customs Brokerage charge.

[Kayaksoup]

I don't know why that is, but it's so! I send only USPS to Canada. Or kayaksoup woulda had one "dear" jar of salt, lol. ;)

.
And I am so grateful for that. Because as mucha s I love Lavender Sea Salt, I am not sure how I would have felt about paying 30 or 40$ to liberate it. ;)

[funnybone]

You know, the parcel I got WAS marked as a gift. It wasn't duty or taxes that UPS charged me, it was a Customs Brokerage charge.

I know the post office doesn't charge that, but I guess UPS does. :(

[Beth]

OMG! I have mailed many swap packages to Canada and have always used USPS. I didn't realize there was such a difference. Sounds like this is one case where you don't want what Brown can do for you. :rolleyes:

I have sent a couple of decent size boxes packed with jars, books and other heavy food stuff and the heaviest ones have been a little over $20 to ship, marked as gifts with customs labels. Not really that much more than shipping a heavy box cross country here, but you can't use the flat rate boxes. Never heard of anyone having to pay anything to receive it (I sure hope none of you did and didn't tell me).

[Kayaksoup]

Sorry, clarification.
UPS charges, USPS does not :D

[VictoriaL]

Thanks everyone.
I am sooooooo embarassed! :o
I can't imagine what my friend had to pay to receive her little snowman candleholder last year! WHY DIDN'T UPS TELL ME THIS UP FRONT? I hate them! Really, I do!!!

Okay, I'm done screaming....

I'll be in line at the post office tomorrow. Thanks again for the info.

WAIT! Another question from you who know the answers... :)
Can I send food? Or are there restrictions on that too?

[Beth]

I think there are some limitations, but I have sent homemade jams, chili peppers, and chocolate. Looks like you can't send wine or more than 20 lbs or meat. Here's (http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immicl/immiclcd_003.html) the whole list of limitations.

[Luiza]

Vicci, last year I received a present from a friend in US (an extremely cute snowman candleholder, as it happens :D) via UPS and I didn't have to pay anything. Maybe this is a new thing?!?

Too bad I don't read the BB very often these days, otherwise I would have reassured you earlier. Seriously, there was no extra fee involved.

[Peweh]

Vicci, a belated Thanks for posting this. I was swapping with Helene in Canada for the Holiday Swap and wouldn't have known about the UPS surcharges - I went USPS instead thanks to your post!