Shipping costs

[85redpini]

I original did this post in response to another post, but thought I should start a new post so that it would be seen., we will again start charging the $5.50 postage on small items that will fit in the USPS flat rate box to our fellow Americans again. We are happy to mail shipments to Canadians and other overseas customer, but they need to read the red notice when they buy online. We also enjoy talking to our customers, because online we have no idea what car you have, and we want to get you the correct parts for your car.
we put in red letters on our shopping cart that the online cart cannot calculate overseas prices. Then we get Canadians and overseas buyers just paying for the part and no shipping. we spent a lot of time trying to get them to pay the shipping. we have actually had buyers ignoring our requests for weeks about paying the postage (yes, we like to mail parts). or asking where there part is, even though they have not paid postage.
We would like to lower shipping costs or our customers, but when we put USPS $5.50 flat rate postage on the online item, Canadians demanded we send the part over the border for the $5.50. So we hope it is not abused by overseas people, who we are very happy to mail parts to at the actual price it cost to do so.
Thanks
jay http://www.spiderroadster.com

[courtenay]

I am very surprised that there would be any Canadians - certainly any who participate on this forum - that would think that a flat rate shipping price for goods mailed within the US would apply to anything shipped across the border.
It's great that you are able to offer such a low rate to your American customers and would only ask that you use USPS to ship to Canada as well. Most of us have found USPS to be the lowest cost and most effective carrier for getting our stuff across the border.

[4uall]

WTF Not sure what make of all this Some blanket statements. If the customer doesn't pay shipping, then don't ship it (seems simple enough). Customers need to educate themselves, and ask questions rather than make assumptions. My very first order I got completely gouged on shipping,brokerage/custom fees etc. NEVER AGAIN! Discovered the forum,asked around etc,the rest is history. Just because it is less expensive doesn't mean it's better

[RRoller123]

I would expect that many larger American firms maintain Canada offices, such that they can ship "locally" on paper and avoid the nonsense that we read about so much in these pages?

[toplessexpat]

I wonder if all the Canadians got together and pooled their orders into one go, whether the overall shipping experience would be better? Or an enterprising Canuck could set up [insert name of vendor]'s Northern office.... Actually - becoming a broker for all the vendors - now that may have legs.....

.... as I sit having a morning coffee overlooking the surprisingly snow free city of Toronto

A

[seabeelt]

Yup, shipping is a bitch. I have had many of our norther neighbors decline a deal once the shipping is calculated. I totally understand. Cheapest small box to Canada I have found is around $17-$18 bucks. Overseas is over $50. Ridiculous when buying a $5 part. Even here in the US I try to buy as many things at one time as my budget will allow to minimize the cost.
R/

[spiderdan]

As a parts buying Canuck I figure I can chime in with my 2 cents (1.5 USD) worth of experience.
When I bought my car years ago I needed hub caps for my Cromadoras. I was referred to Bruce's parts bin. Although he only had 2 NOS hubcaps and I figured I would make my 1st non-local purchase for my Fiat. $120 US for both and $50 S&H. Kool. Sent him my Visa # and waited. Still hadn't figured where I'd get the other 2, but that's another story.
A few days later I get home from work and UPS guy leaves a sticker on my door saying, "no one home, need signature, will try again 2 more times. Sure enough they tried to deliver 2 more times while I am at work. The last notice indicates that if I don't go get it at their warehouse (at the other end of town) in the next week, they will return it to sender!
Get in the car, go to UPS (which was closed for supper hour), wait in line to pay another $60 (duties, taxes and brokerage fees) to get my package. Get home and sure enough Bruce had sent me 14" hubcaps and not 13"
Call UPS and they tell me that it will cost me $60 to return them, but I can get some of my $ back if I fill out the paper rebate forms. One for federal taxes and another for duties. The biggest part of the charge was the UPS brokerage fees which "are not refundable". Spoke to Bruce and he said he had no 13" and that when I returned them, he would refund my $120, which was fair.
I sent them via Canada post/USPS (about $15) and got my refund of $120 a few weeks later.
1st experience buying US parts....
Hub Caps $120
S&H $50
UPS/border $60
Return S&H $15
Out $125, and no hubs caps... priceless

The 2nd time I dealt with Bruce was for a few small items like headlight rubber trim for my upcoming paint job.
He explained to me why he likes UPS, they come to him. help him fill out the custom declaration and parcel is tracked. For him to use USPS he physically had to go to a post office and fill out a form. He reluctantly agreed, if I promised, that if I didn't get the package (no tracking/signature) I wouldn't hold him responsible. The next few purchases I made from Bruce were delivered right to my door, with no additional charges.
Since that "lesson learned" I now only try to deal with vendors that will ship via USPS. However I do understand why some vendors would prefer to just deal with UPS. Less work and traceable.
But if you want my business...just tell me the costs up front to ship to Canada by USPS (which can/should include your time). I will be more than happy to pay that cost, including the part, up front. You happy me happy
I understand that, as a vendor, you have every right to ship the way you want.
Hopefully you now understand why I as I buyer, have every right to shop with another vendor.

[btoran]

this is just crazy. why does it cost so much? don't we only need a library card these days to cross the border?

[spiderdan]

don't we only need a library card these days to cross the border?

If you are a U.S. citizen, ensure you carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

For all modes of entry, we recommend you carry a valid passport for all travel abroad, including visits to Canada from the United States. A passport may be required by your airline or alternative transportation authority, as it is the only universally-accepted identification document.

Citizens and permanent residents of the United States who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs may present their membership cards to the CBSA as proof of identity and as documents that denote citizenship, when arriving by land or marine modes only.
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All Canadian Citizens entering the United States by AIR are required to present a valid passport, or an Air NEXUS card when departing from a designated Canadian airport.

By Land and Sea (including ferries) - Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. by land or sea are required to present one of the travel documents listed below, and may generally visit the U.S. for up to six months. CBP will accept: Canadian passport, Enhanced Driver's License/Enhanced Identification Card, NEXUS, FAST/EXPRES and SENTRI enrollment cards.

A bucket of poutine and a 24 of beer is highly recommended to support country of origin determi-nation.

[Frog2Spider]

Here's a FYI a for my Canadian brothers and sisters. Did you know?

This won't help all, but if you live reasonably close to the Canadian/Americain border, get yourself a P.O. box in the U.S. and have your parts mailed to it. When I lived in Canada, there was no duty on 'used' auto parts. Un-wrap the goods, go have a beer, and drive home.

Cheaper freight, no duty, and a great excuse to go for a drive.

F 2 S

[toplessexpat]

As an interesting aside.... if you're cruising the Carribbean then you don't need a passport, even though you will pass through external immigration controls and will be coming back through immigration here. Mrs Topless is rather au fait with such things - and filled me in, much to my surprise! You need some form of government issued ID - just not a passport.

EDIT: My surprise was the subject matter not the filling in. I'm regularly educated by my awesome wife

[aj81spider]

Your wife is technically correct, but it is a little more involved than that. You still need to prove citizenship, and if you visit foreign countries on the cruise they may require a passport for you to get off the ship. Unless you don't have one, a passport is the easiest way to meet this requirement.

From the Department of State web site:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passpor ... -need.html

*"Closed-Loop" Cruises: If you are a U.S. citizen, and you board a cruise ship at a U.S. port, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship, you may present government-issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.

[toplessexpat]

... and "technically correct" is perfectly sufficient for matrimonial harmony

There's a whole bunch of rules that also get waived in the unfortunate event of a maritime issue to bring individuals into a country and then repatriate.

[phaetn]

I use a UPS store literally five minutes from the border. They charge $5 per package per week. Can also include stuff like tires. I live about 45 minutes of freeway driving from the border, though, so it's a bit of a trek just for a package.

Given the driving time, gas, fees (always have to pay the HST on the way back), bridge tolls, etc. it has to be about $80 difference to make it worth it for me. Some vendors only ship to the US and not internationally (Sealbelt Planet was like that) so it's useful then, too. Vintage car parts should not have a duty.

As it happens, I'm heading right by the required border crossing within about ten days to go visit my in-laws who are about 2.5 hours further on on the Canadian side. Then it's just about 20 minutes extra time and the toll. I have my A/R order already on the way and a few Christmas goodies for the kids that I couldn't get in the Great White North.

Cheers,
phaetn

[ORFORD2004]

Ship to Jenson in VT 30 min drive. $5 US, fill the truck and drive back. If your invice is lower than $60 to $80, you don't pay the GST. It's fun to live near the border.