Cheapest shipping for a package from USA to CANADA?

[ilegn]

I'm trying to get a friend to buy something online for me then ship it over from specifically San Jose, California.

Just wondering whats the cheapest way and standard shipping is fine.

and by the way, how much is it to clear the items at customs? Items in total are gonna total to around 300-400$

Thanks!

[mtharvey]

search.

[dragon_drift]

Try using the USPS site to calculate the rate http://ircalc.usps.gov/.

I'm not sure about customs though, but if your item is worth that much it only makes sense to insure it. I remember getting hit for $12 on a $60US item, so you can do the math, but it might not be the same for you though.

[kuqdew]

Shipping by USPS is definitely the cheapest and one of the most reliable

[mtharvey]

Shipping by USPS is definitely the cheapest and one of the most reliable

usps charges flat $5 for customs. what is the deal on taxes? are gifts taxable? if it is $300 will you have to pay tax at customs?

this is all covered in other threads but why bother searching if there are people who like answering questions over and over.

[ilegn]

Okay, just had to make sure.. friend seemed to like UPS for sending things. I'll inform him of this..

We had no probs with UPS in the past

[dynamic33]

UPS Express includes any brokerage charges, but UPS Ground does not.

[[buck]]

UPS Express includes any brokerage charges, but UPS Ground does not.
It includes brokerage but it does not include the bond fee or COD fee!!

[goffeebeans]

;6251891']It includes brokerage but it does not include the bond fee or COD fee!!

Right when your package shows up in tracking, call them up and put a credit card on file to pay for the charges.

USPS is cheaper for basic service. However sometimes for priority/express its cheaper to send UPS.

[TenzoR]

I'm not entirely sure how accurate this is, but seems useful for estimation

http://www.thefinalcost.com/

[VorteC]

usps charges flat $5 for customs. what is the deal on taxes? are gifts taxable? if it is $300 will you have to pay tax at customs?

this is all covered in other threads but why bother searching if there are people who like answering questions over and over.

Gifts under $60 are not taxable. Due to budget, USPS is not going to check EVERY box going thru, and if you're lucky, you're $400 item will slip thru their fingers and goto you tax free. I've had a $450 "Gift" sent to me tax free and I've had **** worth $25 taxed.

[HBP]

USPS First Class. Package it tiny. Mark it as a gift. Include a birthday note/letter printed out in the package. You decide what to value it as.

[kleptodathief]

ive always had good success with ebay goods shipped via USPS priority airmail, marked as a gift and valued at 70$ ...u never get dinged!

problem is if the shipment is damaged ur only covered for 70! but 99% of the time everything is A OK! :)

[anthill]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4268/upsstandardvg7.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=upsstandardvg7.jpg)

[cypher]

What about a projector? My relative in the US just picked one up for me for $1900 and she's sending it via USPS Express Mail next week. She's going to open the box first, repackage with a "bad" tape job as well as send me the documents separately.

If she labels it as used or a gift will this not avoid or reduce the GST/PST? This is the only unknown cost for me as I know there's no brokerage and there will be a $5 handling fee when using USPS.

[whampoa]

Okay, just had to make sure.. friend seemed to like UPS for sending things. I'll inform him of this..

We had no probs with UPS in the past

Yes, you definitely have problem with UPS in Canada with either UPS air and ground.

UPS are more expensive shipping over the border than USPS, notice it's USPS for United States Postal Service not United Parcel Service.