shipping a bike frame from US
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The only thing that is going to be a pain in the butt is the brokerage fee.
Which you will have to prepay for once it hits the border, unless you have an account with the courier.
The fee they charge is close to robbery in my opinion!
I just paid for it on a shipment from Washington State.........
Which you will have to prepay for once it hits the border, unless you have an account with the courier.
The fee they charge is close to robbery in my opinion!
I just paid for it on a shipment from Washington State.........
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15,592 Posts
FedEx and UPS both charge absurd amounts for brokerage, and they are lazy-a$$ brokers, they don't look up the most favourable or applicable tariff item, the first thing with "bicycle" in it is usually what they use and that might be the code for imported bikes under $300 from Asia which might have a huge tariff duty on it. And you're expected to pay the brokerage fee and the tax/duty without any recourse, except to file for a refund with CRA. If you can get them to send it by US Post, at least that goes through Canada Customs directly with an $8 clearance fee, and if the description on the customs invoice is good, they apply the proper tariff item to it.
If the person you're buying it from has never shipped to Canada, they will likely be overwhelmed by the amount of paper needed to do it properly, there are declaration forms for the exact description and the value that need to be included. You want that description to be as clear as possible. If it's a used frame, make sure that is noted, along with the country of manufacture, and they will need to include a receipt that indicates what you paid for it.
If the person you're buying it from has never shipped to Canada, they will likely be overwhelmed by the amount of paper needed to do it properly, there are declaration forms for the exact description and the value that need to be included. You want that description to be as clear as possible. If it's a used frame, make sure that is noted, along with the country of manufacture, and they will need to include a receipt that indicates what you paid for it.
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425 Posts
Ship it to Sweet Grass and go get it.
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There's just that 14 day quarantine thing when you get back.
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If they even let you across in the first place.
As the border is closed till July 21st (I believe) for essential service .......
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Yup I wasn't thinking properly.
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I had to say something Dale-Calgary......sorry.
As a good example - I just had a package delivered to me at home because of the border closure.
(I usually get US packages delivered to Point Roberts for this reason, as I live close by in BC.)
The company used FedEx and on a $460.00 US package I had to pay $172.00 Can on Brokerage fees........
Rockuphill pointed that out and I have proof of crazy fees........ouch!
Good Luck!
As a good example - I just had a package delivered to me at home because of the border closure.
(I usually get US packages delivered to Point Roberts for this reason, as I live close by in BC.)
The company used FedEx and on a $460.00 US package I had to pay $172.00 Can on Brokerage fees........
Rockuphill pointed that out and I have proof of crazy fees........ouch!
Good Luck!
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425 Posts
That is nuts!
I have heard that UPS is the worst for brokerage fees coming into Canada.
I have never tried it, but apparently you don't HAVE to let the courier be your broker. Check out these articles:
https://borderbee.com/2014/01/13/how-to-self-clear-your-parcel-with-customs/
https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-avoid-broker-fees-just-in-time-for-online-xmas-shopping/
https://trueler.com/2010/11/24/self-clear-shipment-cbsa-avoid-ups-brokerage-fee/
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/how-to-avoid-extra-fees-for-international-delivery-services-1.3280694
There is a customs office in Calgary near the international airport, so this is probably doable. (Let us know if you do try it!)
https://borderbee.com/2014/01/13/how-to-self-clear-your-parcel-with-customs/
https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-avoid-broker-fees-just-in-time-for-online-xmas-shopping/
https://trueler.com/2010/11/24/self-clear-shipment-cbsa-avoid-ups-brokerage-fee/
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/how-to-avoid-extra-fees-for-international-delivery-services-1.3280694
There is a customs office in Calgary near the international airport, so this is probably doable. (Let us know if you do try it!)
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Interesting........something to look into.
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