Shipping Ric to Canada
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Shipping Ric to Canada
Anyone ship USPS to Canada recently? I used to always choose Post over UPS, FedEx etc. to avoid the RIDICULOUS brokerage fees those carriers can incur at the border. With one guitar I bought a number of years ago the combined cost of the brokerage fees, sales tax and duty totaled nearly 25% of the value of the guitar! However, now USPS only insures up to $975 according to their website so there is a bit of a risk shipping a valuable guitar with them now it would appear. Any thoughts?
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
I just did this for the first time, thanks to help from a fellow RRF'r--(thanks Brian!). You can check the shipping rate on line, the important thing is to make sure your box fits the size requirements--IIRC there are limits on length, width and overall girth--the max combined can't exceed 108" IIRC. A standard guitar/case box will generally meet these requirements.
I didn't pay attention to the insurance limits, as the insurance I carry on my music gear covers the gear while it's being shipped. But as long as the buyer and seller agree on the limits of the insurance, I'd think the deal would be workable--obviously the burden of risk is going to be on the buyer in this situation.
In my experience (I've bought two guitars from CA, and sold just one), the tracking is the weakest link--mostly on the USPS end. One guitar I bought recently, the USPS was telling me the guitar was sitting in Customs in Chicago (this was their customer service rep, not just the web tracking) when the doorbell rang and the guy delivered the guitar!
Shoot Winston a PM--I'm sure he'd be happy to share any additional advice--he walked me through my jitters.
Bill
I didn't pay attention to the insurance limits, as the insurance I carry on my music gear covers the gear while it's being shipped. But as long as the buyer and seller agree on the limits of the insurance, I'd think the deal would be workable--obviously the burden of risk is going to be on the buyer in this situation.
In my experience (I've bought two guitars from CA, and sold just one), the tracking is the weakest link--mostly on the USPS end. One guitar I bought recently, the USPS was telling me the guitar was sitting in Customs in Chicago (this was their customer service rep, not just the web tracking) when the doorbell rang and the guy delivered the guitar!
Shoot Winston a PM--I'm sure he'd be happy to share any additional advice--he walked me through my jitters.
Bill
"Let me take you down...'cause I'm going to...."
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
Thanks for the tip! Actually I am considering using third party shipping insurance this time. Anyone done that?
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
Dan I recommend that you mail your package via USPS. If the instrument is valued over $1000.00 consider buying additional third party insurance if your household insurance does not cover your instruments in transit.
USPS/Canada Post has never damaged any instruments that I have purchased. whereas FEDEX and UPS have. Plus FEDEX and UPS both charge very high fees for unnecessary customs clearance. Plus they always add taxes to the cost of the goods landed in Canada. Whereas Canada Post does not charge a clearance fee and rarely even charges taxes on the item.
USPS/Canada Post have a great tracking system too.
USPS/Canada Post has never damaged any instruments that I have purchased. whereas FEDEX and UPS have. Plus FEDEX and UPS both charge very high fees for unnecessary customs clearance. Plus they always add taxes to the cost of the goods landed in Canada. Whereas Canada Post does not charge a clearance fee and rarely even charges taxes on the item.
USPS/Canada Post have a great tracking system too.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
Thanks for the response. I am looking into third party insurance and sticking with USPS. 
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
You are most welcome for any assistance that I might have given you Dan. 
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Re: Shipping Ric to Canada
My most memorable experience with UPS: a $10 US DVD ending up costing me $85 Cdn. at the door!!! Ended up paying their ridiculous charges, because I didn't want my relatively-low feedback on eBay dinged.
The best mode of operation, if you are close to the border, is to rent a US PO Box for $60 a year, cross the border yourself when a shipment arrives, and drive it back to Canadian customs. It will cost you GST/HST but NO duty on Rics, or any other fees since you are clearing it yourself.
Keep the receipt in case you ever have to cross the border again and want to avoid taxes.
The best mode of operation, if you are close to the border, is to rent a US PO Box for $60 a year, cross the border yourself when a shipment arrives, and drive it back to Canadian customs. It will cost you GST/HST but NO duty on Rics, or any other fees since you are clearing it yourself.
Keep the receipt in case you ever have to cross the border again and want to avoid taxes.