Shipping Floor Standing Speakers to the US from Canada

Hi Elliott,

Thanks, for the response.

I don't know what region or what UPS store you used but the UPS store here looked at the weight and size and told me to take a flying leap. It may be only in this region that occurred. I tried another store and the same response occurred. Do you know what the final bill was for clearing customs ex shipping costs? i.e. the bill the buyer would have paid. These are ground freight only. It may be that because of flooding in Southern BC that they have simply suspended service for the big items. 

They're acting as broker, reason for fees. I've both shipped and received from Canada with no problems. I've always done all the paper documents, Fedex, UPS, DHL all have very specific directions and supply all document forms for diy shipping. All broker fees accounted for in shipping price quotes. Shipping via freight carrier I don't know. Really pretty seamless if you get paper work correct.  Just make sure to insure full value.

Are you sure Fedex, UPS and DHL won't ship? The have oversize and overweight fees, covers pretty large and/or high weight shipments. If you must ship via freight, there are websites where private shippers will bid on shipments. I looked at motorcycle shipping past summer, pretty much $500-$750, depending on distance.

I think you need to go freight, and you need to deal with the freight side of their business. Fedex ground is not Fedex freight. Sometimes that's not clear to people..
Same deal with UPS. UPS Ground is not UPS Freight.

I use to send drill parts to Canada and Visa Versa. Portal 2 portal, wasn't uncommon either. They drop off at the freight distribution warehouse, and you pick up at the freight distribution warehouse. Normally there is no loading fees as long as THEY can use a forklift..

The border crossing fees were always fuzzy, wording was really important. Made in Canada, being repaired in Canada, and being sold to the US all have different cost. Just like if your Returning a repaired pair of speakers vs Selling a pair of speakers.

Ask them what the cost is for a two way there and back? Cancel the way back, as an unused warranty option. There were a couple of legal (semi-honest) options. ;-)

Regards

op,

It’s a shame they won’t handle it.

Twice I had $1,100. TT's shipped by sellers from Canada, no excessive charges.

I had a $1,000. tonearm shipped by seller from Russia, no excessive fees.

...............................................

my direct deal with UPS was lesser size/weight/value, no fees or duty.

I visited my mother’s childhood home. She is 98.

Her child size croquet set was still in the basement, 88 years after she moved out. Croquet is ’big’ in our family, and I wanted the next and following generations to play with her set.

Current owner gave it to me, simply dropped it off local UPS. UPS called me with price, I agreed, we got a few games in before it got too cold.

............................................

Here she is, just honored by the Navy on Tuesday, Pearl Harbor Day. She worked breaking the Japanese Codes during WWII.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3yvLHyZGqM&t=795s

Here are the fees you as the shipper cannot avoid:

- Shipping charges

All the rest are technically the buyer, unless you are sending DDP, deliver duty paid.  The only fee that your buyer cannot avoid is taxes. Depending on state they are going to get dinged for taxes. That is difficult to avoid.

There is nothing that says you have to use UPS, of FEDEX for your brokerage services of a broker at all. You can usually do it yourself, it is just a pain. In this case however, your potential customer needs to do that.

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-418?language=en_US

What does matter is "who" is importing. Is it your customer, or will you be acting as the  non-resident importer? If your customer, the above is applicable. If technically you are importing as a non-resident importer, then you need to look after brokerage. There are online companies that do this cheaper than FEDEX / UPS who are easy, not cheap.