Getting a package from USA

[davidsymons53]

I need to have a package shipped from Washington state to Ontario Canada.

The vendor was told that the package is too big to mail (USPS) 36"X30"X24" and 35lbs. Fedex wants $221.02 for shipping. I don't what to sell my bike to pay for shipping for one part.

I am wondering if any of our American members have any advice/suggestions of a less expensive for me to get this package into Ontario.

TIA, David

[crazy steve]

Shipping large items from the US is horribly expensive. As your vendor told you, it's over the size limit for the mails, and even if it weren't, it would still cost a small fortune. I priced a package much smaller (less than half) and lighter to Canada, and it was still over $100. In my case, UPS and FedEx were cheaper, but not by much. You're getting hit with a 'size' penalty on this package which is why it's so high.

It didn't used to be this bad to ship to Canada, I don't know what changed...

[mxmikie]

greyhound or forwardair

[crazy steve]

greyhound or forwardair

Greyhound doesn't cross borders, and Forward Air only does airport-to-airport...

[davidsymons53]

Greyhound does not ship USA to Canada.

[fredintoon]

Hi David,
will whatever it is come apart so it can be sent in two smaller lighter parcels?

[crazy steve]

Hi David,
will whatever it is come apart so it can be sent in two smaller lighter parcels?

Fred, even that won't help. The package to Canada I priced was roughly 18 x 23 x 16 (roughly 1/4 of David's volume) and that was nearly $90 via UPS. It's not the weight, this is strictly a size penalty. They have 'price breaks' that depend on package dimensions; I know that UPS almost doubles as soon as any dimension goes over 24", and I think there's additional charges when you hit 30" and 36".

You're getting hosed, no question...

[crazy steve]

...I know that UPS almost doubles as soon as any dimension goes over 24", and I think there's additional charges when you hit 30" and 36"...

I'll also note that they get very pissy about this; show up with one that measures 24 1/16", and you'll pay the higher rate.

I only use UPS when there's no other choice...

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

What

I need to have a package shipped from Washington state to Ontario Canada.

The vendor was told that the package is too big to mail (USPS) 36"X30"X24" and 35lbs. Fedex wants $221.02 for shipping. I don't what to sell my bike to pay for shipping for one part.


I am wondering if any of our American members have any advice/suggestions of a less expensive for me to get this package into Ontario.

TIA, David

What are you buying? Cant you get it on Canada ebay for the same $$$$ and save the shipping

[DiverRay]

Can you have someone from BC pick it up, and ship it from YOUR side of the border? There are also some members in Northern Washington State that may be able to help. That seems to be the best way. Maybe we could have two or three members that live close set up a little "side job" of bringing parts back and forth. Check the UPS price from BC to Ontario, is it cheaper??

[fredintoon]

UPS are thieves.

Fred, even that won't help. The package to Canada I priced was roughly 18 x 23 x 16 (roughly 1/4 of David's volume) and that was nearly $90 via UPS. It's not the weight, this is strictly a size penalty. They have 'price breaks' that depend on package dimensions; I know that UPS almost doubles as soon as any dimension goes over 24", and I think there's additional charges when you hit 30" and 36".

You're getting hosed, no question...

Hi Steve,
David said his parcel could not be sent by USPS (United States Postal Service) because it was too big and Fedex wanted $221.02.
You mention UPS, (the guys with the brown vans.)
UPS will ship far bigger parcels than USPS and they ain't cheap. In addition, UPS will demand that the Canadian recipient pay an additional $30 "brokerage fee" on US sourced packages.
After my first experience with UPS' "brokerage fee" I have always told US sellers (IN CAPS) "Do not send via UPS"
and have refused delivery when they ignored the note and did so anyway. That was Dennis Kirk, who should have known better. Certainly after they got the package back and re-sent it via USPS like I asked them to in the first place.

[jetmechmarty]

Dimension penalty

I attempted to sell a H1 fuel tank on eBay. Someone on the left coast wanted it, but informed me that my shipping charge was ridiculous. I looked at the quote and agreed. When I recalculated it it came up the same. The price kept me from making the sale. That one wasn't even crossing an international border.

When fuel prices went up, shipping went up and it isn't coming down. IIRC, we have to use PRIORITY MAIL when shipping USPS to Canada. There is no more parcel post. That killed the big box.

There are plenty of shipping options, but none of them are cheap.

[DGXSER]

Not sure about that size box, but I know I have shipped stuff to England and to Canada in the "Flat Rate Boxes" and it is no where near the prices you guys are talking.

Just go to USPS and check it to be sure. I know I just sent a package that was 20X10X10 to Michigan that weighed in at almost 55 lbs for less than $25 insured.

I sent a medium flat rate box to the UK for about $45 but weight is limited to 20 pds versus the 75 here in the USA.

[ManagerMike]

Here's a long shot....How much to ship it across the U.S.? Are the savings worth a drive? I live 30 minutes southeast of Detroit Mi., how far are you from the Ambassador bridge? See where I'm going with this......

[79XS11F]

I don't know if this is true or not but I was told by the post office that all posted items that cross the border are now shipped by air only. That's why costs for these mailings has gone up so much lately.
Rob