Shipping costs to Canada, Is there an affordable option?

[brjohnso]

I have been shipping my 3d-printed Escape mods to Canada on occasion, because I figured there were probably a lot of Escapes there. I've noticed that the shipping costs are absolutely outrageous! Sipping a tiny box that weighs less than a pound costs about $18 US and about $24 Canadian, just for the shipping! I'm shipping through Etsy with the USPS, but is there a better way?

[jack sparrow]

I heard that brjohnso, I had sent Karl at ETI last year one of my name plaques and it doesn't weigh that much and it cost me $30 bucks to send it. That was through USPS.

That's crazy... Hope you find a better was to ship, cause you're right, there are a lot of Escape owners in Canada and they'd like your products I am sure.

Good luck...

Cheers to ya........and Happy Trails........ Jack

[iamunique127]

Although maybe a bit more expensive initially, I chose USPS as the shipper for orders from the US if I can.

Some, if not all, of the couriers, charge sometimes exorbitant brokerage fees to clear the package through customs. And they may not notify you in advance- it can be a surprise when claiming your parcel, often exceeding the value of the item itself.

Granted, I have not tried all the couriers or all of the levels of service from those couriers but I have been surprised, disappointed and PO'd with UPS, FedEx and DHL. Something I just read suggests if you chose a higher level of service you don't pay some fees but that means paying extra for shipping in the first place.

Often cross border shipping is cost prohibitive so, living close to the border, I get items shipped to a US parcel service, pick up there and drive it across the border myself. Yes, it costs me for the gas to do that but I can still save money and get a bit of a road trip out of the deal.

Case in point: to get my newly ordered Lagun table sent to me in Canada the shipping would have been $175 US! That's not a typo. The shipping to my US parcel service was free. Guess which option I chose.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by brjohnso

I've noticed that the shipping costs are absolutely outrageous!

Welcome to the problem that Canadians deal with all the time. It's very frustrating to find stuff in the US but not available in Canada. Shipping costs have been high as long as I can remember. Many of us that order a lot of stuff would rather ship it to an address near the border and drive for 45 minutes to pick it up.

I don't think that there's any magic solution.

Ron

[wackyburggeezer]

If shipping US to Canada, take a look at First Class International Large Envelopes. Max wt. is 16 oz. Max thickness is 3/4" Other additional qualifications as to "flexibility". If your items are light, thin, and flexible (at least a little), this might work.

[brjohnso]

I just shipped a set of propane cover knobs to Canada. They were $7, and the postage was $17 US!. 7+17 * 1.35 = $32.40 Canadian.... Ouch!!!! I am only 3 hours from Chillwack. I could literally drive a load of stuff up to Escape if someone would ship it from there. Escape could even wholesale it.

[SRS]

I just ordered a pair of those knobs and a set of under cabinet hooks. Shipping to Colorado was $4.43. Selling your products through Escape for Canadian customers is a great idea. Don't know if they'd go for it but worth a try.

By the way Bruce, you've come up with some great stuff. I got your window corner guards and they're very nice. I have a 17 and the back stabbers at the kitchen window actually limits what I can put behind the sink in that small kitchen. Not huge but freed up a little extra space.

Sherby

[LeonW]

Originally Posted by brjohnso

I have been shipping my 3d-printed Escape mods to Canada on occasion

I don't routinely visit the forum as much as I used to because I figure my trailer is old and I have solved most issues with it. But always looking for ways to make it nicer and spend more money on it.

Could you point me to a web page with the various mods you provide?

Thanks.