how to ship from states?

[smokinreefer]

Hey guys,

first off i gotta say that i'm a shipping noob.

i want to buy some reef stuff from a dude in the states, whats the best way (*read* cheapest) to have it shipped here?

TIA.

[muck]

USPS.

[mr_alberta]

Yes, United States Postal Service. Its also the longest though (up to 3 weeks sometimes). Also, if he could declare the items as either "used goods" or as a "gift" then you might not have to pay brokerage or duty. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.

[muck]

If you ask for 'USPS Airmail Parcel Post' (I believe that is what its called) it will be approx. 4 - 10 day delivery for not that much more $$$.
Ask your 'dude in the states' to get a quote for you or USPS has a calculator on their website.

http://ircalc.usps.gov/

Cheers!

[dirtyreefer]

Setup a US address in Blaine or somewhere close to the border and have them ship there. Then go across and pick it up.

You save around $20CAD for every $100USD spent. So if you buy something for $500USD, you would have to pay around $100CAD duty. This way you save that additional cost.

Also, even though UPS has been getting a bad rap on RC, I find it very fast and cheap. One guy sent me a tunze steams package (10lbs) from Chicago to Sumas for $10USD and it came in 4 days.

USPS is a rip off and takes forever.

[vjvl51]

dirtyreefer, the last time I ordered a $30 Cdn item from the US, UPS charged me over $20 brokerage fees and then I had to pay GST and COD charges on top of that. I don't agree that they are cheap - fast maybe. I have also had a parcel take a tour of the US and get to the border twice before crossing via UPS. Fortunately I wasn't in a hurry for it.

Purolator seems to be just as fast and has only charged me (so far) less than $10 in brokerage fees.

Just my experience

Vickie

[dirtyreefer]

vjvl51

Sorry I meant FedEx, not UPS. FedEx ground. But you can't beat $10 for 4 business days, especially with such a heavy package! Please note that this was shipped for one US addy to another which may be cheaper than internationally to Canada.

USPS however, I had 2 things shipped through them to my door. One was an IC ballast declared as $50USD. The shipping cost was $15USD for it, pretty ridiculous although I received it in about a week and a half.

The other item, I received an AB bulb and the shipping was $3.50USD. This took over 3 weeks.

[Tarolisol]

I am waiting for a shipment via USPS airmail it was a large water pump and it cost 43 dollers US to ship and its been a week and havent recieved it yet.

[mr_alberta]

USPS usually will take 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. To cut down on delivery time, I like to look for items in states near Alberta like Montana or Washington State.

I also like the fact that the post office is down the street from my place, unlike the UPS depot which is on the other side of the city.

[Bryan]

I have found Premium Aquatics to be very knowledgable in international shipping, and their online shipping quotation is very accurate. Their ordering process also accepts international postal codes.