Self-Declaring through Canadian Customs...

The_Apprentice

The_Apprentice

Registered
Registered
Joined
Jun 14, 2017
Messages
263
Not sure where to post this, so here goes.

I was going to put in another order through LittleMachineShop.com, and they mentioned again how Candians have the right to self-declare, and avoid paying the ludicrous brokerage fees that UPS charges (these can be insane at times).

I am looking at the paper work required, and will give it a shot. Naturally, I called this morning, only to find out the Canadian UPS office is CLOSED, because it's the weekend (have they no shame?)

In any case, I will probably confirm some things for the B15 form, etc. on Monday, and if this works I'll breathe a little easier when ordering more tooling, etc. from the US in the near future.

I'm just curious for feedback of issues from anyone else here who does self-declaring as well.
 
I order a few things from the States but am not quite sure what you are referring to. Can you give a bit more detail?

David
 
Does it have to be UPS? LMS also ships by postal service. I've found postal shipping on small items (I sell world wide from the USA) to be generally cheaper and easier if I ship by post. I just slap a customs form envelope on the front of the box and ship. If shipped by post doesn't it just arrive postage due for the import duties? No brokerage fee.

I don't tend to ship items that can not be shipped by post though.
 
My experience has been so bad with UPS brokerage fees that I specify USPS when I can. I will not buy if only option is shipment by UPS. If USPS is not available then there is the 'ship to border' services where you have to go across the border to pick up the parcel and return back across the border with it. Living in Niagara that might make sense for you. Here is an example of a provider:
https://www.kinek.com/shipping-to-the-border/
 
Last edited:
I try to only use USPS as Canada Post will handle the customs part.
 
The USPS and Canada Post postal services is the only way I go.
 
David S said:
I order a few things from the States but am not quite sure what you are referring to. Can you give a bit more detail?

David
Click to expand...

https://littlemachineshop.com/info/shipping.php#Canada

That said, if I take USPS options, I end up paying even more than UPS... partly because LMS has a special deal with UPS currently- as long as the order is under $200, UPS will ONLY charge 10$ for their brokerage. But as soon as you cross that, it's 45$ and climbs higher than that with price of the order.

Anyhow, it's only a $10 addition for small orders, but I still will experiment with self-declare as I am bound to order a lot more from LMS and other places and want to be assured I wont get hit with some major fees that could have been unavoidable in the future.
 
Hi Apprentice
I have never used the B-15 form.
I see you are in Niagara. I have everything shipped from the US to CBI in Niagara Falls NY. They are a post office box and UPS /FedEx handler. They charge around $5.00 to accept a package, then you pick it up at your leisure and declare when you cross the bridge. I have only had to pay duty and tax once. A lot of companies have free shipping within the US also. CBI is only about 5 -6 mins from the Rainbow Bridge on Portage road I think
Hope this is of use to you.
Cheers
Martin
 
What Martin W said pretty much seems to be the easiest way if you're near the border. A good friend of mine lives in Calgary but drives to Spokane about once a week. He has all his stuff from the US held on the US side and just self-declares.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top