Shipping an amp USA to Canada

[MetalHeadMike]

Who has done this and what's involved? A quick look at the UPS website makes it sound like if the item was made in a CUSMA country (Canada United States Mexico Agreement) and is a non-commercial sale and being shipped to a CUSMA country, then there is no certification of origin paperwork. Am I reading into this right?

I'll call UPS Monday, but thought maybe someone here has experience. Is it as easy as just shipping it, or is there paper work, certifications, etc that need to be filed by a seller (me)?

 

[glip22]

An amp box should be no problem with the dimensions. I think its 108" for Canada. There's a formula USPS uses. I have shipped two amps to Canada with no issue. Use Priority or Express only. The only form you need is the standard Customs form and you may need an invoice in a packing envelope. No special forms like you need sometimes for anything made of wood.

Not a big deal to ship to Canada. You can even do it online I think. Last international I shipped a guitar to Hong Kong I processed online.
Pack well Double box might be too big though. 36x16x16 should work. I think it's 100" with the formula. Length plus girth so 36 plus 16 +16+16+16 You have to make sure of the allowed dimensions. Some Countries allow less. Canada is 108 I think

 

[MetalHeadMike]

An amp box should be no problem with the dimensions. I think its 108" for Canada. There's a formula USPS uses. I have shipped two amps to Canada with no issue. Use Priority or Express only. The only form you need is the standard Customs form and you may need an invoice in a packing envelope. No special forms like you need sometimes for anything made of wood.

Not a big deal to ship to Canada. You can even do it online I think. Last international I shipped a guitar to Hong Kong I processed online.
Pack well Double box might be too big though. 36x16x16 should work. I think it's 100" with the formula. Length plus girth so 36 plus 16 +16+16+16 You have to make sure of the allowed dimensions. Some Countries allow less. Canada is 108 I think

Thanks for the info

 

[skullfxr]

I shipped several things to Oz a long time ago and just called the carrier and they answered my questions kindly. I had to do a little bit of paper work but the carrier told me what I needed to do. I have shipped to a few times (not recently) to Canada and just brought it to the UPS store and they made it really easy for me. I cashed in on some things that became cheap when the British pound sterling crashed a while ago and that was smooth, but I have never shipped there, just received.

These days I stay in the 48,but I just go to the UPS store and they take good care of me. Never had an issue or back charge because they do the measurements. If it's small, just a prepaid USPS box. No hassle, whatsoever. Either way pay for the signature.


EDITED FOR CLARITY

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I shipped several things to Oz a long time ago and just called the carrier and they answered my questions kindly. I had to do a little bit of paper work but the carrier told me what I needed to do. I have shipped to a few times (not recently) to Canada and just brought it to the UPS store and they made it really easy for me. I cashed in on some things that became cheap when the British pound sterling crashed a while ago and that was smooth, but I have never shipped there, just received.

These days I stay in the 48,but I just go to the UPS store and they take good care of me. Never had an issue or back charge because they do the measurements. If it's small, just a prepaid USPS box. No hassle, whatsoever. Either way pay for the signature.


EDITED FOR CLARITY

I see...thanks for the info!

 

[skullfxr]

I see...thanks for the info!

Not a problem.

My rules...

Domestic: If it's too big to fit in a USPS prepaid box, then go to the UPS Store (with your own packing). Always pay for the SIGNATURE. additional $3 USPS, $4ish UPS.

INTL: call the carrier or go to the UPS Store.

FYI I have a box at the UPS store, so I save 15%, also, it's nice because anything can be sent there to your box, and they accept it. Then you don't have to worry about jackasses stealing packages off of your porch. Even if you have a small sized box, they will take any package, including the truck topper that my dad ordered to the box. All 150lbs of it. You can have multiple people in the box too. My dad and I live 12 minutes away, and we both use it and split the cost. So that's handy too.

 

[itsme]

It will be very expensive. Make sure you account for that. I certainly learned my lesson and won't do it again...

 

[PBGas]

I’ve had both come up here when I had them via Fed Ex and no issues. The other came up via USPS without any issue either. All items were really packed well and the sellers took great care in making sure. One of these was from here.

 

[skullfxr]

This is domestic and unrelated but...

The guy who sold my Framus listed shipping as free. He did not do the research. He packed it well and double boxed it. From So-Cals to FL, he paid $140. He voiced his displeasure with me which IMO is a bitchey thing to do,as I just would have kept my mouth shut and learned my lesson. But I told him I said it's not my problem you didn't do your research. And he was bitchey and said that he would "just stick to selling local as he don't have problems that way" left a sour taste on my mouth regarding character, where he should have just taken it as a man, and learned.

So yes, check the price.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

All great advice/input here...thanks folks!

 

[Ian1eh]

Hi Guys,

I have seen so many for sale posts by guys who say "CON US ONLY".....To me, that is just silly nonsense!

If you are shipping something ANYWHERE, the process is exactly the SAME!

STEPS:
1. Take it to the depot of choice....FedEx, UPS, USPS....
2. Have the depot of choice give you an "estimate" for packing and shipping, based on the address that it is going to.
3. Get agreement from the buyer on the cost to pack and ship.
4. Have the buyer transfer the funds to you.
5. Once the funds have been received, drop off the item at the depot of choice, and complete the shipping forms. In fact, the depot will even help you fill the forms in IF you are not smart enough to fill them in yourself!
6. Have it packed and shipped by the depot of choice to the buyer's address.
7. Send the buyer the tracking # so that they can watch the unit in transit.

It does NOT get any simpler than that!

WHY some people in the US refuse to send something to Canada, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, is just silly!

Hope this helps....

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Hi Guys,

I have seen so many for sale posts by guys who say "CON US ONLY".....To me, that is just silly nonsense!

If you are shipping something ANYWHERE, the process is exactly the SAME!

STEPS:
1. Take it to the depot of choice....FedEx, UPS, USPS....
2. Have the depot of choice give you an "estimate" for packing and shipping, based on the address that it is going to.
3. Get agreement from the buyer on the cost to pack and ship.
4. Have the buyer transfer the funds to you.
5. Once the funds have been received, drop off the item at the depot of choice, and complete the shipping forms. In fact, the depot will even help you fill the forms in IF you are not smart enough to fill them in yourself!
6. Have it packed and shipped by the depot of choice to the buyer's address.
7. Send the buyer the tracking # so that they can watch the unit in transit.

It does NOT get any simpler than that!

WHY some people in the US refuse to send something to Canada, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, is just silly!

Hope this helps....

You'll be well received around here...no doubt

 

[skullfxr]

Hi Guys,

I have seen so many for sale posts by guys who say "CON US ONLY".....To me, that is just silly nonsense!

If you are shipping something ANYWHERE, the process is exactly the SAME!

STEPS:
1. Take it to the depot of choice....FedEx, UPS, USPS....
2. Have the depot of choice give you an "estimate" for packing and shipping, based on the address that it is going to.
3. Get agreement from the buyer on the cost to pack and ship.
4. Have the buyer transfer the funds to you.
5. Once the funds have been received, drop off the item at the depot of choice, and complete the shipping forms. In fact, the depot will even help you fill the forms in IF you are not smart enough to fill them in yourself!
6. Have it packed and shipped by the depot of choice to the buyer's address.
7. Send the buyer the tracking # so that they can watch the unit in transit.

It does NOT get any simpler than that!

WHY some people in the US refuse to send something to Canada, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, is just silly!

Hope this helps....

While yes this is true, but for me it is just flat out easier. Not a single form. Don't have to do anything other than drop a flat rate envelope off to USPS if it's a smaller item (as what I ship usually is). Or pack it and go to the UPS Store. I don't have to estimate shipping at all on the USPS flat rate. I know it's going to be $13 w/signature required. UPS, I use enough to guess or punch the numbers on online and add 15% for fudge room. That's as simple as it gets. TBH in the last few years I have never had anyone even ASK me to export. There are still frustrations as far as customs that the buyer may not expect or any friction. I have had ZERO problems with anything CONUS.

 

[Ian1eh]

Hi Guys,

I have seen so many for sale posts by guys who say "CON US ONLY".....To me, that is just silly nonsense!

If you are shipping something ANYWHERE, the process is exactly the SAME!

STEPS:
1. Take it to the depot of choice....FedEx, UPS, USPS....
2. Have the depot of choice give you an "estimate" for packing and shipping, based on the address that it is going to.
3. Get agreement from the buyer on the cost to pack and ship.
4. Have the buyer transfer the funds to you.
5. Once the funds have been received, drop off the item at the depot of choice, and complete the shipping forms. In fact, the depot will even help you fill the forms in IF you are not smart enough to fill them in yourself!
6. Have it packed and shipped by the depot of choice to the buyer's address.
7. Send the buyer the tracking # so that they can watch the unit in transit.

It does NOT get any simpler than that!

WHY some people in the US refuse to send something to Canada, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, is just silly!

Hope this helps....

You'll be well received around here...no doubt

LOL! Yeah man I knew that before I started typing!

 

[Inearthed]

I don’t ship to Canada because the two times I have the shipping company came after me for the customs fees a month after the package was received as the recipient refused to pay them, contacted the buyer directly and they went silent so I got stuck paying the fees. maybe there loophole has been fixed but I just am not dealing with it again.

 

[Ian1eh]

I don’t ship to Canada because the two times I have the shipping company came after me for the customs fees a month after the package was received as the recipient refused to pay them, contacted the buyer directly and they went silent so I got stuck paying the fees. maybe there loophole has been fixed but I just am not dealing with it again.

There are 2 things here......so you need to be specific:

1. Customs fee......this is the "tax" that they place on TOP of the value that has been declared for shipping. If you valued it at $500, the customs fee would b a percentage of that.......it is really meant to "penalize" the BUYER for not buying the product in Canada, and paying the retail sales taxes that they would normally pay here in Canada.....This is charged by Canada Customs to the BUYER in Canada.

2. Brokerage fee........this is the "fee" that UPS / Fedex charge to "hand it off" from the US UPS depot to the Canadian UPS depot......kinda like a special "handshake" that the BUYER in Canada has to pay......

The BUYER in Canada needs to be aware that these charges will exist BEFORE they go shopping in the US!

The SELLER in the US also needs to be aware that the BUYER will be faced with additional charges that the BUYER needs to bear when the item arrives.....In your case, the Canadian buyer was an IDIOT!

Unfortunately, it's always the negative people that leave a bad taste in your mouth.....

I have been buying and selling gear from Canada to the US, and around the world for 25 years......I know the ins and outs.....

 

[tfridgen]

Save the hassle and use USPS instead of UPS or Fedex. Thank me later.

 

[glip22]

Hi Guys,

I have seen so many for sale posts by guys who say "CON US ONLY".....To me, that is just silly nonsense!

If you are shipping something ANYWHERE, the process is exactly the SAME!

STEPS:
1. Take it to the depot of choice....FedEx, UPS, USPS....
2. Have the depot of choice give you an "estimate" for packing and shipping, based on the address that it is going to.
3. Get agreement from the buyer on the cost to pack and ship.
4. Have the buyer transfer the funds to you.
5. Once the funds have been received, drop off the item at the depot of choice, and complete the shipping forms. In fact, the depot will even help you fill the forms in IF you are not smart enough to fill them in yourself!
6. Have it packed and shipped by the depot of choice to the buyer's address.
7. Send the buyer the tracking # so that they can watch the unit in transit.

It does NOT get any simpler than that!

WHY some people in the US refuse to send something to Canada, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, is just silly!

Hope this helps....

I've shipped all over the World as well. In fairness to guys, including me, there are reasons we sometimes only want to ship to the lower 48. If I have an item I know will sell easily, I list it for sale in the lower 48 simply because it is a pain in the ass to fill out the customs forms,research the ship to Country's form requirements, as well as their allowed box sizes. I also have to physically bring it to USPS, and wait in line, rather than using fedex or UPS and just having it picked up.

Another reason is the ship to Country's Customs and delays. It's stressful waiting a package I shipped to clear Customs. I have had Customs hold items for two weeks. Plus there is more risk for Customs to lose it. Some Countries require special forms for woods if shipping a guitar like teh US Lacey Acts form. If the correct forms are not included you have a headache.
A thousand times easier to ship in the US.
Now, I go through all of the above if I want a sale and an international buyer, especially one I know, wants to deal.

I listed many good reasons why not to.

 

[PBGas]

I don’t ship to Canada because the two times I have the shipping company came after me for the customs fees a month after the package was received as the recipient refused to pay them, contacted the buyer directly and they went silent so I got stuck paying the fees. maybe there loophole has been fixed but I just am not dealing with it again.

When I have someone ship me an amp or more expensive item up here I simply tell them in writing that I understand and comply that I am wholly responsible for any taxes, duties or customs fees once the item crosses the border.

I would never want to have someone else pay the bill for something that I purchased and brought up north of the border. It's my responsibility to do that.

 

[skullfxr]

I guess me these days, CONUS seems to sell fast/easy enough to not fuss with anywhere else.