Help Getting Advent Calendar from U.S. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Devils'Advocate · 11-05-2011, 05:02 AM

My brother asked for my help getting an advent calendar for my niece. He was looking to spend $25 to $30 on it. My nephew is getting a Lego advent calendar while my brother was hoping to get a "Polly Pocket", "Hello Kitty", or "Littlest Petshop" one for my niece. I found the Polly Pocket one on Amazon.com (U.S. store) and it was only $16.99. Perfect. So I logged in, put the calendar in my cart, got to the checkout and it came out to $56.82. So it put on almost $40 in shipping and handling charges!!!!!

Polly Pocket:

Littlest Pet Shop:

Hello Kitty:

So all three exist, and all three are for sale at Amazon.com, but none of them are available through Amazon.ca.

I tried e-bay.ca as well. There are a few on e-bay.com, but they all say "no shipping outside USA". I tried some online stores that specialize in advent calendars too, but to no avail. Any ideas? Anywhere I could possibly check within Canada?

SeeBass · 11-05-2011, 07:14 AM

Is there chocolate in them?

If so that might be the reason why you are getting dinged so heavily.

firebug · 11-05-2011, 07:47 AM

Is it coming to Calgary?

REDVAN · 11-05-2011, 08:16 AM

If you want it so badly, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and pay the shipping charges :-(

Derek Sutton · 11-05-2011, 08:36 AM

Already in the true spirit of Christmas greed. What better way to celebrate the birth of our savior then with "Polly Pocket". Just go down to the dollar store and buy TWO for the niece and no matter what is on her brother's he will be jealous of her and she will be happier then him. Kids are so easy to fool.

Devils'Advocate · 11-05-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Already in the true spirit of Christmas greed. What better way to celebrate the birth of our savior then with "Polly Pocket". Just go down to the dollar store and buy TWO for the niece and no matter what is on her brother's he will be jealous of her and she will be happier then him. Kids are so easy to fool.

Well, if you are going to go off on the commercialization of Christmas, you are preaching to the converted. I have demanded that all friends and relatives NOT give me a gift, or if they feel obligated, then give in the form of tax receipts for monetary donations to the food bank.

However, I think the season should be fun for the kids and a few toys here and there can't be absolutely horrible.

No, the Polly Pocket and Lego advent calendars contain toys. They didn't want to give sweets to the kids every day...

Ace · 11-05-2011, 09:05 AM

I use package Express for these exact situations...plus you can ensure it comes to Canada through USPS.

http://www.packageexpress.com/

It usually works out pretty good when you can take advantage of the free super saver shipping inside the US.

Devils'Advocate · 11-05-2011, 12:17 PM

It's unfortunate that I can only thank that post once. That should work out perfectly. Thank you!!

DownhillGoat · 11-05-2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace

I use package Express for these exact situations...plus you can ensure it comes to Canada through USPS.

How does that work with taxes/duty?

Nage Waza · 11-06-2011, 12:14 AM

I am coming to Calgary soon, want me to pick them up? How big are they?

Devils'Advocate · 11-06-2011, 01:47 AM

I'm not in Calgary, but thanks for the offer.

kunkstyle: I don't know about the taxes/duty, but they do state in their FAQ that they can use UPS or Fedex, but most people choose to go with USPS to avoid the brokerage fees, which, in my experience, usually far exceed any taxes/duty.

Devils'Advocate · 11-16-2011, 01:08 PM

Just a word of warning. I used Package Express because their fee chart said that anything under a pound was an $8 forwarding charge. However, when the quote came to my e-mail address it was $35!!!!! So I called and asked why it was over 4X what I was expecting to pay. They told me that because of the awkward size of of the item, they couldn't fit it in a USPS Premium Service envelope and therefore would have to be shipped Express.

So in the end, the calendar cost $20. Shipping via Package Express was $35. I hope my neice enjoys her $55 advent calendar.

I asked Package Express if there were any other options and they said that they could toss the package and waive the recieving fee. I seriously considered it.

nickerjones · 11-16-2011, 08:43 PM

I offered to help

Devils'Advocate · 11-17-2011, 04:22 AM

You absolutely did.... and I'm kicking myself for not taking you up on the offer. I just don't like putting people out if I could get a business to do it for $8. Next time I'll know better...