US Shipping Proxies?

[Ace]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Ace, what type of stuff are you getting from the US? For me, I am talking about 50-lb speakers, large-sized musical instruments, etc.

I bought some steel baby gates once, and these were too heavy to go USPS. I ended up having to ship with DHL. It was more expensive than I had hoped for, but still worked out.

The key is that usually within the US the shipping is free, so basically whatever you pay to "Package Express" is the actual cost to ship up here. If you are already paying shipping within the US then, to pay again is going to kill you. Your usually better off calling the original company and getting them to ship directly. Package express is also about 11 hours from Calgary, so in theory you could plan a weekend in Seattle or Vancouver and go get them yourself. If you're planning to do this for sure then better to pick a place in Montana if you just want to day trip.

The bottom Line is I use the forwarding service to get products that are otherwise not available to me in Canada, sometime I can save a little money, and sometimes it costs me more...in the end the potential cost savings are not usually a deciding factor.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ace

Kunk - I had to do this in Red Deer once and Purolator held a package for pick up for me, I assume they'd do that at any of their depots

Problem is I have to go through Fedex and they send stuff back after a few business days.

[Ace]

Re UPS: The UPS Brokerage scam is on ground shipments, always look at using UPS Express as they include brokerage in these shipping rates. Usually UPS Express will actually end up being cheaper plus you get the stuff faster. (Same goes with FedEx Express)

If you do go UPS Ground, it may be worth it to self clear your packages, which you can do at the CBSA office here in Calgary. Just takes a bit of leg work to get the right paperwork, then UPS can't charge you brokerage fees.

[oilfan69]

I use shipito.com, you can get a box or package and they'll hold stuff for you, they also have an option where they will consolidate packages into one box, and have multiple shipping options with reasonable prices. You also do your own customs forms which can be a benefit. They have four outlets you can choose to ship to, I use the oregon one because you dont get charged any state sales tax from retailers.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Bump - I'm using package express right now. I compute the Cost of shipping to be $50, they are charging me ~$65 so about a 30% markup on Express USPS shipping. Just within reason but I have to say this adds up in a hurry, this is a lot more than I expected but I severely underestimated the weight of a couple media players.

[macker]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Bump - I'm using package express right now. I compute the Cost of shipping to be $50, they are charging me ~$65 so about a 30% markup on Express USPS shipping. Just within reason but I have to say this adds up in a hurry, this is a lot more than I expected but I severely underestimated the weight of a couple media players.

Think someone already mentioned Babb? 406-732-5521
$5 under 34lbs
$10 35lbs to 100 pounds
$15 over 100 pounds
UPS, FedEx, and freight drop off and pick-up. About 250k from Calgary and most companies ship state to state for free. 99% of clientele is from Alberta.

[Ace]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Bump - I'm using package express right now. I compute the Cost of shipping to be $50, they are charging me ~$65 so about a 30% markup on Express USPS shipping. Just within reason but I have to say this adds up in a hurry, this is a lot more than I expected but I severely underestimated the weight of a couple media players.

You should be allowed to send your own courier if it's actually cheaper...they 'let' me do that before, but in the end I couldn't get it much less.