Calling All Canadians RESOLVED

[4uall]

Curious to know peoples experiences with shipping. I have recently been doing some shopping and I find that I am always getting completely different totals by the time the dust settles. I am looking specifically at UPS vs USPS costs as well as the ever present Customs fees I have come to find out (shout out to Autoricambi) that by putting "Antique Car parts" on the box it will be less at customs Just trying to make the best of my $ so Fiona can look & perform her best

[ORFORD2004]

UPS means that U Pay Something...
The best deal is to ship near the border and pick it up yourself.
You only pay GST and TVQ for me.

[FatherG]

I found that having parts shipped by the US Postal Services is the most cost effective for us Canadian who do not have access to the border. I often use a post office box in Blaine, WA which makes the whole process much easier and cheaper.
Eugenio

[FatherG]

I found that having parts shipped by the US Postal Services is the most cost effective for us Canadian who do not have access to the border. I often use a post office box in Blaine, WA which makes the whole process much easier and cheaper.
Eugenio

[Wheel]

My only experience is with the USPS, with shipments from about half-a-dozen of different U.S. suppliers. The experience is generally about the same, extra charges at the Canadian Post Office for GST, PST and a small handling fee. Two shipments did not have any extra fees, with one of those shipments marked as "gift". Most suppliers will not mark as "gift", so it was much appreciated when I discovered it. So far, it takes about 1.5 weeks to arrive at my doorstep after the order has been sent.

It normally isn't too much of a problem, except when I don't plan my jobs very well and I have to order more parts, then the shipping starts to add up.

I know people who have had shipments sent by the "couriers" like UPS, Fedex, etc. and it always seems to be the same crap shoot when it comes to trying to guess what the fee will be. I would think that it would be more predictable and up-front, seeing it is the business they are in, but instead they choose the extortion method when they show up on your doorstep.

I don't have access to the border.

[narfire]

Hey Jay a couple of choices.. As mentioned for bigger items see if there is a post drop accross the line if not too far. When you bring the parts back you declare them and in you go to pay the taxes. I have had good fortune sometimes as when there is only one lane open comming back into Canada and line ups are LOOONG,The customs person at the kiosk after showing them my reciept will sometimes mention.."have a good day.. free-bee today and off I go. I have found UPS a rip off. They charge brokerage fees regardless even though you do not have to pay them if for personal use. They also seem to charge handling fees and of course you can't get away from the canadian taxes... I guess you are fortunate to have the HST (ours got voted down after in place for 18 months). USPS works for smaller items and when you pick them up all you have are the taxes.
I do not have any history with fed-ex so can't comment there.
A note to members and vendors when selling to Canadians, please put a "pre-arranged' reciept in with the order. If or when asked we have to show up with it or we do not come back into Can. with our parts. I had one custom agent spend 20 minutes on the computor to check the value of a $40.00 part.. (about $4.80 in taxes)
Chris

[courtenay]

I've had several items shipped both from Allison's Automotive and Auto Ricambi via USPS with no problems. Reasonable cost too. My only experience with UPS resulted in a $50 shipping charge, which I knew about, and a further $50 "customs clearance" charge that I found out about at the door. Won't do that again!!

[vandor]

I have come to find out (shout out to Autoricambi) that by putting "Antique Car parts" on the box it will be less at customs

Yup, we've always done that

[parsok]

Hey Guys,

The best success I've had with home delivery is DHL, low brokerage fees and will deliver after hours. FedEx costs are a little high but they will not deliver outside of normal working hours which means I have to go and get them. USPS is fairly inexpensive but you then have to deal with Canada Post for home delivery. This is my last resort due to expensive brokerage fees and the collection of all applicable taxes.

The best way, if you're near the border, is to get a mailbox and have the products shipped there. The shipping costs are 1/4 to 1/3 the costs of shipping to the home address. Crossing the border you only pay GST.

New Question - has anyone found a Canadian parts supply store?

Dave

[ORFORD2004]

Yes
Canadian Tire lolll!!!!!

[narfire]

New Question - has anyone found a Canadian parts supply store?

I've used Ital motors in Edmonton for parts. They were a Fiat dealer way back when..
Parts prices are not priced as aggresivley as the vendors but have worked for me when I needed one or two small parts.
Mailed as the bus costs more.
Chris

[124ADDHE]

USPS/Any local govornment post office usually can get you around customs if they are tagged as the correct item...sometimes they mess up and you pay $225 duty on a computer (just arrived from the UK today) that is sent out for repair and comes back with a nice suprise

[4uall]

http://www.autopartsway.ca/year.cfm?Fiat

http://www.onlineautopartscanada.ca/par ... fiat.shtml

very limited parts

[kilrwail]

Whenever I can, I specify USPS to avoid the so-called "brokerage fees" charged by the couriers - UPS being more expensive than FedEx. A lot of people here in Ottawa have products shipped to the US border and drive to Ogdensburg, NY to pick them up, but when I factor in the cost of gas and time lost it's not worth my while. I have found a number of Fiat parts at NAPA, like brake calipers and timing belts. Porsche parts, not so much

[KidDingo]

Hey guys,

Related post: has anyone figured out a Canadian supplier for body paint colours?

Just took possession of my baby in October and found a bit of battery acid corrosion under the trunk firewall. But I had to strip the battery shelf, too. So I'm now looking for the infamous Grigio Fumo Metallic in an aerosol can. Any suggestions?