Definitely.No issues shipping guitars and other gear via USPS here either. No matter how you ship though, packing it properly is crucial.
We used to keep a coffee can of 1:1 water and Elmer's white glue, and would paint some on the box, lay the label on top, then paint more of the mixture on top. When that dries it's protected from everything except damage to the cardboard itself, and is clear and the label is easily read.protect the shipping label from damage
As someone in Canada, USPS is my preference. UPS and FedEx like to charge exorbitant brokerage fees to import packages for you. I've never had an issue with them treating a package any worse than UPS or FedEx. Maybe they're slower by a day sometimes.
As for the Fees, $2000 USD it ~ $2500 CAD.
That's $375 HST for the import, and $150 for the duty if it's not made in North America.
On top of that $525, in order to do the import paperwork:
UPS has tried to charge >$200 (varies with price)
FedEx will charge $100 (varies with price)
USPS->Canada Post will charge flat rate $5 regardless of item value.
And going to fill out one sheet of paper myself is free.
Thanks, I may not have at that time, I forget when I first started doing it.Do you know about self clearing packages?
I always do it now if the broker fees are over $10.
Definitely sounds like my experience as well . USPS every time if I can.Thanks, I may not have at that time, I forget when I first started doing it.
But it's still just a huge pain in the butt to have to
So USPS is still my strong preference if available.
- Contact the shipping company and wait for them to send me the self clearing paperwork
- Contact them again after it reaches Canada because they usually don't like to provide it before it's cleared the border
- leave work mid-day with my paperwork to go to a CBSA
- End up paying the extra 6% duty UPS forgot to charge me because they didn't check that the instrument wasn't covered under NAFTA
- Email my proof of payment to the shipper to mark the COD as paid
- Have to flag the item as held for pickup or refuse delivery until the paperwork is done because they only send it to me 24 hours after it arrives in canada then mark it cleared 24 hours after I submit the proof of clearance.
- Have to explain to the guy at my door that I have the paperwork but he can't drop it with me yet because his system doesn't say it's paid yet until the head office people process it
- Have to then get it sent out for delivery again because "we no longer allowe customer pickups at our location after COVID"