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Loading ...Pick up at US border
Another cheap way for mail order is to ship the goods to US-Canadian border and pick them up yourself. There are two obvious advantages.
- Shipping cost is lower or often times free within US mainland.
- You don’t have to pay the outrageous brokerage fees.
To do this, you need to find a parcel service shop near the border. A UPS shop or any local mail shop will do. They normally charge around $5 per delivery.
For instance, if you live in Ottawa, Brockville or Prescott, you can use “Roethel’s Parcel Service” in Ogdensburg a town in US just off the bridge between New York and Ontario on Highway 416/16, less than 1 hr drive from Ottawa. Your mail-order should be addressed to,
Your Name
CO: Roethel’s Parcel Service
1801 Ford Street
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Phone: 1-315-393-4770
Hours: 9am-4:30pm
They like you to do a prompt pickup but delaying a week or so is acceptable, in which case do call to inform the owner, a very nice lady.
When you cross the border, let the border guards know that you are going shopping (do bring your passport these days). Open your package before you return and make sure all the parts are there and nothing extra. Declare the goods with value shown at the Canadian border and pay the GST/PST, and duty if the goods are not made in US/Mexico. Duty for Japanese electronics is normally 6%.
Shopping this way, people reported saving at least 40% buying a boat and a set of 4 winter tires.
If you live in other areas, you can use Google to search for UPS stores in the desired cities. Most UPS stores are friendly and reliable. For example, for UPS store in the Niagara Falls NY is:
UPS Store
1623 Military Rd
Niagara Falls, NY 14304
Phone: (716) 298-4461
Opening hours: 09:00 AM – 07:00 PM, closed on Sunday.
The store was rated “Very friendly and helpful” by other users.
13 responses so far. Leave a comment
[...] We have found a different way to get a good bargain. You can mail order (usually cheaper than regular store price) and deliver to the border for pick up. Read our article here. [...]
Rre shopping cross border- Mailing to US address for pick up
- this is great information!- do you have any UPS contact info for in Niagara Falls NY for those of us in the Toronto area?
[Reply]
Babinni,
An UPS store in the Niagara Falls NY is:
UPS Store
1623 Military Rd
Niagara Falls, NY 14304
Phone: (716) 298-4461
Good luck with your shopping and let us know how it goes.
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I have been doing business in Ogdensburg for 10 years. I have always saved a few dollars and have had very friendly business with Roethel Parcel Service. I have become a long term customer and I visit almost once a month. I like to give our American friends business and highly recommend any other Canadian to do the same. If you want to escape unreasonable brokerage fees, ship to the US and pay the taxes as you return to Canada. I guarantee that you will enjoy the experience. Just don’t ever (and I mean it) try to hide anything (and I mean anything) from the Canadian Customs agents, or you will be very sorry.
The Canadian Customs agents are very friendly when you are honest, and considerate that they have job to do. Just remember your passport.
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Re: shopping cross border- Mailing to US address for pick up
- this is great information!
Do you know of a UPS store in either Penbina or Grand Forks ND
Thanks, U maintain a very usefull site
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OldCr8
Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I’m in Victoria, so it’s not convenient to hop across to the US to pick up a parcel. So I’m interested in finding a depot in the US near the border (Bellingham?) that will receive a package, and then forward it to me by mail. That way, I can purchase from US vendors that won’t ship to Canada (Amazon.com and Woot). Hopefully, I could act as my own customs broker, and avoid those extra charges. Would UPS do this, or do I need to find a small independent depot? I tried to search for the latter, but I don’t know what to call the business I’m looking for. Thanks for any help you can give me!
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Russ
Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:07 pm
You would need a private company. If you use ups to forward mail to you in Canada they would rip you off big time in brokerage fees. To avoid these fees you need to use the us postal service.
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I’m looking for the best way to order items from u.s.a. that won’t deliver to canada as well – either windsor or wallaceburg/wallpole border crossings. Anyone with places or websites with info please?
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Go to ups.com and find closest US office to border. Order the goods and have them sent to “you” care of UPS Customer Counter, address, town. Get a tracking number form the shipper. Track it and go pick it up when it arrives. UPS will hold for one week no charge before returning. The vendor should supply your phone number outside the box and UPS will call you when to pick it up
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Help! I want to special order an item.i’m in the states now for over 48 hrs, but i will have to come pick up item in 2 weeks. Can i claim it during this trip, and pick up later?
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BoB
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March 6th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I think the personal exemption are for goods you bring into Canada with you. I’m not sure if you can claim it on one trip and bring it into Canada later. Most likely Not.
If you find out more info, let us know.
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When you fly, one of the customs declaration boxes is ” I have goods that are not accompanying me, that will arrive at a later date ” or words to that effect. I asked someone that travels frequently how you go about declaring shipped goods and they indicated that it was quite a hassle. For what its worth. It does sound like an option though.
Assumably you would have been to have been away long enough to qualify for the exemption, and I guess you would have to show receipts and proof of shipping instructions etc.
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Great article. I look forward to reading more in the future.
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