Official Luthiers Forum!

This is really a thread for Canadian forum members, to share your experience bringing purchases into Canada, especially from the US.

Sometimes we have a choice and sometimes we don’t, but how things are shipped has an impact on how much we pay for shipping and for getting the stuff through customs.

In my experience, USPS International Mail is by far the most economical. The shipping cost is reasonable, they’re reasonably fast and, when clearance fees are charged, it’s a straight $9.95 to Canada Post, regardless of value. Smaller shipments often come through without any fee or taxes charged. (I have no need to avoid sales tax, as I’m registered and tax paid is simply a credit against tax collected).

Trouble is, many US sellers refuse to send by USPS, even when requested, and then things become expensive, especially when UPS, FedEx or especially DHL handle the shipment.

Stewmac and LMI both use USPS for regular shipping, and that works great. Since I order frequently from Stewmac, I decided this year to join their StewMAX program — USD39.95 covers all shipping to Canada for the year, no minimum.

Trouble is, they don’t use USPS for this program. Their Fedex International Mail Service seems to use Canada Post for customs clearance, but the service can be really slow (a full 4 weeks). If they use Fedex Economy International the speed is much faster, but you get gouged by the Fedex brokerage charges to clear the shipment. I asked Stewmac specifically to use USPS because of high brokerage fees from Fedex: their reply “We have noted your request. Thank you for your order.” but then shipped with Fedex anyway.

Recently, I was in a rush, so paid the USD20 fee under the StewMAX program to expedite shipment. They sent by DHL, whose brokerage fee alone exceeded the value of the shipment!

I’ve used StewMAX to receive shipments while vacationing in the US. Those shipments used USPS Priority Mail — fast and easy. If I lived in the US, the StewMax program would be a “no brainer” but in Canada I’m not so sure. Maybe in the future I’ll have things shipped to an agent near the border in Vermont, retrieve it myself, and pay the USD5 fee to the receiver and the taxes as I cross back.

So what are your experiences? How do you manage to avoid being gouged by couriers for their excessive brokerage fees?

As an aside, I’ve received mail shipments of wood direct from India, wrapped in cotton with the paperwork sown into a corner — never paid a penny for border charges. Go figure!


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I try to shop in Canada as much as possible, even if it means paying more, as between brokerage fees and higher shipping it’s usually a wash. Unfortunately, Canada is a pretty bleak market.

When I do shop from US, I give strong preference to suppliers that will ship USPS, and just accept the wait time.

When I do need to expedite, which is much more often than I’d like (and usually just a one or two item shipment where shipping is a larger cost than the items), I just accept that it’s another poor man’s tax for not having the scratch to order in bulk long before it’s required.

Getting supplies if you live in the states must be a lot easier...

Hi Tim, I have had the same issues, not as much with guitar related items but tools, parts, supplies for my own woodworking business. I use a receiver on the US side and make the drive when I need to.
It looks like you are about an hour from the border, so a half day round trip might be worthwhile.
Try this;
https://pinnacleparcelsvt.com/

Brian

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

I am one of those wood and parts suppliers who normally does not ship to Canada, unless the customer accepts the possibility of a long wait or is willing to pay a lot for expedited shipping. USPS is the only cost effective way to ship, but is unreliable as to shipping time. I don't know where the issue is, U.S. side or Canada, but unless I use expensive mail service like Priority International it can take weeks to get mail through and leaves my customer wondering where their stuff is. I have not been able to figure out the logic behind the system.

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

I wonder if there's issues with USPS... if so many sellers insist on UPS/Fedex.

I used MyUS to forward heavy US shipments but I found since they use Fedex, I end up getting taxed quite a bit, or having to explain to customs what the item is so it doesn't either get rejected or having to file expensive paperwork. I had this happen with my order from Alaska Specialty Woods. I finally explained to custom that it's for guitars so they entered the code for "guitar parts" and so aside from tax, I don't have to do expensive paperwork (which costs 40 dollars to do).

I will not be using MyUS again. Far too much hassle dealing with Fedex because they do everything by the book and there's only a 1% chance that a post office shipment gets inspected and therefore taxed. But then there's also the Taobao seller who sells musical instrument woods, and they are authorized by CCP to ship CITES stuff so I can buy all the CITES stuff from them I want, provided I can afford it. They even sell BRW too. They're like 5000 yuan (around 800 USD) per set though...

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a3 ... 1143994123

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I expect you’re right, Brian. In fact my wife (an artist) frequently uses Pinnacle. Mind you, she has regular business in Sutton, so it’s not really out of her way. For me, it means blowing a half day to make a pickup, and I’ve resented that. I guess I just need to be more zen and look forward to lunch and a pint at the Brouërie in Sutton.


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Bob, sending to Canada by USPS First Class International is not outrageously expensive and provides tracking. Both LMI and Stewmac generally use this as their standard lowest-cost shipping outside of the US. Yes, it’s slower than USPS within the US, but the customer always knows where the parcel is. At most times of the year, transit time to Canada is rarely longer than 2 weeks.


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I think we pretty much agree, Ed. Yes, living in Canada sometimes makes it difficult to source stuff, but infinitely easier than in New Zealand. (Mind you, much easier to find metric hardware and quality DS tape in NZ.)

Regardless of hemisphere, shipping from the US by USPS is almost always the preferred option.


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Indeed...

I agree as well.
Packages that would come USPS always seem to arrive without a hitch.
Any other method inflicts varying degrees of damage to the pocketbook; but then again sometimes not at all.
Nothing ever seems to add up / make sense. I experienced this even more in the past with ebay purchases.

My last experience was my friend shipping me some nice OLD cuban planks from the UK.
Not only did i get them unscathed, no other duties/tariffs/taxes or anything tacked on.
If USPS is not the confirmed shipping method, you have to be ready to gamble i think.

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Wake up and smell the rosewood!