Canadian Customers

[CompressorPros.com]

We get inquiries from Canadian customers from time to time, but have limited ourselves to the lower 48 due to shipping complications.

Just curious if our Canadian friends buy much from the US and how they typically handle shipping. Do you use a freight forwarder at the border or do you find a lot of companies willing to ship direct?

 

[Professur]

Anything with problematic shipping, I have sent to the UPS store just south of the border and run down to collect it in person.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

That seems like an option, but a pain in the ****. I hate to completely eliminate Canadian sales, but also don't want to get ******* in a complicated mess trying to have things delivered.

Thanks for your comment

 

[Professur]

No charge.

 

[jayoldschool]

Just look at Babco's site, and Princess Auto. With exchange, shipping... I doubt you're going to beat the prices up here.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

I'm sure you are correct. Pricing here in the states is not an issue, we typically can beat anyone's price, but for my vendors who actually include shipping in their pricing, the free shipping stops at the border.

 

[jptbay]

Majority of the Canadian population lives within an hour or two of the US border.

Easy enough to get items shipped to a US holding address, then drive over to pick it up. I always do a cost calculation to see if the savings are worth it.

Some shippers do specialize in cross border shipping of large freight. Maybe you can negotiate a good arrangement with FedEx Freight, or DHL.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've been stung with unexpected costs when buying from over the border. There was an extra $22.00 import [?] charge on top of the $25.00 shipping fee for a shifter being given free to me by a TRS forum member. Then I've ordered ~$20.00 worth of led light strips from China and the shipping and anything else is included. WHY the difference?

Currently I'm shopping for an unloader valve and bullwhip for a portable gas powered compressor manufactured in Taiwan. No manual or parts list online and the manufacturer hasn't answered my e-mail as yet, sent 3 days ago. I went to Canadian Tire, Peavey Mart, and Princess Auto last night and all 3 are lacking. I'm actually heading to a local vendor this morning and expect to pay about four times what I could get it online for. I'm leery of ordering online as there is no part number on the unloader and this is the first time working on a compressor and am afraid of getting the wrong one.

I doubt any of this helps....I'm just venting.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Most Canadians know how to get something shipped to the border.

 

[lilredex]

I've been stung with unexpected costs when buying from over the border. There was an extra $22.00 import [?] charge on top of the $25.00 shipping fee for a shifter being given free to me by a TRS forum member. Then I've ordered ~$20.00 worth of led light strips from China and the shipping and anything else is included. WHY the difference?

Currently I'm shopping for an unloader valve and bullwhip for a portable gas powered compressor manufactured in Taiwan. No manual or parts list online and the manufacturer hasn't answered my e-mail as yet, sent 3 days ago. I went to Canadian Tire, Peavey Mart, and Princess Auto last night and all 3 are lacking. I'm actually heading to a local vendor this morning and expect to pay about four times what I could get it online for. I'm leery of ordering online as there is no part number on the unloader and this is the first time working on a compressor and am afraid of getting the wrong one.

I doubt any of this helps....I'm just venting.

Check out this unloader valve (LOAD GENIE), it is the one I use. It is essentially a check valve that pisses out air while the pump is in operation.

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Milton...Valve-Combination-14-Female-NPT_p_156698.html

It comes in 1/4" up to about 3/4".

 

[LOOSEWHEEL]

Shipped to the border after cost analysis. Oh, and NEVER use UPS. Their brokerage and admin fees will double your cost usually. Always use USPS (smaller items) first as they have an agreement with Canada Post when it comes to brokerage fees.

 

[OldmanB]

Shipped to the border after cost analysis. Oh, and NEVER use UPS. Their brokerage and admin fees will double your cost usually. Always use USPS (smaller items) first as they have an agreement with Canada Post when it comes to brokerage fees.

Exactly how to do it!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Check out this unloader valve (LOAD GENIE), it is the one I use. It is essentially a check valve that pisses out air while the pump is in operation.

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Milton...Valve-Combination-14-Female-NPT_p_156698.html

It comes in 1/4" up to about 3/4".

Thanks for the tip.

I ended up buying an unloader and bullwhip for just north of $100.00, so about 4 times what it would cost online. BUT I also got about 20 minutes of a technicians time to explain to me how everything works together so I believe it was a fair deal.

 

[94EG8]

As a Canadian, yes we tend to buy a lot of stuff from the US, the pricing is usually a lot better and there is so much more available south of the border that we simply can't buy here.

I really prefer to find a company that will ship something to me directly, but if it's something I really want I'll have it shipped to a brokerage firm near the border who wil take care of shipping it across the border for me. I also have a lot of friends that will get things shipped to a place near the border (in our case usually Calis, ME) and they'll drive over on a weekend and pick it up themselves.

 

[Outlander]

If really necessary I ship stuff to my office in the US and one of my colleagues holds it for me until we connect. Example: shirts with company logo (for trade shows) cost as much to ship from supplier as the shirt.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I have found USPS shipping rates to have gone completely out of line the past few years. I was going to buy a tool in the US and shipping it (4lbs) would have been $85 at one company and $105 at another, for an $85 tool. Add in the current crappy exchange rate + duty = no thanks.

 

[Jazz1]

I pick up my auto parts at the border,,,,of course also can skip the middle man if I'm in no hurry and get the parts shipped directly to my door from Hong Kong

 

[R-Savage]

The border for me is about 8 hours to 10 hours away. I buy tons of stuff from the states. However its always little things. first thing I ask is "Do you Ship to Canada?" if the answer is no. Then Have a nice day. I would like to buy more from my American friends. Really I would.

 

[dalehsc]

you've hit the nail on the head, the best way to get anything from the US is to ship to someone near the border & go get it yourself

One of my first purchases through e-bay ,was a scope out of Florida. I live in Eastern Canada, I got it shipped to me through usps to my Canadian address & it took 3 wks. It spent 10 days in a customs department in Windsor !!!

I ran my own auto repair shop,& had UPS ship me parts from NY. I got everything fine,good timing,put the parts on,calculated my retail,customer paid me, a week later got a bill from UPS for brokerage fees ....never again!

I don't understand how I can get things from England & Asia quicker & less customs issues than our "free trading partner"

 

[Two Speed]

USPS or not at all.

Brokerage fees that get tacked on by the courier companies kill the deal (I think UPS is a $25 minimum)
If an item comes USPS/Canada Post, it at most will get a 5 dollar handling fee.