I fully agree with the message below: unless you run a commercial business (or are part of one and have good relations with the people responsible for cross-border shipping), as a private importer stay clear (in this case: the further, the better) from ALL companies that were mentioned before. Their livelihood is based on moving large quantities of boxes for each customer, and they usually have bulk agreements with them (if there is someone on this list who has a differing opinion, feel free to educate me). Your best option - which has not failed me so far - is to use Canada Post and/or USPS (up to their size/weight limit). They are reasonably priced, and service you as advertised. I, too, was bitten once or twice by UPS and am doing all in my powers to educate others.
I'm sure that you are aware that there are no duties (i.e., Customs fees) on imported electronic equipment (but a Customs declaration is needed!). P.S. Canada Post is no better or worse than any other such shop (unionized or not): they have their share dedicated people and the ones that are not so (their former chief comes to mind). -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 11:01 PM To: Mac Canada Subject: Re: Shipping from USPS to Canada I wrote a piece for the Double Click a few months ago upon the occasion of receiving a UPS GROUND delivery of an EMPTY USB/FW hard drive enclosure from one of the American LEM SWAP Listerines that cost me $50.00 US ($40.00 plus $10.00 for delivery). I sent the seller the money to pay for the item plus postage. He sent it UPS GROUND instead of USPS because it was a "couple of dollars" cheaper. Through the usual UPS comedy of errors it showed up at my door with a UPS C.O.D. charge of only $58.23 Canadian. Thats what they figured was a fair price for determining from the label on the box that there was no actual duty payable. When I refused it UPS held onto it long enough to justify refusing to return it to the American unless he paid EVEN MORE than that to get it back !!! May I suggest that in six years of buying and selling on eBay with over a thousand transactions I have never had anything lost or damaged by the combined US and Canadian Post Office. Although the Canada Postal Service has long been recognised here in Canada as one of the countries greatest natural reservoirs of dipsomaniacs, kleptomaniacs, sneak-thieves, pick-pockets, mal-contents, ne'er-do-wells and misfits, they do get the mail through. M -- Mac Canada is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Shop Canadian, visit Mantek Services <http://www.mantek.mb.ca> Low Prices That Will Keep YOU and Your MAC Smiling Educational discounts are now available Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Mac Canada info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-can.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-canada%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
