I don't know why I bother arguing this stuff. Really, because I am increasingly annoyed by people perpetuating myths about the evils of postal tracking (useless), Canada Customs (apparently run by Satan himself), UPS (50000% BROKERAGE FEES ON EVERY SHIPMENT), etc.
USPS Priority International shipments to Canada:
Yes, it is true that several years ago, Priority shipments to Canada had somewhat spotty delivery times, and essentially worthless tracking that only served to prove an item had been mailed. I used to feel strongly that it was worth paying the extra for EMS on most items, since Global Priority (as it was called before rebranding) was often delivered at the very end of the service standard, had useless tracking, and didn't allow very much insurance.
Around the same time the USPS rebranded its services, Priority shipments started to become much more reliably fast, and include tracking which shows as much information as EMS. In fact, a Priority shipment to Canada is treated exactly the same way as EMS once it is inside the country, delivered as XpressPost (express mail). Priority has become so consistently good that I haven't bothered to have an item shipped by EMS for over a year. This is a huge, huge improvement.
I have received dozens of packages from the US over the past couple of years. I also regularly chat with eBay sellers who have lots of international shipping experience, as opposed to ones who simply repeat what they've been told about how difficult it is, without seeing for themselves. Of all the Priority packages I've received in recent years, the longest I had to wait was 10 days, including a weekend, as well as a two business day stop in Vancouver customs. Most packages are delivered a week after they're shipped, which is FIVE BUSINESS DAYS.
On the subject of tracking, I cannot emphasize more strongly that is completely untrue that tracking on Priority packages regularly takes days to show online, doesn't show any useful information, etc. Priority tracking is EXACTLY THE SAME as EMS on shipments to Canada. Tracking on most shipments is usually available online the same or next business day (on BOTH the USPS and Canada Post web sites), and it gives updates at predictable intervals. I can see when a package was mailed, transferred to the outgoing postal facility, when it leaves the country; the next update is usually after it has cleared customs, then when it arrives at the regional sorting facility, the local sorting facility, and finally when it is out for delivery. I am still regularly amazed by how GOOD the tracking provided on Priority shipments is, since I am able to tell exactly when it will arrive, like any other trackable postal shipment in Canada. It is best to track an item with Canada Post's web site once it has entered the country.
I want to add that when I talk to people about their "problems" with shipping stuff to Canada, and actually get them to explain situations in detail, I often find that their complaints hold little weight. For example, I asked someone I know who complained about problems with shipping to Canada to outline a typical issue. His "problem" was that a Priority package he sent several years ago took "two weeks" to arrive in Canada. This, despite the fact that the delivery service standard for Priority mail to Canada is STILL up to 10 business days. He was essentially complaining about having a package delivered on time, and perpetuating the same tired old myth.
Customs (Canada Border Services Agency):
There is a strong perception among people I talk to online that customs clearance on postal and courier imports to Canada often takes days (or weeks), and that packages are likely to be opened or damaged. Again, this is completely untrue. I can think of one specific situation where the customs office in Vancouver managed to get backed up during a Christmas rush for which they were unprepared. This is not typical in any way. In fact, I received the same fast postal service during the Christmas rush last December, with packages arriving FASTER, if anything. Customs clearance is almost always quick and easy. The CBSA does not routinely inspect the contents of packages entering Canada -- they are mainly interested in assessing the relevant duty and sales tax.
The same service can be expected with courier customs clearance. However, couriers like the contents of a package to be more clearly indicated for customs purposes. This is only an issue if you are seriously misrepresenting the contents of a package. UPS and FedEx have their own customs brokers, and packages are registered with customs before they've even reached Canada. Again, customs clearance is routine, packages are not generally inspected, etc. UPS guarantees a delivery standard on all of its services to Canada, and out of perhaps 30 shipments I've received, the only ones that deviated from this standard were one or two that UPS itself seriously mishandled.
BROKERAGE FEES
On regular postal shipments to Canada, you will pay your normal sales tax rate on the declared value (if over $20, or $60 for gifts), plus a $5 fee ($8 for EMS). Very few items a normal person is likely to order are dutiable, and even for the few that are, duty is not regularly charged since they are unlikely to be declared with the appropriate tariff code.
The situation is very similar for courier imports. On anything other than ground services, there isn't even a fee, so you simply pay the relevant tax/duty. As I'm sure you probably know, it is quite different for ground services like UPS Standard. I feel very strongly that UPS and other couriers are misleading the public when it comes to customs clearance on their ground services. The utterly ridiculous amounts they charge for clearance can significantly increase the cost of an item. In many cases, once these fees are added, it would have cost the same amount to have the item shipped by the relevant express service. UPS outlines its customs clearance charges on ground shipments
here. I still see many posts by Canadians on this forum who do not understand the distinction between ground and air courier services.
The fact that so many sellers in the US still ship expensive items to Canada by UPS Standard is clearly indicative of a high level of ignorance when it comes to international shipping in general. I had a situation last year where I needed to order a part from a supplier, and even after getting a quote for USPS Priority, and making it VERY clear that I did not want it sent by UPS Standard because of brokerage fees, they "helpfully" sent it by UPS Standard because it was a few dollars cheaper. Had I not needed the item right away, I would have refused delivery on principal.
