Guide to Cheaper Shipping from USA to Canada

Hey there! I figured I would make a thread to help members from Ontario save money when purchasing items from the USA. There are two easy methods of saving money on shipping and brokerage fees. I have used both methods and have yet to have a problem with either. Both methods do not have brokerage fees, but you are still required to pay GST to get them over the border.


These methods are great for the following types of purchases:

• eBay sellers who won't ship to Canada
• Online stores where they make you pay the duties
• Large items, like bumpers. Where they give you a ridiculous quote and make you find a customs broker yourself.
• Items where the international shipping is worth more than the item itself (Easy for a $40 item to turn into a $80 item with the international shipping rates)

Method 1: Picking up in Mississauga or Markham
Company: Cross Border Pickups
Address/Hours:

• Mississauga
  1300 Kamato Road, #12
  Mississauga, Ontario
  L4W 2N2
  
  Monday – Friday: 12 pm – 7 pm
  Saturday: 10 am – 2 pm
  
  
• Markham
  7300 Victoria Park
  Avenue, Unit C
  Markham, Ontario
  L3R 1J1
  
  Monday – Friday: 12 pm – 6 pm
  Saturday: 10 am – 2 pm
  *I have not used this location, but I'm sure it's exactly like the Mississauga location.

​

Fees*:

1. Standard Packages (Like you would receive from UPS)
   -Up to 1LB: $7.5/Package
   -Up to 10LB: $10/Package
   -Up to 30LB: $15/Package
   -Oversize Package (Max 100lbs): $18 + $0.50/LB for every LB over 30LBS
   -Standard Packages will be held for 30 days from when they receive the package in NY. Additional fees will be charged after that 30 days.
   
   
2. Freight Pallets / LTL Shipments
   -Standard Pallet Size (48” x 40” x 72”): $100
   -Oversized Pallet (larger than 48” x 40” x 72”): $150
   
   
3. Additional Fees:
   -Entry Fees: When there are more than 2 unique items in a package. $1/unique item.
   -Special Size Handling fee: For large cumbersome or uneven packages that require special handling. $15/Item.
   -Admin Fees: For packages that require special administration or custom service that is out of the ordinary or Disposal of unwanted packages that we have processed. $5/Item.
   
   + 13% HST on the Fees above

Notes:

• You will be provided a USA address to have your items shipped to. This is an actual address and not a P.O. Box.
• You will be charged the package fee for every package they except, even if its from the same vendor. For example, If you ordered items from Amazon.com and they ship them in 3 packages (under 10lbs/pkg), you will be charged $30.
• This service has a web based portal where you can see which packages they accepted and the actions you can take on each package. It is much easier to register/use on a computer (the mobile site is useless).
• There is no fee to register for an account, there is only the fees listed above.
  
• The items I ordered typically took a couple business days for them to bring it to the Mississauga location from their NY warehouse.
• You will still be charged duties and taxes by CBSA on any items brought over the border. Here is CBSA duties/tax calculator: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html
• Read through their website Services, Fees, and FAQ so you know all of the information to use their service.
  

Method 2: Picking up in Niagara Falls, NY

Company 1: Kuhns Storage
Address/Hours:

• Monday to Friday:
  8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
  
  
• Random Saturdays: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, call 716-284-9941 to check schedule

Fees*:

• Standard Packages (Like you would receive from UPS)
  Under 35LBS: $3.00USD
  35-69LBS: $4.00USD
  Over 70LBS: $8.00USD
  
• Freight Pallets / LTL Shipments - Receiving
  Non-Forklift: $30USD/Pallet
  With Forklift: $40USD/Pallet
• Warehouse and Office Labor (Similar to the special handling fee from Cross Border Pickups): $60USD/hr with minimum 1/4hr charge.
• C.O.D. (Collect on Delivery) Service available. $3USD/Package + COD Amount must be prepaid.
  
  +8% NY Tax on Fees Above

Notes:

• You must call 716-284-9941 to make an account
• You will be provided a USA address to have your items shipped to. This is an actual address and not a P.O. Box.
• Shipments not picked up within one week may incur a minimum storage charge of $0.50 per carton per week, pallets will be more.
• I used this service pre-covid and do not know if anything has changed since then. If You any questions for them you can ask when you call to set up an account.
• You will still be charged duties and taxes by CBSA on any items brought over the border. Here is CBSA duties/tax calculator: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html

Company 2: CBIUSA
@DeanB519 uses this company and mentioned that they are very organized, friendly, and have short wait times. Thanks Dean for the recommendation!

Address/Hours:

• Monday to Friday:
  10AM - 4PM (COVID HOURS)

Fees*:

• Standard Packages (Like you would receive from UPS)
  70LBS & Under and Under 84 inches : $5.95USD each. Annual plan is available, but only makes sense if you pickup more than 20 items per year.
  70 pounds or over 84 inches = $11.45 USD
  90 pounds or 108 inches = $16.95 USD
  
• Freight Pallets / LTL Shipments - Receiving
  $35.00 USD/Pallet to Receive + $3.00 USD / Night Storage Fee
• Freight Deliveries (EXTRA LARGE PKGS. NOT ON SKIDS, BUT DELIVERED BY FREIGHT) = $20.00 USD Additional per package PLUS $2.00+tax storage fee per night.
  
• 
  +8% NY Tax on Fees Above

Notes:

• You will be provided a USA address to have your items shipped to. This is an actual address and not a P.O. Box.
• For packages 70LBS & Under and Under 84 inches, they will hold them for 180 days free.
• You will still be charged duties and taxes by CBSA on any items brought over the border. Here is CBSA duties/tax calculator: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html

In my comparison of the two pickup companies, I believe it makes more sense to use Kuhn's Storage if you pickup your items within a week. If you like to have more time to pickup your items (or let your purchases accumulate making your trip to the border more cost effective) then CBIUSA is better for your needs.


*Prices are as of July 22nd, 2021. Please verify the companies website for up to date pricing.

Hope this Helps!

(Updated 24/07/2021: Added CBIUSA info & fixed the storage fees for Kuhn's Storage)

 

Can I add an option similar to method # 2 that I've been using for years with great success. Unless it's an extremely expensive item, the boarder guards coming back into Canada rarely make me go pay the customs on my items. They generally tell me to have a nice day and carry on. I've always been completely honest reporting what I'm bringing back, and only twice have they sent me in to pay the duties. The site I use to pick my stuff up in Niagara Falls NY is cbiusa.com. their prices are on their website, most sized things I pick up are $5.95 per package. The folks at the pickup location are extremely organized and friendly. The wait there to pick up your stuff is never longer than 15 min. Large safe , clean location, they have washrooms and coffee machines, computers with printers (Incase you forget your receipts to show boarder guards on your way back into Canada) for customer use onsite. They are located near the outlet mall, restaurants and a harbour freight within a stone's throw from their location.

Dean

 

Thanks Dean, that looks like another great company! I like how they have an 180-day pickup window, which would make it more cost-effective to pickup many items in one trip.

It's been added to the main post.

~Cam

 

I've picked up packages many times in Port Huron Michigan. It's only about an hour from London. I've used Bluewater Shipping Depot and SCC Parcel Pickup with good results. Both locations are only about 10 minutes from the border.
I declare everything. And the customs officers usually just wave you through with no taxes.

 

Can we sticky this?

 

In this matter, the choice of service is not of great importance, but the tracker is of great importance. I will now explain what I mean. When I ordered online, it was important for me to find a tracker that would work reliably and give me the exact location of my parcels. This is important because I once lost several of my orders in transit, and now I can't have peace of mind about it. I think it is very important in this matter to find a reliable tracker (https://www.postsendungsverfolgung.com/de/dhl-sendungsverfolgung.html) to track my packages.

 

I have been buying in the U.S for a couple of years now. What I do is get free shipping sales in the U.S and have them delivered to MY U.S ADDRESS at the border of NY and Ontario. Then MYUSA will cross it over into Canada for 9.99 ( no matter how many parcels you have ) and then from there you have a choice to pick it up and pay duties etc etc or have them give you an estimate for items to be delivered to your door including taxes,duties and delivery. Good safe way of doing it and the savings are great. I live 3 1/2 hours from border so this is the best way to get home without leaving the house.

 

Nice job OP.

Now what about us folks in AB?! Jjk. Anyone still using Sweet Grass Montana?