Does shipping to Canada suck balls or is it relatively easy?

[lost in music]

I put a Reverb listing up this afternoon and someone messaged me asking if I could ship it to Canada. I usually keep it to the lower 48 states and have never been asked to ship abroad, except one guy who wanted me to send a guitar to Russia and declare it a "gift" which, fuck that. If it's not a terrible pain-in-the-ass though I could see selling to our neighbors in the north, but have no ideas about postage/taxes/etc.

[D.o.S.]

It is super easy.

Say it's a gift and ask for a phone number (you'll need to provide one depending on the courier).

[AZX309]

As a person that just had to do this today, its nothing terrible. For the not crazy expensive option threw USPS there is only one forum you have to fill out. However, I live in michigan where shiping to Canada is relatively cheep. No idea How much it is for people that are not almost on the border.

[karmablock]

This is relative to my interest. I've seen on other forums people saying it only costs like $12 but whenever I use the usps site to get an estimate I get $30-40. I've just avoided shipping abroad.

[odontophobia]

I shipped some pickups out. Cost $15.
Wasn't awful.

[JonnyAngle]

Here's the deal with usps and Canada:

If it's under 2lbs it can go first class. That's like $15.

Priority is $30

First class isn't an option if you put over 2 lbs on the online form.

[hotknife]

Have shipped there numerous times using USPS. Can confirm it's just as easy as shipping to and around the US. Shipping worldwide is too for that matter (except for Italy - their Postal Service seem to be big fans of Stephen King's The Langoliers). I get asked about the gift thing too, and I typically oblige (don't mind helping people out - as long as they aren't being forceful arseholes about it).

[repoman]

Not sure how seller protection/insurance works. You might want to check up on that. I sold a pretty expensive guitar through Reverb and learned after it was on its way that Reverb protection doesn't apply cross borders (thankfully it wound up to be a good sale). The person in Canada gets walloped on brokerage fees/taxes if the thing is over a certain value too.

[MrNovember]

I've had lots of things shipped up here (hi odontophobia ) and never had any complaints. We definitely get hit with some pretty hefty and pretty random customs fees, though. And things generally sit in customs for at least a full week.

I've shipped stuff overseas a few times too and the only place that I generally won't ship is Australia, because for some reason it costs a fortune to ship things down there

[colin]

As a Canadian my only input is to please always ship usps. FedEx and ups charge ridiculous brokerage fees.

[MrNovember]

As a Canadian my only input is to please always ship usps. FedEx and ups charge ridiculous brokerage fees.

Ditto, FedEx are ducking crooks

Rather than fix that auto correct, I'll add this:

[karmablock]

Here's the deal with usps and Canada:

If it's under 2lbs it can go first class. That's like $15.

Priority is $30

First class isn't an option if you put over 2 lbs on the online form.

Thank you! I'm assuming first class is w/o insurance? I just sent a MXR Dyna Comp to NY via Priority and it cost $11.35 (insurance is included up to $50).

[lost in music]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

And no, it doesn't look like first class offers an insurance option.

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c432

[Casavettes]

Used USPS a few times, no problem. Just have to fill out some extra paperwork.

[Antlerface]

One form, $14 bucks and no tracking past customs.

I did it a few times last year, no big,