Anyone have experience ordering large amount of parts from the US? How was customs?

cooltoy

I do not know how it works in TO, but in Calgary there is a Canada Customs office at the Calgary airport. So if the item comes in through Calgary's customs, I can easily pick it up myself. However if it arrives into the country at a different location, then you have to go to that location.

One time I had some parts arrive into Vancouver instead (UPS made that choice). Obviously it would cost me a lot more to go to Vancouver to get it, then the brokerage fee. I called UPS and told asked why they had the parts enter Canada in Vancouver instead instead of Calgary. They had no answer. So I talked to the supervisor and said that they took my choice of declining their brokerage service away from me and that I am not about to fly to Vancouver to pick it up. They made a one time exception and waved the fee, but the lesson for me was to call UPS as soon as I have a tracking number and set up all the details (port of entry and brokerage service) before the shipment enters Canada.

Also I believe that if the payment for shipping is COD, sometimes they lower the cost slightly if you pay before delivery.

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