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Shipping Floor Standing Speakers to the US from Canada

I have a pair of floor standing speakers for sale ~($7250 CAD - 110 lbs each). I have an offer to purchase from the US. Shipping is not so bad as you have to ship via Freight and the ground services are pretty good, as long as you really package well. Double boxed and padded all to heck. The issue comes up with customs clearance.

US Customs calls this a commercial shipment because it is over $2000. A number of customs brokers and I have looked at the duties and under the US Universal Tariff Codes for 2021 (8518.22) the Loudspeakers look to be duty free. You would think life was easy, ...no way. Each broker comes up with a list of fees, bonds, extra insurance and on and on that costs $100's of dollars, not just $50. Even with no duty.

Has anyone done this process before and come up with an economic way of clearing US customs? I have tried UPS and FEDEX regarding these issues.

wbrownaudio

Showing 1 response by sns

sns
3,684 posts
 

They're acting as broker, reason for fees. I've both shipped and received from Canada with no problems. I've always done all the paper documents, Fedex, UPS, DHL all have very specific directions and supply all document forms for diy shipping. All broker fees accounted for in shipping price quotes. Shipping via freight carrier I don't know. Really pretty seamless if you get paper work correct.  Just make sure to insure full value.

 

Are you sure Fedex, UPS and DHL won't ship? The have oversize and overweight fees, covers pretty large and/or high weight shipments. If you must ship via freight, there are websites where private shippers will bid on shipments. I looked at motorcycle shipping past summer, pretty much $500-$750, depending on distance.

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