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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
elliottbnewcombjr
5,377 posts
 

Forget the broker, You, or the Buyer, can deal directly with your local UPS store. Canada UPS will coordinate with USA UPS.

Drop by with photo, dimensions, weight, value, insurance amount. They will give you a price to package them for you and ship them, they being responsible for damage prevention.

They can give the price to the buyer who can pay UPS directly, his credit card, then any seller’s fee, taxes, are reduced or transferred to buyer.

Once arranged, take condition photos, include set of photos , simply drop off with the UPS people.

I just did it successfully.

wbrownaudio OP
1 posts
 

Hi Elliott,

 

Thanks, for the response.

I don't know what region or what UPS store you used but the UPS store here looked at the weight and size and told me to take a flying leap. It may be only in this region that occurred. I tried another store and the same response occurred. Do you know what the final bill was for clearing customs ex shipping costs? i.e. the bill the buyer would have paid. These are ground freight only. It may be that because of flooding in Southern BC that they have simply suspended service for the big items. 

 

 

sns
3,210 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.

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

I think you need to go freight, and you need to deal with the freight side of their business. Fedex ground is not Fedex freight. Sometimes that's not clear to people..
Same deal with UPS. UPS Ground is not UPS Freight.

I use to send drill parts to Canada and Visa Versa. Portal 2 portal, wasn't uncommon either. They drop off at the freight distribution warehouse, and you pick up at the freight distribution warehouse. Normally there is no loading fees as long as THEY can use a forklift..

The border crossing fees were always fuzzy, wording was really important. Made in Canada, being repaired in Canada, and being sold to the US all have different cost. Just like if your Returning a repaired pair of speakers vs Selling a pair of speakers.

Ask them what the cost is for a two way there and back? Cancel the way back, as an unused warranty option. There were a couple of legal (semi-honest) options. ;-)

Regards

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