Finally Shipping My Stuff Using Fedex

[Team J and B 2]

Hi guys!

I've asked about shipping before but this time I'm finally doing it. I'll be flying into Vancouver with my child in tow for a week to finally clean out my storage unit.

I reckon I'll have four 50-pound boxes of stuff that I'll package myself at Fedex and ship from Vancouver to San Francisco the day before I return to SF.

Aside from my passport, what else do I need to bring to ship my stuff? What does Fedex need to ship my stuff to leave Canada customs and enter US customs?

Thanks so much!

[Inky 1,110]

Generally they have customs forms you fill out when you mail things but I dont know about fedex, I would call and ask or check on their website.

[Krikit 1,164]

My husband flew home from Canada with an oversized item a couple of weeks ago. (I was staying a couple of more weeks.) I asked the person who checked him in if I should just ship it through a courier and he said absolutely not..... that it was far cheaper to check it through Air Cargo than it would be to courier it.

Check the baggage policy for your airline, Team J and B, and compare it to the courier cost. For example, Southwest allows two free checked bags/containers weighing up to 50 lbs each. Anything above and beyond that is $50. Your boxes may be able to travel with you for cheaper than a courier.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Yeah I agree with Krikit on this one, trying to ship all those boxes via fed ex is going to cost a fortune. When I lived in Canada my husband shipped me a jumper box for my car, probably weighed around 50 pounds and it cost almost $100 in shipping fees from Denver to Southern Ontario.

As far as the customs thing goes, aren't you allowed to send shipments of goods under a certain value duty free regardless of who it is going to? I think if you just write "personal items" and a small value while sending it to your spouse you probably won't need to provide documentation of your residency. I'm not 100% sure the guy at fed ex would even know what to do...

[Inky 1,110]

Well as far as I know they request you to now write every thing specifically in the box and you cant write short form anymore or they can refuse to ship / mail the items. However you can still check off gift and mark it as a low price and not get charged duty for it. Tho you still have the chance of them opening all the boxes and going through the items.

[Krikit 1,164]

WRT Customs: You need Form 3299

[Carlawarla 1]

I brought many suitcases and a few boxes when I flew. I had two boxes sent to me via courier after I had left the country, and the price was equivalent to them flying with me. One box was severely damaged as well. I'd pay up front and have them flown down with you if I was you. I remember people here saying that you should have a copy of your visa to present to the Fed-Ex people so that your stuff can be duty-free. This proves that you've moved, and your goods are now following you.