Shipping holiday gifts to Canada

[Reba 2]

I'm totally bummed because this year I won't make it home at all for the holidays. I will have to ship my family their gifts via USPS or courier (cheapest route possible, I'm broke!) and I'm wondering what foods, if any, I am allowed to ship.

I know I can't send meat or fruits or explosive alcoholic beverages but can I send cookies and cakes, stuff like that?

I checked the Canada Customs website and it wasn't very helpful. I know for gifts the maximum $$ amount is $60 per gift item, or the receiver will have to pay duty and taxes, but I can't find where it says what is restricted, except for major exporters.

Any body know?

[Melyssa 0]

I'm totally bummed because this year I won't make it home at all for the holidays. I will have to ship my family their gifts via USPS or courier (cheapest route possible, I'm broke!) and I'm wondering what foods, if any, I am allowed to ship.

I know I can't send meat or fruits or explosive alcoholic beverages but can I send cookies and cakes, stuff like that?

I checked the Canada Customs website and it wasn't very helpful. I know for gifts the maximum $$ amount is $60 per gift item, or the receiver will have to pay duty and taxes, but I can't find where it says what is restricted, except for major exporters.

Any body know?

I don't have an answer but I won't make it home for the holidays either (unless we somehow got my AP in time, lol.) It will be my first Christmas away from home in fact. But at least I will be in my new home!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

My mamma in law used to send us all kinds of goodies for X-mas (which NO, Bren and I do NOT celebrate); and she would just put "books" or "samples" in the box so there wouldn't be any issues. She sent us coffee beans and other goodies from Trader Joe's some other times, always with no problem.

Value of shipment: $10 bucks she used to write .... smartie pants my mamma in law

[Allie 5]

We mailed all our Xmas gifts 2 days ago with USPS. It cost $160.00 to send 13 large envelopes (10 1/2" x 15") with the items in them. The heaviest envelope was a bit over 3 lbs. and cost $8.56 to mail. All items were declared at $20 on the Customs form although some were much more . We hoping they don't open the more costly ones lol lol

Next yr. we plan on sending gift certificates as $160 was enough to buy a pile of presents

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Last year I shipped home our Christmas gifts via USPS Parcel Post - a 20 pound box cost about $40. THIS year USPS has done away with Parcel Post. The 'cheapest' is International First Class that has a maximum weight of 4 pounds and maximum dimensions of 35 inches - pretty small stuff. That rate would be around $16 each. The next rate is Priority with a minimum charge of $23 for packages larger than 35 Inches and depending on weight. The USPS website has a calculator you can use to determine the mailing costs depending on dimensions and weight of your parcels. For me, to send the same size and weight package of

So, I checked with UPS. They estimate the box will cost about $30 to ship to Canada. I don't know about brokerage fees or anything like that, but again the value of the gift per person is less than the dutiable amount.

So, I would advise you to shop around and find the most economical route. The USPS person told me they are expecting a LOT of unhappy customers this year when people find out they did away with Parcel Post for international deliveries. They will also be doing away with Parcel Post for domestic deliveries some time next year.

[thermophile 0]

we usually are giving books or toys for the kids so I've found that buying through amazon.ca and having them ship it is cheapest. not much help if you've beat the rush and already bought the gifts. but what can I do?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

hmm, just noticed that part of my message didn't come through . . . it should have said that to send the same size of parcel this year via USPS would cost over $100.

[neiks 19]

Cakes and cookies are fine to send.

[Reba 2]

Well I was planning to send everything in one package to my Mum's house so she could wrap my nephew and niece's gifts for when they're at her house for Christmas. Hopefully the package won't be too big for USPS to handle, if so, I'll check UPS I guess. I orderd a couple of toys for the kids but the site I ordered from doesn't ship to Canada, plus I have other stuff to send as well.

I found a gift British foods vendor in Mississauga though that can send packages all over Canada for fairly cheap, and I can order on-line from here and won't have to worry about customs rifling through the box. And its not terribly expensive for a box of Marks & Sparks cookies and package of Jaffa cakes to send for their dessert table. I know my Mum misses M&S since they closed up all the shops in Canada.

[trailmix 77]

Well I was planning to send everything in one package to my Mum's house so she could wrap my nephew and niece's gifts for when they're at her house for Christmas. Hopefully the package won't be too big for USPS to handle, if so, I'll check UPS I guess. I orderd a couple of toys for the kids but the site I ordered from doesn't ship to Canada, plus I have other stuff to send as well.

I found a gift British foods vendor in Mississauga though that can send packages all over Canada for fairly cheap, and I can order on-line from here and won't have to worry about customs rifling through the box. And its not terribly expensive for a box of Marks & Sparks cookies and package of Jaffa cakes to send for their dessert table. I know my Mum misses M&S since they closed up all the shops in Canada.

Hey Reba,

Can you post the website for the British foods? Thanks!

[Reba 2]

yep, its http://www.abitofhome.ca

[trailmix 77]

yep, its http://www.abitofhome.ca

Thanks!

[Allie 5]

Cakes and cookies are fine to send.

Will they let table wine, honey and jam as a Xmas present go through Customs?

[neiks 19]

Will they let table wine, honey and jam as a Xmas present go through Customs?

Table Wine: Not sure what you mean by table wine but anything that has alcohol in it can not be sent. Any alcoholic beverages or tobacco products can not be imported into Canada as a gift.

Honey and jam are fine as long as it doesn't exceed 20kg.

Edited December 2, 2007 by neiks

[Allie 5]

Will they let table wine, honey and jam as a Xmas present go through Customs?

Table Wine: Not sure what you mean by table wine but anything that has alcohol in it can not be sent. Any alcoholic beverages or tobacco products can not be imported into Canada as a gift.

Honey and jam are fine as long as it doesn't exceed 20kg.

Thanks for the info Neiks. It would be a dinner wine it does have a 7% alcohol content. Will it be sent back to me or will they garbage it if I send it.