shipping

[dburnt 59]

I swear, this process will be the death of me.

I have been packing up my items, boxing them, and listing the contents on the 3299...but rather generally. If the box is full of nothing but clothing, it simply says "clothing". If it has shoes as well, it might say "2 pairs of shoes".

I called UPS to arrange for the actual shipping (I'm leaving on Thursday), and they tell me I also need "detailed" commercial customs forms that itemize each and every garment, where it was made and how much it cost. This seems really bizarre to me...I have shipped boxes before that simply said "ornaments" without detailing (these were gifts though).

Please tell me this is not the case...I mean really, am I the only one that removes tags from the items I wear? I do not know how many panties are in the box for example...Do I need to open them all up and re-pack? Does it make a difference as to how it is sent?

I am going to Canada Post to start shipping things tomorrow, but do not want to start lugging boxes around if I need more paperwork than what I have...

[Sweetmelissa 82]

I just moved all my stuff a few weeks ago (with a moving company though), didn't put an overly detailed list and had zero issues with customs.

It was like:

Bedroom: clothes, queen bed-frame/mattress, dresser, 2 night stands, jewelery box (watches/earrings), hangers, pillows, blankets, shoes/sandals, books.

And I did that kind of detail for each room. I asked the movers if I literally have to label out each item and price it, and they said no and laughed at my suggestion. I would assume UPS should be similar - unless they think you need to itemize and price everything for duty/fees at customs, which you don't have to pay, or for UPS damage/loss liability policies.

[dburnt 59]

Thanks. I suspect that, since i'm in a smaller town, they just have never had to deal with this type of shipment before...I'm going to leave it as is, but since I've not found a significant difference in shipping rates, i may try Purolator, UPS and Canada Post (I've enough boxes to spread it out).

UPS is convenient (around the corner) but maybe this store just is clueless (or that one clerk is).

I will update with findings. Move date is Thursday (i think I have bats rather than butterflies).

[dburnt 59]

Dropped off boxes today...they were not happy that i did not have a fully itemized list for the contents (i.e. complete with country of origin and value), but I'm risk managing, and crossing my fingers.

On a positive note, the cost was way less than expected - sending one or two boxes costs about $50 per box, but the more you send to one address, they discount. 8 boxes weighing around 20 pounds each came to only $256 (without insurance - which would be $3/$100 of value. A note of warning - the insurance for both loss and damage requires you to be able to prove the value of the items (i.e. receipts)).

We will see how Customs takes it...

[NikLR 13,232]

Generalized lists are okay for when you're travelling with the items but you normally need something more specific when you're shipping.

Glad to know you got the shipping for so cheap. I once priced out sending my husband's telescope to him, it's a 22lb box. $250 was the cheapest. So I took it as a checked bag I'd gotten when I went to visit him. $25 vs $250... yeah no contest! LOL

[dburnt 59]

And finally, my update on my shipped items.

I had a great deal of argument with the lady at the UPS office, as she wanted the fully itemized list (each individual item, where it was made and what it cost). I simply told her she wasn't getting that.

I shipped 8 boxes, and my "itemized list" stated "clothing", with a little more specific for the larger pieces (shoes, purses, etc.) but not much. I itemized each box separately. I dropped them off the day before I left Canada.

She made sure I realized that if Customs wanted more, it was on me, and I was fine with that...really, bureaucracy is just too much.

Shipping costs -

Boxes are weighed and measured - they have a chart with "standard" weights for specific box sizes. You are charged the higher of the chart value or actual (so if the chart says a 17 x 17 x 17 box is 25 lbs, and your box actually weighs 10 lbs, you are still ticketed for 25).

The more boxes you ship to the same address the more they are discounted. Shipping 2 or 3 boxes would have cost me $50 per box...as it was, my 8 boxes only cost me $242 (tax included).

She took a copy of my passport with the visa stamp, and they were held and sent the same day I departed.

The day after I left, she called me - Customs needed a copy of my passport - This is important! If you ship in advance, they will not release the goods until they have received a copy of the passport stamp showing your admission to the US (the I-94). I had to scan the passport stamp and email it to them. Customs released the boxes the same day as they received the stamp.

My boxes arrived on Friday (8 days after departure) which is not bad considering the Labour Day weekend - I provided the scan on Tuesday. A couple definitely look like they were dropped, but only box #1 was opened by customs (slit on the side, not the top or bottom). This box had a few items of clothing, some clothing storage boxes, some kitchen things (aprons, and such) and a couple of purses, which is what was on the form. Nothing else was opened that I can see.

Now I know that, if the boxes had been lost, or if the items damaged, without the fully itemized list at the start, it would be tough to get compensation, but the reality is that I had no receipts for any of the items, and as none of the items were new, no way to show how much they cost. I was willing to take that chance. I don't think I would have, if the items were irreplaceable or breakable though. Those items went with me in my car.