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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,231 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
I need to mail a numismatic item to Canada. I tried to look up rates to Canada on the USPS web site, but all my search got me was information about something called Global Priority Mail. According to what I saw there, it will cost more than the item is worth to send it that way.
Didn't it used to be that the U.S. and Canada honored each other's first-class postage, at least for letters? Is that no longer true?
What I have will fit in a bubble envelope 4x7 or 6x9 and weigh 6 ounces tops.
I'm sure there are many Americans reading this who have experience mailing small packages to Canada and can advise me. I'd like it to take less than 4 to 6 weeks to get there and cost a lot less than $34.75.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
You need to reference the USPS Internation Mail Manual (IMM). Canada doesn't call it First Class Postage, so the terminology is different. Rates for a small parcel vary, but it shouldn't cost more than $5 for postage. However, you will need to fill out a Customs form. Details: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immicl/...l#vnameref_1Mail from the US to Canada is slow due to Customs and other factors, but will vary widely depending upon where it was sent. Mail sent to me in Labrador took two weeks (seldom) to six weeks (occasionally if Canadian Customs decides to inspect it) with the average about three weeks. Fred |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
You should be able to send it to anywhere in Canada in a Global Priority envelope (small) that you can fit a 4x6 bubble mailer in for $4.75. Should only take 1-2 weeks. Here is the link. Were you looking at Global Express instead of Global Priority prices? http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.a...s=0&Ounces=6The one you want is halfway down on that list. You can also print a customs form out online also. Will already have your info and the recipients info printed out on it. I mailed something to Snooba a couple weeks ago in Australia. Don't know if she has it yet but I think it should be anyday now. Here is the link to the customs form. https://webapps.usps.com/customsfor...ecipient.jsp |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
595 Posts |
Thanks, Fred and Irish. I appreciate your advice and the links.
Either it seemed sipmler 25 years ago, or else I have forgotten. Or maybe I didn't send a lot of packages to Canada, just letters.
Anyway, thanks again.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
Well, I'm going to reopen this one in light of a recent event. I am still not convinced. I bought some coins on ebay from a seller in B.C. They arrived yesterday in a padded envelope with a little over $3 worth of Canadian stamps on it. No customs form, no AIR MAIL, no nothin' else. How come we can't do basically the same thing backwards? |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
We're talking about the US Postal Service, a self-serving and self-perpetuating bureaucracy. Canada Poste is less concerned with enhancing its own importance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
Do NOT go to a "pack and mail" type of store! They will charge an arm and a leg to mail your package. Simply go to a U.S. Post Office and bring it to their attention that it is addressed to Canada and that's that. $5 should be about max for the package you described. Request Air if you like. Mailing to Canada is no more difficult than anywhere else...just maybe slower than within the Continental U.S.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
773 Posts |
90% Of my packages sent and received,are to and from Canada,I use a bubble envelope everytime.It is sent airmail,takes about a week and a half,unless delayed.Postage costs me about $2.95,depending on size of my package.I'm told Canada customs is cracking down,so I usually have to fill out a customs form,I've never had any problem.I agree with Debbie,and suggest you use the post office.
:) sn31.
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
Thanks, everybody, for your advice.
I looked into UPS, Jeff. They want something like $27.95 to ship it.
On this forum, I have seen postings dealing with a perpetual gift coin that is being sent around the world, and participants were warned not to put "coins" on the customs form but to say "hobby supplies" and to say the value is $5 max so as not to call attention to it, etc. Sounds very cloak-and-dagger.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
773 Posts |
I put numismatic items on mine,it's the truth.Some P O workers have sticky fingers.If you are sending something of value,you surely do not want to call attention to it.
:) sn31.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,231 |
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Posted 11/12/2006 4:00 pm
