Joe,

Not to nitpick or anything but:

1. Your "clear it yourself" solution works ok if you are at or near the port of entry. Outlaw UPS Ground shipments to Ontario and points East typically enter at Windsor. You must then meet it there - or have someone else do so. Not practical for most people. Vancouver is likley the point of entry for anything going to BC - so you have lucked in.

2. Last time I was at YVR (last week) parking was not free.

3. Last time I drove from almost anywhere in the Vancouver area to YVR and back it cost me about $10 in gas. (And almost a couple of hours in traffic - return.)

4. Last time I drove in Vancouver it cost me a bleeping $253 speeding ticket! (On the way to the airport I should add).

5. Time is money. If you have any means to earn money with your time, then spending three hours going to and from YVR and processing your shipment has an opportunity cost associated with it.

But if you have the inclination, the time, and are reasonably close to a port of entry, I don't doubt that you have the potential to save some money.

Regards.

Jeff Mackwood