Quote:
Originally posted by canali:
Otherwise I just drive to the airport, pick up the slip from the courier's front desk, walk a block to the canada customs clearance, pay the taxes, walk back to the courier company with the processed clearance paper...even better the company will still, if i prefer, ship it to me (sometimes useful if it's a large item, ie, speakers, or whatever)....afterall you HAVE paid for shipping and it's the final destination on the parcel which counts...but otherwise i'll usually just pick it up myself and drive off, happily knowing i've saved myself oodles of coin.
Here's an update to this procedure that I used to to purchase a 990, shipped to Vancouver BC.

Savings on UPS brokerage for a 990 are about $90.

I also found some additional information on Usenet.

  • Try to get Outlaw to mark the UPS shipment to indicate that I will self-clear customs, but they say they are not permitted to do so. I'm not sure why this is so.
  • Wait for Outlaw to send me tracking details.
  • Phone UPS Canada as soon as possible and have them mark shipment as being self-cleared. They want to know a contact name and telephone number.
    (BTW I also talked to UPS US who tell me that they are not permitted to modify the shipment details.)
  • Shipment arrives, and UPS Canada phones me to tell me I have three days to clear and pick up the item.
  • The UPS facility at Vancouver Airport can be hard to find, even with the right address!

    UPS
    5960 Ferguson Road,
    Richmond, BC

    Canada Border Services Agency
    113-5000 Miller Road,
    Richmond, BC

    Google can provide a map showing the relative locations of the two facilities.

    Parking is free at the UPS facility.
  • Take the paperwork to customs. UPS provided me with a handy map to find the customs office. Only pay parking appears to be available. The minimum amount was $2 for 2 hours.
  • Customs agents can be picky. The one serving me wasn't prepared to believe the invoice accompanying the UPS paperwork! I had to telephone Outlaw and have them fax a copy of the receipt directly to the officer's desk! My suggestion:
    • Bring along the credit card receipt.
    • Go in the morning when Outlaw offices are open so that a telephone call might quickly resolve issues.


    [*]Take the paperwork back to UPS and pick up the shipment.

I wasted time searching for the UPS facility because of an old street map, and having to deal with the skeptical customs agent.

Everything going well, I estimate about 1/2 hour is required after arriving at the UPS facility (assuming no queues).

I also investigated having the unit shipped to Bellingham WA. The additional shipping cost to Vancouver BC was about $10, but the UPS Store was going to charge me $10 to receive the shipment on my behalf negating any savings.