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Has anyone shipped to Canada lately? Any problems or new customs crackdowns?

I've been shipping to Canada for 5 years now and I've never had a problem. Customs label gets filled out as clothing as the package contains underwear and I've always noted this for my cusotmers discretion. I've sent around 3000 International packages in this time containing underwear and noted this way on the Customs note and around 500 of these have been to Canada. Not one has ever been returned.

A customer has just asked where their parcel is that I sent on 9th December so I have tracked it on the Canada Post website and it says 'Unacceptable Sender Info' and it is now on it's way back to me - should arrive today as it got back to the UK on 22nd. I paid almost £7 for that service!! There are 2 pairs of Miss Sixty tights in that package so the package contains clothing. The PO ask me what is in it so I tell them, they said OK and off it goes.

I am so annoyed as I have sent all my packages this way. Is there some sort of crackdown on what is being sent to Canada or has there been some sort of change I am not aware of? Why the sudden crackdown? I know they are usually hot on the customs charges and are worse than us - the limit is £5 and then they get charged but I've never heard anything like this. I am guessing they have opened the package so then they would have seen it contained clothing so what now?

I guess that if they want absolute specifics now then that is the end of shipping to Canada as no customer is going to be happy getting a package that says '1 Freya thong, black, lace and nylon, size XL' sent for the postman to see and noted on their package - I might as well send in see-through mailers if that is the case!

I'll post back when I know more but if they want details then that is another countries business lost. I guess that is one way to stop them getting stuff shipped in. However, all my Canadian customers tell me that there is so little available in the way of decent underwear that they buy from overseas, but because of the high import charges the UK brands they want cannot afford to be distributed in Canada as the customer does not want to pay £50 for a bra that costs £25 in the UK. They just buy it from the UK.

And we thought we had it bad!!

Comments

  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,427 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have family in Canada and have always been told it is a difficult country to post things too, I know a lot of the US sellers refuse to ship to Canada for this very reason although I have not had too many problems, apart from some bad delays.

    I agree about the clothes though, when my sister lived out there I used to have to send her clothes for her and the children. When I visited and went to the malls myself I couldn't believe it, it was like Little house on the prairie, all sensible necked gaudy jumpers and ankle length skirts or huge sized cotton baggy "American" style shorts. The only things I used to buy out there where the Fruits of the Loom basics for my OH and sons, but that was about it.

    They seem to live in a throwback to the 50s, dressing up meant changing your jumper to one with a pictur eof a Moose on it.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Hi
    My son live in canada with his 2 young children I wanted to send 2 dressing gowns brought light weight ones but found the cost of sending was much to high for me .
  • I was told by Post Office staff some time ago that the Canadian customs guys are notoriously finnicky. All packages have to have the customs sticker is the lower left of the parcel and the sender's address MUST be in the top left else there's a good chance that the parcel will be rejected.

    S.
  • StaffsSW
    StaffsSW Posts: 5,788 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    My PO have also told me that all labels on Canada-bound mail have to be on the same side - address, CN22, return address, airmail label etc, so that the postal workers minimise the handling of packages.
    <--- Nothing to see here - move along --->
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,427 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    stevew8975 wrote: »
    My PO have also told me that all labels on Canada-bound mail have to be on the same side - address, CN22, return address, airmail label etc, so that the postal workers minimise the handling of packages.

    My PO say the same and last time I sold a CD I actually had to take it back home and put it in a bigger jiffy bag as the CD sized one didn't have enough front cover to put all the stuff on.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    stevew8975 wrote: »
    My PO have also told me that all labels on Canada-bound mail have to be on the same side - address, CN22, return address, airmail label etc, so that the postal workers minimise the handling of packages.

    i often wish the rules were tighter here ;)
    for example a return address should be compulsery
  • A customer has just asked where their parcel is that I sent on 9th December so I have tracked it on the Canada Post website and it says 'Unacceptable Sender Info' and it is now on it's way back to me

    They're really picky about the return address, unless its in exactly the right place they reject it and send it back (ironically using your retrun address that they claim is no good because its in the wrong place).

    You'll see that lots of US sellers won't ship to Canada due to the silly rules.
    "Love you Dave Brooker! x"

    "i sent a letter headded sales of god act 1979"
  • Thanks for this, I've shopped there so many times using the same bags, labels, etc... so clealry someone got out of bed on the right side. I suppose I've got to sort the expense on having it returned as well. I will remember all of these rules though, I've never ever been told them though, just shipped as I always did.

    Merry Xmas (and Bah! Humbaug to the Canadian Customs people!!)
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