Question about shipping to Canada

[GuidedByVoices]

My local post office recently got an Automated Postal Center which really helps woth being able to mail things after hours. When I used to mail a card to Canada before though I was always required to fill out a green custom form that they included on the envelope. If I mail through the APC though I am not required to have one, it just prints the postage label. My question is whether or not this will cause problems/delays because these padded envelopes are going out without custom forms. Anyone had any experience mailing like this or anyone in Canada ever received padded envelopes without custom forms on them?

 

[hockeytown]

i cant answer that question but i would not mail it out...wait till postal hours...those green things are a must i believe...i would hate for whatever you are sending to get help up at customs and possibly not returned. make sure for all of those who sending to canada to include your whole first and last name on env. or bubble mailers.

 

[Magootz]

I know it's suppose to be a must when sending from Canada to the US (started this year) But I have yet to fill out a green form when sending! Not sure about the US though.

 

[hockeytown]

yup i have to fill one out everytime i mail something in a bubble mailer...has to state exactly what is in the package...i think this is why we are having problems with stuff going across customs cause they look at green slip...hm nice gu/jersey or autograph i will snag that. nothing against anyone in canada but im very frustrated with stuff coming from over there ----this is not directed at the sellers but at customs if it is US side or Canada I don't know but is really getting me to the point where I almost want to stay inside the States to buy...really sad cause a lot of my hockey is in Canada...

 

[Magootz]

It's funny, I hear alot of people having problems with receiving from Canada. My PO doesn't ask me to fill out the green form anymore because they know I refuse to! Knock on wood I have send out over 100 packages without the green form and not once had a problem yet. But it appears that people who state what's in the package are having the problems. If I go to a PO other than my home base one and they ask me what's in the package, I simply say "Paper" and they leave me alone. I wish more of us in the north would do the same to reduce the problems that have occured since the stupid green form came out!

People don't understand, you don't have to fill it out, if the US or Cdn customs don't know what's in there, I guess they tend not to care, they just assume it's a paper product such as a certificate or something and move on to the one that says "Sportscard" or "Hockey card"

Until they force me to fill it out I WON'T

 

[Fritz]

I'm with Magootz on this, If and when they ask me to fill out paperwork, and they rarely do, I always say I'm sending photos. And cards are sort of like photos...

 

[dannzac]

Sometimes I have to fill out the green slip and sometimes I don't. I've never had a problem either way with the package getting to Canada though.

 

[jaywings19]

Honestly, I think that those of you refusing to fill out the Customs Form/Slip are risking the package. If a semi-thick envelope passes through Customs w/o the form attached, then (to me) that would send up a red flag. The package would either be inspected (opened) immediately or severely delayed.

I always fill out the Customs Form on all Canada bound packages... even if it's a thin envelope with 1 card.

 

[langway05]

In conversation with the postal outlet supervisor, here in Edmonton, AB.

Seeing as US residents are allowed to receive up to about $100 (?) in value from package(s). There is no requirement to fill out a Customs Declaration for package(s) going to the US of A. That is unless you send it Registered or Xpresspost with insurance over that amount.

As for package(s) coming into Canada. The green Customs form is a must as us poor Canadians are only allowed to receive a total value of $20.00 from our friends to the south! However at times I still receive thin bubblemailer's with no Customs Forms on them, with no problems. It is really a Hit or Miss at times!

When Canada Customs choses to, they inspect items and if there is no declared value. They will assign one to it. From that they will grant you the CCRA handling fee of $5.00 for their time. Then they will assess the value in CAD $ and charge GST onto it. If they make a mistake with the value. You can send them a copy of the eBay listing with the proper amount and they might agree to reimburse you the difference.

Hope this helps?

Brian

 

[snowrider]

Filling out the green form is only required if the package exceeds a certain weight (16oz I believe, but it could be 8oz...). The US postal service dropped the requirement for smaller packages about 2 years ago. I send all bubble mailers without the green form and have never had an issue.

 

[cjkuehn]

Same here

I usually draw the line about 5 oz or greater before I put a slip
on it. On anything I sell though, I put a $5 sticker on the card
inside if it should happen to be opened. Rarely have I had
a problem, maybe twice in 5 years. I've sent a crosby bd
and 2 ovechkin trilogy cards across the border now with no
slip and no problem.

c.j.

Filling out the green form is only required if the package exceeds a certain weight (16oz I believe, but it could be 8oz...). The US postal service dropped the requirement for smaller packages about 2 years ago. I send all bubble mailers without the green form and have never had an issue.

 

[samiaa]

Good thing that i live in Finland and NEVER anyone in post has talked anything about any custom forms.

And yes, all my sendings to usa/canada has gotten there...

-Sami

 

[Newfie]

Here's one for you. How many of you know that if that item your mailing goes astray and a claim is put in for non delivery or lost and it has been declared on the custon slip that it was a collectable item (ie sports cards or other memorabilia) and even if you had insurance coverage on it you will have to produce a valid apprasel form from a registered apprasier with a picture of the item that was mailed even before the P.O. will accept your claim. I also understand that with the item being sports collectable related that the P.O. will only pay to a certian amount in value.

I have received and sent both with a declaration slip attached and not attached both ways. I have done this through the government postal service on both sides of the border and also years ago through the military postal system. The one thing I have learned that if it is not a scarce or very highly valued item it goes out as photos from me with a gift declaration on it.