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[MowerX]

Normally I agree that USPS is the way to send things to Canada. It's pretty reliable, and customs clearance is dirt cheap compared to other ground services. However the one thing it lacks is any sort of decent tracking. Tracking is fine up to the Canadian border, at which point it essentially drops off until after the parcel has already been delivered.

From emails, I know that you used to send FedEx to Canada, but had issues with brokerage and chargebacks. If you were using FedEx ground, they're not much better than UPS for ripping off the receiver at the border. However, all air services from FedEx or UPS include brokerage in the price. It'll be more expensive than FedEx Ground or USPS, but at least there will be tracking for those that desire it.

So why not offer the slowest FedEx air service (ie. 3-day) to Canada as an option? You use FedEx for your normal shipments, so it wouldn't be much extra work.

The only way I can get something from you to Canada with any sort of reliable tracking is have it sent to a remailer and then have them forward it to me, but from past experience I can say that it would be MUCH BETTER to get it direct from you!

[Thunderhead]

I'd really love to have some FedEx service in Canada

[MowerX]

Hmm, you're in Canada? Perhaps you can let me know how your experience has been with USPS... especially as regards tracking.

[Thunderhead]

The tracking part is pretty much a record of where your packaged stopped at, say from TD's HQ to the shipping station then off to the trucks then to customs then out of customs then you wait patiently for it to either stop by your house or your local post office. Mine went to the local post office for some sort of reason (my first package came straight to the door).

That's pretty much it. Its as accurate as it can get for me. Straight information.

[MowerX]

Well, what I really mean is accuracy and timeliness of the tracking. My prior attempts tracking USPS from the US have been pretty much "live" up until the border, then things start getting dicey... you may know when it clears customs, but not when it'll actually arrive.

[station_2009]

Does the USPS come with the regular Canadian mail?  I'd prefer Fedex too...

[MowerX]

Yes, USPS = Canada Post.

It's normally a great way to get stuff from the US - pretty reliable and they don't rip you off on brokerage charges (unlike UPS Ground or even FedEx Ground). However there are drawbacks, such as unknown arrival dates and the possibility you'll have to go to a postal outlet to get the parcel. For this kind of thing, I'd prefer the reliability of a courier company.

[station_2009]

Yeah UPS's brokerage fees are rediculous, I never use them anymore because of this.

[Thunderhead]

I know that during the holiday things got dicey because my package didn't leave the customs until after the New Years weekend, which made perfect sense.