7 Questions about Canada US Border Shipping

Many Canadian sellers consider expanding their online businesses beyond the border and into the United States, entering one of the largest eCommerce markets worldwide. However, many are having second thoughts due to the lengthy process of Canada US border shipping. Plus, shipping products from Canada to the US is costly, be it across the extensive land border or through sea routes from Nova Scotia or British Columbia. 

Online sellers also consider US market advantages, shipping from Canada to US cost, Canada to USA shipping time, and shipping security. If you are into e-commerce and are looking to take advantage of the largest market in North America, read on as we will answer the top 7 questions about Canada US border shipping.

1. Why should I bring my business across the US border?

Although you can grow a business within Canada, expanding to the US market can positively impact your eCommerce journey. Americans spend more time online than Canadians since the latter would buy things in physical stores rather than online.

In addition, considering that Canadians value quality products over designer brands, you will see a Canadian citizen buying goods because of their quality and price, not because of their brand name. So, many Americans purchase across the border because they think that Canadian products have better quality.

2. How big is the eCommerce industry in the US?

While there are more online buyers in Canada than in the past, the country still ranks six places lower than the United States in this aspect. About 260 million American consumers buy online, with US $538 billion in revenue. While Canada has 27 million eCommerce users, with a US $15.1 billion gain. Given these numbers, you can say that the US eCommerce industry is on a different level. 

Americans are heavy purchasers of online shopping platforms, such as Amazon and eBay. Suppose you compare the monthly visitors of each website to its Canadian counterparts. In that case, you can see no less than a 99.9% difference. Amazon USA has 2.73 billion monthly visitors, while Amazon Canada has only 160.45 million users. On the other hand, eBay USA has 855.82 monthly visitors compared to 28.22 million monthly visitors of eBay Canada. 

3. How much will the cross border shipping cost?

Usually, a cross border shipment can be costly. On average, Canadians spent CAD 17.62 on cross border shipping for goods weighing 4oz (113g). However, you can spend less on shipping, especially bulk orders if you have a shipping partner.

4. What documents do I need to prepare during the process?

You must prepare the following documents to pass the entry requirement if you process the shipment yourself.

Bill of Lading (BOL). In the document, you can find essential details, such as the lists of goods carried in the shipment, the address of pick up, and other relevant information, including package size, weight, and personal info.

Proof of Delivery. Technically, this document serves as the receipt of the BOL that indicates that the receiver got the package in good shape. You will also find a signature confirming the time and date delivered.

Commercial Invoice. You will find the full description of the goods and their value.

Certificate of Origin. You will see where the shipment came from and know how many collections of customs duties are by NAFTA regulations.

It will be easier to pass the customs clearance if you have a shipping partner to help you get through Canada customs. Furthermore, you don’t need to prepare all of these documents as the forwarder will do the task on your behalf.

5. How long is Canada to the USA shipping time?

Accuracy is essential in shipping as well as swift and secured service. Deliveries to the US via national carriers may take up to seven days. This mostly depends on the distance that your package needs to travel. Also, as you are making an international shipment, your items will need to go through US customs. So, you will also need to factor in the waiting period, which may vary depending on the volume of goods getting into the country.

6. Is it easy to ship products from Canada to US?

Bringing consumer products from Canada and the US may be expensive. Still, it is not difficult, thanks to friendly relationships between the two countries. The flourishing trade has also established standards and rules that simplify the exchange of goods. You only need to abide by the existing trade regulations and have the proper documentation for your shipment to go through.

7. Why Choose Stallion Express?

With the right partner, you can bring down the costs of shipping products from Canada to the US without compromising your shipment’s integrity and quality of customer service. Stallion Express offers a reliable shipping service at a price you can afford. Moreover, you can skip other rigorous processes, such as getting the BOL, Proof of Delivery, and Certificate of Origin, as Stallion will do the rest for you, with less Canada to USA shipping time. The receiver can expect to receive the parcel within 2 to 4 business days, in contrast to the National Carrier’s delivery time of 5 to 7 business days. 

Through a fast and easy integration process, you can connect your Amazon, Shopify, eBay, or Esty to your Stallion Express account and get all the perks they offer. You can ship your products and avail almost 75% discount on shipping! Plus, the Stallion Protection policy can help you keep your package secured until your customer receives their packages.What are you waiting for? Partner with Stallion Express now for your next Canada US border shipping!

Nicasio Co III