The Cheapest Way to Ship from Canada to US and Vice Versa on Christmas Day

You are already having a merry feast on Christmas day. Still, your mind is traveling somewhere else because you know you were not able to ship items you were supposed to send so that in another country, another person could feel as festive as the people around you. Not to mention all the sales you could have reached before Christmas day! You missed the shipping deadlines for the holiday season, and you are just half-happy on this special day.

Save yourself from this dreadful feeling of celebrating while having worries on your mind by taking note of these five ways to attain not only the most convenient but the cheapest way to ship from Canada to US and the cheapest way to ship from US to Canada before Christmas day.

1. Efficient Packing is the Key!

To achieve the cheapest way to send items to the United states, begin with the proper packaging. Christmas day is looked forward to because of all the surprises under that Christmas tree. Strike You can strike a balance between having elegant wrapping while maintaining efficiency, especially when used for international shipping. Here are some tips to keep in mind. 

• Think of removing the gift or the product from the original packaging, especially if it is bulky, and transfer it to somewhere compact. You can also re-wrap it using a material that will protect it but at the same time looks appealing for someone to be excited when opening. 
• If removing the packaging is not an option, look into fitting more items to maximize the space or altering the packaging size if there is only one product to pack. If you want to be efficient in packing, leave no room for empty spaces. Think of those spaces as money you could have saved and opportunities you missed in attaining the cheapest way to ship from Canada to US and the cheapest way to ship from US to Canada.
• If you use additional materials like bubble wrap, different cartons, or more stackings to protect the shipment, make sure they are needed to avoid the extra cost.
• Go for aesthetics and function. Every decision you make in packing your products for shipment should be made for presentation and function. You want the recipient to feel excited about seeing your package because it is visually pleasing, but at the same time, you want it to arrive in one piece. 
• Lastly, before you even skip to the shipping part–if you have control over your product packaging, think long-term. Imagine the product being shipped in different states and provinces in your country, and imagine your goods being shipped abroad. Think in advance about how you can make your shipping more convenient through well-thought packaging. 

2. Be aware of peak surcharges and the cost you can save by skipping express deliveries. 

Priority mails and packages are still sent even on Christmas and New Year’s Day, good news! The cost you’ll be paying will surely be more than the standard shipping payment you do, not so good news! Not to mention all the peak surcharges shipping companies have during the holiday season. 

Despite the availability of express shipping on December 25 and January 1, we recommend not bothering yourself these days and delivering in advance. If you want to bring about the cheapest way to ship from Canada to the US and the cheapest way to ship from the US to Canada, go for standard shipping. 

Standard shipping within Canada helps you to save up to 50% in shipping cost compared to national carriers and standard couriers. You can expect your delivery to arrive between 2-8 business days. On the other hand, Canada to the US shipping can save you up to 75% in shipping cost, with the delivery of 2-4 business days. USPS is truly unbeatable when it comes to their shipping fees and delivery time, thanks to their government funding and support. It also helps that their population is a lot more densely packed than a country like Canada.” 

Standard shipping within Canada and from Canada to the US is competitive and is comparable with delivery times of priority mail standards. Hence, your packages can be received before Christmas day when you send them, even just a week or more ahead. Planning your shipping calendar is not too much of an inconvenience. Why not do it? 

3. Taxes and duty rates know no holiday breaks!

Aside from priority mails and packages, shipping companies close on Christmas and New Year. They take a rest, but taxes and duties know no holiday breaks. You will still be charged any day of the year with the same cost. Hence, include these in your budget list. Knowing the details of the taxes and duties you pay can also help you find and sign-up to the company offering the cheapest way to ship from Canada to the US and the cheapest way to ship from the US to Canada. How so?

It is recommended to know how to compute your tax and duty rate so that you will know which companies charge you right and charge you more, and there is no better way to get assurance than by consulting a tax expert.

For Canada tax and duty computation, note that there are three types of taxes here, and charges vary depending on the province. Canada has the General Sales Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST), which is the amount you’ll pay if you are shipping in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Harmonized Sales tax (HST) is applied when shipping to New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. You only need to pay GST if you are shipping to Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. 

When shipping in the US, the basic principle to remember is to review prohibited and restricted items.

Any item not exceeding USD800 is duty-free unless it is US FDA regulated. However, Stallion does not ship any FDA-regulated item, so it is better to check the list first before shipping. sStallion Express does not charge any additional taxes and duties as they only handle shipments under $800CAD per day, per address.

4. Your holiday gifts and shipment may fall under prohibited and restricted goods. 

Some of the typical gift ideas for men on Christmas day are liquors and tobacco. Your mothers, sisters, or aunts would gladly accept some fur, plants, and flowers from you, mainly when imported. The young members of the family will beam in delight if they are given sweet imported chocolates. Sad to say–these items are prohibited and restricted to be imported in both Canada and the US. 

It is better to check first the prohibited items to be shipped in Canada and goods not allowed to enter the US. You can save time, effort, and money in shipping instead of having your shipments halted by the US CBP or the Canada Border Services Agency(CBSA). The worst part is you can be held liable for shipping these items. As the adage goes, “Ignorance of the law excuses no one.” Save yourself from these holiday blues by being mindful of the restricted and prohibited items for shipping. 

5. Do you know other international shipping options? You should. 

When Christmas sales occur, you should have at least three options for shipping to ensure your delivery reaches your customers, or if you are a buyer, you should know these as well. 

• Send via shipping partner.

Your primary choice is going straight to shipping partners and entrusting your deliveries to them. Transaction in this shipping option is quick. Shop different international shipping postage types and carriers that suit your business needs. With Stallion Express, choose from PostNL or APC Postal Logistics. 

How about you take a look at Stallion Express? They are the leading shipping partners in Canada, and they offer the most competitive rates and hassle-free shipping transactions.

There are also shipping companies who streamline your shipping needs by integrating your online stores into your shipping account. Super convenient!

• Deliver using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Export Program.

If you are an Amazon seller or buyer, note that you have the FBA Export Program shipping option. For sellers, this additional delivery alternative comes for free! If you make the holiday season the date you’ll finally explore international shipping, FBA Export is an excellent way to begin.

For sellers, take note that all international shipping costs will be passed on to you. Paying for everything may sound daunting, but if the Amazon products you purchased are worth payment, then go for it! 

• Ship using US addresses 

No acquaintances in America? Don’t worry, Shippsy by Stallion Express as your package forwarding/US to Canada solution is something you should consider. They offer the cheapest package forwarding for items from the US to Canada. 

Shippsy offers three different services: 1) Package forwarding, 2) Parcel Pickup Service, 3) Pallet Service

Package forwarding is the most popular service of Shippsy, allowing customers to send their package from the US delivered at their doorstep for a small fee. Help your business with U.S. imports to Canada today with Shippsy. 

Summary

It is a tradition for most countries in the world to give gifts, as a sign of love and appreciation, during the Christmas season. Thus, it is the busiest time for the shipping industry. To ensure that you get all your gifts and packages across the border and fulfill the cheapest way to ship from Canada to US and the cheapest way to ship from US to Canada by following the five tips above.

First, practice efficient packing. Plan your shipping calendar and avoid express shipping to avoid higher costs. Dive into the details on how taxes and duties are computed, so you can decide which company charges the least when shipping internationally. Focus on Stallion’s list of prohibited/restricted goods. Lastly, know the different ways to ship internationally, and choose which works best for you. 

Stallion Express can be your partner to make your Christmas Day a merry moment with family and friends by ensuring all your shipments are clear before this day. 

We’ll teach you how to achieve the cheapest way to ship package from US to Canada and the cheapest way to ship from Canada to US.

Contact us at 877-863-7477, or visit our website for more details.

Diana Zheng

Diana leads the growth marketing initiatives at Stallion Express. As a personal trainer turned digital marketer, Diana is obsessed with equipping eCommerce entrepreneurs with everything they need to scale their online businesses. You can catch her doing yoga or hitting the tennis courts in her spare time.