Shipping From Usa To Canada

[obiwanknabbe]

My good friend has a customer in canada who wishes to buy Nihonto from him. What are the proceedures for this?

 

Kurt K

[Grey Doffin]

Nothing unusual about shipping from the US to Canada.  Pack the sword well, fill out the customs form, and cross your fingers (same as most everywhere else).

Grey

[obiwanknabbe]

Anyone know which forms.? My friends english is limited so im trying to help him out as best i can.

[Grey Doffin]

If weight is no more  than 4 pounds and declared value is $400 at most it can go by 1st class without insurance and you use form CN 22

Priority usually makes better sense and for that you use CP 72.

Grey

[singlechange]

Kirk,

  A month ago I sent a sword package to N.M.B. member in Canada from Virginia using United States Postal Service. Like Grey says it is very easy. Only thing your friend has to do at the post office is to fill out an easy to use customs declaration forum.

  First I went to a local  U.P.S. (United Parcel Service) store and purchased a long and narrow cardboard rectangular shipping container 4 inches by 48 inches. Use lots of bubble wrap and shipping popcorn. It is  also a good idea to add extra layer of packing to the two ends of the long container. (I cut square pieces of styrofoam one inch thick to place at each end of the package to secure the sword from breaking through the top and bottom).

  

 

Robert

[Stephen]

Go to USPS site register then go to click n ship fill in address and custom forms are built into the label, and its less money, if you want to call me at arranged time i can take you step by step

[b.hennick]

I found that things shipped by airmail USPS do not have to go through a broker. Brokers are very expensive. I have not had a problem with USPS. BTW I'm Canadian.

[obiwanknabbe]

Thanks for the info guys.. I was taking extra precaution here as hes shipping a VERY expensive sword and i dont want to give him the wrong info and have it end up getting confiscated as a prohibited item.   Real value on the sword is in excess of $10k usd so getting it right is important.

 

Kurt. K

[b.hennick]

Make sure that you state that the object is an antique and when it was made. There is a thread on the correct custom's code to use. Canadians pay a 13% tax on the declared value of items over $40 that are imported.  Brokers charge a fee based on value, not just a flat fee although there appears to be a minimum. 

[Stephen]

if full value is stated on forums it might be a problem. Thief would be my greatest concern. a private courier ? 

[Oldman]

I have had nihonto shipped from the U.S. to Canada and have found USPS Priority Mail International to be reliable and avoid broker's fees.  There are import duty exemptions for certain antiques (but be sure to check how old they must be to qualify, 300 years comes to mind). However, don't overlook, as mentioned, the tax of around 13% (GST PST or HST), and Canada Post charges a fee to collect that tax.  On the example $10K sword, the tax would be around $1300.00, plus the Canada Post charges.