Crawling out from under the porch to help out Esther, I just gotta say, 
man it's bright out here.

On 1 Dec 2006 at 10:20, Esther Heller wrote:

> Several years ago Canadians on rec.crafts.metalworking
> complained vehemently about Bay sellers who insisted
> on shipping UPS which tacked on a lot of extra charges,
> and I recall various comments at times about getting
> picked for customs inspection also costing the recipient.

Any of the courier companies will ding the recipient a ton of brokerage 
fees. Don't use 'em. Use good old USPS.

> I know to say this is a gift, but I also would like to
> send some chunks of wood since my local is probably
> his unusual/exotic, is there something special I should
> say listing it to not panic agricultural inspectors or
> anything?

Just mark it as a gift and that's it. i wouldn't worry about being very 
specific, unless the USPS people tell you different.

Having bought from Paddy, PL, IT and other sellers over the years on the 
porch, they have all been marked as gifts and I have YET to pay $0.01 in 
duties or taxes.

If it marked as a gift, then Canada Post lets it through without an 
issue, especially at Christmas time. The only time I got dinged with any 
kind of duties/taxes is when it wasn't marked as a gift. Then I got 
nailed duties/taxes/duty fee. It added up to more than the $2 item was 
worth.

> My plans are to get a USPS international flat rate shipping
> box and see how I can fill it, unless someone has alternate
> experiences to share.

USPS is the way to go. Unless of course you are making a trip to Niagara 
Falls or environs, then just mail it when you are up here :)

-- 
Bryan Carbonnell - carbonnb@s...
I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is 
not looking good either.

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