QUESTION: Tired of paying exploitive shipping prices on shipments from the US to Canada, which often eliminates any savings you are trying to get by buying from US sites or sellers? Frustrated with ridiculous customs/duties fees?
QUESTION: Do you live anywhere along the 416 Highway between Ottawa and the 401?
ANSWER: Have your parcels shipped to Roethel's Parcel Service just on the other side of the US border, then drive down and pick them up yourself at only a $5.00/per package fee (a bit extra for bigger packages).
THE PROCESS
Seriously though. Here's my experience. I wanted a Pioneer DEH-P5100UB head unit, but Best Buy wanted $230.00 + tax. Amazon.com only wanted $160.00 shipping inclusive, but will only ship within the USA. So, when ordering something, have it shipped to the following:
Your Name
In c/o [In care of] Roethel's Parcel Service
1801 Ford Street
Ogdensburg, NY
13669
USA
Once the order has been put through, give Roethel a call at 1-315-393-4770 during business hours of 9:00am-4:30pm to let her know you're expecting a package. After the expected shipping time has passed, call them again to check that the package has arrived, then take yourself on a drive.
Here's the Mapquest link:
Driving Directions from Provincial Route 416 S , , to 1801 Ford St, Ogdensburg, NY
Merge onto PROVINCIAL ROUTE 416 S (south).
Enjoy the scenery if it's a nice day:
Take the HWY-16 S/RTE-16 S exit, EXIT 1, toward HWY-401 E/RTE-401 E/U.S.A.
Getting closer to the exit...
Here's the exit!
Keep straight on Highway 16 for 1.4km, then you'll see this sign where you'll take a slight right:
This bridge is what you're heading for:
Keep in mind it's only 50km/hr on the bridge --I forgot and was going 80
Stupid toll booth:
Welcome to NY state!
Ah, American customs. Don't forget to bring your passport! They actually didn't grill me hard at all, I had a very nice middle-aged lady at my booth.
After customs, this is the first residential street, where you take a RIGHT turn.
If you're lucky, you'll see one of these:
Despite such a weird name, Ogdensburg seems like a quaint little town
Take Proctor for about 1.4km or so, then take a RIGHT turn onto Ford Street (Sorry, I don't have a picture).
Look for this on your left:
You're there!
It looks like a very disorganized thrift shop inside, but the people are nice and efficient.
On the way back, I would highly suggest declaring your items at Canadian customs, because if you don't, it will definitely seem a little suspicious that you've only been in the country for less than a day (less than an hour in my situation) with nothing to show for it. Take a receipt for your shipment to testify value; I had forgotten to and initially got some flack back at customs, but the female officer not much older than I let me go with a warning.
COST: From my house in Nepean (South-West Ottawa), after calculating the currency conversion and cost of fuel, I actually saved $55.00 CAD doing it this way compared to buying it at Best Buy. Not too bad!
Any comments are welcome
