Tired of US-Canada Shipping costs/fees? Photo Journal to Roethel's Parcel Service

[BShark]

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

[PaulG]

I was at Roethel's on Thursday morning picking up new wheels for the van (rims and tires), and new tires for the mx6...that girl at customs was nice, went above and beyond as far as I'm concerned.

You can also get to Roethel's by going straight past Proctor and taking a right at 37, then right again at the Ford Street Extension. It's the long way but you can't miss the 37 turnoff because the 812 merges with the 37 at that point.

Another reason for going that way is because there's Walmart and Lowe's at the 37 and Ford Street Extension which you can shop at should you have the inclination, and most importantly a UPS store that's open on Saturdays so you can have your stuff shipped there instead of Roethel's if you can't make it down on weekdays because Roethel's is strictly Monday to Friday.

One bad thing I've read about the UPS store is that on some days they have so much stuff there that it's piled up in the customer area and anyone can walk away with your stuff...some people have even said that they pile packages outside the store when it gets really bad! For that reason alone, I'll stick with Roethel's...a nice lady runs the place and I prefer to give her my money over UPS.

[I4MX6]

I use a similar service in Buffalo, NY for parts. Same costs too. I ship all my OEM Honda stuff there because it's about 70% cheaper in the US, even with shipping.

[L.Machida]

^ Details what service this is?

[I4MX6]

What service you referring too? The Honda parts or the drop off location in the USA? The place I use in the states for receiving my parts is: U.S. Address.

Hope that's what you were looking for.

[L.Machida]

thx that's exactly what I was looking for the US. Place maybe I might score some cheaper prices on things..

[cheapohubby]

Originally Posted by PaulG

One bad thing I've read about the UPS store is that on some days they have so much stuff there that it's piled up in the customer area and anyone can walk away with your stuff...some people have even said that they pile packages outside the store when it gets really bad! For that reason alone, I'll stick with Roethel's...a nice lady runs the place and I prefer to give her my money over UPS.

We use the UPS Store all the time; but you're right about stuff being piled up. While I've not heard of anybody that's lost stuff, it certainly does take a bit of effort to locate your packages in the piles stacked all over the place! For us, it's even a better deal; doesn't cost much in fuel for a smartie to pop down to Ogdensburg and back!

[STeeLy]

haha... this is awesome...

So do the customs charge you duties after you declare your items?

[PaulG]

Yes they do, on tires made in Korea it's 7% on item cost before shipping, depending on where the tires are made it may be different. They also charge both taxes as well. You can look up the duty that will be charged beforehand on the CBSA website.

I'm heading down there after work today to pick up my new winter tires...4 new Nokian RSi's for $215 US.

[L.Machida]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

haha... this is awesome...

So do the customs charge you duties after you declare your items?

Well you can also just bolt everything on & declare 1 or 2 items ~

[Chefsp0t]

Or buy your stuff and get it sent to me. I'll ship it to you and it will probably cost much less.

Any news on the oxygen sensor yet BShark?

[BShark]

Originally Posted by Chefsp0t

Or buy your stuff and get it sent to me. I'll ship it to you and it will probably cost much less.

Any news on the oxygen sensor yet BShark?

Not yet, but i'm sure it'll get here by the end of the week.

[youngfan]

THIS IS AWESOME! So much crap is shipped for free to anywhere in U.S, but as soon as you say Canada shipping jumps up to 50$. I'm definitely going to use this service.

[Chefsp0t]

My offer stands as well but I can't get shipping quotes until you have your packages shipped to me.

[dan_seguin90]

how long is the drive from the end of the 416 to ogdensburg ? im going to consider this if i ever buy parts as its basically on my way home from school dependent on how long it takes from the end of the 416