USPS may sound outrageous but once the courier companies like UPS/Fedex/DHL hit the Canadian recipient with the 'Brokerage and Handling' fees they don't tell the sender about it'll seem like a bargain. These questionable fees are not insignificant and frequently amount to more than the item is worth.
It gets worse. If the recipient refuses to take delivery they will still be charged for the extra fees - applied on the Canadian side by the Canadian branch of the US courier - to the point of having a Canadian collection agency at your door.
This International Brokerage Fraud is what has caused many honorable American Ebayers to ship only USPS to Canada. I insist on USPS when I order something from the US...or have it sent to an American address to be picked up personally later. If an Ebay item I inform the seller before bidding of my requirements.
Check this link and do the research.
The Postal System - USPS/Canada Post - will charge a flat $5 handling fee if the item is determined to be of new manufacture, which will then possibly have duties attached - any determined duties will still be much lower than a courier's 'brokerage & handling' fee.
That is why the sender must declare it to be used or a gift, which is no lie in our hobby.
Dave, burned twice and never again.
here is but one of thousands of results about Brokerage Fee Fraud:
http://www.thegatesofdawn.ca/wordpress/posts/2006/12/10/ups-brokerage-fee-class-action/
