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Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:26 pm

Has anybody in North of the border used VanCafe? I usually use CIP Canada but they do not stock all the same parts. One time I bought a rebuilt tranny from California, the price included shipping but when it arrived I was stuck with a $300 from UPS for getting it across the border.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:37 pm

Shipping to Canada.....USPS the postal service is your friend!!!
USP will f&^% you.
You will pay taxes and duty......sort of O.K, but not the ridiculous brokerage and handling fees of UPS.
I have used Gowesty and Busdepot, both of who sent my packages through the mail.
Nafta and if the car parts are for a vehicle 25 years old or older allow duty free. You could try that avenue. The shipping code is 99-66.00, you need the vendor to go the extra mile for you and fill out the necessary papers. I haven't used that route in years.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:47 pm

Ordered my radiator from VC, came via USPS and I had no added costs and yet another time, I ordered from someone else, shipped USPS and I had to pay HST. I NEVER use a Courier Service cause the bums always bill extra at this end, even tho you paid for it at the originating end.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:52 pm

I get a lot of stuff from the states and I would go USPS every time for the reasons above plus it is usually almost as fast.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:55 pm

x1 on UPS - they really suck and charge outrageous brokerage fees.
vancafe will ship USPS if you call and ask really nice. they probably get a kick-back from UPS, or have a relative that works there :lol: :lol:

Bus-depot and GW use USPS. Bus-depot usually has the best prices of all of them, but as you probably know, not everybody has the same parts selection. sometimes you gotta go with vancafe, just ask for USPS.

I also buy from Gunzl from across the pond. shipping is not that much different from getting stuff from the US.

Like you, I try to give my business to CIP1 if they have the parts, as shipping is free when you buy $100 in parts - not hard to do when buying parts.....

Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:15 pm

USPS just changed some of the Customs regulations and paperwork.
Anything over 5 lbs must have commercial paperwork that is much more detailed than the typical tiny scrap of paper for less than 5 lbs.
Certain items are no longer allowed to be sent via USPS Priority International, most notably batteries.

How do I know....I just sold a Cannondale Downhill mountain bike on eBay for thousands to a chap in Australia, to find out "bicycles" are no longer on the list of items allowed to be exported from the US and imported to Australia.
This is true even as the item was used and was bought via eBay.

The bike went FedEx and was subject to the extra fees....hundreds of dollars of fees :cry:

Double check your the USPS site before assuming anything.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:33 pm

Ordered lots of stuff and always insist on USPS, service is very good.
UPS is a huge rip-off.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:55 pm

Two weeks ago I received SA rear drums from Gowesty, shipped by USPS.
Heavy!! Cost me PST, GST, and a handling fee of $9.50.
This was on top of the cost of the drums and shipping costs paid on the order.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:38 pm

captdave wrote: Has anybody in North of the border used VanCafe? I usually use CIP Canada but they do not stock all the same parts. One time I bought a rebuilt tranny from California, the price included shipping but when it arrived I was stuck with a $300 from UPS for getting it across the border.

Fed Ex is much more reasonable then UPS and WAY faster then USPS.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:42 pm

speedygeorge wrote: captdave wrote: Has anybody in North of the border used VanCafe? I usually use CIP Canada but they do not stock all the same parts. One time I bought a rebuilt tranny from California, the price included shipping but when it arrived I was stuck with a $300 from UPS for getting it across the border.

Fed Ex is much more reasonable then UPS and WAY faster then USPS.

USPS Priority International, over 5lbs, once it leaves the US will be in the hands of FedEx....says so on the paperwork I referred to in my previous post.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:59 pm

insyncro wrote:
USPS Priority International, over 5lbs, once it leaves the US will be in the hands of FedEx....says so on the paperwork I referred to in my previous post.

I have ordered a lot of stuff from the US (Vanagon related and otherwise) and always request USPS for the reasons already mentioned. It might be different for other countries, but if you live in Canada, Canada Post will deliver your USPS order.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:10 pm

I always go for USPS when I can for that very reason. Parts are usually held up in Montreal somewhere while UPS does their thing (whatever that is), and when I do get them, I have to pay their ransom.

I just found another Canadian option for VW parts that I wasn't aware of before- The Skylight Guy, in Gibson's, BC (Hey Nick...). I suggested they change their name though, as it's pretty specific and not really reflective of the variety of parts that they have (they had a wicked deal on 7" round euro lights the other day).

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:19 pm

I have, recently received packages from south of the 49th, and they have been shipped via USPS. I find that anything shipped to Canada costs way to much, but I dont live close enough to the border to just have it shipped to a US border town. I have bought stuff from VanCafe and Bus Depot, as well, and I can't fault their shipping process. I generally try to maximize the order and in the future will try to use Van Cafe's Hitch a ride program. There is no way that I will buy anything heavy like big bumpers though! I am very glad that no one has taken advantage of me, everyone I have bought things from has worked hard to find me the best possible price possible. I will probably take a hit when I buy some syncro.org springs, Oh the money spent on my Baby. There is not enough of a market for vanagon parts in Canada to warrant all the "cool stores" coming up here. What to do, what to do? ](*,)

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:32 pm

syncroluvr wrote: I have, recently received packages from south of the 49th, and they have been shipped via USPS. I find that anything shipped to Canada costs way to much, but I dont live close enough to the border to just have it shipped to a US border town. I have bought stuff from VanCafe and Bus Depot, as well, and I can't fault their shipping process. I generally try to maximize the order and in the future will try to use Van Cafe's Hitch a ride program. There is no way that I will buy anything heavy like big bumpers though! I am very glad that no one has taken advantage of me, everyone I have bought things from has worked hard to find me the best possible price possible. I will probably take a hit when I buy some syncro.org springs, Oh the money spent on my Baby. There is not enough of a market for vanagon parts in Canada to warrant all the "cool stores" coming up here. What to do, what to do? ](*,)

I send to boarder towns often.

Soon I will be receiving bumpers for a fellow in Montreal and he will come down to get them.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:44 pm

That would be a great way to defray costs, I may just PM you in the future if thats Ok. The vanagon family is almost better then my own! :lol:

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:22 pm

Holy smokes! Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like Im not alone . I will try VC and request USPS.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:29 pm

We used to ship most packages into Canada for free, but since USPS hiked their rates by about 15%, we now offer discounted USPS shipping.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:54 pm

Most good vendors like Bus Depot offer you the choice. X6 on USPS.

UPS will hose you with a borker fee. Once I orders a T-shirt & key chain that came to $27 then got hosed with the $30 UPS fee. Never again.

Fed Ex is quick and fast and does have some fee's for the boader but not nearly has high as UPS.

Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:49 am

BC Westie wrote: UPS will hose you with a borker fee.

Borker fees are the worst! :twisted:

Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:43 am

geo_tonz wrote: BC Westie wrote: UPS will hose you with a borker fee.

Borker fees are the worst! :twisted:

I agree. I've refused items in the past simply because the fees were in excess of the cost of the part. :roll: