Shipping to Canada to tap a robust market is slowly emerging as the number one choice for most businesses. But the logistics and costs of shipping to Canada, especially for small businesses or new exporters who were unfamiliar with international shipping prior to COVID-19, can be a bit daunting. When shipping within Canada, understanding the unique logistics of this vast country is essential to ensure goods move efficiently and cost-effectively from one region to another.
How to Understand Canada Shipping Rules
Without all the various ingredients in place, Canadian shipments is more of a logistical obstacle course that businesses have to navigate through. Canada, for all of its friendliness to trade, has rules and procedures governing goods that move across the border.
Customs and Duties
Canadian customs may charge duties and taxes, based on the value of the item being shipped. It is important for companies to be aware of these standards and have appropriate commercial documents like commercial invoices if they are shipping items.
Customers are often required to pay import duties and taxes when purchasing international goods, so your logistics team needs to educate customers upfront on potential costs to avoid customs delays.
Pricing and Delivery Information
Canada shipping rates vary dramatically depending upon the carrier, whether or not the package is trackable, as well as its weight and size and method of delivery — standard, express or overnight. Comparing rates is the best way to determine which carrier will be most affordable for your business. Utilizing a company like ShipShop can help small businesses move through these complex challenges by offering affordable rates and seamless shipping solutions when sending to Canada.
Parcel shipping times to Canada will depend on the chosen shipping method, destination, and will be at your expense. Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are usually very quick to deliver however more broader places may take longer.
Shipping to Canada: Ways of Shipping
Whether a business is shipping to Canada or sending packages from the country, there are several shipping methods to choose from that accommodate the needs of both the shipper and its customers.
Here are some of the more widely used shipping methods their uses:
Postal Services: national postal services Canada Post, USPS. Postal Services are a cheap and reliable manner of shipping packages to Canada. But they do come with longer dispatch times and may use Australia Post (standard shipping).
Air Courier Services — Faster Delivery Could be beneficial when you need delivery faster. They also offer tracking features which can make the sender and the recipient feel reassured that they know where their package is during transport.
Third party Shipping Platforms: For businesses hoping to streamline their shipping operations and discover the very best rates, third party shipping plataforms like ShipShop use a terrific solution. Since most of these platforms work with more than just one carrier it is easy for companies to find the right rates or service what they are looking for.
Affordable Shipping Options To Canada
For international shipments, shipping costs can get incredible steep. Businesses should adapt these strategies to manage costs efficiently:
Chances are that you need to ship products at some point, so retraining employees in the way things are packed can affect shop sales and running costs. The reasons for compact packaging are threefold; shipping rates are often based on weight and dimensional factors, with more lightweight packages being cheaper to ship than their larger counterparts.
Flat-Rate Shipping: Use flat-rate shipping options offered by many carriers, they could be a cost-effective option for businesses that are carrying heavier items. One way you can save money is by shipping items out in flat-rate boxes, which have set prices for specific sizes of packages no matter the weight.
Offers negotiation Transporters : If you came across a lot of products, this means probably have regular shipping. With carriers, you qualify better shipping rates. Volume Discounts — Most carriers provide discounts for high volume shippers.
Shipping to Canada done right
Shipping to Canada is an attractive goal for many businesses wishing to get their products in front of more consumers. Simply understanding the customs processes, comparing shipping rates and implementing smart strategies will help you become a Canada shipping pro and control costs for your business.
For companies that expect a cost-effective and mostly automated means to ship items across the Canadian market, they can take advantage of tools like ShipShop.