"If I buy a single stamp from my American buddy (let's call him "Donald") for 5c, or if my other American friend (let's call her "Karen") sends me a freebie stamp, they both should fill out a customs form and attach it to the envelope (with proper postage!) before sending it to me."
It is not quite that simple. To be able to mail a package with the customs form attached without having to physically go to the post office and stand in line 6 geet apart in a line that either wends it way through the post office or goes out the door and onto the sidewalk you must complete the entire transaction on line. That means filling out the customs form, printing the postage and customs forms, making certain that the item meets the requirements for size,thickness and weight. You cannot use postage stamps - everything has to be done online. You cannot prefill customs forms - they need electronic entry created by you.
From the USPS website
"If you have a mailpiece with a customs form that was not completed and submitted online or any mail item that requires a customs form and bears postage, you must take it to a Post Office retail counter to mail it. If you put it in your mailbox, the carrier will leave it there. If you drop it in a blue collection box or lobby drop, it will be returned to you."
Wait times at our post office varies from 5 minutes to around 45 minutes or so. During peak holiday periods 45 minutes was the norm last year - with all the covid restrictions and physical barriers I expect this year an hour or so would not be unusual.
I get a bunch of CN 22 customs forms from my local Post Office and fill them in and affix to the envelope.
Every envelope or package I send I get a Proof of Postage certificate so every item has to be taken to the local Post Office.
If I have them I use stamps on the packages if not then a Horizon Label is put on by the Postal Clerk.
I have never had an item returned to me for wrong/incomplete customs form or insufficient postage.
So Far So Good!!
Unfortunately, in addition to the customs form requirement, there is the issue of mailing cost. The most inexpensive service for sending a small packet of postage stamps from the U.S. to Canada is First-Class Package International Service at $12.25.
The USPS website states "First-Class Mail International® (FCMI®) is our most affordable option for sending postcards, letters, and large envelopes weighing up to 15.994 ounces. No merchandise may be mailed with FCMI." and "Letters and flats must contain only documents and cannot contain any other goods."
The new rules were put in place by the UPU after the U.S. threatened to withdraw.
"...The new rules were put in place by the UPU after the U.S. threatened to withdraw."
Don, You are correct. I had misremembered the timeline. Here is a summary of the changes made effective Jan 21, 2018.
https://blog.stamps.com/2017/12/26/important-usps-making-changes-first-class-mail-international-flats/
Another option is sending a parcel by UPS or Fedex. In looking at UPS rates it appears that a package of 10 pounds and value less than $20 can be sent for about $40 from the U.S. to Canada. That works out to about $4/lb. Which is cheaper than USPS alternatives. I have been accumulating donations to the Holocaust project and have a ten pound box getting ready to send. I sent a 7 pound box last year via Fedex but it cost a bit more. Of course a customs form must be attached to the package.
It has been a long time since this happened to me, but I believe UPS charges a "brokerage fee" (?) when an item crosses the border. I remember years ago getting a Christmas present for a friend and the brokerage fee was more than the value of the item. Can anyone with more knowledge than me on this subject make a comment?
I have heard that about both UPS an Fedex but have no personal experience. You will need to ask up front because I don't believe that they tell you (since I believe they charge the recipient). This is second hand information but the old line "Trust, but verify" holds true here...
After waking up from a refreshing nap, I found myself moved from a need for a posteriori knowledge to that of accepting an a priori truth:
"If I buy a single stamp from my American buddy (let's call him "Donald") for 5c, or if my other American friend (let's call her "Karen") sends me a freebie stamp, they both should fill out a customs form and attach it to the envelope (with proper postage!) before sending it to me."
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
It is not quite that simple. To be able to mail a package with the customs form attached without having to physically go to the post office and stand in line 6 geet apart in a line that either wends it way through the post office or goes out the door and onto the sidewalk you must complete the entire transaction on line. That means filling out the customs form, printing the postage and customs forms, making certain that the item meets the requirements for size,thickness and weight. You cannot use postage stamps - everything has to be done online. You cannot prefill customs forms - they need electronic entry created by you.
From the USPS website
"If you have a mailpiece with a customs form that was not completed and submitted online or any mail item that requires a customs form and bears postage, you must take it to a Post Office retail counter to mail it. If you put it in your mailbox, the carrier will leave it there. If you drop it in a blue collection box or lobby drop, it will be returned to you."
Wait times at our post office varies from 5 minutes to around 45 minutes or so. During peak holiday periods 45 minutes was the norm last year - with all the covid restrictions and physical barriers I expect this year an hour or so would not be unusual.
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
I get a bunch of CN 22 customs forms from my local Post Office and fill them in and affix to the envelope.
Every envelope or package I send I get a Proof of Postage certificate so every item has to be taken to the local Post Office.
If I have them I use stamps on the packages if not then a Horizon Label is put on by the Postal Clerk.
I have never had an item returned to me for wrong/incomplete customs form or insufficient postage.
So Far So Good!!
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
Unfortunately, in addition to the customs form requirement, there is the issue of mailing cost. The most inexpensive service for sending a small packet of postage stamps from the U.S. to Canada is First-Class Package International Service at $12.25.
The USPS website states "First-Class Mail International® (FCMI®) is our most affordable option for sending postcards, letters, and large envelopes weighing up to 15.994 ounces. No merchandise may be mailed with FCMI." and "Letters and flats must contain only documents and cannot contain any other goods."
The new rules were put in place by the UPU after the U.S. threatened to withdraw.
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
"...The new rules were put in place by the UPU after the U.S. threatened to withdraw."
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
Don, You are correct. I had misremembered the timeline. Here is a summary of the changes made effective Jan 21, 2018.
https://blog.stamps.com/2017/12/26/important-usps-making-changes-first-class-mail-international-flats/
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
Another option is sending a parcel by UPS or Fedex. In looking at UPS rates it appears that a package of 10 pounds and value less than $20 can be sent for about $40 from the U.S. to Canada. That works out to about $4/lb. Which is cheaper than USPS alternatives. I have been accumulating donations to the Holocaust project and have a ten pound box getting ready to send. I sent a 7 pound box last year via Fedex but it cost a bit more. Of course a customs form must be attached to the package.
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
It has been a long time since this happened to me, but I believe UPS charges a "brokerage fee" (?) when an item crosses the border. I remember years ago getting a Christmas present for a friend and the brokerage fee was more than the value of the item. Can anyone with more knowledge than me on this subject make a comment?
re: Mailing From US to Canada (Part 2): Moving From Opinion & Debate to Solutions....
I have heard that about both UPS an Fedex but have no personal experience. You will need to ask up front because I don't believe that they tell you (since I believe they charge the recipient). This is second hand information but the old line "Trust, but verify" holds true here...