Question
***IMPORTANT***INFO IF SHIPPING TO CANADIAN, OFFICIALS STRICTLY ENFORCE CUSTOMS RULES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations 202-268-2155
October 20, 2004
News Release No. 04-069
www.usps.com
Marking it 'Not Admitted':
CANADIAN OFFICIALS STRICTLY ENFORCE CUSTOMS, ADDRESSING REQUIREMENTS FOR INBOUND INTERNATIONAL MAIL
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Postal Service is alerting customers mailing items to Canada they must comply with strict Canadian Customs and postal administration addressing requirements.
All postal items (except postcards) that do not display the complete name and address of both the sender and the recipient -- in roman letters (A, B, C) and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) -- are being denied entry into Canada. Sender or recipient identification such as "Grandma" or "Aunt Ruth" are not acceptable and are among the causes of mail being returned.
According to Canadian officials, this action is pursuant to the Canada Customs Act and reflects heightened security measures.
Accordingly, addresses to recipients in Canada should be printed in ink or typewritten in capital letters, and the last line of the address must show only the country name, written in full, and in capital letters. When a Canadian postal delivery zone number is included in the address, mailing requirements allow that number to appear as the last line of the address.
Customers also are reminded that complete and legible customs declarations -- along with required import documentation -- must be provided to specifically identify the contents of any package. General descriptions such as "gift" or "present" are not acceptable.
Canadian Customs offices report a backlog of incoming postal items containing incomplete or inaccurate information. According to Canadian officials, these items eventually will be returned to their points of origin for correction by the sender as soon as practical.
Link to USPS
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What a bunch of boobs...let's just stop commerce today for everyone!
My Post Clerk told me about this yesterday when I was dropping off some items.
Thanks.
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I was told this the last time I mailed items to Canada. I have always completed the form in this manner as per the instructions on the form. I don't really see the problem. Canada is just responding to the terrorist threat same as the US.
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I've always just copy/pasted the shipping address from Paypal transaction emails to a label to put on the package - those are rarely all in Caps. I'll now have to reformat that information for Canadian buyers (and I get a fair share of them).
Haven't had any items returned yet but have had a couple take much longer than normal.
All my Canadian buyers are not getting a heads up about the issue during my confirmation emails & shipping emails.
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The story has been out for about a week now...
Backlog at border delaying international mail: Canada Post
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...lay041019.html
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My Clerk stated they recieved a second notice on it today. Two for the week.
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I don't see any problem, it is the way I have prepared all my international parcels for years.
I have noticed over the years that some sellers don't include thier return addresse, and that is not very smart. I would rather have the item returned to me if there is a delivery problem, than have it go to the dead letter office.
Larry
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Actually the real story is about money. It actually costs less to mail packages to Canada from the US than it does within Canada. And not by 10% either.
There are many online sellers, including myself, that ship our Canadian customers from our closest American cities.
Transport companies even help supply from some of the bigger cities.
This is just an attempt to force some of us to ship via Canada Post
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There are many online sellers, including myself, that ship our Canadian customers from our closest American cities.
When you actually decide to actually ship the product, that is. Right?