shaani
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posted on November 21, 2000 08:19:45 PM new
Does anyone know the best way to ship and insure an item that is worth about $3000 US to the US? Our postal insurance will only cover up to $1000 Can.
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lswanson
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posted on November 21, 2000 08:31:18 PM new
I thought UPS and FedEX did international deliveries? Correct me if I'm wrong.
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RB
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posted on November 21, 2000 08:39:14 PM new
You are correct. Purolator also offers this service. As much as I trust the postal service (ours and yours!), I would be very reluctant to hand something worth $3K US ($4.5K Canadian) over to them 
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shaani
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posted on November 21, 2000 09:24:18 PM new
Thanks for your replies. I am trying to help out another seller and he will check into these options tomorrow. We have trusted Canada Post with items over $1500 US and they got them there safely and quickly. But it is always a bit stressful!
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reddeer
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posted on November 21, 2000 10:44:25 PM new
Shaani ...... What is it they are looking at shipping? I've shipped items valued over 3K Cdn to the US, and just made sure it was "bulletproof" before handing it over to Canada Post.
UPS & FedEx will not insure antiques & collectibles. As far as that goes, they won't insure *anything* that can't be easily replaced.
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netsw
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posted on November 21, 2000 11:17:56 PM new
Shaani, how heavy is item?
How far do you live from US border?
It might be worth clearing it yourself and arranging shipping on US side, possibly a Mailbox etc, or other shipping service.
PS to Redeer and RB, back in action, passed exam for US Customs brokers license.
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shaani
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posted on November 21, 2000 11:19:38 PM new
Hi reddeer, It is made from stone so he has no fear of breakage and he has packaged it very well. It cannot be replaced. I think he is more worried about theft.
Do you put the actual value on your custom's forms if it is over the $1000 Can? We have been putting actual value on and have had none of the packages opened by Customs. We wrap all of our packages in paper and we tape the entire box over in clear tape so maybe Customs thinks it is too much trouble to bother with? Canada Post has been really good.
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shaani
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posted on November 21, 2000 11:24:54 PM new
Hello netsw, Congrats on passing your exam. I live close to the border but this item was sold by someone else who does not live near the border. I am just trying to give him some suggestions. I wish it was my sale!
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 12:09:48 AM new
Netsw ........ Congrats, and welcome back!
Shaani ...... Ok, I usually just went with the max allowed for Can insurance. $1,000
I wish it was my sale to worry over as well.
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RB
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posted on November 22, 2000 04:53:25 AM new
Right On netsw
Congrats - I sincerely wish you every success!
Rob
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 08:38:28 AM new
Shaani ...... Has your friend considered using Xpresspost USA? It costs a fair whack more than regular post, but the item would have delivery confirmation if sent this route. You can check the DC status online via the Canada Post web site.
Just a thought ..........
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shaani
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posted on November 22, 2000 08:52:47 AM new
Thanks, reddeer. I sent him the link for that last night and he is going to check it out today and that will probably be the way he decides to ship.
Another question, I have an old lamp (1930's about) that is carved from an elephant tusk. Is this legal to sell on eBay? And could I ship it out of Canada?
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 09:00:54 AM new
Shaani ...... Oh my, you don't want to even "think" of going there. CITES permits are nasty business. You would need to get the items age etc verified by an "expert", then you would need to get an export permit via Ottawa, then you would have to make sure the buyer had the proper Import permit as well. Also, the permits can take up to 3 yrs to process for some items. I just spoke with the head of CITES in Canada a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't in regards to Elephant Ivory.
eBay has some regs on the subject as well.
I'll go find the link.
BRB
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 09:03:07 AM new
Here's the eBay link.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-wildlife.html
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shaani
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posted on November 22, 2000 09:44:46 AM new
Thanks again. Up to 3 yrs?!! Guess I will have to go to Plan B. I have two local buyers who have been treating me very well lately. Maybe I can offer it to one of them.....uh...it's not illegal to sell within Canada is it?
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 10:40:04 AM new
I'm not sure? International wildlife trade is heavily regulated, local trade is a different game alltogether. One thing that constantly shocks me is how many dealers/shops have native wildlife mounts for sale, with no permits. Trophy Deer heads, Bear rugs, etc-etc ALL require a permit if you are going to sell them. It's actually illegal to even sell a set of Deer antlers at a gargae sale, without the Provincial permit.
You might want to call your local Fish & Wildlife office & ask them? Perhaps from a pay phone?
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shaani
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posted on November 22, 2000 11:19:50 AM new
Payphone! LOL! Do I wear shades?
My school of thought on this is that I really like the piece and if it is illegal to sell it is meant to be mine. I will see if I can find any more info. Thanks.
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lswanson
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posted on November 22, 2000 12:53:03 PM new
For an item of that much value, I would be much more at ease using UPS or FedEx. Although I've had no problems with shipping with the US Postal Service, I did have one shipment from a Canadian seller that looked like a someone played street hockey with it. Of course, there are war stories about all the different couriers.
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 01:09:18 PM new
UPS & FedEx, won't insure it, beyond the price of the shipping fee.
Canada Post now has what's known as Xpresspost USA, it's very fast, and you can get Delivery Confirmation via the USPS. For BIG ticket items it's the only way to go, for Canucks.
[ edited by reddeer on Nov 22, 2000 01:09 PM ]
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shaani
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posted on November 22, 2000 06:45:59 PM new
When you want to sell a wild species in Canada….
You are not committing an offence when you can show, with reasonable probability, that the Appendix I animal or plant, or the animal or plant from which the part or derivative comes, was taken from its habitat before July 3, 1975. July 3, 1975 is the date CITES came into force in Canada. So, for example, you can sell elephant (Loxodonta africana) ivory taken from Africa before July 3, 1975.
Edited to say that I copied this from the Environment Canada site. So I can sell my lamp within Canada.
[ edited by shaani on Nov 22, 2000 06:52 PM ]
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Zazzie
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posted on November 22, 2000 06:52:20 PM new
What's the USA custom's law on Ivory??
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netsw
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posted on November 22, 2000 09:34:52 PM new
It is not worth the hassle.
You need and export permit from Canada and Fish and Wildlife certificate from US.
A few months ago a world famous pianist had his piano refused entry into Canada because the keys were real ivory. Piano was many years old.
Redeer is right ...use a payphone and make sure you have a clear getaway path.
We have a guy who ships antlers he picks up out of the bush to the US. These species are not endangered and even they are a hassle.
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fonthill
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posted on November 22, 2000 09:46:09 PM new
As for prooving an item's age to ebay in order to sell it legally? FORGET IT! I cited that very same law to ebay after they pulled my Christian Dior leopard coat that was dated on the label by the couturier as fall 1971. They didn't care. On the other hand I saw someone was selling an "18th century" tibetan chest that was trimmed with leopard skin and they didn't pull it, and the chest was certainly not 18th century, probably 1950s! Its a crap shoot, but if you sell too many contraband items ebay will threaten you with suggesting they may kick you off!
I know from experience!
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 10:04:01 PM new
Shaani
"when you can show, with reasonable probability"
In other words, you better have some documentation to back it up, if the boys in blue come a knockin.
Trust me on this, it's VERY complicated as to the various dos & don'ts, even within our own country.
Take Whale bone for example, no problem shipping within your own Province, but can be a BIG problem when shipping a few Provinces over, if you get caught.
Shipping from Province to Province is covered by Provincial rules & regs, and they vary from Province to Province.
If you really want the low down on CITES, call Suzanne Vincent [head of CITES in Canada] @ 819-953-8845
Or, Nicole Peltier @ 819-994-1545
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 10:05:47 PM new
Zazzie ...... They vary from State to State.
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reddeer
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posted on November 22, 2000 10:16:21 PM new
Zazzie ...... This is off of the eBay site.
Ivory - This area is complex, and sellers should consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
their state wildlife regulatory agency to ensure that the particular item involved may lawfully be sold.
Generally, ivory from African elephants may be sold so long as it was lawfully imported into the
United States. Wooly mammoth ivory may be sold inside or outside the United States. Hippo ivory
may be sold within the United States, but may not lawfully be imported into the United States.
........................................
In other words, even to sell Elephant Ivory in the US, you best have the proper paper work in order to show it was legally imported into the USA. If it predates the CITES regs, you best be able to prove that as well. My dealings with Fish Dicks is, they can be just that, Dicks.
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Zazzie
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posted on November 22, 2000 10:58:45 PM new
If the item is small enough---I think I would stuff it under my front seat and go for a scenic drive--and a gas run to the USA....and then mail it from there.
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shaani
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posted on November 22, 2000 11:29:06 PM new
Thanks for all the info. I won't be selling the lamp on eBay for sure. It has the old round prong wiring so I will never use it as I wouldn't want to modify it. The carving is very intricate and beautiful to look at and I think there is a reason why it came into my possession so I will most likely keep it.
"if the boys in blue come a knockin" Thanks, reddeer. Now I feel really paranoid like they are going to bust into my house or shop any minute. 
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stormweaver
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posted on November 23, 2000 12:44:05 PM new
Re: Expresspost USA...
I thought this would be a great service. So I tried it. I sent a money order payment to a US seller using this service, because I wanted my stuff fast. The money order took over a MONTH to get there. And, even better, they couldn't find it, apparently there was confusion between their system and the US system and they told me a bunch of Expresspost packages had been sent normal mail once they reached the States.
However, to Canada Post's credit, when I had to use Western Union to wire the guy the money, they reimbursed both the original Expresspost fee and my Western Union wire fee, even though they didn't have to legally.
When the seller got my original money order, he sent it back to me USPS snail mail, and it got to me in five days. Sigh.
Stormweaver
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reddeer
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posted on November 23, 2000 01:50:44 PM new
I've used the Xpress post service a few times now, no problems other then once it hit the US side, it took 8 days to cross the States.
Canada Post reimbursed me the full amount & told me they would file a claim with the USPS to get the $ back. Ha!
Shaani ....... I just wanted to mention that it is perfectly legal to "give" items like that away, as long as no $$$ crosses hands.
It IS almost Xmas ya know.
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