Shipping a quilt internationally question

[midnightline]

I am debating making and sending a quilt as a gift to a friend in Canada. Unfortunately, she is having serious financial difficulties, and if I send her anything that gets custom fees added to it, she cannot afford them. For those who have sent quilts internationally, is there a way to pre-pay any such fees on my end?

[ktdid]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

Why can't you just send her the money in advance to cover the costs?

[Monique]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

Make sure to state that it is a gift therefore there shouldn't be any custom charges applied.

[SuzanneOrleansOntario]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

Agree with Monique. There is no tax or customs imposed on gifts. You may want to list the item as a quilted blanket.

[RiverMomm]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

I've shipped quilt gifts both ways between Canada and US for years. You are right, your friend will have to pay duty/taxes on any gift that is valued over $60 Canadian (about $45 US) plus a brokerage fee. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't a way to prepay custom/brokerage fees.

Here are a few suggestions I have found to make it easier for shipping/receiving gifts.

Ship by USPS. It will then go by Canada Post and the brokerage fee will be minimal or none. I think the brokerage fee is $8 but I could be wrong.
NEVER ship by UPS.
Declare the quilt as a gift on the customs form.
List the quilt as a handmade blanket as some customs folks don't know what a quilt is but know what a blanket is. LOL
Declare the amount on the quilt. Since I make the quilts, I declare the value of the fabric only. If the value is less than $45 US, your friend won't be charged.
Insure the quilt for the amount you have declared not more.
Place the quilt in a clear plastic bag with your friend's address on a card inside the bag before packing it in a box. This is important because if the box is opened or damaged, the quilt has an address as well as keeping it clean. I always put a pretty ribbon around the clear bag.
Include a card indicating it is a gift such as a birthday card.
DON'T add any food items.

Your friend will feel loved with one of your quilts to keep her warm. I hope you figure out a way to get it to her.

Here is one of my quilts. I slipped the card inside the bag before I packed it. No issues with customs. I declared the value as $30 as it was a mix of new fabric I had bought and fabric donated to me.
stef quilt.jpg

[KarenC]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

This is good information to know. Thanks for educating me.

[midnightline]

Re: Shipping a quilt internationally question

That is good to know. Unfortuantely, I don't know of any adult-sized quilt that you can make for under $45 worth of fabric! Even clearance fabric is more expensive than that! Still, my friend can't really afford the brokerage fee, let alone any customs/duties. She's in a rather rough patch right now.