9 Ways to Make Holiday Shipping a Breeze

Hurray! You've found the perfect gifts for your loved ones. The next step is making sure those gifts arrive on time and in one perfect piece. Whether you are shipping locally or internationally here are some money saving holiday shipping tips you need to know.

1. Research the destination. Some countries have restrictions imposed upon incoming products for political, economic or health and food safety reasons. Avoid any misunderstandings by researching what can be legally shipped from Canada to the country in question before you start shopping. Using tools like UPS' TradeAbility International Tools online can be very helpful.

2. Know the shipping deadlines. Peak season for all international shippers runs from December 17^th to 24^th. In 2011, the busiest day of the year globally was December 22^nd, where about 26 million packages were delivered, which equated to 300 every second. Don't get caught up in the misery of a last minute scramble and ship your gifts ahead of time. Use shipping websites that will allow you to calculate the time and cost for each delivery.

3. Buying online from the States? Beware of hidden fees
At first the online deals south of the border appear to be a huge savings ... until you get smacked with duties and additional taxes. Shoppers should review how the company processed their order and check the website of that company for its brokerage rate list. For example, all UPS brokerage fees are listed and fully disclosed on their website. Brokerage rates are based on the value of the goods being shipped.



4. Know what is duty-free and what is tax-exempt
If you receive an item from outside of Canada that is valued at CAD$20 or less, there will not be a duty charged and it will be exempt from applicable taxes. Conversely, if the value of an item is over CAD$20 you will be responsible for applicable duty and taxes on the full value of the item (unless, of course, the shipper agreed to cover those costs).

The following items do not qualify for the CAD$20 exemption rule:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Books
• Magazines
• Periodicals
• Tobacco

5. Understand the rules for shipping food
Nothing beats the gift of food. If you choose to send food by courier or express post, make sure you describe the item as: for personal consumption, gift, or not for resale.

6. Use clearly marked labels. Print clearly and legibly on all customs declaration forms and list everything in the package. If your penmanship is questionable, use the appropriate electronic custom declaration forms. By leaving information off the form, you put your package at risk for being seized and detained at the border. For reassurance, place a second shipping label on the gift itself, just in case the exterior label is damaged or removed. If you want your shipment to be qualified as a gift, the shipping documentation must be clearly marked "GIFT" and include a detailed description of that item. If you receive an imported gift by courier and it's valued at CAD$60 or under, it will be exempt from duties and taxes. Packages valued over CAD$60 will be charged a duty and all applicable taxes.

7. Cushion with love. Before you send out your gift, consider the journey your package is about to embark on. Protect your item by surrounding it with at least two inches of interior cushioning. Want to know an ancient shipping secret? Higher grade cushioning is thinner and more effective than basic interior cushioning, which can only withstand a single impact. Furthermore, by using a higher grade of cushioning you can use a smaller box – and possibly save money.

8. Seal with care. Avoid string, cellophane and masking tape when it comes to sealing a package. Instead, use strong, thick tape specifically designed for shipping.

9. Track your package. It's heartbreaking when a package is delayed or goes missing. Save yourself some pain and record the shipment data for every package. File all the tracking numbers, dates sent and destinations in one place so you don't waste time searching for individual information. Alternatively, use resources like myUPS.com to ship. Your tracking numbers will be kept in your profile and update notifications will be emailed to you.

Will you be shipping any of your gifts this year?