Canadians who click online for bargains suffer long delivery delays
Shoppers seeking more variety and lower prices from online retailers in the U.S. are finding it’s taking weeks for packages to be delivered to Canadian addresses.
Toronto-based writer Stephanie Pearl-McPhee said she ordered yarn from a U.S. retailer in late September, and it took nearly three weeks before it was delivered. A package of yarn shipped from the United States typically arrives in Canada within four or five working days, McPhee said.
“It’s a really long time,” she said. “There’s absolutely something gone wrong on the Canada-U.S. border. All of the sudden, it’s taking weeks and weeks.”
The Canada Border Services Agency said it has recorded an uptick in mail.
“The number of online purchases arriving by mail has recently surged, in part due to the strong Canadian dollar and the commencement of the holiday season — the busiest time of the year for postal services,” Chris Williams, a CBSA spokesman, said in an e-mail.
Williams said that despite challenging circumstances, the CBSA is releasing the majority of incoming mail into the Canada Post system for delivery.
Yvonne Yoerger, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, said service standards and delivery times remain the same on the U.S. side. But, she said, she’s personally heard of some delays at the border.
Over the past few years, changing border security regulations along with increased volume have caused some border delays, said United Parcel Service spokeswoman Cristina Falcone. She said the rise of the loonie against the U.S. dollar over the past month may be affecting shipping times.
In an online forum hosted by the auction site eBay, some U.S. sellers complain of shipping lags of up to four weeks owing to customs checks and border delays. Some sellers note there has been a marked increase in Canadian buyers recently.
Many consumers who have turned to online retailers in the U.S. say they are frustrated that Canadian sticker prices don’t reflect the value of the loonie. In a CBCNews.ca forum, consumers have posted comments about bargains found for books, clothes and boots through U.S. vendors.
On Tuesday, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty encouraged retailers to lower their prices but noted consumers should shop around for the best prices.
While some big stores including Zellers and Wal-Mart have lowered their prices on some items, other retailers have said price adjustments will take time.
Now, many consumers are visiting larger bookstores to check out the new offerings and returning to him to place orders, Zotti said. He said excuses offered by large retailers ring hollow.
