What are shipping deadlines?

Shipping deadlines are released by carriers as a safeguard because of the high shipping volumes during the holiday season. While you may have to ship packages a bit sooner than usual, it’s worth the extra effort to ensure gifts and orders arrive on time. Your customers will appreciate having these dates ahead of time, boosting customer satisfaction throughout the season.

GlobalPost International Shipping Deadlines

Tips for international shipping 

Whether your business has decided to ship internationally for the first time this season or has been for 20 years, it’s worth giving yourself a refresher on packaging international shipments. Higher shipping volumes can lead to packages being in transit longer than usual, and it’s easy to make mistakes with an influx of orders. When shipping internationally, remember to: 

• Accurately complete all customs paperwork
• Confirm addresses with customers before shipping
• Package shipments for both hot and cold temperatures
• Carefully wrap fragile items and include orientation arrows for proper handling 

International shipping restrictions 

Additionally, it’s worth brushing up on international shipping restrictions to avoid any penalties,  returned shipments, or even confiscated packages. Shipment restrictions can vary depending on the destination country, which carrier network is being used, and the import/export regulations in transit. Some items that can’t be shipped internationally through GlobalPost are: 

• Aerosols 
• Dry ice 
• Hemp-based products (including CBD) 
• Lithium batteries 
• Nail polish 
• Perfumes (containing alcohol) 
• Perishable items 

More information about international shipping restrictions can be found on our website. 

The holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful, and neither does international shipping. GlobalPost is working to simplify international shipping for businesses of all sizes. Let us handle the hard parts of international shipping like finding HS Codes, so you can put the focus back on your business. Ship around the globe this holiday season with the help of GlobalPost!

The post 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines appeared first on GlobalPost.

GlobalPost Services That Ship to Canada

GlobalPost offers a range of services and features that make shipping to Canadian customers simpler. Regardless of what you and your customers need, GlobalPost delivers to your customers in the way you both need. 

GlobalPost Economy International

GlobalPost Economy International is an affordable option for sending small parcels (up to 4.4 lbs) internationally that is similar to USPS First Class Mail International®. Typically, it takes 10–14 days to reach the end consumer with the buyer paying for the duties and taxes upon arrival (Delivered Duties Unpaid – DDU). If you’re shipping to Canada, you should expect it to be on the lower end of this range, especially if you’re delivering to a major metro area. Additionally, you can ship to many more countries than just Canada with this service. Currently, over 220+ countries are supported. GlobalPost Economy International offers tracking into the destination country, or “Door-to-Country.” 

GlobalPost Standard International

GlobalPost Standard provides support to the same destinations as GlobalPost Economy International. However, it has more robust tracking than GlobalPost Economy thanks to “Door-to-Door” tracking. This means a package can be tracked all the way to final delivery. You can also ship much larger items since Standard supports sending parcels weighing as much as 70 lbs. Additionally, you get free coverage for any parcels valued up to $100 and packages arrive in around 6–10 days. There are other differences and similarities between these two services, including that they are both DDU services. Beyond these two services, there are other ways you can make shipping to Canada even simpler for yourself and your customers. 

GlobalPost Plus

Canada is among the US’s biggest trade partners. As such, you have a lot of streamlined options to deliver there. For instance, you can use GlobalPost Plus. GlobalPost Plus is a shipping service for parcels shipped to the UK, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Unlike GlobalPost Standard or Economy, this is a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) service (we’ll get into that more in a minute). GlobalPost Plus provides other advantages, too, including a 5–8 delivery time and door-to-door tracking!

GlobalPost Service Comparison

Canada Delivery Duty Paid

To help reduce surprises for you and your customers, you can utilize Canada Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) to prepay all duties and taxes on USPS shipments to Canada. The rate charged depends on the service used. To use Canada DDP, parcels may not exceed 4 lbs. There are a few other restrictions to be aware of, too. Regardless, this provides a streamlined way to make shipping to Canada simple and affordable, and surprise-free. Whether you absorb these fees or add them to shipping charges, you can provide Canadian shoppers with a stress-free, convenient delivery experience. 

DDU vs. DDP

To clarify shipping options for your Canadian customers, you might encounter the terms Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) and Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). With DDU, your customers (or buyers) are responsible for paying any applicable duties, taxes, and fees upon arrival of their package, which can lead to unexpected costs and potential returns. In contrast, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), like our GlobalPost Plus service, allows you (the shipper) to prepay these charges. This provides a transparent and surprise-free experience for your buyers, potentially increasing customer satisfaction and streamlining the delivery process.

How to Start Saving on Shipments to Canada

GlobalPost is available through many popular shipping platforms. This is the best way to ship with GlobalPost. You can find out how to create a GlobalPost label with your preferred shipping software, or find a new one. We’re on a range of shipping platforms, including ShipStation, Shippo, ShippingEasy, Stamps.com, Easyship, and many more! Open your business up to a new world of customers and savings! 

The post Shipping to Canada with GlobalPost appeared first on GlobalPost.