Discussion Shipping packages to US / American addresses near BC for pick up or forwarding

Online cross border shopping can be a hassle for Canadians. Often a deal may be exclusive to addresses in the States or a seller might only ship by UPS. There's nothing wrong with UPS if you live in the States, but it means huge brokerage fees for Canadians.

A good way to get around that is to have the item shipped to a location in the States. Some people have friends that can do this for them, but for everybody else there are a lot of companies in border towns near British Columbia (most are ~45 minutes away from Vancouver) like Blaine and Point Roberts that offer a mail, package & parcel forwarding and pick up service. They do charge a fee ($1-5 dollars the last time I checked) for receiving your package.

Each company will have their own procedure to follow, but it's generally something along the line of shipping your package to the company using your name, customer number or phone number. They'll inform you when the package is received and you can pick it up at your leisure. There are fees associated with holding the package for longer periods of time. You can also arrange for them to forward your mail to your address in Canada.

Note: Will update later with a list of companies.

 

Need a US Mailing Address?

Blaine, Washington, USA (Peace Arch)
5dpackages - Free $5 credit for opening an account with this link.
442 Peace Portal Dr.
Blaine, WA 98230
United States
Website: https://5dpackages.com/

24/7 Parcel
365 H Street
Blaine, WA 98230 USA
Website: http://247parcel.com

Blaine Enterprises
936 Peace Portal Drive
Blaine, WA 98230 USA
Phone: (360) 332-6825
Website: http://www.blaineenterprises.com/

Hagens of Blaine
816 Peace Portal Drive
Blaine, WA 98230
Phone: (360) 332-5246
Fax: (360) 332-5511
Website: http://www.hagensofblaine.com/

Pulse Packages
862 Peace Portal Drive
Blaine, WA 98230
Website: http://pulsepackages.com/

Ameri-Canadian Parcel
335 8th Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Phone: 360-312-7888
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ameri-canadianparcel.com/

Mail Boxes International
685 H Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Phone: (360) 332-7678
Fax: (360) 332-7679
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mbistore.com/

Blaine Mailboxes Plus
477 Peace Portal Dr.
Suite 107
Blaine, WA 98230
Website: http://www.blainemailboxesplus.com/

Pacific Mail & Parcel, LLC
1300 Boblett Street, Unit A
Blaine, Washington 98230
Phone: (360) 332-1888
Website: http://www.pacificmailandparcel.com/

Security Mail Services
250 H St.
Blaine, WA 98230
Phone: (360) 332-4228
Website: http://securitymailservices.com/

Pt. Roberts, Washington, USA (Tsawwassen & Delta)
In Out Parcel
145 Tyee Drive
Point Roberts, Washington 98281
Phone: (778) 508-8626
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://inoutparcel.com

Point to Point Parcel (P2P)
1591 McKenzie Way
Point Roberts, WA 98281
Phone: (360) 945-2520
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.p2pparcel.com/

TSB Shipping Plus
1574 Gulf Rd.
Point Roberts WA 98281
Phone: (360) 945-0740
Fax: (360) 945-0744
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.tsbshipping.com/services.htm

Point Roberts Shell Center
423 Tyee Drive
Point Roberts, Washington 98281
Phone: (360) 945-2454
Website: http://pointrobertsshellcenter.com/shipping-center

The Letter Carrier - CLOSED
145 Tyee Drive
Point Roberts, Washington 98281
Phone: (360) 945-0515
Fax: (360) 945-0979
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.thelettercarrier.com/

Lynden, Washington, USA (Aldergrove)
24/7 Parcel
1842 Front Street, Suite B
Lynden, WA 98264
Website: http://247parcel.com

Oroville, Washington, USA (Osoyoos)
Ship Happens!
1920 North Main Street
Oroville, WA 98844
Phone: 509-476-3995
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.myshiphappens.com/

Sumas, Washington, USA (Abbotsford)
24/7 Parcel
503 Cherry Street
Sumas, WA 98295
Website: http://247parcel.com

Package Express
115 Garfield Street
Sumas, WA 98295
Phone: (360) 988-0219 for Sumas, (604) 755-4388 for Abbotsford, (604) 628-2230 for Vancouver
Fax: (866) 772-8179
Website: http://www.packageexpress.com/

Ship Happens!
115 First Street
Sumas, WA 98295
Phone: 360-988-8100
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.myshiphappens.com/

 

I have a friend that has his on-line orders shipped to a place in Sumas called, "Ship Happens!:

Ship Happens!
115 First Street,
Box 1477
Sumas, Washington
98295

ph: (360) 988-8100
fax: (360) 988-2300

e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.shiphappenssumas.com

 

EDIT: NO LONGER APPLIES!

Thanks!

Information on tax exemption from Amazon.com:

 

If you're looking for the CHEAPEST options as of 2011:

Pt. Roberts: The Letter Carrier (used to be $2.50 but it might be $3.00 now for small packages, no membership required)
Blaine: Blaine Enterprises ($3.00 for small packages, NO annual membership required)

I usually choose Pt. Roberts unless I'm on my way to Seattle because the crossing is quicker.

Some places might have lower rates for receiving packages but they have a mandatory $10-20 annual member fee. In fact, Blaine Enterprises was the only one that I could find that didn't charge such a fee. Places like Hagen's will waive the annual fee if you pay extra but it works out to be $5, which is more than $3.

FYI: Blaine Enterprises has a horrible site with no information on pricing, so be sure to call them to confirm current rates. I picked up my item in August 2011.

 

Thanks for compiling this list. It is a gem for shoppers

 

Hello. Wanted to let everyone know. Do not send your packages to Mail Boxes Plus at 477 Peace Portal Drive. They do not allow you to have a 1 time pick-up fee. You have to sign up with them for 1 year for $10 and they still charge you $2 for every package that is shipped there. Do not send you packages here if you only have 1 package a year!!!! Horrible service!!!!!!

 

You might want to try Ameri-Canadian Parcel in Blaine, WA. They have extended hrs during the week and often make allowances for after hrs pick up. They have really good reviews and open three hrs on Sundays.

 

hello,

what do people tell the border guards on the way down and up - just that you had stuff shipped and are going down to pick u pand ocme right back? do you enf up having to pay tax?

 

All my customers declare their goods and 99% of the time they pay nothing unless it is a large expensive item. Always best to be honest. Going down they declare they are getting gas and checking mail.

 

In Point Roberts, the Shell gas station also does package receiving. Looks like there's no annual fee. Currently, they are cheaper than TLC ($2.50 vs. $3.50 for small packages). A lot of businesses have upped their rates by $0.50 this year.

Point Roberts Shell Center - http://pointrobertsshellcenter.com/shipping-center/price-list-pkg-receiving

Btw, TLC sent me a pick up notice via email for a package I didn't order. Scary... if you have a relatively common name like me, include your middle name or phone number on the shipping label!

 

Hi there,

I'm interested in getting heavy furniture items delivered - does anyone have a preference on which one in Blaine to use? It seems that Blaine Enterprises would be the best, and I know of someone else that has used them, but their hours suck! I feel like my husband and I would have to take the day off work just to pick our stuff up during the weekday.

 

Hi there,

I was wondering if any of the companies listed do package forwarding. I checked most of their websites but couldn't find any information.

PS.I live in Vancouver.

Thanks,

Peter

 

http://www.blainemailboxesplus.com/ do forwarding but charge you $5 plus stamp cost

 

Thanks for the link on Blaine Mailboxes Plus...

 

there is a wonderful little place right after you cross the border at Peace Arch
Americanadian Parcel

www.ameri-canadianparcel.com

Just joined and I'm very happy with the service. She is open on Sunday too, very prompt and efficient.

 

Hi Crystele,

You just be honest with the border guys and saying you are going to pick up something etc, and they will waive you through with no problem. I've been using the letter carrier in pt Roberts and have gone across around 10 times since last summer ordering various things and have never had a problem, and have never had to pay any tax either. I heard the unwritten rule is everything under $200 they will just waive you through. Hope this helps

 

Good info, Bill.

 

Don't use Security Mail Services, they are horrible, I will never go back there. Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to try the ones on your list!

 

Here's a new option that someone told me about. It's an automated 24/7 place in Blaine called 24/7 Parcel: http://www.247parcel.com/