Shipping to Canada

[Jon.McGregor]

Hello everyone,

my family was going to order some gifts online for me (whisky gift sets, etc) but advised me no place she found ships to Canada?
Is there any sites you know that actually do?

thanks in advance.

[SMC]

It's (generally) illegal to ship alcohol into Canada. Even if you can find a site that would attempt it, you risk it being seized by customs.

I do remember reading on the LCBO site though that you could ship to the LCBO HQ and then pick it up there, after paying all your taxes of course. However the person picking it up also has to have been the one that shipped it, which means this policy is likely just for people on vacation.

[bebdo]

singlemaltsdirect.com

they specifically state that they will ship to Canada (with the usual disclaimers) - although I've been tempted have not attempted to ship so far. Most of the major US store that have online presence don't ship internationally. I've recently shipped stuff from Binnys to a cousin in NY. Had to go through 4 credit cards before I finally made it through the verification process (over the phone). Even shipping within U.S I found most sites accept only the U.S States (for the billing address) so there is no way to complete the transaction. I recently called The Party Source (Kentucky) to see if they would take my order over the phone (and ship to NY) - they said if the online system does not allow you to input a Canadian billing address then they would also not be able to complete the transaction.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Royal Mile Whiskies says:

We ship to most countries, although delivery of alcohol related products to Canada, and alcohol and Cuban tobacco products to the United States is prohibited. (If you choose to have an alcohol related product delivered to an address in Canada or the USA or a Cuban tobacco product delivered to an address in the United States we unfortunately cannot guarantee delivery).

In other words, go ahead, but at your own risk. Loch Fyne Whiskies lists shipping charges to the US and Canada, starting at £19/bottle (if you're buying an expensive bottle, say £100 or so, this is offset by not paying VAT), so it is done, but again, at your own risk, and at risk of paying duty. Both list bottles on the customs declaration form as "collector's malt--no commercial value" (or did last time I ordered, some time ago), which it seems customs agents are able to pretend not to understand if they so choose.

[TimWhalen]

Very interesting. Does anyone know if the duty is based upon the value paid for the bottle or if it is the $1 per ounce people are subjected to at borders? Also has anyone been successful trying to get things shipped?

[Pudge72]

Very interesting. Does anyone know if the duty is based upon the value paid for the bottle or if it is the $1 per ounce people are subjected to at borders? Also has anyone been successful trying to get things shipped?

'dbk' would be the one to provide the most detailed answer to this question, but my understanding is that duty is in the 80-90% range, on the purchase price. I've never heard of a $1/ounce duty...I would take that any day of the week over the huge percentage. I've never tried having something shipped into Ontario...I suspect the odds of success are quite low.

[ca_aok]

The $1/ounce thing is in other provinces. Each has their own rules. In Ontario it's something like 60% plus all these stupid fees that works out to close to 100%. In Alberta it's something ridiculous like $0.15/oz if I recall correctly.

I was under the impression that if you get a package shipped (illegally) they don't even give you the chance to pay duty on it, they just return it to sender and charge you $25 for the postage.

[Jon.McGregor]

I think I might have to have a go at this, it seems like it can be successful.
I know my family has shipped in absinthe without any issues.
I'll have to start at one, and see how it works!

has anyone tired any of the websites listed? The Loch Fyne seems reasonable.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

I can't vouch for shipment to Canada, but if Loch Fyne is listing shipping prices, I have to believe they're getting bottles through without much problem. A few years ago, when they were having particular issues with the state of Texas, they strongly recommended against shipping there on their website (that issue seems to have been resolved). If they were having problems with Canada, they'd tell you. Certainly worth asking them by email, anyway--I'm sure they'll tell you it's at your own risk, but if they don't strongly discourage you, you should be okay.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out.

[Card Player]

I put "shipping to canada" into search function. Seems lots of WWW members say it's tough to do. Read them over. Let us know what you decided, and how it worked for you.

[TimWhalen]

Sent out an email to Loch Fyne Whiskies, and they said that roughly 10% of the packages they send to Canada.

Also have sent out an email to Single Malts Direct about the same issue, I will post when they get back to me.

[portwood]

Loch Fyne Whiskies has many satisfied customers all over the world. We have been shipping whisky very successfully since 1993 (Canada excepted - see below)...
...
CANADA ONLY
About a quarter of our shipments are intercepted by Canadian customs, you are given the option of returning the parcel to us or another UK address or having the parcel destroyed, It seems they will not give you the option to simply pay duty. Single bottles have the best chance of getting through. Canadian Customs are likely to charge the recipient $30 to return a bottle to us.

It's risky, but it can be done.

It's also possible to get away with theft, tax evasion, hit and run, not to mention arson, murder, rape, etc. ...

[TimWhalen]

I think I might have to have a go at this, it seems like it can be successful.
I know my family has shipped in absinthe without any issues.
I'll have to start at one, and see how it works!

has anyone tired any of the websites listed? The Loch Fyne seems reasonable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgu1P0wZ ... r_embedded

This is a video from Ralfy on a delivery from Loch Fyne, they seem legit.

[portwood]

I think I might have to have a go at this, it seems like it can be successful.
I know my family has shipped in absinthe without any issues.
I'll have to start at one, and see how it works!

has anyone tired any of the websites listed? The Loch Fyne seems reasonable.

If you decide to try it, and you happen to succeed, do yourself a favour .... don't "brag" about it on a public forum.
(see my post above about getting away with other illegal activities)

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Sent out an email to Loch Fyne Whiskies, and they said that roughly 10% of the packages they send to Canada.

Is there an end to that sentence?

This is a video from Ralfy on a delivery from Loch Fyne, they seem legit.

LFW is one of the most respected whisky retailers in the UK. If you have any trouble, it won't be from them.

[TimWhalen]

Sent out an email to Loch Fyne Whiskies, and they said that roughly 10% of the packages they send to Canada.

Is there an end to that sentence?

This is a video from Ralfy on a delivery from Loch Fyne, they seem legit.

LFW is one of the most respected whisky retailers in the UK. If you have any trouble, it won't be from them.

Wow sorry about that, I'm just in class. They said roughly 10% of the shipments they make to Canada do not make it to their intended buyer.

[Lawrence]

I think I might have to have a go at this, it seems like it can be successful.
I know my family has shipped in absinthe without any issues.
I'll have to start at one, and see how it works!

has anyone tired any of the websites listed? The Loch Fyne seems reasonable.

If you decide to try it, and you happen to succeed, do yourself a favour .... don't "brag" about it on a public forum.
(see my post above about getting away with other illegal activities)

I can't believe the conversation about this is even occurring in an open forum but here I am reading it...most people who order from the UK have it shipped to a USA address close to the border. They then drive across and pick it up delcaring it on the way back. It's more expensive but legal.

[mongo]

you know, it's not technically legal to ship your booze to the u.s either....

[Lawrence]

you know, it's not technically legal to ship your booze to the u.s either....

Right, I meant coming into Canada but point taken...

[andy]

I can't believe the conversation about this is even occurring in an open forum but here I am reading it

Ditto what Lawrence said. I'm a lurker but couldn't take it anymore, I had just had to respond to this thread.

Yes Jon, lots of whisky is shipped both within Canada and from outside Canada but guess what? Those of us on the receiving end don't want to ruin a good thing so we don't talk about it, ESPECIALLY ON OPEN FORUMS!!! The key is to being creative and guess what? LOOPHOLES GET CLOSED!!!

Sorry for shouting but have a think about it, PM people if you need to, but please don't ask for these kind of answers openly where LCBO bureaucrats or customs agents can browse with everyone else.

And here's a hint: don't even try and think of marking the value of an Ardbeg 1972 at $25... customs agents have gotten real good at doing searches on Google and checking out valuations on auction sites.

[Zunak]

Yes Jon, lots of whisky is shipped both within Canada and from outside Canada but guess what? Those of us on the receiving end don't want to ruin a good thing so we don't talk about it, ESPECIALLY ON OPEN FORUMS!!! The key is to being creative and guess what? LOOPHOLES GET CLOSED!!!

Sorry for shouting but have a think about it, PM people if you need to, but please don't ask for these kind of answers openly where LCBO bureaucrats or customs agents can browse with everyone else.

Should have followed your own advice about PM's. The thread was dead.