BorderFree.com is a service aimed primarily to Canadians to allow
us to order merchandise from US e-commerce sites that don't ship
to Canada.
How it works: You download the BorderFree software which adds
a bookmark to your browser. Then, when you surf to the page describing
the item you want to order on any retailer's page you select that
bookmark and it submits the item to BorderFree for a quote. Within
30 minutes you should receive an e-mail saying your quote is ready.
Your
quote is in Canadian dollars and lists all duties, taxes and shipping
costs so you get a simple total price for you to consider. If
you think the cost is worth it you simply click to put the purchase
through (after submitting credit card information to BorderFree
of course).
BorderFree
then notifies you when your order reaches the border and notifies
you again when it ships to you. There is no tracking number like
you would get with UPS since they ship to you via Expedited Post.
Overall,
it's a simple and hassle-free way to order items not usually available
to Canadians. However, you pay a premium at $15 for shipping of
most items. I find that usually you can find most available in
Canada or you can at least find something equivalent. BorderFree
should only be an option when you're desperate for an item you
can't obtain here in the Great White North.
Another
drawback is that BorderFree's ordering process prevents you from
using gift certificates, coupons or other promotional features
that are popular with American e-commerce sites so you're paying
full price for the items you want.
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