You are right. Canada Post charges a flat $5.00. UPS is outrageous,
FEDEX less so but still more than CP.  However, the US customs service
is on a high security screening scenario so all incoming and outgoing
mail is being screened. If the sender's and receiver's name address etc
is not complete, they will NOT send it on.

On Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at 04:13  PM, Automatic digest
processor wrote:

> Subject: Re: Delays shipping parts to Canada via Postal mail
>
>>> If you live in Canada, especially western Canada, ask your foreign
>>> vendors to ship UPS or Fedex etc.  DO NOT USE POSTAL MAIL.
>
> I'll disagree here.  I think it is UPS that charges about $50 to $75
> for clearing customs and the
> PO does not charge.  When I order from the US, I ask that it be sent
> regular postal mail.  But
> then, if I were stranded and needed a part to get underway, then maybe
> FedEx.  M (Halifax)
>