How to ship MREs

[keystone]

I am in the United States and I am trying to ship MREs to someone in Canada for a trade. Has anyone shipped MREs from the US to Canada? What methods allow MREs to be shipped? Mail? UPS? Can the FRH heaters be left sealed in the MREs or do they have to be removed before shipping? Are there any special provisions regarding customs when shipping MREs?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

keystone

[kman]

I haven't shipped MREs to Canada before but I think a lot of the US-based shipping advice also applies. If your MREs contain Flameless Ration Heaters, you can't send them by air - they need to go by ground delivery - so UPS or FedEx Ground should work fine. As for provisions regarding customs, I think most people mark the contents as "camping supplies". The MREs may or may not get held up in Canadian Customs on agricultural grounds but that's a risk at every border when shipping food. I currently have some IMPs coming down from Canada and they're holding at the border right now. Here's hoping they make it!

[Ntfd_3]

FYI - Import through UPS - Brokerage charges were $21.00 CAN. For anyone shipping to Canada

[keystone]

The trade now completed, I can report on how the shipping went. I sent four MREs to Ontario and received back four IMPs here in Louisiana. I had to send the MREs by UPS Ground because of the ration heaters. Mail to Canada could go air mail so the FRHs were forbidden in mail. The IMPs came by postal mail because they have no forbidden items. Transit time was six calendar days (includes one weekend) to Canada, seven days to the US. Shipping charges were less for postage in Canada than for UPS in the US, but the Canadian recipient was assessed brokerage fees upon receipt. The end result was the same cost for each party. For comparison, all prices have been converted to US dollars. It cost about $35 to ship four MREs and $16.50 to pay brokerage fees upon receipt in Canada. It cost $20 to ship the IMPs.

The sealed box of MREs was opened by the shipper when I presented it for shipment, and an inventory was taken, but the MRE bags were not opened. I had slipped in a few extra accessory packs and I was afraid they'd be upset about the visible packs of matches, but they didn't seem to notice. The customs declaration was for four MREs and the extra accessory packs. I did call UPS earlier to ask about shipping the FRHs. After several long pauses when I was put on hold, they finally decided it was okay to ship them by ground. I was quick to explain how the MREs are labeled as suitable for passenger aircraft if sealed. The customs declaration listed the contents as camping supplies and a gift, with a value of $18. The IMPs were also declared as camping supplies, a gift, with a value of $20. There was no indication the package was opened in customs.

I see now why people mentioned the excessive shipping cost for international rations. The shipping was more than the meals cost. It was worth it to try some Canadian rations, but I wouldn't want to try shipping a case of meals internationally.

Overall, there was a fair amount of paperwork involved, though the shipper helped with that. It was definitely more difficult to ship out of the country.

As for packing, the MREs were wrapped in bubble wrap and sealed in a cardboard box. The IMPs were padded with crumpled paper and sealed in a cardboard box.

Overall, an interesting experience.

[kman]

I just posted my exerience with shipping (receiving, really) IMPs from Canada here:

Shipping Canadian IMPs
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2745