Okay, something more tricky now. Mailing stuff.

[Cvstos]

You'd think it wouldn't be so nerve wracking and tricky, but, well, here's my story.

Earlier this year I was going to be staying in Canada for a while with my wife while we worked on the immigration paperwork. My parents sent me a bit of a care package: some socks, a jacket, and a cookbook. Nothing especially nefarious about that, right?

Well, Customs thought otherwise. They demanded an interview before I could get my package. I never went to the interview because a medical thing happened and I got sick and had to go home, so I had the packaged returned to the US.

Now, my wife's computer is beginning to die. It's old and slow enough that I wanted to Kevorkian it Office-Space style anyway, but now it's really starting to die with random blue screens.

My computer in the US is considerably faster and generally superior to it. But, how to get it here. I mean, they wouldn't let some socks and a jacket get to me. How in the hell am I going to get a computer up shipped up here? Does anyone have any experience/advice with this kind of thing? Is it possible? Is it legal? Or am I going to be forced to just spend the dough on a new build?

Note: I'm not in the system for immigration just yet but will be soon, likely before this thing is shipped (if I try).

Thanks,
Cvstos

 

[truesmile]

Huh yeah, I tend not to even "order" stuff that will get shipped FROM the U.S. that's how much of a hassle it is. Even without an interview, the item is likely to get slapped with hefty 'brokerage' fees. I'd say bring yours WITH YOU, next time you can. Isn't your wife gonna want her own (ahem) "new" one anyway . Jingle bells, jingle bells . . .

 

[Cvstos]

Huh yeah, I tend not to even "order" stuff that will get shipped FROM the U.S. that's how much of a hassle it is. Even without an interview, the item is likely to get slapped with hefty 'brokerage' fees. I'd say bring yours WITH YOU, next time you can. Isn't your wife gonna want her own (ahem) "new" one anyway . Jingle bells, jingle bells . . .

If she can she'll keep using that one until it sets itself on fire. Also, it's much too far to drive like that. My US home is near Chicago, and she lives in Edmonton. Hence, I fly. Bringing a 20kg desktop computer on the plane is a wee bit problematic. And this is a 4-year-old box, and even with it's upgrades it's not worth more than $400, tops. The brokerage fees / import fees can't be more expensive than spending $800 on a new gaming build.

 

[truesmile]

Ay sorry! I was thinking 'laptop' . . . (not necessarily driving).

 

[Cvstos]

Not all computers are laptops. My desktop is a weeee bit heavier than just about any laptop from the last 20 years.

Also, information I've since uncovered indicates this shipment could be tricky no matter what.

Does anyone know if sending just the hard disk of my US computer would be more viable? It's one of the newer parts at 3TB.