Most of the subscription boxes in Canada we recommend are from other countries. While most will ship for free within their home country, it’s always tricky to figure out how companies may ship to Canada.
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Flat-Rate Shipping
Some companies offer flat-rate international shipping, or at least flat-rate shipping to Canada. The amount varies, though the range seems to be between $7.99 and $25 for each box. You will pay the same shipping rate for each box you receive regardless of its weight or where you live.
This is the least expensive shipping option if you are Canadian. You may still have to pay taxes and fees for your shipment, but you can avoid paying higher shipping costs if you live in a remote location.
Location-Based Shipping
Location-based shipping is calculated based on your address. It will be more expensive to ship to some locations than others, and rural locations often have the most expensive shipping costs.
To calculate shipping based on your location, you will have to enter your address on the checkout page. Each box gives you a place to calculate shipping before you complete a purchase, which will tell you how much shipping will be for your boxes.
Import Fees and Taxes
Subscription boxes coming from other countries may be subject to import taxes and fees. You can learn more about what you can expect from each box’s website. While some boxes may require a fee, others may not. If you have questions about it, you can usually contact customer service for the box you are looking to purchase.
Shipping Times
Subscription boxes coming from the US may take an additional week to arrive at your door, while boxes from other places (such as the UK) may take up to three weeks to arrive. Shipping times vary, and you will only really know how long a box will take when you receive tracking information.
Do boxes ship immediately?
This depends on the box. Each subscription box company has different deadlines and shipping rules. Most will ship the current box immediately and place you on the list for the next release, but others may make you wait until their monthly deadline. Be sure to check with the company to see if your box will ship right away, or if you will need to wait an additional month.
How is shipping calculated for multiple-month prepaid subscriptions?
When you prepay for multiple months, companies usually collect the shipping fee for each shipment. If you pay for 3 months of your favourite subscription box, you’ll be charged shipping three times as part of the prepayment.
This means that location-based shipping will likely turn out to be more expensive than flat-rate fees if you are purchasing multiple subscription months at a time.