Before you ship
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on sourcing, freight, customs and distribution — written for the first-time importer and the one who has simply never used us before.
Start here
Have these ready before you request a quote
A quote is only as good as the details behind it. Send these eight things and you'll get a real landed cost instead of a rough guess — and we won't need three emails to work it out.
- 01
What the goods are
Product name, material, intended use and a photo. A HS code guess helps but isn't required — we'll classify it.
- 02
Volume & weight
Cartons, cubic metres, gross weight, and whether you need a full container or a partial one.
- 03
Origin
City and country of manufacture, plus your supplier's name if you already have one.
- 04
Destination
Delivery postal code or address, and whether it's a loading dock or a residential door.
- 05
Timeline
The date the goods must arrive — not the date you'd like them to ship. We work backwards from your deadline.
- 06
Target landed cost
The per-unit price you need to hit on the shelf. It tells us which markets and which mode are realistic.
- 07
Value & Incoterms
Invoice value and whether your supplier quoted EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP. If you don't know, send the quote as written.
- 08
Registration status
Whether you hold a Business Number with an Import/Export account, or need help opening one.
The detail
By service
Sourcing
5 questions · Finding and vetting suppliers who actually deliver.Our strongest relationships are in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, the United Arab Emirates, China and Turkey, with occasional sourcing from Vietnam, Indonesia and Europe. If a product can be made and exported legally, we can usually find two or three vetted factories for it.
Freight
6 questions · Ocean, air and cross-border road moves.Customs
6 questions · CBSA paperwork, duties and compliance.Distribution
4 questions · Warehousing, storage and delivery across Canada.Still unsure?
Describe your cargo and route in plain words — we'll tell you honestly whether importing it yourself makes sense, or whether you should leave it to us.