Expanding your Shopify store beyond domestic borders can seem like an intimidating leap, especially when it comes to navigating the complex world of international shipping and hidden fees. However, e-commerce merchants who have tried BorderBuddy’s services for streamlined shipping from the U.S. to Canada have found it simplifies the entire process.
BorderBuddy is a Shopify app that handles customs documentation, duties calculation, and shipping label generation for stores fulfilling orders to Canada. This eliminates surprise fees and headaches often associated with cross-border delivery.
But does BorderBuddy really deliver on its promises? Here we’ll examine real customer reviews to see what users have to say.
No More Nasty Surprise Fees
A common pain point highlighted by merchants is surprise brokerage and import fees levied on their Canadian customers upon delivery by major carriers like UPS, FedEx and DHL. These fees can often be over $50-$100, even on small orders, leading to unhappy shoppers.
As IOThrifty, a B2B store selling office products, shared:
“We struggled for years trying to find a way to minimize the high brokerage rates and import fees charged by the major freight carriers. Many of our customers are used to the high fees but we still got complaints from a few angry customers.”
BorderBuddy solves this by providing an all-inclusive estimate right at checkout, rolling duties, taxes and their fixed $15 customs brokerage fee into the upfront pricing. The customer pays the full amount during purchase, eliminating any surprises down the line.
As the owner of For the Love of Golf Naples put it:
“BorderBuddy has truly changed the game. Our customers are SO appreciative of not getting hit with random fees upon delivery.”
Significant Cost Savings
In addition to the transparency, BorderBuddy saves both merchants and shoppers money by drastically reducing brokerage fees. This allows merchants to offer more competitive shipping rates to Canada.
As one merchant explains:
“Before using this app UPS charged us $50 to $100 just for customs brokerage fees! But BorderBuddy only charges a fixed $15 fee. The shipping rates are almost exactly the same as Shopify’s calculated rates. Huge savings on all levels.”
Considering most major carriers can charge brokerage fees ranging from 20-45% of an order’s value, BorderBuddy’s flat $15 fee is a massive reduction in many cases.
Fast and Easy Setup
Integrating any new app into an e-commerce store can be a tedious process, but merchants found getting started with BorderBuddy smooth and fast.
As the team at GnarLab shared:
“Integration was easy. After a customer places an order, BorderBuddy sends you a shipping label and commercial invoice. Print and go. That’s it!”
For most stores, it’s a simple matter of installing the app, connecting it to a Canada shipping zone, and letting BorderBuddy handle the customs paperwork and label generation when orders come in. No major development work required.
Better Shipping Rates to Canada
BorderBuddy doesn’t just estimate duties and taxes upfront. It also provides calculated shipping rates optimized for Canadian delivery.
These rates end up being highly competitive, and sometimes even cheaper than what Shopify alone can offer.
As one happy customer reported:
“Usually their shipping rates are almost exactly the same as Shopify’s calculated low rates. And best of all, no issues with any shipments so far.”
By partnering with major carriers like UPS, FedEx and DHL, BorderBuddy’s Shipping to Canada service can leverage bulk discounts that translate into savings for merchants. This gives stores more margin to offer customers free shipping or other incentives.
Proactive Customer Support
Transitioning to a new logistic system can come with hiccups, especially when first learning the ropes. So having knowledgeable support can be critical during the initial setup process.
BorderBuddy’s personal touch and prompt responsiveness left an impression on merchants:
“Very responsive customer service team! Monty provided quick step-by-step instructions to fix our issue, had great insight into the Shopify platform, and stayed in contact consistently to ensure our journey was a success.”
Having access to real human assistance via phone, email or chat, combined with helpful onboarding resources, empowers merchants to maximize their use of BorderBuddy’s capabilities.
Unlocking the Canadian Market
One of the biggest benefits highlighted by users was BorderBuddy’s ability to unlock the lucrative Canadian market for Shopify stores. By eliminating surprise fees and other shipping friction, it becomes very attractive for both merchants and Canadian shoppers.
As Artillery Works Co. shared:
“So simple and trouble-free. Our customers are SO appreciative. Monty has truly been a pleasure to work with as we grow our business in Canada thanks to Border Buddy!”
The app solves the exact pain points that typically deter cross-border e-commerce, leading to more sales and expanded revenue potential.
As the team at GnarLab explained:
“BorderBuddy has really transformed the way we do business with our friends in Canada! We run a small startup out of the US and get a healthy percentage of sales from Canadian customers. Shipping before BorderBuddy resulted in unexpected fees passed onto customers (upwards of 80%-90% order total) or lost packages (40% of orders). BorderBuddy makes the process easy. There are no unexpected fees or issues since using BorderBuddy!”
Optimizing the Customer Experience
At the end of the day, BorderBuddy improves the post-purchase customer experience for Canadian shoppers by removing unwanted surprises and simplifying delivery. This leads to higher satisfaction.
As one merchant put it:
“Our customers are so much happier not being surprised by extra import fees. The simplicity has led to happier Canadian shoppers and less headaches for us.”
Rather than dealing with frustrated calls or refused/returned packages from carriers due to fees, Canadian customers can enjoy a smooth delivery process.
Certainty also plays a role. Customers have confidence knowing exactly what their final charges will be upfront. And merchants have peace of mind knowing shipments will clear customs without hassles.
As CHEFtog summed up:
“Fantastic app & support is outstanding! Solved our biggest issue – shipping to Canada. When customers checkout, they now see (shipping + duties). No duty surprises once they receive their item.”
Ready to Simplify Cross-Border Shipping?
Based on the enthusiastic feedback from merchants, BorderBuddy has proven to be a game-changer when it comes to unlocking international e-commerce potential. By tackling the biggest pain points like surprise fees, customs complexity, and shipping uncertainty, the app empowers Shopify stores to expand beyond their domestic borders.
So if you’re looking to cost-effectively grow your customer base in Canada, BorderBuddy seems like an indispensable tool to simplify the process. The app can help your store deliver transparent, positive experiences that turn Canadian shoppers into loyal brand advocates.
To learn more about seamless cross-border shipping with BorderBuddy, Give us a call or go to the Shopify App store. You’ll be ready to ship to Canada in no time!
