Business at cross-border parcel centres booming
CBC News | Posted: December 11, 2014 2:43 PM | Last Updated: December 11, 2014
British Columbians head to border cities to avoid shipping fees on online shopping
Even though the Canadian dollar is weak, business is booming for parcel pick-up centres in cross-border cities such as Blaine, Washington.
For a small fee, businesses such as Hagen's of Blaine receive and hold packages ordered by Canadian shoppers online from U.S. retailers.
The shoppers then head south to pick-up their orders, thus avoiding the higher fees for shipping to their door in Canada.
“On a typical day around here we get about 1,100 packages. We’re getting about 3,200 right now, so about three times where we were last year," said Steve Hagen on Wednesday.
Hagen’s was the original mail and parcel service when it opened in Blaine more than 30 years ago, But over the last couple of years, 18 other competing businesses have opened.
Many people who use the service say that even with the poor exchange rate and long border line ups, it is still the best way to do their Christmas shopping.