Canada Post, tech firm form shopping alliance

The Canadian postal system, Canada Post, and technology services company Borderfree have teamed up to make it easier for Canadians to buy from U.S. catalogs and Websites.

The alliance gives Canadian customers of participating merchants a delivery cost (including duties and taxes) in Canadian dollars and the approximate delivery time before they confirm the order. Purchased items are delivered to a consolidation site in the U.S. where they are validated by a broker and prepared for importation. Once in Canada, items are given to Canada Post for delivery. Borderfree works with such U.S. marketers as Crate and Barrel, Brookstone, and Ritz Camera.