Are you interested in getting a good delivered? The following tips may be of interest to you.

Wondering how you can avoid the inconvenience of delivery delays?

The Office de la protection du consommateur advises you to have the following details written down on your invoice, in your contract, or on any other proof of payment:

  • The precise delivery date. Do not accept notes such as “rush,” “urgent,” “priority,” “as soon as possible,” or “in 4 to 6 weeks”;
  • A clause that allows you to cancel the purchase and to receive a refund for the down payment if the delivery is late.

If a product you purchased is scheduled to be delivered more than 2 months after the purchase, the Office de la protection du consommateur recommends taking the following precautions:

  • check whether the merchant has a trust account;
  • if you need to give a down payment, write down a check payable to “[name of the merchant] in trust.”

What is a trust account?

A trust account will protect you in case the merchant goes bankrupt or closes its doors. The amounts deposited in such an account could serve as damages if something happens. It is wise to take these precautions, but they do not guarantee that you will be refunded your down payment.

Are you considering making a purchase online, by phone, or by mail, instead of in a store? If so, note that a merchant is always required to provide all the information related to delivery before you make your purchase.

Delivery information that must be provided before a purchase

The merchant must notably provide the following information:

  • the delivery date or estimated delivery times;
  • the shipping method (by mail, with a carrier, and so on);
  • the name of the carrier;
  • details on additional fees that could be invoiced by another merchant or service and that cannot be estimated, for example, customs or brokerage fees;
  • the total amount of your purchase, including delivery fees.

For more information, see:

The Canada Border Services Agency Web site also provides information about duty fees.

Last update : February 28, 2023

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The information contained on this page is presented in simple terms to make it easier to understand. It does not replace the texts of the laws and regulations.