http://www.aacb.com/A & A - News - A & A Contract Customs Brokers LtdBringing Cross-Border Opportunities to You. Business Without Borders.en-usafan@aacb.com© 2005 A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd.Tue, 13 May 2008 14:42:17 PDThttp://www.aacb.com/images/PoweredByAA.gifhttp://www.aacb.comA & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd.15546Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3675President's Day - A & A USA Business Hourshttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3675Monday, February 18th, is a holiday in the U.S. The brokerage office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A & A USA Warehouse operations will be closed for the day.

]]>Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3560Christmas 2007 Business Hours - Pacific Highwayhttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3560
Monday, December 24th Closing @ 4:00 PM PST

Tuesday, December 25th Closed

Wednesday, December 26th Open @ 10:00 AM PST

Monday, December 31st Closing @ 6:00 PM PST

Tuesday, January 1st Open 9:00 PM PST ]]>Thu, 4 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3503Monday, October 8, A & A USA Office Hours & US Customs Hourshttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3503Blaine, WA - A & A USA Blaine Office will be open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on Monday, October 8, in observance of Columbus Day.

A & A USA Blaine Warehouse will be CLOSED on Monday, October 8.

US Customs will be open but will not be processing vehicle exports on Monday, October 8. It will not count towards 72 hour notice and vehicles will not be able to export on this day.

]]>Thu, 4 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3504BC Spirit Bear Exported To Blaine, WA, USAhttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3504"Haida Bear” to its new home at the company’s USA office in Blaine, Washington, located at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing.

A & A's USA Office Manager, Lois Acidera is very excited about the arrival of her new team member: "The British Columbia Spirit Bear was exported from Surrey, British Columbia in early summer and we had some interesting challenges with the paperwork and documentation for US Border and Protection. The US Customs Officers had a lot of questions to figure out what a Spirit Bear actually was. We had to provide written documentation on "Haida Bear" entailing the country of origin, the material it was manufactured from and the value. "Haida Bear" has been noted as the most unique export A & A Contract Customs Brokers has ever cleared.”

"Haida Bear" has received very special treatment since his arrival to make him feel at home in his new country, said Lois Acidera. "We have permanently mounted the Spirit Bear in the garden outside of our US office facing the busy US/Canadian border line-up. We hired a landscape architect to design and install new landscaping and create an environment that is similar to the natural West Coast landscape. The entire border community including Canada and US Customs cannot stop talking about the bear and its unique location” said Lois Acidera. “Haida Bear” is fast becoming a local tourist attraction.

With the addition of “Haida Bear” to the A & A family, A & A Contract Customs Brokers has two Spirit Bears guarding the US and Canadian border crossings. “Cuddles” the Spirit Bear is located on the Canadian side of the border at the South Surrey office location. “All Canadian and American travelers entering Canada or the US can now be welcomed by “Cuddles” and “Haida Bear,” said President, Graham Robins Jr. Both bears were purchased at an auction late last year to support the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Operations and the Canucks for Kids Fund Both bears were chosen because of their unique artwork. “Cuddles” was designed and painted by artist, Mr. Ken Skoda. It shows off a prominent West Coast theme. The design features crystal clear ocean waters, friendly jumping orcas, a lush green old growth forest, a magnificent bald eagle soaring overhead through the trees, and snow-capped mountain tops. “Haida Bear” was designed and painted by artist, Mr. Clarence Mills. It features traditional Haida Art that represents the Spirit Bear with the utmost honor and dignity. The body is painted with mother of pearl interference and several sections are painted in copper oxide - true to the glowing Spirit Bear. This design features a mother bear and her cub from the Haida Bear family. The bear cub is clutching to his mother for comfort and protection and his paws holding tightly to his mother's sides.

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. would like to extend an invitation to all Blaine, Washington residents and Surrey, British Columbia residents to come down to both A & A offices located at the Pacific Highway Border crossing to view these spectacular displays of West Coast art.

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. is a Canadian owned company established in 1979. A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. offers complete cross border business services including Canadian Customs Brokerage, U.S. Customs Brokerage, International Freight-Forwarding, Cross Border Shipping, Warehousing and Distribution, Customs Consulting, Compliance Reviews, Permits, and Barcode Services.

A & A continues to lead the brokerage industry with twelve offices in Canada and the US. A & A’s corporate head office is located at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, British Columbia and employs over 200 staff internationally.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Roch]]>Thu, 4 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3505National Driver Appreciation Week Celebrated in Surrey, BChttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3505
A & A is proud to announce a strong initiative to acknowledge and appreciate all Truck Drivers that travel through our borders and local communities with a week-long celebration! A & A will be providing individual gift bags to all Truck Drivers as an appreciation of their hard work and valued service within our communities from September 10th to September 14th, 2007. Gift bags will be handed out at three A & A offices located at three of the provincial border crossings in British Columbia during the week: The Pacific Highway office in Surrey, the Aldergrove office and the Huntingdon Office in Abbotsford.

In addition to the gifts being distributed at the mentioned office locations, A & A will execute a One-Day BLITZ from 9 AM – 5 PM distributing gift bags to all truckers who pass through British Columbia’s Provincial Weigh Scale location at 316 176th Street, Surrey BC on Wednesday September 12th, 2007. The Commercial Vehicle and Safety and Enforcement Division is welcoming A & A Contract Customs Brokers to utilize their site in order to reach a maximum amount of drivers. With over 500 drivers stopping at the Pacific Weigh Scales each day, this is the ideal location to reach the Drivers and appreciate them.

A & A’s President, Graham Robins Jr. stated, “This type of Driver Appreciation event has never been done at this level. No other local business has ever worked with the Provincial Weigh Scales in order to reach this many drivers.” Rochelle Arlitt, A & A’s Community Marketing Manager stated “We are thrilled to be a part of such a great initiative. We rely on Truck Drivers to deliver our fresh food to our grocery stores, our medications to our pharmacies, and our school supplies to our retailers with just-in-time service. We want to do our best to thank them and let them know how much they are appreciated. Over 1,000 gift bags will be distributed to Truck Drivers in BC and we are very proud to be a part of this special appreciation.”

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. is a Canadian owned company founded in 1979. A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. offers complete cross border business services including Customs Brokerage, International Freight-Forwarding, Cross Border Shipping, Warehousing and Distribution, Customs Consulting, Compliance Review, Permits, Barcode Services, Release Notification and ACE e-Manifest Services.

A & A continues to lead the brokerage industry with ten offices and two distribution centers across Canada and in the U.S. A & A’s corporate office is located at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, BC and employs over 200 staff internationally.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Rochelle Arlitt, please call 604-542-7314 or e-mail rarlitt@aacb.com.

]]>Wed, 5 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3459New A & A USA Office Hourshttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3459
Saturday hours will be 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, PST. ]]>Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3389Strong dollar drives us to record U.S. car importshttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3389
The North American Automobile Trade Association (NAATA), which represents automobile importers, said the 2006 import figure represents a 55-per-cent increase from 2005.

It can be complicated to work through U.S. and Canadian customs paperwork and importing often invalidates the automobile's warranty coverage. But the savings, even after taxes, duties, registration fees and transportation, can be substantial.

The numbers of imports to B.C. have grown with the strength of the dollar. ICBC doesn't separate countries of origin, but spokesman Doug Henderson said the provincial insurer registered 24,000 imported automobiles in 2006 compared with 15,800 in 2005. In 2002, the figure was 6,700.

Canadian car dealers don't like losing the sales, but the current situation is a reversal from the trend about eight years ago when the Canadian dollar was at its weakest and U.S. buyers bought huge numbers of autos off Canadian car lots.

NAATA president Brian Osler said sometimes buyers shop for cars in the U.S. because they can't find the model, the option package or brand they want in Canada, but currently "the main reason why is that [they are] cheaper because of the exchange rate."

The 2006 figures reflect a period when the Canadian dollar averaged an exchange rate of about 90 cents to the U.S. dollar. Monday, the dollar closed at over 95 cents.
Canadians are flooding into cross-border auto brokers and customs brokers to expedite purchases.

"It's been unbelievable," said Pat Marshall, manager of the vehicle import department of Vancouver-based A&A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd.

"I'd say our volumes have increased at least 100 per cent [compared with] what we were doing last year," with A&A clearing more than 1,000 cars through Canadian customs nationwide, and buyers sometimes saving $15,000 to $20,000 on their purchases.

Osler said manufacturers price cars differently in Canada than in the U.S., but currently the huge swing in currency exchange rates is the main reason for the savings.

Glen Ringdal, CEO of the New Car Dealers of B.C., said the practice of Canadians buying south of the border erodes the business base of local dealerships because franchises are established on a territorial basis, which depends on a certain number of sales with the provision of service to vehicles the dealership sells.

"When you get that balance out of kilter between sales and service, something suffers," Ringdal said.

However, while Canadian dealers "don't like that it's happening," Ringdal added that the trend is "not at the point of being a big problem."

Kevin Frederick, an Edmonton Internet entrepreneur, estimates that he's saved at least 30 per cent on several deals in the U.S. over the last year or so after some hard shopping on e-Bay.

His first U.S. deal involved purchasing a 2005 Jeep Cherokee from an Ohio dealer for $23,000, when the same vehicle would have cost $40,000 to $48,000 new in Edmonton. (All prices are in Canadian dollars.)

Since then he's saved about $25,000 buying a Lincoln Navigator and about $20,000 on a Lamborghini Diablo. "Sometimes I look at it and say, 'Why would I ever think of buying local?'" he added.

Frederick used Kelowna-based auto broker PNT Registered Importers Inc. PNT proprietor Randall Reid also estimated that his business has doubled over what he did last year.

Warranty coverage can be a sticking point. Osler said manufacturers often don't make definitive statements about warranties, but will "exercise discretion" on whether service agreements will be honoured.

He added that there are companies that offer third-party warranty coverage for vehicles brought to Canada.

depenner@png.canwest.com

CROSS-BORDER WHEEL DEALING]]>Wed, 4 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3272A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. and A & A Contract Customs Brokers USA Inc. Easter Holiday Service Hourshttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3272Friday, April 6, 2007 - Good Friday

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. Pac Highway Office - Open 24 hours (Reduced staffing)
Aldergrove (BC) - Closed
Huntingdon (BC) - Closed
Burnaby Office (BC) - Closed
Airport Office (BC) - Closed
Victoria Office (BC) - Closed
Emerson (MB) - Closed
Mississauga ON) - Closed
Ottawa (ON) - Closed
Lacolle (QC)- Closed


A & A Contract Customs Brokers USA Inc. (U.S. locations) will be open on Friday, April 6th with reduced staffing.

]]>Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3258A & A Contract Customs Brokers moves to Expanded Warehouse and Distribution Facility in Blaine, Washingtonhttp://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3258
The 30,000 square-foot facility is strategically located to access cross border markets for both Canadian and U.S. companies. The new location provides a complete portfolio of services including inventory management, order fulfillment, reverse logistics, receiving, shipping and cross-dock services. The warehouse features an advanced online warehouse management system, providing an easy to use interface giving customers the ability to remotely manage their inventory with complete visibility, inventory tracking and tracing.

“Our facility is designed to assist our customers selling into cross-border markets increase their efficiencies and improve their service and response time to their customers. Utilizing the expertise of our warehouse team combined with the services that A & A provides allows our customers to focus on growing and serving their cross-border business while we manage the movement of their goods to market.” says Gary McGee, Blaine Warehouse Manager.

The warehouse expansion fits in with A & A’s ongoing focus of providing full supply chain solutions to meet the needs of their valued customers and assisting them in experiencing “Business without Borders”.

“This is another step in expanding our services to meet the needs of our customers. As they seek to expand and grow their business to cross-border markets we are committed to taking care of the details to drive their success.” says Graham Robins Jr., President of A & A.

Ideally located at the U.S./Canada border crossing with close proximity to the I-5 corridor the warehouse provides Canadian business with direct access to any U.S. market and U.S. business with direct access to any Canadian market.

A & A Contract Customs Brokers USA Inc. is a leading U.S. customs brokerage and logistics company offering a complete suite of services to Canada and the U.S., international freight-forwarding, cross border shipping, warehousing and distribution, trade and regulatory services and e-business solutions.

For more information contact:
Ron Ubels,
Director of Sales & Marketing
A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd.
1.800.663.4270
Email: ronubels@aacb.com
Website: www.aacb.com


]]>Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3255“Cuddles” The Spirit Bear Finds New Home At Pacific Highway Border Crossing.http://www.aacb.com/news/press.asp?id=3255
A & A Contract Customs Brokers President, Mr. Graham Robins Jr. is extremely excited about the arrival of Cuddles and has done his best to make him feel comfortable at his new home at the South Surrey office. “He has fast become the biggest and cutest member of the A & A family,” says Graham Robins Jr. “Cuddles has been permantly mounted right outside the entrance to our office which faces the Pacific Highway Border Crossing. All Canadians and visitors entering Canada through this port of entry will be welcomed to Canada by Cuddles the Spirit Bear”. The Spirit Bears represent a breed of real bears that are only found in British Columbia’s northern forests. The rare “Spirit Bear” is widely recognized for its unique white color. A First Nation legend states that the Raven, their creator made these bears white as a reminder of the time when the world was pure and clean and covered with snow and ice blue glaciers. The Raven promised that these bears would live in peace and harmony forever.

Cuddles the Spirit Bear was purchased at an auction late last year to support the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Operations and the Canucks for Kids Fund. Cuddles came to Pacific Highway early this year and the news traveled quite fast that Cuddles the Spirit Bear now resides at this unique high traffic location. “It will soon become a local tourist attraction, says Rochelle Arlitt, A & A’s Community Marketing Manager. “We have hundreds of truck drivers who pass by every day and sometimes travel with their wives and children. We have had many customers and visitors alike stop by our location to take a photo with Cuddles and admire his amazing artwork.” Cuddles was specially chosen because of his prominent west coast theme that beautifies our Province's glorious features. The design shows off our crystal clear ocean waters, friendly jumping orcas, a lush green old growth forest, a magnificent bald eagle soaring overhead through the trees and snow capped mountain tops. Cuddles was designed and painted by Artist, Mr. Ken Skoda. As people pass by, they are drawn towards this awe-inspiring Bear so that they can observe every single detail that adds to its beauty.

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. would like to extend an invitation to all Surrey and Fraser Valley residents to come down to A & A’s Corporate office at the Pacific Highway Border crossing to view this spectacular display of west coast art.

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. is a Canadian owned company established in 1979. A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. offers complete cross border business services including Canadian Customs Brokerage, U.S. Customs Brokerage, International Freight-Forwarding, Cross Border Shipping, Warehousing and Distribution, Customs Consulting, Compliance Reviews, Permits, and Barcode Services.

A & A continues to lead the brokerage industry with eleven offices across Canada and the U.S. A & A’s corporate office is located at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, British Columbia and employs over 185 staff internationally.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Rochelle Arlitt, please call 604-542-7314 or e-mail raritt@aacb.com

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