If you’ve been following Hop Bomb for a while, you may remember that last summer we quietly stopped shipping to the United States. It wasn’t an easy decision, and it definitely wasn’t one we wanted to make. At the time, though, it felt like the most responsible choice for both our business and our customers.
After doing more research into de minimis shipping to the USA and seeing how things are actually playing out, we’re excited to say that U.S. and international shipping is officially back.
Here’s what happened, what de minimis means for cross border shipping, and where we stand now.
What Is De Minimis?
De minimis is a trade rule that allows goods under a certain value to cross borders without being charged import duties or taxes. In the United States, this threshold has historically made shipping from Canada to the U.S. much easier for small orders.
When an order falls below the U.S. de minimis threshold, it often clears customs without extra charges. No surprise duties. No unexpected courier processing fees. That predictability made cross border shipping simple and affordable for many small Canadian brands.
Last summer, changes in how de minimis was being interpreted and enforced created uncertainty for many shipments entering the U.S.
Why We Paused U.S. Shipping
The biggest challenge wasn’t higher costs alone. It was the unknown.
At the time, there was no clear way to predict what an American customer might be charged upon delivery. Import duties. Taxes. Courier handling or brokerage fees. In some cases, all of them.
That puts customers in a bad spot. Nobody wants to order a cool craft beer tee from Canada and then get hit with unexpected charges at the door. As a small business, that’s not the experience we want to create.
So we made the tough call to pause shipping from Canada to the United States until we had a better understanding of how de minimis shipping was actually affecting customers.
What We’ve Learned Since
Over the past few months, we’ve spent time researching, talking with other small businesses, and reviewing real customer experiences. What we’ve found is that many U.S. customers are still receiving orders from Canada without being charged anything extra, or only minimal duties.
That said, the potential for import duties or carrier processing fees still exists. That hasn’t disappeared.
What has changed is our confidence in explaining that risk clearly and making sure customers know what to expect before placing an order.
Transparency has always mattered to us.
Shipping to the U.S. Again
With that in mind, we’ve reopened shipping to the United States and other international destinations.
You’ll now see this note at checkout:
“U.S. orders ship from Canada and may be subject to import duties or carrier handling fees upon delivery.”
You’ll also find clearer language in our Shipping Policy.
Whenever possible, we’ll be shipping with Canada Post, as this typically lowers the risk of additional courier processing fees compared to private couriers.
Moving Forward, Together
Stepping back from our American customers was disappointing. We know how many of you have supported Hop Bomb over the years, and pausing U.S. shipping was never something we took lightly.
That’s why we’re genuinely excited to open the door again.
To celebrate, we’re running a flash sale with 15% off for our international customers. It’s our way of saying thanks for sticking with us, being patient, and continuing to support what we’re building.
Use code BACKTOTHEUS at checkout.
Hurry, the sale ends April 29th at midnight.
Have a look at our Best Sellers and start restocking your closet for summer. You may have missed our High Gravity release or the new tee colour for A New Hop.
If you have questions about shipping from Canada to the U.S., import duties, or anything else, feel free to reach out through our contact page. We’re always happy to talk things through.
We’re glad to be shipping south of the border again.
Cheers,
Jay
