Customs Exams & Your Order
Most of our gear crosses the Pacific in steel containers. Once in a while, one of those containers gets pulled aside at the Port of Vancouver for a customs examination. If your order is on one of them, this page explains what is happening — and what it means for you.
What a customs exam is
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) screens every container entering the country. A small percentage are selected for physical examination — some at random, some through routine risk screening that looks at cargo data before the ship even sails. It is a standard border procedure. In CBSA's own words: an examination is not an accusation of wrongdoing.
What happens to the container
The container is moved from the terminal to a bonded examination facility near the port. There, under CBSA supervision, it is unloaded, inspected, and repacked. Once cleared, it is released and travels to our warehouse as usual. The exam itself is quick — most of the wait is the queue for facility space.
What it means for your order
Time, mostly. An exam typically adds one to three weeks, depending on how busy the facility is. Your gear is not held for a defect and nothing about your order has gone wrong — it waits in line, gets checked, and moves on.
What we do in the meantime
We track the container until CBSA releases it, and we update delivery estimates as soon as the new date is firm. If your order is affected, we will email you a revised window. All examination costs — transport, handling, storage — are ours. None of it appears on your order.
Common questions
Is something wrong with my product?
No. Selection is largely random and applies to every importer in Canada. The products themselves are not the reason for the hold.
Who pays for the exam?
We do. Examination-related charges are billed to us as the importer. You will never see them.
How long will it take?
The inspection itself is usually done within a day or two of reaching the facility. Queue time varies — one to three weeks is typical, start to finish. We pass along firm dates as soon as we have them.
Can BigTent speed it up?
No importer can. The schedule belongs to CBSA and the examination facility. What we can do is file clean paperwork ahead of arrival — which we always do — and keep you posted.
Will my item arrive opened?
Containers are unloaded and repacked under CBSA supervision. An outer carton may show signs of handling, but the product inside is protected. If anything arrives damaged, write to us and we will make it right.
Questions about a specific order?
Email us at support@bigtentoutdoors.com with your order number. We will tell you exactly where your shipment stands.
Further reading
Everything on this page comes from official government sources. If you want the details straight from the source:
- CBSA — Marine Container Examination Process — how containers are selected and examined, step by step
- CBSA — Frequently Asked Questions — including who pays for examinations
- Customs Act, Section 99 — the law that authorizes examinations
- Government of Canada — Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility — the facility near the Port of Vancouver where full examinations take place
- Ezcustoms — CBSA Customs Examination: What to Expect — an industry explainer on exam types and timelines