New compulsory "Import Fees" from USA to Canada

[what-a-guy-2002]

Member since 2010 (632 100% feedback). I have been experiencing the new compulsory "import fees" policy on items from USA. Surprising! I am disappointed with this policy. It is a negative one on many levels notwithstanding for USA and eBay revenues, as many like myself will now be sure to be motivated to resource items outside of USA, and outside of eBay.

Also disappointing is a story I was told that USPS recently (January 28, 2013) redefined Canada from being an 'intermediary' to an 'international' country, and therefore shipping fees from the USA to Canada have risen 80%!

Must be people in rooms in the USA racking their brains on how to support the USA economy versus just printing money.

[pluto4850]

I just won an auction for $625.00 from a USA seller.  The shipping was posted as $59.00.  The details said something about having to pay import, taxes etc as usual.  I have bought several items in the past that had pretty high values ($100.00 - $900.00) and it worked like this:  I paid for the item and a reasonable shipping cost via USPS Standard shipping, then I pay the taxes and reasonable import brokerage fees to Canada Post.  I avoid any UPS or Fedex shipping like the plague because of their high brokerage charges - in other words, if a seller is using UPS or Fedex, I don't bid there.

So imagine my surprise when I went to pay and found the shipping is $103.00 and there is also a charge of $135.00 for customs, etc.  I know I would have to pay customs and taxes because I have done this many times, but would not cost near this much picking up the item at Canada Post.

I contacted the seller who said he could not change the Global Shipping requirement and I should talk to eBay.  I talked to eBay and the contact said I should click on the "Request Total" link and the Seller could then send me a new invoice with shipping only.   So I did that and got a new invoice with shipping charges of $126.00 via Fedex.  Now it is worse than before because I know they will rip me off for brokerage fees, so I wrote back the seller who said eBay requires him to use UPS or Fedex because they require a signature at delivery.  I let him know that I have to sign with Canada Post, but that is not good enough for eBay and Paypal.  I asked him then to revert to the original invoice.  He said okay, but I will have to contact Global Shipping and request it.  I had already been on the phone with eBay for an hour and I could not find how to speak to anyone at Global Shipping, so I just gave up and paid the last bill.  I plan to got to the Fedex office and pick up the paperwork and run it through customs myself.

I will not be buying any more items from USA sellers and probably not from eBay at all.  It's too bad because most of my purchases have been from the USA and I have generally had good experiences.  I don't fault the Seller for the bad experience here, though.  I think he tried to be helpful, but just didn't realize what a hassle this is for Canadian or any international customer.

What gets me about this whole thing is that USPS was a good way to keep the costs down.  The items I bought usually had shipping costs of $50.00 to $75.00 as they were usually large items.  Now that shipping cost has almost doubled.  And so had the brokerage fees.  Shame on you eBay.

[splattii]

It's also interesting that we're asked to pay CANADIAN customs fees using US DOLLARS and PAYPAL's exchange rate!

Paypal is now making profit on Canadian duties & taxes via the CDN to USD exchange rate.  

My customs and duties are also more expensive now since I'm paying the same taxes + an additional exchange fee!

[i*m-still-here]

I just had another encounter with the GSP.

I saw a newly listed item which uses the GSP for shipping.

I emailed the seller to ask if she'd change the method of shipping.

Since there are no bids yet it should be possible.

The seller has no idea what the Global Shipping Program is!

She explained how she only charges actual shipping with no padding etc. etc. etc,

Sellers are signing up for the program because there is a limited time offer to have FVFs reduced but have no concept of the buyer's experience with it.

Then, it seems that all their items are funnelled through the program from that point on and unless someone contacts them that's the last they know of it.

What a PITA!

[Anonymous]

eBay is very tricky by offering the US sellers this insane GSP with 50% off FVFs that attracted a lot of sellers but the US sellers end up losing a lot of good potiental buyers like myself. 

What is the worse thing about GSP is that I see many listings with "import charges" with no $$, just saying it will be at checkout as if I would be willing to bid for any item with that information and be shocked to see the huge import charges at the checkout?  No way!!

I hope that eBay will "retire" GSP like they do with eBucks for the Canadian buyers seeing that it didn't meet their expectations when lots of Canadian buyers won't buy any items from US sellers who join this insane GSP.  I can pray, can't I?  :^O

[pierrelebel]

"many listings with "import charges" with no $$, just saying it will be at checkout"

That is on eBay.ca

Then go to eBay.com to check the same listing.  The charges will be shown.

[i*m-still-here]

In the long run.......... 

A few sellers will hold onto the GSP f for various reasons.

You probably don't want to buy from them anyway.

Most who have signed on were wooed by the temporary FVF reductions and blindly jumped on the ship.

It's been my experience that once they understand it, they trash it.

I, for one, would absolutely love if each and every US seller signed on for the GSP.

It's a minor nuisance for buyers once you understand it ............. but for Canadian sellers it's a gift.

[arkh_angel]

Does anyone in eBay staff (not those headless people of their support staff - sorry if I am insulting someone who DO/DID good work as a support person, just never happened to talk to any, as all answers I got in the past from support people were generic, full of "we are sorry you are..." and useless) read their own forums? Or are they doing like "La lala la laaa! We're so great! Everything is fine!"?

@i*m-still-here: eBay have changed their design about every year, we have no choice but to accept it, even if they just make things worse most of the time. I still think they should make it more visible that there maybe fees added to the final invoice and give more details in the shipping details. We are not supposed to dig out all the auction details just to be sure there won't be another hidden fee. They were able to put the price and shipping amount in bold, I think the import fees should be too, especially if on ebay.ca they aren't even able to show the real amount. They are just make it so it won't deter buyers.

@Pierre: Thanks for the trick, you seem to be a very resourceful person for everyone in here

Oh I won't get caught with the GSP anymore. They had their chance, as seller with UPS and Fedex had. I won't feed their pocket anymore.

I just can't wait their next survey...

Alex

[1986puma]

WOW, this is a new one for me, I will have to be very careful, how do you find out if the seller participates in the global  before you bid?  I just do not buy    from sellers that inflate their shipping cost but at least it is stated up front.  Anyway, I think E-bay is slipping, there are very few bargains to be found.

[pierrelebel]

"how do you find out if the seller participates in the global  before you bid?"

Check the listing on eBay.com

[rainbow71113]

I also bought a listing and was surprised at the "fee" now it wasn't much...about $3.00 but when I questioned the seller she called ebay to ask if she can remove this or invoice me directly through paypal to avoid it.  She was told that it is against policy to sidestep this system once it is in a listing so if you catch the seller BEFORE bidding or buying they might be able to remove that shipping method but I'm not sure.  I just paid it and chocked it up to experience. I think this is Canada Post's way of collecting all those small amounts that go under the radar.

Already I've noticed that items I can ship to the US for about $4.00 are showing up at over $25 to Canada....the US is pricing themselves right out of the market which is good for Canadians and international sales.  My Canadian sales have almost quadrupled lately.   I also looked on a US community about the GSP  and there are a LOT of people unhappy about it.  I haven't seen any negative or neutral feedbacks regarding it though....but then I haven't looked into too many listings lately either.  Will be interesting to see how this plays out down the road...

[shalimara22]

These rates are ridiculous - I rarely paid any customs prior to this.  I enjoyed shopping on eBay for deals, but unfortuantely with the ridiculously prohibitive "import" charges via Pitney
Bowes, I will no longer be shopping for goods from the U.S. 

[2756anderson]

You have a socialist idiot for a president.  The U.S. Postal service is practically bankrupt (as opposed to Canada's private service which only lost money once, last year) and you have big retailers in the U.S. jumping on the bandwagon and doing their own $50-$70 "Customs fees" just to pad their profits while pretending their sales prices are low.  I've never seen such sleaze before.

[deaddyrocks]

This is unfortunate news, I don't know if I'll continue to shop from the US if there's no way to avoid these types of auctions until after you commit to buying. That is ridiculous.

[pierrelebel]

"if there's no way to avoid these types of auctions until after you commit to buying"

Yes, you can check BEFORE you buy. 

Check the listing on eBay.com - not eBay.ca

The estimated charges will appear on the listing when viewed on eBay.com.  Not all American sellers use the new Global Shipping system.

[rainbow71113]

you can avoid them by watching for the message under the shipping that states

Import charges:To be provided at checkout

and when you go on the question mark it says

This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program terms and conditions- opens in a new window or tab.

because it is a percentage of the final value at the auction end. 

[rainbow71113]

this message does show up on listings on ebay.ca

[rainbow71113]

here's the number of the listing I bought

271168265445

and this is what showed after I won

nternational Priority Shipping : US $24.60Estimated delivery: Sat. 23 Mar. - Wed. 3 Apr.Import charges: US $3.34

[connies2008]

I won't buy from a buyer who uses this unless they remove it for that auction.  I am finding they are more than happy to remove it!

[rainbow71113]

that's what I asked earlier, I didn't know if you can get a seller to change it before bidding.  Thanks for telling us that they can remove it.

[pjcdn2005]

this message does show up on listings on ebay.ca

You're right, but it is much more obvious on .com. Also,  on .com you see the actual estimated amount of those taxes etc...before you bid or buy. If it's an auction, the amount is based on the current bid.