Do you pay for import fees at checkout or does it get held by the couriers until paid ?

[jerhi_9156]

I’m just curious if it gets added and eBay expects me to pay import fees upon checkout , or is it a estimate on what to expect upon getting your parcel? Please share your wisdom

[marnotom!]

It depends on the shipping method being used. Read the listing carefully, particularly the “shipping” section.

If the item is being forwarded through the eBay Global Shipping Program, the shipping method will be given as “International Priority Shipping” and import charges (even “import charges” of $0.00) will be stated right on the listing page, along with the message, “No additional charges on delivery!” or something along those lines. You will pay these charges at checkout.

Most other shipping services will have you pay the import charges (taxes, duty and processing fees) at or even after delivery. The possible exceptions to this are international courier air/express services where the shipper may have the option of paying those in advance on your behalf or the carrier may add an estimate to the shipping charge. You’re not likely to find many listings on eBay where this sort of shipping method is used, particularly from the US.

If in doubt about a seller’s choice of shipping method, send them a query before committing to purchasing the item. Just bear in mind that some sellers using the Global Shipping Program are unaware that they’ve opted into the program (Long story).

[reallynicestamps]

If you are buying from a US or UK seller who used the Global Shipping Program, you will be charged import fees which cover Canadian duty and sales taxes and a small (~$5US) service fee to Pitney Bowes, who operate this Seller Protection program for eBay.

If the seller has not opted to use the program, you are responsible for duty and sales taxes and the carrier will not turn over the shipment until these are paid. The carrier will also charge you a service fee (under various names). The lowest fee is from Canada Post at $9.95. Couriers are much higher.

If you refuse to pay the import fees, the item is considered Undeliverable.  The seller is not required to refund on Undeliverable purchases.

You can tell a courier that you will perform the customs brokerage yourself and save the service fee.  Compare how much your time costs you with the service fee. You will still be paying the import fees.  BC minimum wage is 23c a minute.

To further confuse things, until recently the duty-free allowance was only $20 and CBSA officers decided that it was a burden on the taxpayer to have well-paid officials assessing and collecting piddly amount of duty and sales taxes.

So they were ignoring small and low value packages.

The increase in our duty-free allowance to $150 has only been inforce since July, so we don't have any practical experience about whether the informal policy still applies when the declared value is over $140 but under maybe $500.  Personally, I suspect not and we will start hearing complaints as self-isolating buyers start Christmas shopping.