Item stuck with Canada Post got handed to DHL, now DHL wants to charge me import fees?

Summary: themaritimegirl expressed concern about an item stuck with a postal service which was handed off to another, leading to unexpected import fees. john_koenig99 and others joined the discussion, but details of their contributions are unspecified.

Hi - I'm a Canadian buyer who bought a used electronic item from an American seller for $140 CAD, shipping included, right before Canada Post went on strike. So of course it got to the international shipping hub, where it sat for almost three weeks.

Yesterday, I got an email that the package had been handed to DHL. I thought great, Canada Post must have worked out a deal with couriers to get things moving. Then today, I get an email from DHL - they want me to pay almost $40 CAD in "import duty and/or tax and customs clearance service charges".

Does this seem right? I've bought hundreds of things from American sellers on eBay, and I've never encountered this ever. I'm almost certain that had Canada Post never gone on strike, the package wouldn't have been handled to DHL and they wouldn't be asking me to pay this.

So what are my options here? Am I just screwed and forced to pay this $40? I highly doubt I would be in this situation had Canada Post not gone on strike.

themaritimegirl

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Posted 9 months ago·Last reply 9 months ago

8 comments

byto253

·9 months ago

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When you bought it, was shipping through the Ebay International Shipping (EIS) program, or did the seller ship it directly?

If it was EIS I thought that was to ensure no further charges, they were all paid up front.

marnotom!

·9 months ago

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@byto253 wrote:

If it was EIS I thought that was to ensure no further charges, they were all paid up front.

It depends. Sometimes taxes, etc. are paid at checkout, sometimes they’re deferred until delivery, and sometimes buyers are offered a choice.

visual-sound

·9 months ago

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It's called paying for an education. In the future just buy from Canadian sellers or local retailers.

john_koenig99

·9 months ago

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@visual-sound wrote:
It's called paying for an education. In the future just buy from Canadian sellers or local retailers.

That sounds lovely, as a principle, but it's not practical in reality. Global market access is still going, and it will be long after the Orange turd is gone.

john_koenig99

·9 months ago

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$140? That purchase is going to have tax/duties due, CP strike or not.

The difference with DHL is that you pay more for brokerage and service fees, compared to what you would have paid, had it been delivered by CP.

themaritimegirl

OP9 months ago

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>> That purchase is going to have tax/duties due, CP strike or not.

That's a first for me. I've bought many things for as much or more money, and if there was any duty to be paid, it was made apparent during the checkout, not by the Courier weeks after it was shipped.

mrdutch1001

·9 months ago

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ah, but that was then...this is now...this is the day of tariffs,additional processing fees, additional brokerage fees...Welcome to the new age of purchasing from the USA!

marnotom!

·9 months ago

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@themaritimegirl wrote:

>> That purchase is going to have tax/duties due, CP strike or not.

That's a first for me. I've bought many things for as much or more money, and if there was any duty to be paid, it was made apparent during the checkout, not by the Courier weeks after it was shipped.

Items imported by mail or courier have an official tax and duty-free limit of $20 or $40 depending on a few different factors, @themaritimegirl. Canada Border Services doesn't usually bother assessing and charging for low-value items sent through the mail, so you've just been extremely lucky with your past purchases.

This page could be a little better in how it presents this info, but it should communicate that your DHL charges are legit:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html