Canada Post charged the seller some brokerage fees

[diner-rock]

I am the buyer in JAPAN. I bought $40 glass mugs from the seller in CANADA. The seller told me $84 for S&H. The package I received shows $59 postage. The seller told me that $25 (=$84-$59) was brokerage fees (government taxes and duty) he paid. I bought so many things from CANADA but I have never been told that the seller paid such a fee to export the item. Does it possibly happen?

[momcqueen]

What is your de minimum for importing into Japan by post? 

It is entirely possible that your seller did this for you, yes. It all depends on the value of the item, your country's de minimus, and the country of manufacture for the item being imported.

If I, for example, mailed you a $220 toy made in China, this is the breakdown of costs given to me by the Canada Post estimator.

Estimated Duties¤9.21¤720.12Estimated Taxes¤10.01¤782.74Total Estimated Duties and Taxes¤19.22¤1,502.86Shipping¤80.12¤6,265.33Total Estimated Cost¤99.34¤7,768.19

Convert to CAD and apply to your own circumstances at https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/wtz/personal/findHsCode?execution=e1s11

Couriers follow a different system. Some may require pre-payment of duty.

Only you know the specific details of your transaction.

Or, the seller could be fudging it and keeping a handling fee that has nothing to do with duty paid.

[reallynicestamps]

The seller told me that $25 (=$84-$59) was brokerage fees (government taxes and duty) he paid.

To what government?

Did you pay the Japanese government any duty or taxes on this import?

Duty is normally paid by the importer (you).

Taxes are normally paid by the buyer (you).

. The seller told me $84 for S&H. The package I received shows $59 postage.

The S&H stands for Shipping (mostly postage) and Handling (Packaging-- which could be considerable for glass being sent overseas).

Oh who are we kidding?

When you paid you agreed to the S&H, so your only remedy is to leave calm, factual feedback.

"Charged $84 S&H claimed $25 was "brokerage." Seems legit."