eBay

traderkenxxxx · ‎02-04-2014

Canada Customs must think im getting a big load of dope from the US.

Every parcel I have received has been opened and checked.

12 parcels since Nov.

Anyone else getting checked on every parcel?

pjcdn2005 · ‎02-04-2014

I recently had one opened by Canadian customs but all the rest went through without being opened.I was surprised as they rarely do open them....that was only the second one that has been in the last 6 years. It looks like you purchased two items on ebay through the global shipping program. If that is how they were sent, those packages are often opened by PB at their shipping center.

Or maybe you've been flagged by customs for some reason.

afantiques · ‎02-04-2014

Items opend by customs should be resealed with official tape and marked as such, items inspected as part of the GSP should have a note inside from ebay.

If your packages have neither maybe you have a nosy postman.

i*m-still-here · ‎02-04-2014

They almost never open my packages and they arrive here every day.

About 5 years ago one was opened but that's the only time I can recall.

I have, however, received a large number of damaged packages recently which were re-taped by the PO..

Either you're being investigated or something else is going on.

2011limey1 · ‎02-04-2014

No, not once have I ever had my parcels opened by customs. There again, I would never consider buying anything with GSP - so I don't know if this is the cause.

Just a P.S. maybe this has been discussed before, can't remember - sorry if it has. I usually purchase from the U.S. or China, I'd LOVE to purchase more Canadian stuff (I look all the time), but rarely find the kind of items I'm looking for. I've only ordered 2 items from the U.K. recently and it's totally amazing how quickly I received them. One within a week and other a few days longer, compared to even U.S. (as I said no GSP) but still takes at least 2 - 3 weeks - sometimes more. One was from Seattle - just over the border from here - Vancouver!

pierrelebel · ‎02-04-2014

"anything with GSP - so I don't know if this is the cause."

I do not think GSP is to blame here. I do not know why it is mentioned. A quick look at purchases from by op (via feedback left) shows purchases from the USA and UK where the seller ships directly. Did not find a single case of GSP.

Over the years, I have had a fair percentage of parcels coming from the USA or overseas opened by Canada Customs to verify value (I guess). It has never been a problem and goods were never reassessed for other than the declared value. Customs inspectors were just doing their job.

afantiques · ‎02-04-2014

Pierre, were the packets marked as 'opened for inspection'.

The OP does not mention any evidence of who opened them, but having re read the original post that may have been unspoken.

pierrelebel · ‎02-04-2014

"were the packets marked as 'opened for inspection'."

I do not recall. That was many years ago as I have been retired for a while. The parcels were closed with Canada Customs tape.

When a parcel is opened by Canada Post (or USPS) because the packaging is damaged in transit, there is usually a message - in both official languages from Canada Post - with some kind of apology

pjcdn2005 · ‎02-04-2014

@pierrelebel wrote:

I do not think GSP is to blame here. I do not know why it is mentioned. A quick look at purchases from by op (via feedback left) shows purchases from the USA and UK where the seller ships directly. Did not find a single case of GSP.

GSP was mentioned because the buyers history shows that their last two purchases were from sellers that used the gsp.

traderkenxxxx · ‎02-05-2014

They put a little card inside them that's got Ebay on it and says it was opened.

Its signed by Pittney Bowes

afantiques · ‎02-05-2014

They put a little card inside them that's got Ebay on it and says it was opened.

Its signed by Pitney Bowes

That's it then. Not customs.

traderkenxxxx · ‎02-05-2014

Whats it then?

Why would anyone other than customs open it?

reallynicestamps · ‎02-05-2014

Well, it's sorta customs.

Pitney Bowes assesses outbound parcels for duty and tax for the destination country. And then remits that money to Canada .

(And, boy, does that gloss over a lot of detail and legalities.)

So when you see an item that has been opened by PB, it was opened by them on behalf of Canada Border Services Agency. For all I know, there may be a batch of Canadian public servants with green cards working in Erlanger and griping about not being able to get a decent cup of coffee and a dozen Timbits for breakfast. More likely, the work is sub-contracted.

The one and only GSP purchase I've made was opened because the seller did not stipulate that the book was published and printed in the USA. And therefore not dutiable (NAFTA).

I suspect most US sellers, especially those who are signing up for the GSP to protect them in international sales, never even think of that simple step.