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.

[cumos55]

Had an interesting discussion about shipping automobile parts from US to Canada... at the barbershop.... yesterday

Parts were for Chevelles from the 1960s... Buyer  was an avid rebuilder... right from the frame to completed car... effectively creating a "new" vehicle  from old parts.  He has made trips to Arizona  (Las Vegas) Looking for "new and rust free parts.

Small items were shipped in the mail.  He also used a service where items were delivered  to a business in Neche North Dakota  (south of Manitoba).  He then went to pick up the item.... and then took it across the border to his home in Winnipeg.

He works at  a local car dealership  and get a lot of what he wants done on cars... free.

Then he mentioned  that instead of  his picking up something in Neche ND... a company would take it across the Canada US border  and then  put it into a Canadian delivery system.... Something new  and very recent

Many new delivery systems  are being developed...  bypassing a costly system such as the GSP.

I can see the following  Mail a book via USPS using media mail... at about $4 to $5  to Neche ND...  Take it across the border for a small fee  ( The reverse of Chit Chat Express in southern Ontario??  Did I get that business name right?).. and parcel enters Canada Post for a cost of about $13 to $15.... Still cheaper than those $45 shipping costs by US sellers for some shipping of books to Canada....  and many other items

Many new business are being established... and that GSP will be bypassed.....

GSP started it... then it will be RIP  GSP...when buyers learn how to get it for less cost...

US sellers take care and do it right.....

[docteurpapaul2]

I am a Canadian buyer and I will explain to you guys how things work out here! Canada Post is the best way to receive stuff; now if you ship it trough USPS either standard snail mail or first class I receive-it with no brokerage fee nor taxes to pay because with Canada post they don't bother to charge you for it on items under about $100.00 or less, I have seen items under $150.00 get buy to my door without extra fees, And I am guessing they don't bother because it's not cost efficient.

Now recently I discovered the Ebay global shipping scam, they charge you up to 10 times what it cost's by USPS and they charge you that import fee... so here is my question; IN who's piockets is this fee going to if Canada post doesn't bother to colect-it

I have also learned that ebay makes a cut on the shipping fee; so I guess the perverse effect of the policy is to promote the highest shipping fee instead of the cheapest, and in the end it will kill business on ebay because people will start walking away from-it; but in life you have people thinking short or long term! Short term you make a quick buck now but you do not promote repeat business, Long term you make a reasonable profit but continue on doing business. Unfortunately history has demonstrated to us Canadians that the Americans are short term thinkers, don,t get me wrong I like you guys but this the sad truth.

I have had discussions about the Global shipping scam with ebay people and they admitted to me that there was a large volume of complaints about-it and they think it's because we don't understand-it,  so they had some kind of a Global shipping scam Rep or preacher call me to teach me better; and they tried to convince me it wasn't a scam...

So as a consequence I am making my last purchases on ebay and then i will walk away for good... you guys are loozing  as a client and I woul suggest that you guys go and review my feedback reccord to fully understand what is being lost here! and I will make a bet with you that Ebay will remove this comment of mine or if you prefer censore-it out of existance to make sure you guys don't understand what the real issue is... and a certain time down the road you will all complain about the slow pace of business!

Paul

[i*m-still-here]

Am I the only who thinks that all this public posting about how CPO doesn't always collect isn't in the best interest of those of us who would rather not pay more than necessary.

Now, I realize that some actually prefer to pay those taxes and duties............ (I'm not one of them)............ so they may have other ideas.

I also realize that this board isn't read by the masses........... but really................ :

[pierrelebel]

"I have also learned that ebay makes a cut on the shipping fee; so I guess the perverse effect of the policy is to promote the highest shipping fee instead of the cheapest,"

You are referring to the fact eBay sellers pay Final Value Fees on the amount of the transaction (including shipping charge).

Once again, it is not my intention to defend GSP but let's make sure we get our facts straight.

American sellers using GSP pay FVF on the domestic shipping charge only, NOT on the shipping cost of shipping outside the country. 

"Canada post they don't bother to charge you for it on items under about $100.00 or less"

The decision to charge or not charge duty and tax (HST/GST/PST) is made by Canada Customs, not Canada Post.  The rules have not changed in years, although the fee charge by Canada Post has doubled to $9.95. While many shipments go through without tax being charged and collected, the reality is that imports with a value exceeding Cdn$20.00 are legally subject to tax:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html#c1 

Like many other buyers, I have seen shipments with a high value go without tax being charged but I have also seen shipments with a value of $30 being assessed tax and brokerage fee.

"I will make a bet with you that Ebay will remove this comment of mine"

I do not think so.  I did not see anything violating the posting policy.  And I am talking from experience having had dozens of posts removed over the years for "alleged" infractions.

"I am making my last purchases on ebay and then i will walk away for good"

Good Luck to you.

[docteurpapaul2]

They don't charge taxes on books in Quebec because it is considered as education, if you want to know more I just posted an explanation on how it works in Canada

Paul

[pierrelebel]

Most provinces in Canada do not charge the provincial portion of HST on most books.  However the 5% GST applies.

[docteurpapaul2]

I think this guy is working for ebay

[bb_cool_stuff]

Of course he is, he just happens to blow his cover every now & again.

Didn't you know he has the direct access to the ebay CEO, all members of Upper Management, The Canadian Government, Canada Post & the Easter Bunny.

Very powerful man in the country. I wish i had his power. 😉

[pierrelebel]

"this guy is working for ebay"

Of course.  In my spare time, during my fifteen minute breaks and lunch time,  I managed to complete 105,800 transactions on eBay over the years.

Maybe eBay feels cheated!  What did they pay me for?  😉

[cumos55]

Books are exempt from PST  and the Provincial component of HST.

This is based on an option called  .....Point of Sale Rebate.

This terminology means that buyer does pay the full HST or PST  percentage at the point of sale, but is IMMEDIATELY give a rebate for  PST or the provincial portion of HST.

Hence the terminology... Point of Sale Rebate

and ...For books... all provinces... GST = HST = 5 %.

[rainbow71113]

that makes those import fees that I quoted even MORE outrageous!!

[pierrelebel]

Not really as this listing is NOT eligible to the Global Shipping Program wioth a value exceeding $1,600 (the limit to ship to Canada using the program)

http://pages.ebay.com/shipping/globalshipping/seller-tnc.html 

[rainbow71113]

aha, didn't see the exception for Canada, so how does that work then if a Canadian buys an item at $2500 and there is the GSP on it and it can't go over $1600?  Does that knock the GSP shipping out? 

[cumos55]

The more we understand the GSP  , the better we can as Canadian sellers deal with the consequences.... for buyers  and for Canadian sellers.

eBay went ahead and developed  GSP... and now buyers from Canada  (and elsewhere) are saying... "You have got to be kidding"

Before I list a book, I look at three things

(1) How many of this book are actually listed on eBay, eBay Canada versus eBay US.

(2) The cost of shipping indicated by US sellers  .... Is it high?... and what is the total item plus shipping.... as an indication of what my price for the book should be.

and now

(3) Does the US seller use the GSP?..

In order to be an effective seller on eBay  we have to understand  and interrelate the many aspects of selling on eBay.

Discussions like this help us understand the meaning of the GSP

So far in 2013...

Higher price international shipping with USPS..

and the GSP... with its higher overall cost...

and Canadian sellers adapt  with an understanding of the North American market, on eBay, and elsewhere on the internet

[i*m-still-here]

Just had another issue with the GSP.

The seller agreed to ship via FCI before I bid and alter the GSP details later.

She couldn't see what I was seeing from Canada and thought I was getting billed $4 for shipping.

Contrary to what was posted by another buyer earlier she was not able to alter the listing and was getting quite annoyed because she believed I was being difficult.

I finally got her to look at payment details for Canada to see what I was seeing.

We worked it out, but not until I was able to convince her that I was not getting billed $4 for shipping but over $40.

Anyway............. the point is that sellers cannot alter the shipping details after the sale.

The item has to be ended and re-listed or a payment can be made via Paypal.

To me it seems like eBay has no clue what it's like to be a Canadian buyer, or they do and they just don't give a D______ about us.

I think it's the latter.

[rainbow71113]

we said that you have to contact the seller BEFORE bidding or buying to have the GSP removed

[pierrelebel]

"To me it seems like eBay has no clue what it's like to be a Canadian buyer, or they do and they just don't give a D______ about us."

I suggest you take a few minutes and read the "Board Hour" with eBay staffers last Wednesday (April 17th).  That subject was covered in details.

http://community.ebay.ca/topic/Weekly-Board-Hour/April-17th-Weekly/4000008644?start=0 

[rainbow71113]

thanks Pierre for that link, and also thanks for addressing my comment in particular.  Like I said I was told she could cancel the transaction BUT was NOT told that she could relist it without the GSP.  Also I see where you have been getting some of your great info!!  🙂

[i*m-still-here]

I was there and followed the discussion to some degree.

I do recall that something was said about the program being geared towards US sellers and by default it was suggested (or stated outright) that Canadians were not important when considering the implementation of the program.

Something like that.

Is that what you're referring to?

That said:  I have encountered one or two US sellers who stick by it but most are just unaware and naive about what they signed on for.  In general, on the whole they don't care for it either.

Regardless of what was said in that discussion about the program being geared towards US sellers they weren't considered either.

They certainly were not fully informed about what the program entails.

The program was geared towards the P-B / Ebay partnership.

It will likely be dissolved in time but not before quite a bit of money has fallen into the pockets of P-B.

To those who say P-B is stupid........... Actually, I think they're pretty bright to be pulling this off.

They're getting a lot of money for absolutely nothing........

IN FACT....... they are getting a lot of money for disrupting ebay transactions with eBay's blessing.

Wonder who owed them a favour?

[bb_cool_stuff]

We are going to see a lot more posts regarding the GSP.

True, a lot of buyers & sellers are being caught by surprise, unfortunately a lot do not view the boards. All we can do is try to educate the buyers that are unaware of the extra charges.

Somehow i think the split in revenue in this partnership greatly favours eBay.