eBay

brandeentertainment · ‎01-13-2013

K I have been doing my research with much help from all you guys ..

Here is my last question ...

Is paying a Broker really worth it to import goods..

Looking for someone with first hand experience to tell me whats up but any comments are always appreciated....

pierrelebel · ‎01-13-2013

"Is paying a Broker really worth it to import goods.."

For individuals importing goods for their personal use, the answer is no.

However, if you are running a business and part of that business involves importing goods for resale at a profit, you have a choice:

1) go to Canada Customs and clear the shipments yourself

2) use a competent broker to do the job for you (at a fee of course)

It comes down to a simple question: How much is your time worth?

If your business works on gross margins so low that you cannot absorb a 2% brokerage fee in your costs, you should rethink your business plan.

expressit1 · ‎01-13-2013

In My opinion it depends on the size and the value of the shipments whether you want to use the services of the broker.

My business imports approx 200 Shipments / packages per year.

If the package is small we ask the shipper to send it via mail most of those shipments walk in the door with the Postal carrier with the duty tax and handling fee all being paid to the carrier. Cash or Credit card.

Canada Post charges a handling fee of $ 8.00 you will never get a customs broker invoice less than $30.00 Ignoring duty and tax as those have to be paid no matter which way you chose.

Any high value shipments your best using a broker as thay will clearly identify the correct Tarriff # for the goods coming into Canada.

Canada post do not seem to lose those Packages as "Customs" is involved in those shipments.

Now the shipper taking it to the post office and standing in line is the obsticle you will have to overcome.

UPS clears shipments for a reasonabler amount and they do there own brokerage.

We use FEDEX sometimes as they include brokerage in there air rates.

So it depends on value size and when you want it to use a real broker.

pierrelebel · ‎01-13-2013

"maybe we could start negotiating from there."

This has been increased by Canada Post to $9.95

"you will never get a customs broker invoice less than $30.00"

It depends. UPS offers many services where no added brokerage fee is charged at time of Customs clearance. On low value (under $40) the brokerage fee is only $7.00

Taxes for a registered businesses are not a factor as the full amount of GST/HST paid at the border is refunded fully (100%) through Input Tax Credits (ITCs).