US sellers claiming they are in Canada

[ca2015.ling]

Just bought my first ever item from ebay.com. I found out too late about huge import taxes (duty and VAT on 30 year old used goods???). I thought I'd be smart and make my next purchase from the Canadian ebay to avoid import duties, etc. TONS of sellers were claiming to be located in Canada, but upon reading the very fine print, it says "Ships from the USA". What is up with that? Pretty misleading if you ask me. My first ebay purchase looks like it will also be the last. How can Americans claim they are in Canada on ebay, yet they ship from the US, along with all the duties etc.? Fer crying out loud. I came back from the USA with my full amount of tobacco and liquor. I had 8 opened packs of Marlboros in my pockets, so I did not have to pay the extra duty on the smokes because customs considered the smokes "used". Kick these US sellers off the Canadian ebay if they are lying about what country they are in.

[ypdc_dennis · Accepted solution]

It does not matter whether the item is new or used or old when taxes are charged at the border. Taxes are based on the value of the item. If your item is charged tax, there will also be a collection fee if being shipped/mailed. Most USA-made products are duty free.

Restricting your buying to eBay.ca does NOT restrict listings to sellers who are based in Canada -- just those that ship to Canada.  You have to use advanced search and use the Location section to narrow things down.

[ca2015.ling]

Thank you! Just have to look more carefully next time. Cheers!

[reallynicestamps]

huge import taxes (duty and VAT on 30 year old used goods???).

While there may be no duty on used goods, there will be sales taxes. These range from 5% to 17% depending on your province.

The carrier charges a service fee. Canada Post charges $9.95 to process your shipment. Couriers like UPS may charge $25 or more.

I came back from the USA with my full amount of tobacco and liquor. I had 8 opened packs of Marlboros in my pockets, so I did not have to pay the extra duty

Well, isn't that special....

Next time we smuggle livestock let's make it something smaller.-- Zoe Washburne

[momcqueen]

---

ca2015.ling wrote:

.....I came back from the USA with my full amount of tobacco and liquor. I had 8 opened packs of Marlboros in my pockets, so I did not have to pay the extra duty on the smokes because customs considered the smokes "used"..... 

---

A word of caution as an aside: I want to mention you're running the risk of running afoul with the law with open packs of cigarettes crossing the border. CCRA is wise to the open-pack scenario and no open packs of tobacco are allowed to be duty-free now. Used is not relevant. This was explained to me by an agent personally the last time I was at the border dutifully paying my taxes on the stuff I had brought back. I had been asking about used toys that I was bringing across for my own children at the time. He cited the tobacco issue as the reason used or new isn't considered anymore. So. For whatever it's worth, it might not be worth the trouble you'd get into for having open packs in your pockets. 

 If you want to avoid having items shipped from the USA, filter by Canada at the left. That's what I do.