CANADIANS: Read before you purchase from the USA!!!

[canuckchat]

If you reside in Canada - and purchase an item from the USA - you need to educate yourself as to the fact that you WILL be paying applicable taxes and possibly duties on the item when it crosses the border into Canada.

Yes, if the item is shipped by postal service, your "brokerage handling fee" will be a nominal $5 or $8 - plus the applicable taxes for your province (and possibly duties, but seldom are they charged.)

And yes, MANY times the items shipped by postal service are NOT charged taxes or duties incoming - so sometimes you will escape paying the taxes that are due to the Canadian and provincial governments.

However, you should ALWAYS - and I stress ALWAYS! - calculate the cost of the taxes and possibly duties into the decision to make a purchase internationally.

Additionally, if your item is sent by the USA seller (or other international seller) through a courier service (for example, UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc.) then your applicable brokerage fee will be upwards of $25, on a sliding scale dependent upon the value of the incoming item.

Yes, these fees (brokerage, tax, duty) are ALL part of the cost of buying an item internationally and having it shipped to you in Canada.

It is NOT up to the seller to pay these for you - YOU are the importer of record - YOU are the one who will be billed for these charges - YOU are the one who will NOT get your parcel until you pay these charges.

So - before hitting the "BID NOW" button, do a bit of calculating and make an informed decision to see if it is really worth getting that imported widget!

Happy Bidding, Folks!
:-D

[darktendril]

And watch out if using UPS!!!! I bought two items totalling $200.00, paid another $50.00 to the sellers in shipping, then UPS charged a $95.00 additional "brokerage" fee at the door!!! If I had known I would never have purchased the two items!

[canuckchat]

Yes, that is the entire gist of this thread, as stated from the original post onwards

[ms.limited]

Thats right, the worst enemy for the ebayer is the local custom service]:)

[rodney2007_2007]

good one I ordered stuff from Day Runners and got stuff 3-5 times and never got charged taxes or what ever but I get the point it can happen.

[ace0030_0]

< it is a given on this subject but ignorance is no excuse , you won't find out if you don't ask,but i agree people should read this chat room for the true answers and go from there, congrats to the person who entered this.

[marcenciels]

for most, it will be education '' the tax way ''...not to say ''the AM way '' ;-))

i have learned fast...being from the world capital of taxation...héhéhé...

[mark_0910]

Wish I had known this before purchasing an item that was shipped via UPS!!! I learned the hard way and unexpectedly had to pay about $70 plus when item was delivered to my door!!! Oh well, we tend to learn the hard way first!!! So glad you posted a note on this subject. Too late for me but will most definitely will help others. Kudos to you!!!!

[mark_0910]

To continue, I forgot to ask this question regarding fees etc.When the item I purchased was delivered, I paid all "FEES" so I thought, but I just received a bill from Customs for the exact amount I paid to the courier????? Has this happened to anyone else? The item cost about $200 or so, I purchased it in late June and the seller did ship it via UPS. I'm new at this and I'm totally confused as to what to do. Can anyone help please? Thanks

[mr_rockstar]

What about the case when a seller decides to use a courier without informing buyers on the Ebay ad?

[bettie6475]

This is so true!!! I recently bought a ring for $500.00 on ebay from the U.S. and it was delivered by UPS to Canada. The import charges were $130.00. Bettie 6475

[dav1337]

I dont know what you guys are smoking but i, and many i know, have ordered quite a few things from the US and never payed a dime in taxes. Maybe if you are ordering something worth alot of money or a bulk order which is for business but i have never heard of someone paying taxes on importing for private use.

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[allinfun2008]

Using UPS gaurantees not only fees but there outragious costoms charges.

[unsawed_saad]

I always make sure now that when I bid/buy and item from the states that shipping is done by USPS because that converts to CANADA POST which is a FREE service.

Last time I felt so stupid when the items i bought cost 25 bucks and the UPS guy was at my door asking for 40 bucks,.. what a rip!

Avoid DHL, UPS , FEDex and other couriers like the plague, also, make sure you confirm with your seller that he/she will be using USPS.

[blackchisel97]

trimble1993 I would suggest you self report your post which is in violation of Board Usage Policy, before someone else does.

The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.

[bettie6475]

Yes, this is so true!! I recently made an ebay purchase for $500.00 from the U.S. and was charged $130.00 in duty charges and taxes.
I have recently made another purchase from the U.S. and will be returning it.... does anybody know how I can get a duty charge and taxes REFUND? Help, Bettie 6475

[larrrzzz]

Wow! Thanks for posting this.

[ve3ega]

errr not always - mostly no tax/duty but I guess, depends on the item price and Customs Canada!

[rodney2007_2007]

well I had a unprofesional driver shoot his mouth off at me he was reported I wished he was fired from UPS anyhow still not been charged for the parcells I got every time the day runner sends me stuff they have only once charged me for the taxes and what ever LOL

[cwcai]

Yes, I know that kind of feeling, the friendly local UPS serviceman, good for nothing:^O