eBay

canuckchat · ‎11-23-2006

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

canuckchat · ‎03-21-2008

Still waiting on the link to where the import amount has changed ...

And buyers - KNOW what shipment method your seller is using!

Do NOT confuse USPS with UPS: United States Postal Service means the POST OFFICE; United Parcel Service means COURIER SERVICE (i.e. brokerage charges)

bangmeplz · ‎03-23-2008

If I was to purchase an item (USB to Serail Port Adapter Item number: 380009078998), valued at less than $20, from a seller in the United States, and have it shipped via USPS to British Columbia, would I still have to pay a brokerage fee, or does the brokerage fee not apply to items under $20 in value?

zen.harmony · ‎03-23-2008

Since the item is under the $20 limit, there are no customs fees so there are no brokerage fees.

bangmeplz · ‎03-23-2008

Thanks Zen

I am probably gonna get a Serial Port PCI Card instead of the Adapters, but the price is similar, so answer would still apply.

Now .... Just to elaborate a little, if that same item was sent Courier, would there still be no brokerage fees? Even if sent by the Evil UPS Company?

kishytech · ‎03-23-2008

I (Canadian) bought a laptop (from USA)...it was marked as gift with the intent of the seller to prevent any additional fees. Sent through postal mail, $60 S&H fee.

Still had a $15 Canada Post "Cash on Delivery" fee...I have no idea what it was but I believe it was a duty. The seller promptly paid me back the 15 bucks via PayPal. I know they didn't have to, and I greatly appreciate it being done, 'mochalus'.

I agree...this is an important point to note. Not everyone will be as lucky as me. Someone buying a particularly large, expensive item could get hit really hard with unexpected fees.

canuckchat · ‎03-24-2008

GST & PSt most likely - they didn't believe it was a gift ...

aayala555 · ‎03-28-2008

ok so basically if ur canadian buying from america UPS is bad and USPS is good,,, and canada post is good throughout canada?

canuckchat · ‎03-28-2008

Yes

genhas5kids · ‎03-28-2008

Ive never had to pay brokerage or duties or taxes for an item coming via usps as long as it was under 60$ ups i did once had to pay 28$ for something i paid 25$ if i remember correctly. Ill never pay for courrier service again unless i plan to take the time to go to the custom office and pay the brokerage duties and taxes myself.

canuckchat · ‎03-29-2008

If you receive a gift from a relative or friend via UPS and it is under $60, then there would most likely be no charge on that item.

rtron2005 · ‎03-29-2008

Let’s face it, We buy on EBay because we like a deal, with costs sky-rocketing, it is very satisfying to purchase something for less than retail.
The problem is we are limited with the number of sellers in Canada as compared to USA.
So more often than not we are forced to make the purchase from the States
#1….Never, Never, Use a courier, UPS especially…. Always use USPS
#2 ….Communicate with your seller, ask them to be honest with the values being declared for customs
Example: You win an auction at $10 for a $200 dollar item ask the seller to please declare the value at which you pay, otherwise our Great Country of Canada will charge us duties and taxes on $200 plus shipping.
Most US sellers are pretty cool, but there are some that feel it is their duty to charge us double shipping costs and are generally unsympathic to our situation at customs…Stay away from these sellers
It’s as simple as that
When I have a good transaction with an American seller, I let Canadian buyers know by adding (Canada friendly) in the feedback. So if you see this feel safe with this seller

wincy99 · ‎04-01-2008

You are dead on! Thanks, I needed the reminder, that I am buying internationaly and am a big boy, and should know the rules.. WHere are all the Canadians? why cant they sell on E-bay and get rid of this problem,, Thanks. CARL

canuckchat · ‎04-01-2008

... not all items are available in Canada ... and not all items are available as cheaply in Canada as in the USA ... unfortunately..

bump2k · ‎04-01-2008

You can search locally - check the left side of your screen in advanced search.

canuckchat · ‎04-02-2008

no kidding.. and i'm sure that MOST people do that.. however, like i said... NOT ALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE IN CANADA ....

rtron2005 · ‎04-02-2008

Yep,you can do a search so many klms from your location,
Also there is a free site sponsored by ebay...kijiji .ca
which will gives you access to local sellers and you can also sell stuff for free.
Also you may have heard of www.usedottawa.com which is in my area but they have sister sites across canada like usedtoronto.com etc...which are very good for local buying and selling.

But back to the subject of us and canada
Our government does not want us to spent our money elsewhere that is why we have the heavy penalties as duties and limits etc...
they are acting to protect big business here

but who protects us from the high prices (sometimes double for the same product as in the states) that the retailers charge us
A lot of people have noticed this lately when the dollar was at par

why is a vehicle made in Canada sold for less in the states?

I have seen a product MADE in quebec sell for $25 in Canada. but the same product sold for $10 in Florida?
And in florida it was marked made in Canada?

I would like to know where is the free trade that we are supposed to have ?
is it just for big business to manufacture their goods in mexico, paying mexicans $5 a day and then not paying any penalties to ship it back to Canada.

Why are we the tax payers given a hard time if we want to buy some used nick-nack on ebay?

bump2k · ‎04-02-2008

Total amount of purchases I've made on ebay? A LOT. Total amount of duties and taxes including Canada Post brokerage fees paid so far? $60. SIXTY DOLLARS. I'm still ahead of the game.

cool_purple_dude · ‎04-02-2008

There are only so many things one can find in Canada. Some items are just simply not sold in this country.

rebelee69 · ‎04-21-2008

Hi there I have some info that some might find useful for UPS purchases.
UPS will allow you to clear your own package thereby saving a heck of a bundle on Brokerage fee's, which if you live anywhere near a UPS depot is a heck of a savings. I think it is like some sort of secret at UPS because it took two days and about 10 phone calls to get this info. out of them when I was chasing a package that they were going to charge me $85.00 to get in to Canada!
I was told that as soon as you have the tracking number call UPS Canada and make sure they know you intend to clear your own package and sure enough it worked like a charm - my bill was just $12.00 for tax instead of $85.00

What you need to tell the seller to do is mark in the special instructions " Clears Own " - it means you act as your own broker.
When the package gets to Canada you have to get down to the UPS depot to sign the package into Canada - basically you are confirming as a broker would that what is stated as being in the package is what is in the package.
I have never had FedEx or DHL so I don't know if that option is available there or not anyone else know ?