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

[rebelee69]

I did not ask if I could use a branch office I'm in Winnipeg so the main depot was not really that far so I just went there no questions.

[acervartan]

and YOU use TOO many CAPLOCKED text. Thanks for the pretentious and condescending note. Simple message to Canadian buyers: Don't other buying form the US, you always get gouged on shipping fees ($12 bucks to ship a DVD when it actually costs $2) plus it takes a lot longer. Buy from within the country if at all possible.

[905shahram31]

Hi everybody:
How can I buy three items from one seller. What should I do? Buy it one by one seperate or there is another way to do it. ( to reduce shipping cost).

Thanks

[bump2k]

Email the seller and ask if they will consolidate shipping.

Next time start your own question thread instead of tacking your question on to a non-related discussion or information thread.

[playsonor]

UPS will charge ridiculous amounts in brokerage fees for items from the US. I won't buy from anyone who ships with them. USPS is the best. I buy a lot of drum gear and if it's used I have that put on the shipping info.. less or no duties/taxes on used items

[canuckchat]

Importing an item with a value over $20 CDN will be subject to 5% gst and your local provincial PST ... even if it is used ...

[michele20050_18]

Here's my newbie opinion on this. Half the time you get the product at under it's actual value, so if I pay a little more on shipping I'm still on top....in most cases.
I received 4 packages up to date (3 smart sellers put for research purposes)I paid 17.50 taxes on the 4th package...hmmmm.
All in all it comes out about even...no complaints so far....even from as far as China.

[canuckchat]

exactly... not all items will get stopped and have taxes added....

[mxrl]

re US purchases,I have not had to pay extra taxes on the more than 20 items purchased from the US.There is a connection between the shipping charges and the item.The shipping charges are an outrage and should be boycotted.for example look at solar lights some are $12.99 with a US$75.00 shipping charge and the seller is here in Canada? Whay are all purchases in US dollars even if bought from a canadian? Why is it called eBAy.ca? there is no canadian connection at all.

[canuckchat]

.. thats a wee bit off topic...

[bemilez]

I was never charged with any ups fee,. I think that has to do with my purchase. i never buy elctronics, just plain old lip gloss/makeup. Most of my seller ship with 1.usps
2.first mail intl
3.standard flat rate intl

last time i was looking at a lipgloss, the seller is in canada, had the shipping charge for 12.00us. the ebay.ca is the revised american version: shipping charges changed, currency converted-not that it matters, when I pay through paypal, it's always more than ebay indicated. that's about it.

[canuckchat]

If item value is less than $20 cdn, there would be no tax due on the item

[kittencommunism]

I'd like to ask a very specific question;

If I buy a videogame (which is light and doesnt take much space) that I won for a 5 dollars bid, and that is used, how much would I have to pay in the worst case scenario?

I'm simply wondering if I'm actually going to be charged heavily for small and unexpensive items such as videogame cartbridges and disks. Anyone knows?

[canuckchat]

nothing - its way under the $20 limit

[jlbr21808]

I definately made a bidding mistake my first day on here, it is certainly important to keep all the hidden fees in mind. Canadians NEED to pay attention and READ CAREFULLY. Thank you very much for this post, very helpful:8}

[smorgdonkey]

I agree that people should know what they are doing prior to buying...HOWEVER...sellers should know that if they use FedEx, then all the receiver has to do is NOT PAY and the seller will be on the hook for the money.

I found this out after getting an item that was shipped FedEx. The seller was ASSURED by FedEx that all costs were covered yet when I got the item a bill followed two weeks later saying that I owed $114. I called and spoke to a bunch of people...I asked 'what happens if I don't pay it?' and the customer service rep said the seller will be billed.

Of course I didn't stick the seller with the bill because I have a high ethical code but I did explain the situation and the claims made by FedEx at the origin of shipping and had the brokerage portion dropped. I still had to pay taxes. I only got to that point after many phone calls.

Furthermore, if the receiver sees the extra fees and refuses it then the seller has already paid shipping once and will be on the hook for the return shipping also having the risk of something happening in transit to their item...all the while a PayPal claim has been likely initiated on the buyer's end.

Just an FYI

[canuckchat]

... you'd have to pay taxes no matter how it was shipped... ALWAYS be prepared to pay the appropriate PST and GST ...

[canuckaloo]

all the while a PayPal claim has been likely initiated on the buyer's end.

according to one person here, paypal considers a package to have been delivered if tracking shows it's been refused, so a paypal claim for item not received would fail.

[tulameen15]

Canuckchat and dexmor are quite correct about couriers charging a brokerage fee which drives up the cost of your purchase. However there is a simple way to avoid paying these fees which both have omitted passing on.

Most of my experience has been with items being sent by UPS so I will deal with them. When the item arrives at their bonded warehouse, you will invariably be contacted and asked if you want the item delivered to you. The purchaser will almost always say “Yes” and that is the wrong answer. UPS will be pleased to deliver the item and charge you their brokerage fee plus any applicable Customs charges.

To avoid their brokerage fees and, in some instances, the charges by Canada Customs, you should be telling UPS that you will be clearing the item through Customs yourself. The procedure is very simple. Pick up the paperwork from their office; go to the Canada Customs and tell them it is for personal use (which is true). Customs may or may not charge duty, PST and GST dependent upon the value of the item.

I have always used the above procedure and have never paid a brokerage fee in years.

However, if you live near the Canada/U.S border, there is a simpler way to address the issue of brokerage fees. I live in the Vancouver area and use Mailboxes International in Blaine, WA as my delivery address.

When a parcel arrives, they contact me; I pick up the package and bring it back myself. Depending on the value, Customs may or may not bother with Duty, PST or GST. In addition, the shipping charges are considerably lower within the U.S.

And there is a bonus also…..if you gas up while across the border, you will save usually $1.25 to $1.40/US gallon. Currently, 4 liters costs $5.50 and 1 US gal is $4.10 for almost the identical volume.

[canuckchat]

When the item arrives at their bonded warehouse, you will invariably be contacted and asked if you want the item delivered to you

I have never - not once - in perhaps some 20 years now of receiving incoming items via courier service from the USA - ever been "contacted" and "asked" if I want the item delivered.

Ergo - there is the first hitch in your scheme of things.

BOTTOM LINE: Have item shipped via POSTAL SERVICE only...