@goclunker wrote:
1.) No it isn't. There's more to clearing an item through customs than collecting taxes and duties due.
WRONG. ACTUALLY, THATS ALL THERE IS.
The GSP terms and conditions page for buyers gives some hints as to where the program's "import charges" may go besides taxes/duty:
[the] Program Fee consists of charges associated with the customs service described above and is comprised of the following variable amounts: sales, goods and services, and value added taxes, duties, tariffs, excise taxes, and other amounts assessed or levied by any government authority in connection with the importation of goods into the applicable country of importation (but excluding income taxes) ("Commodity taxes"); third party brokerage fees (including advancement and disbursement charges and customs brokers handling and filing fees); penalties (but excluding any customs duties, taxes, surcharges, fines, penalties, or other charges which may be imposed on you by customs or tax officials after a GSP Item has successfully cleared customs and been delivered to, or made available for pickup at, the delivery address that you specify); classification charges associated with the assignment of a Harmonized System ("HS") classification code; charges for export compliance screening and verification and the assignment of an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN); and operational expenses associated with short-term loss recovery and the management of variances between the quoted Import charges and actual costs.
I'm not arguing that these charges are necessarily justified. I'm just saying that there's more to processing a personal import than dinging it for taxes and duty.
Again, No there isn't. Taxes and customs are between the importer and the government. If you sign away your rights, thats your problem.
@goclunker wrote:
2.) Tell that to the likes of FedEx and UPS. Commercial carriers are responsible for seeing that taxes and duty get collected, not CBSA.
WRONG. You don't even know the laws of the country you reside in!!! That makes me LAUGH.
FedEx and UPS are NOT responsible for taxes and duties, the importer, you know, the person importing the item is.
This is why, you have the free option to take your delivery invoice to the CBSA office and pay the duty and taxes YOURSELF, because it i YOUR NAME listed as the importer. You can then take your PAID RECIEPT OF IMPORT TAX AND DUTY and fax it to fedex and ups, and they have to release your item for delivery or pick up. SIMPLE AS THAT, and YES, THAT IS HOW I GET AROUND "Brokrage fees" imposed on top of duty by fedex and ups. I PAY THE DUTY DUE TO THE GOV, THE SHIPPING, BUT I WILL NOT PAY FOR AIR "brokrage fees" and GSP is one of those pay for air programs.
I didn't say that FedEx and UPS were responsible for taxes and duties. I said they were responsible for collecting them.
When you buy something from a store, the retailer collects sales tax from you when you make your purchase. It doesn't mean they get to keep the money. They're also charged with remitting that tax you paid.
With a commercial shipment, the taxes are actually often advanced by the carrier or its agent and the importer pays the carrier back later or at the time of delivery. That's how it worked with a FedEx Ground shipment I received from the US a few years ago, anyway, as I lived in a remote location that was nowhere near a CBSA office.
In the case of a GSP shipment, you're actually agreeing to let Pitney Bowes (the GSP administrator) act as the importer of record on your behalf. I'm not saying that there may be some legal questions surrounding granting it power of attorney in such a manner, but the process is described in the terms and conditions. In other words, it is what it is. You've got a link to the T&C. You can find the relevant information if you're truly interested in this.
What are you talking about??? Do you even understand how customs work??
Fed EX and UPS have Customs agents working in their HOLDING WAREHOUSES. FedEX and UPS DO NOT determine your customs, Canada customs agents do. You as the importer are responsible for tax and duty. The only time you are not is when you sign on a delivery, and if you read the fine print, you THEN transfer those rights to the courier. If the package is not signed for and delivered it is YOUR responsibility NOT the courier. Again, you don't understand the system.
@goclunker wrote:
3.) I think you're trying to allude to the fact that items sent through the mail are assessed and charged taxes and duty through a method commonly referred to as "the luck of the draw". Fair enough. I've just been trying to say that that method isn't used by any other shipping method, be it UPS, FedEx or the GSP. It is what it is. That's all.
Poor poor uneducated canadian. Its not "luck of the draw", its" is it worthwhile". If Customs agents had to open every $20 package, they would miss all the $100 + items, which , are what brings the government PROFIT. $100+ packages get DINGED FOR CUSTOMS 99% of the time, because they bring in PROFIT.
Actually, if you believe some of the other posts on this subject, it would seem that postal imports valued at much more than C$100 can sometimes escape being hit with a tax bill. If that's not "luck of the draw" I don't know what is.
Actually, the one percent "escaping" doesn't affect the 99% being processed. Again, what point are you trying to make? The fact that you are clueless but still trying to make an opition with your lack of understanding and facts, or the fact that you are a sheep following Pitney Bowes and courier policies blindly?
Courier packages get charged duty and customs, 100% of the time.
Canada post has a 1% slip rate.
By all means, quote some more pitney bowes policies, im sure there are other sheep who will believe them too, happy overpaying.
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