I have bought alot from Canada.. on and off of ebay... never paid any attention to customs and never once got charged fees. So I have not thought to do anything to protect myself from paying said fees....

Now I have two large purchases coming from Canada... both according to tracking have left Canada already... Now I am starting to worry about Customs fees...

I feel stupid, but what am I in for? Shipping from Canada to the USA....

And also... how are they treating packages in customs these days?

Custom fees? I never thought about or had to pay custom fees from Canada or anywhere else for that matter (Hong Kong, China, Jamaica, etc.)

Please explain Spud.. very curious... will I receive some huge bill one day?

Johnny

I have never ever had to pay even one dime of customs fees... despite tens of thousands of dollars worth of shipments all over the globe....

But I don't know why.... The fees are out there... I just never get charged.... Alot of things are marked "gift" alot are not marked gift either, but these shipments are not I think (but I don't know)... and now I am worried all of a sudden...

Well makes good sense I guess to be worried.. Thats alot of $$$, I just thought the fees were built into shipping.

Guess not

Johnny

You only pay usa customs if you live in the usa.
You dont pay other countries customs.???!!
Also if its new or used or gift.
But dont expect to pay nothing just because its marked gift.

If its sent out of the usa there is no usa customs fee.

In germany usually you have to pay 19% sales tax + 3% customs if you buy from somewhere out of EU.
It helps to declare it as a gift, but they are not dumb. If you recieve lots of stuff maybe they take a closer look. It´s not working to lower the price, because if your parcel is in customs they want you to bring a paypal bill or bank transfer printout to prove buying price.

If you use FedEx you can pay tax on your door.

UPS charges Canadians OUTRAGEOUS prices for brokerage fees & taxes for goods received from the States, however i'm not sure if the same applies from Canada to the States...so if your packages were shipped by UPS be prepared that you might have to pay for your packages when the brown truck pulls up in front of your house

If your packages were sent by Canada Post you should be fine and not have to worry about brokerage fees and taxes.

-gsbadbmr

Both packages were sent via Canada Post....

So that is the good news.

Oh, and I found out both were marked as gifts.

More good news.

But both were insured for ALOT. But for good reason....

71spud, i have never been charged any taxes/fees from USPS/Canada Post so you should be fine .

If your packages are "audio" related don't forget to post pics .

-gsbadbmr

Yes they are audio related....



~ahem~ (M90) ~ahem~

I don't know if it works there, but a good trick I've seen used in the past is to make sure the package description has "SERVICE RETURN" on it.

Basically meaning you sent it somewhere to be fixed and it's being sent back to you. They can't tax the same item twice so it avoids all taxes/duties. If something's secondhand then it should be exempt regardless.

Worth a try anyway.



Rock On.

quote:

Originally posted by 71spud:
Yes they are audio related....



~ahem~ (M90) ~ahem~

Sweet! Looking forward to the pics!

-gsbadbmr

i have never been charged any customs for anything i have bought online.
event he packages that have been opened at the border.
dont know why and i am not going to call them to ask why they didnt charge me.
it really does pizz me off tho.
that we have something called free trade,but thats only for the big people.

It is close to xmas they most likely will think it's a gift anyway.

Just an update.... both packages arrived from Canada... both were marked "gift"... both were insured for $1000 or more...

.... and both arrived duty-free. Yay!!!

before long --some member clown here will surely ask --
"how do they sound?"

in the u.k , gift or no gift, with a declared value over £40 they smash the crap out of you import tax wise . .

quote:

Originally posted by 71spud:
Just an update.... both packages arrived from Canada... both were marked "gift"... both were insured for $1000 or more...

.... and both arrived duty-free. Yay!!!

WE WANT PICS

-gsbadbmr

pile of crap

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
pile of crap

Thread killer....

ok -- back to the topic

i think --if you dont have a multiple shipment or you dont have it sent to a business address (in the USA) -- we are in the clear

quote:

Originally posted by 71spud:

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
pile of crap

Thread killer....

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
ok -- back to the topic

i think --if you dont havbe a multiple shipment or you dont have it sent to a business address (in the USA) -- we are in the clear

Hey Ira - I just added your home address to the Thomas Registry... you are now listed as an importer/exporter of electronics. Kiss duty free shipping goodbye!

(Oh I also alerted Homeland Security to your suspected activities.... but I guess ~that~ threat is only good for the next month or so)

*mumble* that will teach him to call my goodies *crap*..... *mumble, mumble....*

i just deleted my thank you note

Is that what you left on my doorstep? It was on fire so I stomped it out... I wish I would have known!