Hey Guys,

I'm wondering if anyone has some tips of avoiding Canadian duty charges when having products shipped from the US. I've been hit hard by duty fee's on my last two puchases:

JWT Pop Charger - 115.00 - duty charges = 43.00

Blitz Spoiler - 350.00 - duty charges = 58.00

 

There is no way to avoid the duty unless the part is manufactured in the USA or Mexico. There should be no duty on parts manufactured in these countries. I have seen some companies writing made in USA even if it is not on the customs declaration, what if they get caught.

 

I assume you're duty costs include custom brokerage fees?

UPS if famous for customs brokerage fees. Review the breakdown of what you paid - I bet the majority was a brokerage fee charged by UPS.

You're better to use USPS for shipping. They charge little if no brokerage fees at the border.

 

^Very true, your $101 total "duty" is mostly brokerage. I'd estimate that only $20 is duty, rest is brokerage.

If you have your own merchandising company, you could set up brokerage accounts with shipping companies to get cheaper brokerage. The difference is marginal...

 

 

I also have everything shipped USPS because UPS and Fedex are just insane. I don't understand how they think they can charge that stupid fee. They have you by the ***** though because your stuff is at the door and they are asking for 58 bux to give it to you which is total ********. If you dont pay they send it back and your screwed.

I have complained bitterly at UPS a number of time about this issue and now I basically refuse to buy anything shipped by UPS. They it can't be shipped USPS i tell the seller to return my money and they need to find somebody better than UPS to deal with, period.

The only people UPS is good for is people in the US shipping to people in the US. Other then that they are total scam artists, really a huge **** off.

 

Here's all you need to know about shipping stuff from US to Canada across the boarder.

1. Use only USPS to ship.
2. Declare item as "GIFT"
3. Declare item value to be $60 CAD or less.

This way, most of the time you won't have to pay anything, not even GST or PST.

Of course, if your package is missing or damaged, the USPS insurance will only pay you back $60 CAD or less (your declared value).

 

Make a 'fake' kijji ad in buffalo for the item you're going to pick up across the border (have it sent to a p.o box service)
Mark down the price in the ad so that if you do get charged duties, they aren't as steep

BTW I havent actually attemped this

 

i've read that you can tell UPS / or the company you're buying from to mark the package that you will take care of paying duty yourself.

that way you don't have to pay their brokerage fee. down side is you have to head out to pay the duty yourself. but i think it's worth it

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/f...ees/steps.html

i forgot where you'd actually go to clear customs yourself.

 

Depending on how far from the border you live, you could take a leisurely drive
to the U.S., buy & install a few items, then drive back with them installed.

 

Thanks for all your tips and suggestions. Looks like I'm going to avoid using UPS.

I've attached the CBSA Postal Import form breakdown for my blitz spoiler:

Value of duty(CAN): 263.68
DUTY: 11.87
GST/HST/TPS/TVH: 13.78
PST - TVP: 22.04
Handling fee: 8.00

Total: 55.69

CAN. Border Bast@rds must be making a killing.

 

well said, i just got an email from ups for 57$ for a stupid shift **** that was like 125$ only

rape??

 

BTW, you can take care of the the duty/brokerage fee by yourself at Canada Post.... FOR FREE!!!! Just tell UPS to old your package and go to Canada Post with the package details and Canada Post will process it, then go pick up your package at UPS and tell them to... well you know what

This is why if you use USPS you don't get charge for those as Canada Post do it for free for you.

 

Anything made in the US should be free of duty under NAFTA. Fedex and UPS are raping everyone because it's so convenient to use them. I would have it shipped to the border and clear it yourself. Much cheaper to do it that way. Just be sure to have the shipper/vendor type something about the country of origin or manufacturer to prove that it was made in the North American continent.

 

Sorry to bring up this old thread I just sold someone in Calgary my exhaust. Wondering beside Canada Post to ship it, which other companies in Canada like FEDEX or UPS in the US? I will be crossing the Rainbow bridge to ship it. Thanks.

 

Patrick, Canada post is the cheapest. I have a venture one card to save on some shipping costs that you can use...

For the rest of the guys, if you want to avoid duty / brokerage just buy your parts from Canada. There are lots of vendors around that sell at prices competitive to the US.

I'm one and I know many others in the GTA of guys who bring in their own gear. Also, JRP sometimes surprises dudes when they have their sales on.

 

Thanks for the offer Bing. There is a Canada Post right next to the falls. I won't have enough time to drive to St. Catherine. Got 2 guys just quit at my restaurant and I'm working 7 days

 

well i dont live in St. Catharines anymore, i'm much further

however, i pass through Niagara Falls on my way into the US every weekend, including this saturday...

alternatively, you can say you forgot your card and i'll just give you my venture one number, they can manually enter it.

send me a note over FB and i'll give it to you.

 

Could have bought my JWT for 70

 

Avoiod buying from seller shipping via UPS. Their handling fee is way out of line.

USPS/Canada Post handling charge is $8 plus HST. Canada Post is slow.

FedEx handling charge is $10 plus HST. They are 5-10 days faster than USPS/CP.