Please enlighten me on Canada Customs' new rule

[Fromspace]

Just got a call from FedEx and the dialogue went something like this:

FedEx: , "Hi, I'm calling from FedEx. You ordered some vitamins from the U.S. and want to get clearance from you."

Me: "Well, yes, fine, Yes, I ordered vitamins".

FedEx: "So you're OK with this, right?"

Me: "You're FexEx, not Canada Customs. Right?"

FedEx: "Yes, there is a new rule with Canada Customs. We phone you and you just have to tell me you ordered this."

Me: "Sure. Yea. Ok."

Thousands of other Canadians and I have ordered stuff from the U.S. before, dozens of times. We just get the stuff delivered and we see Canada Customs documents on the box or pkg. But today, a phone from the carrier getting authorizationÉ

Anybody has an inkling of what this change in procedure is about when ordering from the U.S.É One thing is sure: it`d seem that UPS, FedEx and others will have to make thousands of calls every day just to get the OK from addressees.

 

[blackrock13]

Obviously you were ordering very special vitamins and it set off alarm bells. Perhaps the sender or you are under their scrutiny. Tell us why you would order from the US. Are they that much a better buy. I pay $40 for 250 of a brand name multi at my local pharmacy.

 

[Fromspace]

Obviously you were ordering very special vitamins and it set off alarm bells. Perhaps the sender or you are under their scrutiny. Tell us why you would order from the US. Are they that much a better buy. I pay $40 for 250 of a brand name multi at my local pharmacy.

Thanks, blackrock13. Vitamins are not manufactured equally. Some vitamin suppliers, esp. in the U.S. have comparison charts that show that Brand X will have this vitamin or mineral at a certain content level (let`s say 5 mg.) , while Brand X will have the same vitamin or mineral at 50 mg. In this hypothetical example, you`re getting 45 mg more. Maybe this is offset by a `shortage`in another vitamin when comparing the two.

But my point is that, while you get what you pay for, that like every other product, brands vary in quality and quantity of the constituent elements making it up.

As to the scrutiny issue, these vitamins are what I`ve bought for many, many years. Nothing new, really. But don`t forget, the FedEx employee said this was a change in the rules. Hence my original question. But thanks for your observation.

 

[blackrock13]

Thanks, blackrock13. Vitamins are not manufactured equally. Some vitamin suppliers, esp. in the U.S. have comparison charts that show that Brand X will have this vitamin or mineral at a certain content level (let`s say 5 mg.) , while Brand X will have the same vitamin or mineral at 50 mg. In this hypothetical example, you`re getting 45 mg more. Maybe this is offset by a `shortage`in another vitamin when comparing the two.

But my point is that, while you get what you pay for, that like every other product, brands vary in quality and quantity of the constituent elements making it up.

As to the scrutiny issue, these vitamins are what I`ve bought for many, many years. Nothing new, really. But don`t forget, the FedEx employee said this was a change in the rules. Hence my original question. But thanks for your observation.

Fair enough on the vitamins. As for the new rules, I buy a fair amount of stuff form the US, 5 or 6 times a year and will wait to see what's done.

 

[wetnose]

I think it's to cover possible drug trafficking. If no such call was made and the shipment was intercepted, then someone could claim that they had made no such order and get away scot free.

 

[spraggamuffin]

Fedex also has to broker the item. You can also broker your own items off course.

But there is money to be made by the courier companies if they broker it for you.

Sometimes depending on the value of the item, it may not be worth your time to broker it yourself.

Fedex brokerage fees are not as bad as UPS though.

Whenever shipping crossborder always get them to ship USPS as much as is possible.

No brokerage fees and most of the times no duties.

I don't buy from sellers not willing to ship USPS.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Fedex also has to broker the item. You can also broker your own items off course.

But there is money to be made by the courier companies if they broker it for you.

Sometimes depending on the value of the item, it may not be worth your time to broker it yourself.

Fedex brokerage fees are not as bad as UPS though.

Whenever shipping crossborder always get them to ship USPS as much as is possible.

No brokerage fees and most of the times no duties.

I don't buy from sellers not willing to ship USPS.

Thanks for that info.

I ordered a supplement containing extract of Yew tree which came from Washington State via USPS (U.S. Postal Service for the uninitiated) and didn't pay any brokerage fees. I have paid brokerage fee on delivery before for cross-border purchases delivered by courier way in the past (can't recall for what).

Never had to pay a brokerage fee for books from Amazon.

How do you broker a shipment yourself if you need to? How do you know if brokerage fees apply (what extra paper work causes this)?

 

[spraggamuffin]

Thanks for that info.

I ordered a supplement containing extract of Yew tree which came from Washington State via USPS (U.S. Postal Service for the uninitiated) and didn't pay any brokerage fees. I have paid brokerage fee on delivery before for cross-border purchases delivered by courier way in the past (can't recall for what).

Never had to pay a brokerage fee for books from Amazon.

How do you broker a shipment yourself if you need to? How do you know if brokerage fees apply (what extra paper work causes this)?

I've never self cleared a package but got these info on the internet and over of red flag deals.

These links offer an interesting read.

http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/

http://doesitblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/international-shipping-into-canada/

Here is a link on places you can self clear without having to visit the actual point of entry.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/index1331-e.html#d1331

 

[Westender]

I order multiple times a year, and USPS is the way to go.

Due to volume, and contracts at the border, UPS, Fedex, and Purolator (among other major courier companies) must clear ALL shipments - which costs YOU money.

Anything arriving by mail generally falls into:
-value
-shipper
-content of package before being assessed for customs and duties (but no hard and fast rules apply - i got "dinged" over a $5.00 shipment)

If they assess the parcel, they may either open it and examine it, or go just by what the person puts on the customs declaration - encourage your shipper NOT to lie - it puts them and you on a "flagged" list for a while...

If assessed, you will have to pay the customs and duties PLUS a $5.00 (or more Canada Post handling charge) upon receipt of the package.

Generally smaller shipments tend to sail free, and even some surprisingly larger ones, but again if the person who gets it first is having a bad day - look out !!

Hope it helps.....

Steve

 

[GPIDEAL]

I order multiple times a year, and USPS is the way to go.

Due to volume, and contracts at the border, UPS, Fedex, and Purolator (among other major courier companies) must clear ALL shipments - which costs YOU money.

Anything arriving by mail generally falls into:
-value
-shipper
-content of package before being assessed for customs and duties (but no hard and fast rules apply - i got "dinged" over a $5.00 shipment)

If they assess the parcel, they may either open it and examine it, or go just by what the person puts on the customs declaration - encourage your shipper NOT to lie - it puts them and you on a "flagged" list for a while...

If assessed, you will have to pay the customs and duties PLUS a $5.00 (or more Canada Post handling charge) upon receipt of the package.

Generally smaller shipments tend to sail free, and even some surprisingly larger ones, but again if the person who gets it first is having a bad day - look out !!

Hope it helps.....

Steve

Thanks!

 

[fuji]

USPS is the way to go. UPS clearance fees are pure evil. I don't know why anyone ever uses them.

I have heard you can self clear, but I have never tried it. Seems like a hassle, it is easier just to use usps.