e-bay purchases
- Thread starter r2d2
- Start date
There is a chance, depending on the value of the item. I buy things regularly and most times I don't get charged. A few occasions you will be charged a handling fee $5.00 and taxes (prov and fed) on the declared or estimated value. It's seems to be by chance, but I suspect they flag certain addresses that get lots of incoming packages.
So long as you are bringing things in by mail the chances are about 50/50 of it getting tagged. Generally it will be the GST and a handling fee.
If the seller ships by UPS or FedEx or some other courier, count on a hefty service charge and GST and depending on the item and value possibly duty as well
If the seller ships by UPS or FedEx or some other courier, count on a hefty service charge and GST and depending on the item and value possibly duty as well
I had the same experience as maveriiick. Usually if it's less than $20 you don't get charged but I've also had much more expensive items come in no charge as well. This is only for items shipped United States Postal Service/Canada Post. If an item is being shipped by courier (UPS, Fedex, etc.) it will be brokered and you will pay the tax plus a hefty brokerage fee. Learned the hard way when the fees were more than the item I bought.
I got hit with a $40 customs fee + a $25 brokerage fee on one item. Everything else was without extra fees.
Compromised said:
Don't use a courier. Have it sent regular postal mail and this SCAM won't happen. The custom/broker fee thing is ridiculous--they pay a guy to carry you package 50 feet across the border, for which you get charged this huge fee, OR send it postal mail and skip this whole thing.
I've bought TONS of items from ebay... (over 40 items)... and this is what I noticed. If the other person sends it by UPS, you have to pay money to get your item. If they send it by USPS... you NEVER have to pay money to get your item.
So now, I ALWAYS tell the other person to send it USPS. I've never had to pay anything additional money since then.....
Hope this helps.....
So now, I ALWAYS tell the other person to send it USPS. I've never had to pay anything additional money since then.....
Hope this helps.....
I've always sent it UPS and went across the border to collect it. Get the insurance and avoid the brokerage charge. Helps if you stay close to the border though. 
Hey, do we ever wonder why Canada tags the lowest cost items for duty, while when the same items going into the USA are duty free upwards of $200 USD, sometimes even more! Why can't I bring in the same to Canada?
In fact US Citizens can bring in $800.00 over the US border (to the US) every 30 days! I think Canada is making a mistake with these taxes and duties on items worth nothing!! Disgusting!!
Gyaos
In fact US Citizens can bring in $800.00 over the US border (to the US) every 30 days! I think Canada is making a mistake with these taxes and duties on items worth nothing!! Disgusting!!
Gyaos
I have brought in over 50 items and have been charged by the Post Office 3 times (Seemed entirely random). Even then, i think the charge was $5 + GST or something similar. Once, they charged me on the actual value rather than what i paid. I had to mail the government to get the difference back if i remember.
Gyaos said:
Probably because a) the US marketplace is so vast that there are little or few items in Canada that are cheaper and b) the relative few items going south don't impact the market much at all and c) you have to ask why our government is so fucking greedy? We're one of the highest taxed population on the planet so it goes to figure they won't give us much in the way of breaks in any area.
With all that being said I have only paid duty on 1 item out of about 25 I purchased on ebay out of the US.
BTW: I highly reccommend that you only purchase items from vendors that will ship via USPS. ALL the couriers will hit you with a big brokerage fee whether there are duties due or not.
DistantVoyeur said:I've always sent it UPS and went across the border to collect it. Get the insurance and avoid the brokerage charge. Helps if you stay close to the border though.
Only problem with this is that you have to declare it when you cross the border back into Canada. If you weren't over there longer than 24 hrs you'll HAVE to pay duty on the item (if the custom's agent is sticking to the rules). If you don't declare it and get inspected, they may even confiscate/charge you with making a false declaration. Not worth the hassle IMHO....just send it USPS and have it delivered to your home......
Not to resurrect a dead thread or anything but I just had a miracle happen:
I received a package from the US, purchased on Ebay, and it arrived with NO BROKERAGE FEE ATTACHED!!!
This isn't to say I might not receive an invoice at a later date, but the package was delivered and I didn't have to pay (and there was no invoice attached to it).
I received a package from the US, purchased on Ebay, and it arrived with NO BROKERAGE FEE ATTACHED!!!
This isn't to say I might not receive an invoice at a later date, but the package was delivered and I didn't have to pay (and there was no invoice attached to it).
bavarian said:
I agree and in the past, have always been socked with a brokerage fee. That's why I posted that this time, no brokerage fee....Maybe they are changing their tune due to lost revenue by less shipments?
