Duties....ect...

[LPD]

Question for you fellow Canucks....how do I beat this duty and customs fees for items from the US?

If I reduce the value of the item, I am screwed for insurance purposes. Any ideas here?

[opt80]

LPD,
If the sender marks gift,uses lots of tape and doesn't write fragile,this side up and crap like that on the box it usually gets through customs unscathed.

My sister,on my parents side of the family,orders a lot of jewelry,she gets dinged about 30CDN custom fees on each box.

I've been lucky,I got charged once,out of maybe 10 transactions

Good Luck

Alan

[Mark B]

The duties are a pain - unfortunately I don't think you can have it both ways.

[LPD]

Well I guess its the price I will have to pay. :cry:

[luvvinvinyl]

For the sake of precision, what usually gets charged on our side of the border is not duty, at least on audio gear, but, rather, sales tax(es). Here, in Ontario, 7% GST(federal) and 8% PST (Ontario). You can reduce the hit, by choosing your carrier carefully, and getting cooperation from your seller. As Grumpy pointed out to me, UPS charges $20US for preparing customs documents, on top of the actual freight. FedEx, last time I used it, charged $14.95 for collecting and forwarding taxes. Canada Post, $5.95.

Even if you carry an item across the border, you never know. I brought a receiver, and some rod blanks (Thanks, gyusher, the rods are coming along!) across, and the officer waved me through. Savings, about $80 in taxes. Next time, rotten bastid pulled me over at rush hour and sent me in to pay taxes on $115, about $17.25. Ya just can't figure 'em out. I'm still ahead, at the border, FWIW.

Anyway, check your options.

[grumpy]

While some like to "get over" on the "man" Its not the smartest asking how to do it public where you can easily be traced.

[LPD]

Bring it on!!!! They'll never catch me!!!! :banana: Actually I bit the bullet and paid the damn fees, but geesh is the Canadian government really @#$#@%@#$ us!!!!

[grumpy]

Honestly I don't care if they catch you but helping people to commit crimes ( yes it is a crime ) can lead to legal problems for this site which has several names including mine listed as owners. As if we didn't have enough problems already...

[luvvinvinyl]

Just for the record (Grumpy, I want you to stay out of trouble) one is required to make a declaration of any items one is bringing into Canada. There is NO requirement that Canada Customs collect every cent owing to the Canadian government. The officer may, at his discretion, wave one through, waiving the payment of any fees. If the amount waived is 'substantial', and the officer gets caught, that officer may face disciplinary action, which is of little concern to the 'waivee'.

I don't advocate the withholding of information, nor the filing of false declarations. If one does this, Canada Customs may sieze any and all goods in the shipment in question. Even, or, especially, goods in your car! :yikes:

Now, do these improper declarations occur? You betcha! Is there risk? Likewise. Get caught, lose your gear. Not a pretty picture.

BTW, one assumes the requirement is the same going in your direction, into the good old U.S. of A., as well.

[LPD]

I'm not asking for how I can illegally beat the customs charges, but it does interest me how with some items shipped to me I get no fees and with others astronomical ones? Doesn't make any sense to me. In fact I've bought expensive audio gear and wasn't charged anything for customs and then on a pair of trials boots I was dinged $100.00!!! There is no rhyme to the reason.

I was just enquiring as to if there were any "loopholes" or reasons I don't get charged the fees always. If your that concerned about the nature of my question delete the thread. I didn't post it to ask for illegal tips, just answers to the inconsistancy.

[luvvinvinyl]

There doesn't seem to be any answer, other than "It's a 'phase of the moon' thing". No rhyme, certainly no reason. Maybe it has to do with the job satisfaction of the clerk processing your entry. Or lack of same? No easier way to clear a backlogged desk than to stamp "Cleared-Canada Customs" on a BIG stack of papers. :D

[luvvinvinyl]

In theory, every item should have sales tax(es) collected, and duty, if applicable. It just doesn't always work out that way. Ya can't figure folks!

[grumpy]

LPD

I apologize then. I misunderstood you post.

[LPD]

No offence taken, just mad at the Canadian government!!!

Cheers

Peter

[luvvinvinyl]

Go to the end of that VERY LONG LINE, Peter. Wave to me as you pass. :wave:

We can both give Martin this... :finger: