Has anyone bought anything on ebay from the USA??
Will i be charged duty on items

I n general Terms, yes....unless the shipper marks it as a 'gift'

Having said that, if the value of the item is less than $50.....you will probably get away with it. At least I have. The thing to avoid at ALL costs it to have it shipped to you per UPS...(.the Brown Uniformed Bandits)...they are costly and hit you with a Brokerage Fee....plus taxes etc.... Some vendors shipping fees (In the US) are extortionate...check them carefully before bidding. On many occasions you will find when all the costs are taken into account, any savings you may think you are making buying from the US, are wiped out...and some.

It is possible to come out ahead however you must be careful re shipping costs etc.

Buyer (or should I say 'bidder') beware.

Hi Colin. I have bought stuff from ebay vendors in the US numerous times and have never had to pay tax or duty when it's sent by US Postal Service to N.S. Having said that they have all been less than $50 or so. If you like you can have it sent to me here and I could bring it back for you when I return in April.

I was thinking of asking the vendor to mark it as a gift
Thanks for the heads up re UPS...I didn't know that

That's a good option Simon, as i dont need the item till summer anyway.I'll see what they say about the marking it as a gift.

Often it depends how its shipped.

Fed Ex and UPS (especially UPS) seem to charge every one the tax, and UPS have particularly expensive brokerage fees.

I wont buy from ebay unless its shipped by USPS. By the time it gets to canada quite often they dont collect the tax, and when they do they only tack on a $6 brokerage fee.

Worst example, $60 sax case sent by UPS, collected tax AND brokerage fee of $50!

Best example
$1500 tenor sax sent by USPS, no tax collected! (Saves ~$200)

There is a form of prepaid UPS shipping thats OK, you pay the tax, but the brokerage fee is minimal, but if you stuck to USPS only then you cant go too far wrong, but always get shipping cost and method up front.

Some vendors will mark as a gift, but many businesses wont, which is fair enough. Many sellers who say US only will actually ship to Canada if you ask.

OH won't bid on something if the only option is to have the item shipped UPS/Fed ex, you tend to pay as much in taxes and brockerage fees as the item you have bought.

As has been said USPS it's much cheaper!

Hi Colin,
i have bought lots of goods from China, Canada and the USA and the sellers have always marked gift and i have never paid duty on them.In saying that we are still in the UK and by all accounts anything can get thru our borders with little or no obstacles ask the 2 million + illegal aliens living here
Arty & Co

Do you play the sax?

What was the first clue?

How deliciously 1980s.

The music I like to play is more deliciously 1930-40s

Did you lose count at 2,000,000?

No, its just impractical to personally ask more than 2million isnt it? I mean. 2 minutes per person, that would be the next seven and a half years of your life spoken for, and that not taking pee breaks and sleep into account at all

I need a Pee




QUOTE=iaink;8368055]No, its just impractical to personally ask more than 2million isnt it? I mean. 2 minutes per person, that would be the next seven and a half years of your life spoken for, and that not taking pee breaks and sleep into account at all[/QUOTE]

They're just illegals, surely one can pee in front of them without taking a break.