Import Duty when buying from eBay
Feb 4th 2015 | 7:55 am
#16
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Import Duty when buying from eBay
We only ever pay FedEx a $7 handling fee to do the import. UPS is another story.
But then as couriers are a business, profit is what it is about. Every business is looking to add profit and find new ways to make a buck. When a coffee company can get away with $5-6 for a hot drink that takes no more than a few minutes to make, that to me is profiteering!
But then as couriers are a business, profit is what it is about. Every business is looking to add profit and find new ways to make a buck. When a coffee company can get away with $5-6 for a hot drink that takes no more than a few minutes to make, that to me is profiteering!
Feb 4th 2015 | 8:00 am
#17
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Import Duty when buying from eBay
When shipped parcel post out of the UK, most will get picked up for import fees, Canada Post charge $10, small packet seems to be random, however if picked up, still a $10 fee from CP. All the errors on import we get are when Canada Post are involved and CBSA do the import assessment. I have lost track of how many time we have to apply for refunds for PST incorrectly applied or the wrong commodity code used and duty improperly applied.
Feb 4th 2015 | 8:05 am
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Import Duty when buying from eBay
Choose a seller who uses USPS (for items from the USA), Royal Mail (for items from the UK) or the equivalent national postal services from other countries, who link with CanadaPost and I would suggest that you are very unlikely to pay any duties or handling charges, unless your parcel comes from 'a country that is connected with drugs trafficking' etc...
I have yet to have any CanadaPost parcels intercepted and have duties or fees charged. That's over 30 parcels in 15 months. I guess it depends on which incoming Mail Centre your parcels come through, but it certainly seems to be the case for Vancouver. It wasn't just small things either - one parcel was a car part sent from the USA that was 4 feet long in a large box with a customs form and commercial invoice attached for over $300...the box clearly said 'Made in Korea' (well it was for a Hyundai!) so wasn't USA-made etc.
I just got dinged for $42 handling fees by FedEx for two parcels from the UK, because the retailer decided to send them by FedEx to save THEM some money, rather than the Royal Mail Airmail Small Packets service that they advertised and that I had selected and paid for.
That was resolved by a couple of firm emails and they (the retailer) have now refunded the $42 that I was charged, costing them more than the amount they saved by changing the delivery carrier.
UPS, FedEx and others use handling fees as a profit stream.
I have yet to have any CanadaPost parcels intercepted and have duties or fees charged. That's over 30 parcels in 15 months. I guess it depends on which incoming Mail Centre your parcels come through, but it certainly seems to be the case for Vancouver. It wasn't just small things either - one parcel was a car part sent from the USA that was 4 feet long in a large box with a customs form and commercial invoice attached for over $300...the box clearly said 'Made in Korea' (well it was for a Hyundai!) so wasn't USA-made etc.
I just got dinged for $42 handling fees by FedEx for two parcels from the UK, because the retailer decided to send them by FedEx to save THEM some money, rather than the Royal Mail Airmail Small Packets service that they advertised and that I had selected and paid for.
That was resolved by a couple of firm emails and they (the retailer) have now refunded the $42 that I was charged, costing them more than the amount they saved by changing the delivery carrier.
UPS, FedEx and others use handling fees as a profit stream.
According to tracking they come via Vancouver each time as well.
It was so much easier when living in the US and ordering stuff, US Customs have almost no interest in collecting duty on anything, I've come back from trips well over by exemption and they never bat an eye, only concerned with criminal activity these days down there.
Like when crossing by land, going into the US its very basic, and they never ask if we are bringing anything into the US. Coming back into Canada, what did you buy, how much, do you have alcohol cigs and so on. Feels like a money grab more then anything else. Luckily in BC they don't seem to actually collect if your upfront and honest and don't have booze and cigs.
I haven't had anything sent by Fedex for years, but it was 20 something the last time I did.
Only UPS delivery I have had was from Amazon.com and they include all the duty and fees in their total and its much more reasonable then what UPS normally charges and of course nothing due at delivery, and Amazon even refunded some money because the actual amount was less then the estimated amount.
Feb 4th 2015 | 10:03 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Import Duty when buying from eBay
If the truth be known the vast majority of CBSA officers would rather not collect duties and taxes on personal use shipments however we are legislated to legally collect these fees on behalf of both the Federal and Provincial Govts.
So imagine yourself in my job you can either turn a blind eye to collecting these taxes and if found in violation by a supervisor of being negligent in the discharge of your duties and faced with disciplinary action which could result in a bollocking or if unlucky termination of your job.
Sure we have a limited amount of discretion but where do you draw the line. What is acceptable on a busy long weekend is not acceptable on a regular Wednesday afternoon.
Some you win some you lose.
Would you put your job at risk for the sake of saving a person you don't know $20, $40 on some legally owed taxes.
How often do CRA give you a break on your income tax returns. Will they reduce your total declared income to give you a break.
So imagine yourself in my job you can either turn a blind eye to collecting these taxes and if found in violation by a supervisor of being negligent in the discharge of your duties and faced with disciplinary action which could result in a bollocking or if unlucky termination of your job.
Sure we have a limited amount of discretion but where do you draw the line. What is acceptable on a busy long weekend is not acceptable on a regular Wednesday afternoon.
Some you win some you lose.
Would you put your job at risk for the sake of saving a person you don't know $20, $40 on some legally owed taxes.
How often do CRA give you a break on your income tax returns. Will they reduce your total declared income to give you a break.
Feb 4th 2015 | 10:21 am
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Import Duty when buying from eBay
If the truth be known the vast majority of CBSA officers would rather not collect duties and taxes on personal use shipments however we are legislated to legally collect these fees on behalf of both the Federal and Provincial Govts.
So imagine yourself in my job you can either turn a blind eye to collecting these taxes and if found in violation by a supervisor of being negligent in the discharge of your duties and faced with disciplinary action which could result in a bollocking or if unlucky termination of your job.
Sure we have a limited amount of discretion but where do you draw the line. What is acceptable on a busy long weekend is not acceptable on a regular Wednesday afternoon.
Some you win some you lose.
Would you put your job at risk for the sake of saving a person you don't know $20, $40 on some legally owed taxes.
How often do CRA give you a break on your income tax returns. Will they reduce your total declared income to give you a break.
So imagine yourself in my job you can either turn a blind eye to collecting these taxes and if found in violation by a supervisor of being negligent in the discharge of your duties and faced with disciplinary action which could result in a bollocking or if unlucky termination of your job.
Sure we have a limited amount of discretion but where do you draw the line. What is acceptable on a busy long weekend is not acceptable on a regular Wednesday afternoon.
Some you win some you lose.
Would you put your job at risk for the sake of saving a person you don't know $20, $40 on some legally owed taxes.
How often do CRA give you a break on your income tax returns. Will they reduce your total declared income to give you a break.
I would always be prepared to pay any taxes and duties due and certainly not going to get upset at an officer for doing it.
Really the only thing that annoys me at the border is complete uncalled for rudeness, doesn't happen often along the BC/WA border, but in ON, I about wanted to turn around and go back to NY.
I am not one who will cross and buy something not within an exemption and then cry that I have no money to pay for the taxes, if asked, I am prepared to pay the taxes no issue.
I do find the UPS/Fedex fees to be excessive though, but its not related to the gov't.
