Cross-Border Customs Fees

[Dave Hadfield]

My cabin roof needs recovering. I've heard that Xynole cloth is pleasant to work with so I searched some out (right here as a matter of fact). No place in Canada stocks it, apparently, so I ordered it from Defender. No sweat. A simple $75 order, shipped the cheapest way possible.

So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!

From now on, I buy in Canada or smuggle it across the border.

[Dave Hadfield]

My cabin roof needs recovering. I've heard that Xynole cloth is pleasant to work with so I searched some out (right here as a matter of fact). No place in Canada stocks it, apparently, so I ordered it from Defender. No sweat. A simple $75 order, shipped the cheapest way possible.

So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!

From now on, I buy in Canada or smuggle it across the border.

[Dave Hadfield]

My cabin roof needs recovering. I've heard that Xynole cloth is pleasant to work with so I searched some out (right here as a matter of fact). No place in Canada stocks it, apparently, so I ordered it from Defender. No sweat. A simple $75 order, shipped the cheapest way possible.

So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!

From now on, I buy in Canada or smuggle it across the border.

[paladin]

Yeah...Now I know why some folks in St. Johns (Newfoundland) were so anxious to take some bulky cargo off my hands so I could make room for some other stuff........ :D

[paladin]

Yeah...Now I know why some folks in St. Johns (Newfoundland) were so anxious to take some bulky cargo off my hands so I could make room for some other stuff........ :D

[paladin]

Yeah...Now I know why some folks in St. Johns (Newfoundland) were so anxious to take some bulky cargo off my hands so I could make room for some other stuff........ :D

[Ken Hutchins]

That sounds like absolute BS to me. :mad: What happened to NAFTA - FREE TRADE. :eek: I'd say you got ripped off by the shipping company, :eek: worth checking into.

[Ken Hutchins]

That sounds like absolute BS to me. :mad: What happened to NAFTA - FREE TRADE. :eek: I'd say you got ripped off by the shipping company, :eek: worth checking into.

[Ken Hutchins]

That sounds like absolute BS to me. :mad: What happened to NAFTA - FREE TRADE. :eek: I'd say you got ripped off by the shipping company, :eek: worth checking into.

[ishmael]

Call the office of you local government rep. and complain.

I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad:

I complained to my congressman. Never got anywhere, but didn't push very hard either.

Complain, see what they say.

[ishmael]

Call the office of you local government rep. and complain.

I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad:

I complained to my congressman. Never got anywhere, but didn't push very hard either.

Complain, see what they say.

[ishmael]

Call the office of you local government rep. and complain.

I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad:

I complained to my congressman. Never got anywhere, but didn't push very hard either.

Complain, see what they say.

[DerekW]

Warning: rant follows.
I've had similar experiences in the past, Dave. NAFTA my ass.

Absolute worst offender in my experience, bar none; UPS. They are very poor at telling their customers (the American shippers) this, but when they handle the 'brokerage' (a zero-cost rubber stamping exercise for them) they charge an inflated 'fee' based on the cost of the shipment. FedEx are scarcely better.

Dealing with shippers in the US, make sure that they attach a copy of the sales invoice to the outside of the package, stating visibly, clearly, that the goods originated in the USA and are not subject to duty, under the terms of the NAFTA. You'll still pay your provincial sales tax and the weasel fees.

Every time the courier weasels have screwed me over I've had a good go at wearing out their 1 800 lines and so far my refund average is well above 50%. Grudgingly refunded, but refunded. It doesn't always work. I've had courier staff tell me bare-faced lies... :mad:

My favourite time; UPS delivered the package to a wrong address 300 miles away, failed to collect their 'fee' at the door, (how could they, I was at the correct address) then sent aggrieved and threatening letters. I enjoyed the subsequent 'phone calls more than usual.

The Postal Service are honest and up front about the charges they make for brokerage, and the charge is realistic.

Thanks for listening. smile.gif
Derek

[DerekW]

Warning: rant follows.
I've had similar experiences in the past, Dave. NAFTA my ass.

Absolute worst offender in my experience, bar none; UPS. They are very poor at telling their customers (the American shippers) this, but when they handle the 'brokerage' (a zero-cost rubber stamping exercise for them) they charge an inflated 'fee' based on the cost of the shipment. FedEx are scarcely better.

Dealing with shippers in the US, make sure that they attach a copy of the sales invoice to the outside of the package, stating visibly, clearly, that the goods originated in the USA and are not subject to duty, under the terms of the NAFTA. You'll still pay your provincial sales tax and the weasel fees.

Every time the courier weasels have screwed me over I've had a good go at wearing out their 1 800 lines and so far my refund average is well above 50%. Grudgingly refunded, but refunded. It doesn't always work. I've had courier staff tell me bare-faced lies... :mad:

My favourite time; UPS delivered the package to a wrong address 300 miles away, failed to collect their 'fee' at the door, (how could they, I was at the correct address) then sent aggrieved and threatening letters. I enjoyed the subsequent 'phone calls more than usual.

The Postal Service are honest and up front about the charges they make for brokerage, and the charge is realistic.

Thanks for listening. smile.gif
Derek

[DerekW]

Warning: rant follows.
I've had similar experiences in the past, Dave. NAFTA my ass.

Absolute worst offender in my experience, bar none; UPS. They are very poor at telling their customers (the American shippers) this, but when they handle the 'brokerage' (a zero-cost rubber stamping exercise for them) they charge an inflated 'fee' based on the cost of the shipment. FedEx are scarcely better.

Dealing with shippers in the US, make sure that they attach a copy of the sales invoice to the outside of the package, stating visibly, clearly, that the goods originated in the USA and are not subject to duty, under the terms of the NAFTA. You'll still pay your provincial sales tax and the weasel fees.

Every time the courier weasels have screwed me over I've had a good go at wearing out their 1 800 lines and so far my refund average is well above 50%. Grudgingly refunded, but refunded. It doesn't always work. I've had courier staff tell me bare-faced lies... :mad:

My favourite time; UPS delivered the package to a wrong address 300 miles away, failed to collect their 'fee' at the door, (how could they, I was at the correct address) then sent aggrieved and threatening letters. I enjoyed the subsequent 'phone calls more than usual.

The Postal Service are honest and up front about the charges they make for brokerage, and the charge is realistic.

Thanks for listening. smile.gif
Derek

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by ishmael:
I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad: can't help with the scrated paint, but...

WRT to items taken out of the US and then brought back in like your bicycle (in my case it was a set of bagpipes and japanese cameras), you can stop at US customs on the way out of the country, present the items and get a receipt from US customs establishing your possession (including serial numbers, if any) of the times at the time you left the country.

It might not help when the item is shipped into the US separate from its owner, but it will help with establishing prior ownership in arguing over whether or not duty was due on the items.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by ishmael:
I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad: can't help with the scrated paint, but...

WRT to items taken out of the US and then brought back in like your bicycle (in my case it was a set of bagpipes and japanese cameras), you can stop at US customs on the way out of the country, present the items and get a receipt from US customs establishing your possession (including serial numbers, if any) of the times at the time you left the country.

It might not help when the item is shipped into the US separate from its owner, but it will help with establishing prior ownership in arguing over whether or not duty was due on the items.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by ishmael:
I had a similar thing happen years ago. I rode a bicycle from the States to Canada, then shipped it home. Customs opened it and slapped a duty on it, scratching its beautiful paint in the process. :mad: can't help with the scrated paint, but...

WRT to items taken out of the US and then brought back in like your bicycle (in my case it was a set of bagpipes and japanese cameras), you can stop at US customs on the way out of the country, present the items and get a receipt from US customs establishing your possession (including serial numbers, if any) of the times at the time you left the country.

It might not help when the item is shipped into the US separate from its owner, but it will help with establishing prior ownership in arguing over whether or not duty was due on the items.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Dave Hadfield:
So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!When we've had stuff shipped to us from overseas (usually by air freight), we get a phone call from the air freight warehouse, usually along the lines of "We got a shipment here for you. Do you have a broker, or do you clear your own stuff through customs?"

The right answer of course is (B) Clear your own stuff through customs. At least here in the US, that means you have to call customs, make an appointment where the customs agent meets you at the warehouse to look at the paperwork (and possible, but not extremely likely) open a box. They then ding you or not as appopriate and you go on your merry way.

Not a big deal at the air freight warehouse at the airport—the customs agents are there every day.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Dave Hadfield:
So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!When we've had stuff shipped to us from overseas (usually by air freight), we get a phone call from the air freight warehouse, usually along the lines of "We got a shipment here for you. Do you have a broker, or do you clear your own stuff through customs?"

The right answer of course is (B) Clear your own stuff through customs. At least here in the US, that means you have to call customs, make an appointment where the customs agent meets you at the warehouse to look at the paperwork (and possible, but not extremely likely) open a box. They then ding you or not as appopriate and you go on your merry way.

Not a big deal at the air freight warehouse at the airport—the customs agents are there every day.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Dave Hadfield:
So when the package arrived, I was disgusted to find that the customs brokerage fee was $55! It just about doubled the price! Major rip-off!When we've had stuff shipped to us from overseas (usually by air freight), we get a phone call from the air freight warehouse, usually along the lines of "We got a shipment here for you. Do you have a broker, or do you clear your own stuff through customs?"

The right answer of course is (B) Clear your own stuff through customs. At least here in the US, that means you have to call customs, make an appointment where the customs agent meets you at the warehouse to look at the paperwork (and possible, but not extremely likely) open a box. They then ding you or not as appopriate and you go on your merry way.

Not a big deal at the air freight warehouse at the airport—the customs agents are there every day.

[Bryan Mehus]

Ditto to what DerekW said. The postal service is the easiest most up front of the lot. The brokerage is usually a flat fee of $5.00, of course they collect the GST, and PST if applicable. Another trick of FedEx and UPS, is to deliver the item to your door and not collect the said fees, then charge you another fee to bill you by mail. I make it a rule now to advise the U.S. supplier of my dissatisfaction with the couriers, and request my order be mailed.
Bryan

[Bryan Mehus]

Ditto to what DerekW said. The postal service is the easiest most up front of the lot. The brokerage is usually a flat fee of $5.00, of course they collect the GST, and PST if applicable. Another trick of FedEx and UPS, is to deliver the item to your door and not collect the said fees, then charge you another fee to bill you by mail. I make it a rule now to advise the U.S. supplier of my dissatisfaction with the couriers, and request my order be mailed.
Bryan

[Bryan Mehus]

Ditto to what DerekW said. The postal service is the easiest most up front of the lot. The brokerage is usually a flat fee of $5.00, of course they collect the GST, and PST if applicable. Another trick of FedEx and UPS, is to deliver the item to your door and not collect the said fees, then charge you another fee to bill you by mail. I make it a rule now to advise the U.S. supplier of my dissatisfaction with the couriers, and request my order be mailed.
Bryan

[David P]

I just got a bill for brokerage fees for some hi-tech rope that I ordered from Sailnet. $7.50 + gst. Not to bad, I guess. I imported our 35' sailboat into Canada a couple years ago and the brokerage fee for that was only $75. $55 for one order from Defender sounds like a total ripoff.
I wonder if Defender knows what the shipper is doing. It might be a little hard on repeat business.
David

[David P]

I just got a bill for brokerage fees for some hi-tech rope that I ordered from Sailnet. $7.50 + gst. Not to bad, I guess. I imported our 35' sailboat into Canada a couple years ago and the brokerage fee for that was only $75. $55 for one order from Defender sounds like a total ripoff.
I wonder if Defender knows what the shipper is doing. It might be a little hard on repeat business.
David

[David P]

I just got a bill for brokerage fees for some hi-tech rope that I ordered from Sailnet. $7.50 + gst. Not to bad, I guess. I imported our 35' sailboat into Canada a couple years ago and the brokerage fee for that was only $75. $55 for one order from Defender sounds like a total ripoff.
I wonder if Defender knows what the shipper is doing. It might be a little hard on repeat business.
David

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks for the ideas. Yes, I will let Defender know, though I'm not whining for my money back, and shipping via Post sounds like the best plan.

I found more rot. Now I get to do some (re)building: a carlin, some deckbeams and a 48"x6" part of the cabin sidewall -- all up at the boatyard of course, where there is no machinery. Lots of opportunity here!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks for the ideas. Yes, I will let Defender know, though I'm not whining for my money back, and shipping via Post sounds like the best plan.

I found more rot. Now I get to do some (re)building: a carlin, some deckbeams and a 48"x6" part of the cabin sidewall -- all up at the boatyard of course, where there is no machinery. Lots of opportunity here!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks for the ideas. Yes, I will let Defender know, though I'm not whining for my money back, and shipping via Post sounds like the best plan.

I found more rot. Now I get to do some (re)building: a carlin, some deckbeams and a 48"x6" part of the cabin sidewall -- all up at the boatyard of course, where there is no machinery. Lots of opportunity here!

[Ed Harrow]

For your stuff out and back you want a Carnet. That will also allow you to send it separately from yourself.

Don't get me going on Custom's stories, but I one upped them; I was party to smuggling an illegal alien into the US. :eek:

[Ed Harrow]

For your stuff out and back you want a Carnet. That will also allow you to send it separately from yourself.

Don't get me going on Custom's stories, but I one upped them; I was party to smuggling an illegal alien into the US. :eek:

[Ed Harrow]

For your stuff out and back you want a Carnet. That will also allow you to send it separately from yourself.

Don't get me going on Custom's stories, but I one upped them; I was party to smuggling an illegal alien into the US. :eek: