When shipping up north, clearly label the item as "used". Most of the time, especially when shipping from a private address, there will be no GST charged.
Also, there is no duty on most photographic equipment. Lenses, filters, bodies, flashes - are all 0% duty items. However, due to the clever manipulations of the CBSA, "Photographic Equipment - Misc." is rated at 5% so if its not correctly declared, you'll get hit for double the GST. This is especially important on new stuff, so watch it carefully.
To be precise: here's the guide at the CBSA (Canadian Border "Services" Agency)
Safety hint! If you get charged for duty (or gst on used), pay it. No kidding. Once you get home, take the invoice and find the correct ratings and tarrif item number in the above .pdf, send in the top copy of the Postal Import Form (assuming you were wise and used USPS) along with a copy of the invoice with the Tarrif Item number next to each item, a polite letter explaining the appeal, and send it in to the address at the back.
In a few weeks you'll get a refund cheque. After speaking to a guy who worked at Customs when he was a summer student, nobody there is going to remember off the top of their head what item number a circular polarizer movie camera lens filter is going to be. If, they even know what a CirPol is - so it gets fired through as Photographic Equip, Misc (5% duty) and hope that nobody appeals.
This is how the system works. Its up to you to keep them honest.
Charbel Louis wrote:
Our Postal system is robust and much more regulated than in the US.
I disagree. I've lived in both Canada and USA and packages mailed to me way up here in Nunavut are cheaper to send and arrive faster from the USA than within Canada. Also, with all the negative talk about UPS... When I order from BH I always choose UPS express and I've never had to pay brokerage fees, just GST and it arrives very quickly.
jonnykuhns wrote:
I've tried printing online customs documentation through USPS (also via PayPal), UPS and FedEx all with no luck (I have accounts with all 3). Every time I've agreed to ship something to Canada, I've spent time standing at the counter filling out more paperwork for customs.
Unfortunately it has just proven to be easier not to ship internationally.
Johnnyk:
I have shipped and got shipped many items to and from the US.
I usually go to the post office,wait a few minutes there ,chat with the lovely ladies
and ship.
I don't mind the wait as I have learned over the years that we do rush too much,
I am trying to slow it down a bit and enjoy the moment.
I do want to take this occasion and thank my fellow FM'ers that did take the time and
effort to ship to Canada.We are neighbors right...
very useful Ed. Never thought about getting money back from CBSA. They always charge tax for everything, even it is under $60 CAD. If mailed into Canada, you will be able to get away with not paying any tax. If you drive it through the custom, they will bill you for GST/PST.
foxfire235 wrote:
I disagree. I've lived in both Canada and USA and packages mailed to me way up here in Nunavut are cheaper to send and arrive faster from the USA than within Canada. Also, with all the negative talk about UPS... When I order from BH I always choose UPS express and I've never had to pay brokerage fees, just GST and it arrives very quickly.
YMMV
I don't think that is true.
I bought from B&H as well. The shipping method I believe was UPS Expedite. Cost was about $35 USD (The other choice from FedEx was about $50-$70). Upon arriving, UPS would call me up and asked me to pay a fee by credit card. The amount was ~12%. GST + brokerage fee. The % number varies every time and their customer service could not explain how did they came up with the numbers. Very frustrating process.
foxfire235 wrote:
I disagree. I've lived in both Canada and USA and packages mailed to me way up here in Nunavut are cheaper to send and arrive faster from the USA than within Canada. Also, with all the negative talk about UPS... When I order from BH I always choose UPS express and I've never had to pay brokerage fees, just GST and it arrives very quickly.
YMMV
It's because UPS Express is Air, therefore, you are paying a higher price, which includes brokerage. Either way, your paying brokerage...
winnonlin wrote:
I bought from B&H as well. The shipping method I believe was UPS Expedite. Cost was about $35 USD (The other choice from FedEx was about $50-$70). Upon arriving, UPS would call me up and asked me to pay a fee by credit card. The amount was ~12%. GST + brokerage fee. The % number varies every time and their customer service could not explain how did they came up with the numbers. Very frustrating process.
Where do you live? 12% sounds like GST + PST. All I know is that I've had about a dozen UPS shipments from Apple, BH, etc. and never had to pay brokerage when it's UPS expedited. Only 5% GST.
Charbel Louis wrote:
It's because UPS Express is Air, therefore, you are paying a higher price, which includes brokerage. Either way, your paying brokerage...
That makes sense... but since everything comes up here by air anyway I guess it doesn't matter
My biggest beef is with USA sellers who refuse to ship to Canada for their own 'reasons', most of the time which they fail to disclose anyway. I contacted a seller today on an item I have been after for quite a long time, he replied that 'if it was still around, he would consider shipping it to Canada' or words to that affect. I emailed him and asked him what his reasons were for not wanting to ship to Canada, and that I felt it was unfair that I should be 'punished' for being in Canada, he didn't reply and the item I wanted sold to someone in the USA. Of course I realize people are free to sell to whomever they want, maybe they think its a hassle to ship to Canada, but I told this guy that I would take care of shipping on my Fedex account, but I guess that was not good enough. I have bought many things off this board and others from sellers in the USA, I know the loopholes and ways to get things through customs so its worth it, but sometimes people are simply not interested which is a shame.
If you choose UPS you WILL pay a generous "brokerage fee" to UPS Canada which is NOT disclosed to the US shipper. I had a situation when I contacted the US shipper about the fee, the shipper contacted US-UPS and was answered that it's not true(!), UPS Canada does not charge brokerage fee. Which is total bs, I had the receipt to prove it. The problem with shipping US->CND via UPS became so outrageous that B&H started using USPS a LOT more than they use to do.
If you use USPS->CanadaPost for values under $100 you won't pay even custom taxes. Occasionally I had even much higher value parcels without any charges.
Only problem using the postals is slooow speed. Customs take forever. Only USPS-Express is good&fast. I have over 200 orders shipped from the US in the last few yrs.
I disagree with you. I'm american and canadian and living in Canada for last 14 years. I never had a letter from east coast (Toronto,Ottawa,Montreal) arriving faster than 2 weeks here in Vancouver. Parcels take even longer. Canadian Customs take forever to clear. 2 years ago I had a parcel send from London-England in november, received at beginning of march! When I called CanadaPost they told me that they had a major backlog clearing the customs.
The simple answer is not to us UPS, ever, for anything, they charge outrageous fees and their tracking system is terrible. As long as you mark the package with a low dollar amount, such as $10 or $20 then customs won't look at it. I realize it's taking a risk on an item that may be worth several hundred dollars or more, but if I am willing to take that risk then it's on me if something happens to it, and I'll say that in an email to someone I am buying from.
This is a very useful thread .. I've never ever sold items and shipped across borders, but two reputable FM-ers asked for a lens I'm selling and I'm considering selling it to them. So, bottom line ..
- make sure you agree on who pays the customs duty, the brokerage fee, taxes before the sale
- use FedEx or USPS? I prefer FedEx as they offer better tracking (peace of mind)
Er, you guys know that you can do your own customs paperwork, and clear your own shipments, right?
Ask for the package to be held at the airport depot, the CBSA office is almost always less than a block away. Bring your forms to the CBSA office, pay the GST and PST as required, return to the depot, and pick up your item. No need to pay UPS $70 in 'brokerage' fees for them to complete three commercial invoices on your behalf.
adamo99 wrote:
... Bring your forms to the CBSA office, pay the GST and PST as required, return to the depot, and pick up your item. ....
That sounds interesting, so I can ship UPS ground from the US and just pay GST/PST?
Just call UPS during transit and they hold it , (where?)
then what, you go to UPS pick up the receipt attached to the item
and take it to customs, what if customs wants to open the item?
Anyone done this with UPS Calgary?
I read someone said they hold it at the point of entry to Canada
so if its ground to Calgary that would be 4 hours away
and not a option?
^^ no, all of the customs inspection is done at port of entry. Once the item clears customs, it's sent to your local UPS hub. If you're near YYC (or any major airport), there will be a CBSA office, and most courier hubs.
All UPS is doing for you, for the 'brokerage fee', is paying the taxes on your behalf, so they can release the item. I don't need them to complete a couple of forms, and pay the taxes for me- I can pay them myself, and save the fees.
I do it all the time at YYZ (Toronto) - call your local UPS office and ask them what the procedure is in your area.
