SOULMUSIC

iTrader: (8)

Just to play angels advocate

So you plan on sending your money to the States instead of buying in Canada, having it shipped by an US company, then skirting the laws to make sure Canada gets nada?? Ouch

Alright I'm back

I think of done all of the above mentioned, but my preference now, when buying from the States, is DSL. They have fair rates, move super quick and offer prepaid taxes/duty etc... Never bummed out when i get things through them..Unlike UPS/Fedex

madwarrior

iTrader: (3)

The information is ACTUALLY correct. What I said is completely 100% true not a word of a lie.

I have done it with many pieces of DJ equipment from the states and hong kong (have great light deals).

But its 100% true if they mark it as gift you will not pay tax.

BUT

If you think its bad to recommend then I dont fight you on that. Thats your own opinion but to pretty much call me a liar at the starting is offensive. Sure it maybe bad advice and it may have consequences IF you get caught but it DOES in fact work.

ALSO I would like to add that I was unaware that the reciever of the parcel could get in to touble as well. I was not aware of this. Most people off eBay have never had a problem with shipping it as "Gift" so I assumed there was no "real" risk involved.

Also I have no idea what you mean by the them sending a "receipt"? Most postal services dont rip open the package to see whats in it? If whoever is sending it just writes the recieving address on the package then the postal service has no way of knowing what is inside of it? Nor do they know you "bought" anything?

Thats when they just writing on the sheet "gift" cause then no one knows?

I just dont see the big deal is on writing gift. But if some stores dont do it then I am not saying they are bad people or anything. I just dont think its as obvious as everyone makes it out to be.

Donnie

I've made my living in law enforcement, I testify as an expert witness in forensics. That is to say I don't bullshit and I don't talk about something I can't back up with FACT. The simple fact is you're wrong, simply misinformed, or just trying to bait people into trouble. I value the members here enough to give them accurate info.

I said no offense before, but really, do some research. I trust Canada Border Services Agency is a reputable source, after all they wrote the rules.

bsf5092-eng Importing Non-Commercial Goods by Mail

"Gifts worth $60 or less

A gift sent by a friend or family member abroad to a person in Canada is exempt from duties and taxes as long as the gift is worth $60 or less. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and advertising material do not qualify for this gift exemption.
The declaration should clearly identify the goods as a gift and should include a gift card or tag to avoid any misunderstanding. For gifts worth more than $60, you have to pay duties and taxes on the amount over the $60 exemption.
For example, if you receive a gift from overseas worth $100, only $60 of the gift's value qualifies for the gift exemption. You will have to pay duties and taxes on the remaining portion of the value, in this case $40"

madwarrior

iTrader: (3)

Ya but how does the border know whats inside of the package if the sender just sends it by an address and doesnt writing antyhing on the package about a price?

I never had any troubles when my packaged arrived it just came to my PO Box and that was that? I am reading the page you sent me and yes I see I was wrong about the "Gift" thing but a friend here always told me to ask the person sending it if they could write gift on the package. And it always worked?

I am just having troubles understanding how the border and poastal service knows what is being shipped? I have never shipped anything to the states before so I am not sure about the whole shipping thing?


I found this quote
"A false or incomplete declaration could result in unnecessary delays in processing the shipment or in enforcement action by the CBSA."

But it doesnt really state how they would know the difference?


Never Mind
"The CBSA may have to open a mail item to examine it properly. The Customs Act gives the CBSA the authority to open any mail that weighs more than 30 grams."

Ok I found out everything now lol. So ya you are correct. Just never thought about the amps weight. I always had lights shipped most being LEDs and most weighing very little making the light stand easier to setup.

So yes I see the correction and appologize for any bad info I gave.

Donnie

EVERYTHING that comes in through non-Crown (FedEx, UPS, etc) is opened, it's the law, because they are brokers (this is why we get screwed with crazy fees with UPS and FedEx). Mail that comes in via Crown postal (USPS > Canada Post) is done at random. Right now the secondary inspection rate is around 60%. Typically around x-mas the rate drops to about 35%. But given the assh0les sending mail bombs, I wouldn't be surprised if they actually inspect MORE this year.

There are declarations and export codes and the Customs guys have a look-up system with general categories right down to very detailed categories for all goods. The last thing you want is some Customs guy guessing what the part is and applying inappropriate values to it. Sure you can ask for a re-assessment, but you still need to pay up front if you want your package.

toyopl

Here is what I do, I sent and received a lot pf packages from ebay, online stores, private sales, and I learned few things along the way. But this is my experience and my conclusions
Trying to cheat on gifts, not declaring stuff and other bright ideas will bite ya in the *** sooner or later, after all you can't have luck every single time, would b nice but just won't happen. Also installin while in states seems like a good idea

Never ship UPS or Fedex, they will always get you with extra fees, ups will charge you right away at door, fedex will send you a nice letter after delivering for a nice sum of brokerage and taxes, just when you think you got away from it.

Always ship USPS, mostly the package will take longer to receive, sometimes even 3 weeks, but there are no brokerage fees, $100 and up for brokerage fees is quite a lot to save on. Plus 70% of the time there's no tax on the package, your package was simply not inspected and there are no charges on it.

If sender doesn't want to ship to Canada, or you want to avoid high shipping charge and bring it across yourself, simply register at this website U.S. Address and have your stuff shipped there, it's $5 for each package when you pick it up, and it's not even 5min drive from border, you can have 15 turn around time from crossing border, to picking up the packe and being back at the border. Usually it's around 3hrs for me both ways from Toronto.

And here's a good calculator if you ever get curious what charges could await you
TheFinalCost.com - Canadian total shipping fees calculator (brokerage, duty, customs)

Brendonius

I posted a link on the second page about avoiding UPS/Fedex brokerage fees. It doesn't seem like anybody even read it.

If UPS delivers a package to your door and tells you there are brokerage fees owing, you can tell them to reschedule the delivery at a later date and then talk to Canada Borders Service Agency and self-clear the item you are importing. This way you only pay applicable HST/taxes on the item and not UPS's ridiculous brokerage fee.

Donnie

That's the ideal way to do it if you can't ship by USPS. Most people just end up accepting the package from FedEx/UPS not realizing they don't have to use them as the broker.

It helps to tell the shipper ahead of time you have your own broker. That way UPS/FedEx will call you when its here.

LOOSEWHEEL

I read it!!!. Thanks for the post BTW....interesting read.

Did you happen to also read the comments posted by others in that link?? It seems it may not be as easy as it seems as UPS continues to 'challenge' a few that have attempted to self clear items.

But as I had said initially and others have reiterated, us USPS if you must have it shipped. And if your close enough to a border town, have it shipped to one of the many businesses that cater to Canadians.

As well, keep in mind that shipping within the US will be substantially cheaper then having it shipped to Canada. So you will have further savings there.

And thanks Donnie for 'clarifying' the whole 'gift' misconception.

Having said all this, I think we may have scared off the OP. But really it's not that hard if you keep it up and up...................you will save a lot of cash.

Father Yuli

iTrader: (17)

doesnt it matter if you mark it as a gift or as a dead hamster, if it's over 60 bux you are paying full tax.