Hit by Canada Customs on shipment via USPS

[ud666]

Bought something from the US and had it shipped via USPS.
Got a knock on the door from the mailman, asked me for $$$ I was like what the heck!! She showed me a bill from Canada customs and I had to pay $5 handling fee, and GST PST!!!!!! Anyone else get hit by this before? I'm not sure if it's the same as the UPS brokerage fee that we are well aware of.

[Matrx]

Never been hit when using USPS. Mind you, all items shipped up from the US to me have had a low declared value.

[JayPatel]

3 times now for me. thats the risk you take when trading across the border

[HighFlyer]

I've been dinged with the fee 5 times, of which 3 of them were appealed successfully.

The CPC $5 fee is NOTHING compared to what UPS would hit you with on transborder goods.

[kingstonseller]

it's freaking crazy

what the **** happened to free trade and all the other ********

...*calms down*

i wish we could buy from the US without customs fees.

[tharsan]

i used to get stuff from ebay all the time, all marked "gift" and i got some great deals that way - then a few months back, someone sent a package via USPS marked "merchandise" and i got the package without any extra fees, but a couple months later, BAM a letter from PBB Logistics demanded payment for the cash they coughed up to get my package across the border, but this fee worked out to be about 15% of the purchase value (so i figured it was tax).

and UPS demanded money up front when i got my last package from eBay - now i'm alot more picky about where i buy my stuff from!

[mrgreenjeans]

I've been dinged with the fee 5 times, of which 3 of them were appealed successfully.

The CPC $5 fee is NOTHING compared to what UPS would hit you with on transborder goods.

Hey, do you remember how long it took for the refund to arrive? I sent in a refund request back in September and haven't heard back since. The silly thing is that the form doesn't provide a phone number for the refund centres, just the addresses (I sent mine to London).

[JayPatel]

Ive heard from the post office that disputes with Canada Customs can take up to 90 days for resolution. ive got a dispute of my own that im waiting word on as well.

[HighFlyer]

I've been dinged with the fee 5 times, of which 3 of them were appealed successfully.

The CPC $5 fee is NOTHING compared to what UPS would hit you with on transborder goods.

Hey, do you remember how long it took for the refund to arrive? I sent in a refund request back in September and haven't heard back since. The silly thing is that the form doesn't provide a phone number for the refund centres, just the addresses (I sent mine to London).

The quickest was 2 months, longest 3 1/2. Write them another letter to inquire about the status, stating the reference number and when you sent it.

[JayPatel]

whats the worst amount youve been hit for?

for me, $75.00 for a Plextor burner I ordered a few years ago

[hardwired]

Always been hit up, but I claim it at the end of the year, via business and good accountant.

[HighFlyer]

I generally ship the expensive stuff to an Amerifriend and declare it myself when I bring it back.

Worst by mail: $49 appealed, $15 not appealed
Worst at airport customs (YYZ): $32

[kenazo]

I've got a USPS postal box in Pembina, North dakota for just such a situation. I claim everything, and pay my 14%. most things are still cheaper than here.

Free trade just means there are no tarifs on items traveling between the countries, it doesn't mean that you won't get taxed.

[BoneMonkey]

Ha! Free trade in my opinion is equal to Canada dropping it's drawers, bending over and ROYALLY getting f****d by the US. Just look at the Wheat Board or the issues on soft lumber, among many other things. Free trade is one of the contributors to a downward spiralling Canadian dollar. I can remember when our dollar had close to the same purchase value as the US$, and I am not old.

[adwoodw]

I got hit with about $50 for a portable CDR burner that I won from Comdex. Naturally, it was UPS that delivered it to my door. At the time, I didn't know that they charged a handling fee on top of GST/PST.

As for Canada Post, I've been charged the $5 and tax before on a DVD that I bought from the states. After all was said and done, I only saved about $2 CDN!!