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A couple of things about international shipping. UPS and fedex will always asses and collect customs. Myself previously when sending stuff to Canada via UPS they delivered the items but tacked the customs fees onto my UPS account. If you use them and don't want to pay customs you must mark the item to something that is non dutiable. _ different with the PO, but you don't get tracking unless you spring for express.

The Canadian point of view...
 

Okay, just a little light on this subject for it seems like we are going all over the place.

First: The tax subject here imposed depends on the province. Let's look at Ontario for I am most familiar with that one. Basic brokerage fee for crossing the boarder, $5. GST and PST 12%. If you ship through USPS then that is all they will charge on the package's declared value.

Second: When shipping UPS you will also get a brokerage fee of 20-30% of the value of the item. That is what makes the world go around.

Third: Fedex charges up too 30% of the value for brokerage fees.

If the item is shipped USPS and the buyer is home when they try to deliver it they will be requested to pay CASH for the fees and taxes prior to getting possession on the item. If they are not home then they will have a delivery notice telling them to pick up the item at their post office with the total amount due for the taxes.

AT NO TIME IS THE PACKAGE RETAINED AT THE BOARDER FOR TAX PAYMENT

UPS does the same thing but with higher costs. Fedex delivers the parcel and then records delivery. Once done they then bill the receiver of the parcel for the taxes. If the taxes remain unpaid for 30 days they then bill the shipper.

Buddy has probably seen the delivery notice with the amount due and not picked it up. It usually will be returned to you as undeliverable in 10 days.

Doug

richcollegeguy....if you grew up in the US and did not know about tariffs, then please take a moment and learn about them. Also, lighten up a bit and do not take things so seriously. I intended no harm or insults....

My points were not stupid. It is quite amazing to me that everyday people can live in the United States and not be aware of tariffs.

Seriously, do not get so offended and actually learn from people with more years experience. Tariffs have been a part of life in the US since the Boston Tea party. Simply listen to John McCain or Barak Obama for one day. I hope NAFTA would ring a bell to all people interested in imports?

Every country in the world imposes tariffs... Your statement that tariffs are almost non-existent in the US is also not true. Now, I will grant that you might get stuff through customs without being charged, but that is simply luck of the draw. Do a "google" search on the harmonizied tax code and you will see 1500 pages of tariffs....pretty much on every good imported to the US.

The US congress will lower or raise import taxes based on many economic factors, such as wanting favorable status with the Chinese, or protecting the corn farmers in the US.....

No need to get defensive.....We all make mistakes every day.....I made a big one today....I woke up...

I wasn't trying to be nasty. Trust me. i wasn't. It's just that the general population isn't aware of these things. It could have been around for a while but not widely known. Such as most of my school friends didn't know that right before classes you can receive EXTRA free financial aid alloted to other students who dropped out at the last minute.

I never said tariffs were non-existant. Nor did I state or imply in any fashion your points were stupid. Im just saying the buyer was not aware of duties and most likely neither were you. Else you would have warned the buyer. 9/10 no one wants to pay close or more in shipping or duties then the item itself.

Thats all man no hard feelings.

imjustme is the seller who spoke of the problem. TMIles2564 gave good information . But what is a big worry from a seller's point of view is the possible ignorance of a buyer. A seller alway has to 'watch' for buyer stupidity.

as long as it keeps you busy and you're happy helping people, what more else could you ask for but to hang out with all of us ebay haters?

Modee.....When I travel to Thailand, its the same thing. A lot of work to gather stamps for VAT refunds...

To really talk about saving money, drive 10 mph slower, turn up your thermostat 5 degrees, etc......

I think we all have different ways to save.....

DO NOT open the door on what the "average US citizen knows... unless you want a total nervous breakdown. Most Us citizens think they just celebrated the end of the Revolutionary War.... not the day we declared our independence. The Treaty of Paris declaring the war over was not signed until 9/13/1783. When I realized {after substituting in public school} that I seemed to have "forgotten" this, well, set me to wondering what else I had "forgotten". ALOT!!! Oh, I might add that after one week of substituting in Public Schools, I quit recycling.... trust me the end of the world is NOT coming to an end because of TRASH!!!!!!!

The buyer seems to think I'm responsible for Customs fees :D Here is what he responded a while ago to the PayPal dispute:

Must of attended public school in the USA.

Yes, imjustme, they're right. You have to pay.

?HUH? The buyer does not know how to buy an item from overseas so the seller must wear the customs duties? I do not agree with that.
Just say, this buyer has done this before and is trying a scam, should the seller still be responsible for duties?

Are you my buyer? :D

How is the buyer right? Its common knowledge that if you buy from overseas then you pay the tax. But i make sure put that in big bold letters in my listings. What i find odd is Canadian customs not releasing the item?? I have never heard of this before as someone mentioned earlier once it is delivered and the person isnt home or doesnt accept it, its sent back to the office where it sits for about 10 days and then automatically sent back.

This happened to be a about a year ago, i got a camera for about $150 and tax was $100. It was ridiculous and the seller agreed. I didnt accept it and it was sent back to the seller i lost a few dollars because of restocking fee as it wasnt his fault for the tax. That was that. Buyers these days callously open disputes without reason.

I contacted Customs and didn't hear from them yet. Maybe they think I'm too far away to bother with :(

HI:
1.) Paypal def. KNOWS BETTER
2.) Maybe this particular buyer is ignorant to the customs/taxes/duties..

this is a very hard lesson.. I'm GLAD ive never had one .. Ive shipped prob. 2,000 pkgs overseas in my time. NEVER one like this..

Sorry- you were the ultimate guinea pig..
BUT- Im GLAD we're all here sharing/networking.. I'l be sure to add a disclaimer to my overseas emails after this..

WHAT I dont understand--is how do the large volume sellers from Hong Kong/China ship to US--so cheaply? I cant ever match their rates??

Look at HK seller Tomyana.. nice guy--have bought many things from him, just last week a band for my vintage watch..