eBay shipping costs

[muffdiver]

I recently purchased a hand tool on eBay, it is coming from the states, what is the best way to ship to b.c. and do you have to pay duty on something like that . Any input from fellow eBayers would be appreciated.

muffdiver

 

[addicted2lov]

I would sugest to use USPS

The shipping costs are usually set by the seller and he can give you the choice betwen the postal service (USPS air, ground, etc) or a courier service (UPS, FEDEX, etc). The courier is generally more expensive and they will charge you an extra $30 or so for custom clearance fees. This is on top of any custom duties you may have to pay - if any.

 

[Orpheus6]

it is all very complicated. try reading about this topic in ebay peer to peer forum.

Basically, most items coming from u.s. are duty free. So, i don't think you have to pay any duties. If the item was shipped thru fedex or ups, you will have to pay a 30-40 dollar brokage fee. If the item is shipped thru usps, you may or may not have to pay a 5 dollar fee to custom (it depends on whether custom inspect the item).

whether you have to pay taxes depends on whether the seller is registered to collect taxes. some sellers will label item as a gift or understate the value so you do not have to pay taxes, but this is illegal. However, it happens on ebay.

hope that helps.

 

[sdw]

When I buy or sell something I always ship it FedEx. If you ship through the Post Office it can spend weeks in Customs. The Post Office will eventually card it to an RPO and you will have to pay $5 handling fee plus PST, GST and 12% manufacturing tax if there is a manufacturer of that item in Canada.

If you send it FedEx you get it the next day and don't pay the $5 because it's included in the FedEx fee. The taxes will be assessed if applicable.

FedEx isn't really that much more expensive than the Post Office and I always consider time to be an issue. Besides, I've never had anything lost or damaged by FedEx.

 

[Randy Whorewald]

I recently purchased a hand tool on eBay, it is coming from the states, what is the best way to ship to b.c. and do you have to pay duty on something like that . Any input from fellow eBayers would be appreciated.

muffdiver

As Babydick said, its generally up to the seller and he often puts an extra margin in for packing / wrapping. Yes there will be extra duties at the Border. I have bought lots of items on eBay and paid lots of duties as a result. My preference now is to try locate the item in eBay Canada first if possible.

 

[likepie]

USPS owns Fedex?

A Pt. Roberts P.O. Box will cost about $25 per year, which is half the cost of a similar box in Blaine. However pick the one that is geographically closer to you.

After 9/11 there are actually lineups now, a lineup of a handful of cars going into Pt. Roberts. The American border guard is determined to look into your car's trunk.

One of those restaurant bars near the water unfortunately closed down a few years ago.

 

[Scarlett]

I agree with everyone that UPS and Fed Ex suck ass.

All good advice here except:

Basically, most items coming from u.s. are duty free. So, i don't think you have to pay any duties. If the item was shipped thru fedex or ups, you will have to pay a 30-40 dollar brokage fee. If the item is shipped thru usps, you may or may not have to pay a 5 dollar fee to custom (it depends on whether custom inspect the item).

whether you have to pay taxes depends on whether the seller is registered to collect taxes. some sellers will label item as a gift or understate the value so you do not have to pay taxes, but this is illegal. However, it happens on ebay.

This is pretty much all wrong (sorry).

You'll pay duty on certain things, covered here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/publications/customs_tariff-e.html . Basically, anything manufactured outside the US and being shipped from the US will be charged a tariff, but there are exceptions. Tariffs vary (and are listed in the site above).

In addition, you'll pay GST and PST on almost all items, no matter if the seller is registered in their own state. You don't pay their state tax, you pay Canada's taxes. They don't usually charge on used goods, but technically then can. A $5 handling fee is tacked on in addition to the taxes and duty.

All this applies IF your package is stopped at the border. about 50% of my stuff goes through untouched, even big items. The best is if you can get the seller to mark the item as a gift. Then you don't have to worry about any of the above. The worse is when the seller overstates the value (instead of writing down the sale price, they write down the 'retail value'). Then you get dinged on the retail!

Also, if you do go through UPS or Fed EX, the brokerage fee is not a flat fee, it depends on weight of item.