Canada Customs

[greggy]

If you really want to avoid any brokerage charges with FedEx, just get a FedEx account and have them charge it to the account and the brokerage fees get waived.

 

xoxo

 

greggy

[cheta42]

I've done the route many times. Drove over the border into Blaine to pick up my books. Return to Canada Customs booth, show the invoices. They can decide to let me go or pay duty fees.

 

This year I paid duty fees twice since. Still worth my time on road. Sometimes books go to my home in direct. Depends on its value.

 

Bottom line. If you bring items into Canada purchased from the USA, you are only required to pay retail taxes on the items. This is provided the items were manufactured in the USA, Canada or Mexico (comic books apply here . This is per the NAFTA agreement. In most cases when taking them over the border yourself, or using USPS they will even wave the taxes (13% HST if in Ontario) and you pay ZERO extra. However if you use a 'service' such as UPS (total rip off scammers), they will charge ridicules 'brokerage' fees. This is just a way of filling their pockets with profit and taking you for a total sucker. FedEx and DHL are not as bad but they play the same game too. AVOID them at all costs. Always specify and use USPS where possible or take the package over the border yourself or be prepared to get ripped off. Nuff said!

 

I have asked several board members today, and I have received varying opinions and different answers on custom duties. I currently have a book coming in from the US and Fed Ex called me today and said I need to pay HST(13 %) plus broker fees. I freaked and said it is supposed to be 5% because its a children's book. Fed ex rep said no its HST at 13%. I am waiting for a call from their manager tomorrow.

Are they shaking me down or is there a new way of distinguishing comic books by customs

Just spoke to Fed ex supervisor and they are not budging on the full 13 % tax ....full hst. I asked for his supervisor and they are away. This is the last time I use Fed Ex or UPS, I asked them how over so many years that I been paying 5 % and now you want 13 % and he said I was lucky. I am only using USPS if I buy anymore books from the US going forward. BTW I said I would not use their service going forward and they didn't give 2

I deal with high end clients in the financial district in Toronto...if I talked to a customer they way they just spoke to me I would be Live and learn. Just to a heads up to Canadian boardies be aware going forward......or just get Roy to pick them up for a small fee

[cheta42]

I've done the route many times. Drove over the border into Blaine to pick up my books. Return to Canada Customs booth, show the invoices. They can decide to let me go or pay duty fees.

 

This year I paid duty fees twice since. Still worth my time on road. Sometimes books go to my home in direct. Depends on its value.

 

Bottom line. If you bring items into Canada purchased from the USA, you are only required to pay retail taxes on the items. This is provided the items were manufactured in the USA, Canada or Mexico (comic books apply here . This is per the NAFTA agreement. In most cases when taking them over the border yourself, or using USPS they will even wave the taxes (13% HST if in Ontario) and you pay ZERO extra. However if you use a 'service' such as UPS (total rip off scammers), they will charge ridicules 'brokerage' fees. This is just a way of filling their pockets with profit and taking you for a total sucker. FedEx and DHL are not as bad but they play the same game too. AVOID them at all costs. Always specify and use USPS where possible or take the package over the border yourself or be prepared to get ripped off. Nuff said!

 

I have asked several board members today, and I have received varying opinions and different answers on custom duties. I currently have a book coming in from the US and Fed Ex called me today and said I need to pay HST(13 %) plus broker fees. I freaked and said it is supposed to be 5% because its a children's book. Fed ex rep said no its HST at 13%. I am waiting for a call from their manager tomorrow.

Are they shaking me down or is there a new way of distinguishing comic books by customs

Just spoke to Fed ex supervisor and they are not budging on the full 13 % tax ....full hst. I asked for his supervisor and they are away. This is the last time I use Fed Ex or UPS, I asked them how over so many years that I been paying 5 % and now you want 13 % and he said I was lucky. I am only using USPS if I buy anymore books from the US going forward. BTW I said I would not use their service going forward and they didn't give 2

I deal with high end clients in the financial district in Toronto...if I talked to a customer they way they just spoke to me I would be Live and learn. Just to a heads up to Canadian boardies be aware going forward......or just get Roy to pick them up for a small fee

just called customs and they quoted me this HS number 4903.00.00.10 and that would be 5 % tax which is under the category of children's books.. There is another section for comic books and there it says 13% hst. .

So more then likely Fed Ex and UPS will be going under the 13 % going forward. Keep an eye out.