Shipping to Canada....

[F/A-18 MechDood]

What's the best way to fill out the Customs form when shipping parts to Canada to get past without getting smacked with a nasty duty fee for the the person in Canada?

[jmebonner]

When it asks for the value of the product, just don't put so much on it. Be somewhat realistic though, they may open it to check contents. Also, fyi, I don't think usps has any ability to track it once it crosses the border. Purolator, however, does.

Jme

[Gutter Ball]

Be as realistic as possible. Undervaluing an item too much may get the item confiscated by Customs and then the sender will have to pay out the wazoo to get it back. It happened to me by accident. I had no idea Windows 3.1 on 5 1/4 floppy disks was still worth $100!!! So they said I was comitting import/export fraud or something like that and it would cost me $100 per copy to get it back!!! YIKES! I was giving those disks away, so I said keep it. Methinks Customs has an old price list.

If the items are used, then mark it so on the form. If it's small, you can mark it as a gift too.

Do not ship UPS or FEDEX if possible!! Their brokerage fees are freakin' astronomical, I would call it borderline extortion ($40 brokerage AND taxes on a $20 item? No way!!!). They sometimes just leave packages on your porch too (even though you request a signature, they do a "driver drop") then somebody proceeds to steal them. The postal service leaves you a notice to go and pick it up at a depot near your house.

USPS Global Priority has a tracking number and insurance and it's how I prefer to receive my packages. The tracking number doesn't update sometimes once it enters Canada, but it will update once it clears Customs. If the package is too big, Purolator is the way to go cause Purolator is essentially a part of the Canadian Postal Service and has similar REASONABLE brokerage fees ($5.00 vs $40+).

[Uncle Bob]

I sent a package to Canada by FedEx. The package was declared
as a gift. If memory serves. A gift of $30.00 Canadian,or less can
be duty/tax free. Had no trouble at all with FedEx.

[Gutter Ball]

It is around 20-30 for duty/taxes, but they will still sting you for the "brokerage" fee.

I had $15.00 in playing cards from Ebay sent UPS. I had no idea the seller was going to ship UPS, and got stung with a $40 brokerage fee from them

Got an awesome deal on some subs, $50 for a fully enclosed set! FedEx stung me for another $30 in brokerage.

But you are correct, sometimes (albeit rarely) they'll let stuff through with no brokerage fees or taxes.