Import to Canada from USA

Most informative everyone. Thanks

UPS only charges brokerage fees on ground service. Air freight can be cheaper sometimes.

i will know first hand in a day or two on 8800.00 worth from NY,via FED EX.THE 4 PACKAGES COST 750 del.

Please - lets get this right.

Fedex only charges the high brokerage fee on the Ground service. I think there is a nominal fee - say $10 on the other services, but I haven't used them for a while.

UPS doesn't charge a brokerage fee at all except for Ground, Standard, and Standard to Canada Services. On these services the brokerage fee is high. High enough that you may want to go with a higher level service.

USPS Parcel Post offers no tracking once the item is under the control of Canada Post. All USPS services can take from a few days to several weeks to clear customs. "Handling fee" is $5 to $8.

UPS and Fedex provide door to door tracking and all items clear customs quickly - often in a matter of hours.

It comes down to this - if you want inexpensive and don't care when it shows - USPS parcel post.

If you want it fast and are willing to pay extra - UPS expedited or better. You may want to compare price with USPS Global Express, but remember the customs delays for USPS.

If the item is very large - UPS or Fedex Ground may be your only choice; but remember you will have to pay a large brokerage fee. This offsets the savings you may see when comparing other alternatives e.g. Airborne Express and DHL.

Count on always paying GST/PST or HST.

You will almost never pay duty on USPS shipments. You may be assessed duty on Fedex or UPS, but only if the item has evidence of not being manufactured in North America or other exempt regions AND the item is subject to duty.

Other factors to consider:

If you know you aren't going to be there to receive the package use USPS. The undelivered package will go to your local postal outlet and you can pick it up there. If you want to pick up at an UPS or Fedex outlet they require approval of the seller and this can cause a delay.

Always attach a note to your payment - "No UPS Ground/Standard/Standard to Canada or Fedex Ground shipping (unless that is what you want). Please ensure the item is valued on customs documentation for no more than the amount I paid for the item. Do not include freight, handling, or other charges"

It is better to use USPS service for the shipping of the item since UPS, Fedex will charge you expensive 'brokerage fee' + GST/PST ....it is like at least 30% of the declared value of the item.

Good Luck !

It it is not too heavy send it by the post office. They won't fee you to death. However, the postage may be higher than the shipping charge, so check to see.

Not what I wanted to hear but thanks for the replies.

Hello,

Yes, the custom will charge GST on the value of the products. You should contact the custom department to find more. For example, I bought $100US cables, the exchange rate would be $130Can and they tax the GST on this amount. Fedex, however charge the brokage fee stupidly high. I bought 2 used cables with the sellers help declared as gift $100. One had sent through US postal the other through Fedex. At the end the one with the Fedex I had to pay $45Can on fees, GST, the one came through Canada postal and had no charge. So I still don't know how the system charge on the taxes or fees, so far I am happy with postal, they do charge the GST or PST accordingly as products declared as new, used or gift plus a small amount handling fee.

NUGUY

Sadly this is the case . GST must be paid on any product imported . Be careful to have shipper exclude the cost of freight from the selling declared price or you shall be paying GST on that as well .

Off make products made in some countries could also be subject to duties , Canada customs can supply info.

Be aware that Fedex and UPS charge brokerage on a sliding scale meaning the brokerage fees increase with the value of the item imported . So in addition to GST you will have up to $85 brokerage on the first $1000 . If you are in any province but Alberta , PST also applies and this is all based on a converted US to Canadian dollar .

For the above reasons using USPS is the wisest choice with $8.00 Customs Brokerage from Canada Post .


Hope this helps.

Yes
You will pay GST and PST or HST and possibly duty plus brokerage, handling and possbily other fees.