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Playing Customs Games with Our Northern Neighbors

Lately, i have been confronted with buyers from Canada who have insisted that i declare an artificially low value for an item that i am selling so that they can avoid the heft customs duties in Canada. In one case, this request was made AFTER the buyer had already paid me. In a subsequent case, i told the prospective buyer up front that i would not mis-state/under-insure the the item and this put an end to our discussions (presumably, the customs fees would have been so significant that we couldn't resolve this by simply "pricing it into the deal.")

I have no problem selling to buyers from Canada, but i do have a problem providing false statements on a Customs Declaration. Am I over-reacting?
jeffreybowman2k

Showing 1 response by pbb

pbb
1,140 posts
 
I have the shipment sent to a close to the border Fed Ex station to be held there and pick it up in person. That way I take it across the border myself, declare what I paid for the item (you should see the looks of disbelief on the agents' faces, no not because the value is low but they simply can't figure out why a guy should buy a used amp or cd player and pay way way more than a new one at Best Buy), but save the horrendous so called "brokerage" fee charged by the shipping companies. The shipping is cheaper too. I know, I know, this is of no help if you live, say, in Edmonton or Cornerbrook.

No duty on items made in the US, just GST and PST. I got Linn products with a declaration that they are made in Scotland or GB or the EU across and never was charged duty either, just taxes, for reasons that escape me.
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