So I bought a USED Serotta from a fellow in Cali and he shipped it up (via UPS unfortunately). It arrives here with a COD charge for GST and brokerage fees. I was under the impression that there was no GST and, therefore, no brokerage required on USED goods shipped from the US to Canada.
Am I wrong?
Please help as I can challenge the fees through UPS if I feel they are wrong.
Thanks,
robert
I buy used items on ebay and almost always get them shipped using USPS and list their value as $20, this avoids any fees. Sometimes the items are listed as actual price and even though they are used customs will chanrge GST. If someone send me anything UPS I usually decline to receive it and it goes back to sender to be sent using USPS. A couple of times UPS left the item at my door with a invoice for brokerage fees, but I never paid them, although I think they sent them to a collection agency (but that’s another story)
AVOID UPS WHEN SHPPING ANYTHING FROM THE US TO CANADA
avoid shipping with anyone except the post office.
Fedex has nailed me for similar fees before. but yes, ups is the WORST…don’t go brown!
Kevin,
“don’t go brown” - so I had heard.
I actually did an ST search before having the bike sent up and asked the seller to send it via USPS but when he took it into the post office, they told him that the box was 4" too big to mail ??!! Anyway, so he sent it via UPS instead - $304 in shipping and $268 in GST / brokerage later, it arrived. It did get here in good shape so I have no complaints there, just a bit pissed at the fees.
Oh well, I’ll take my new Ti baby out for a spin tomorrow and all will be forgotten.
robert
Robert,
GST is collected for the Federal Gov’t by whomever is handling the brokerage. Like always, it’s payable on everything at 6% of the value. Brokerage on the other hand can vary quite a bit. I’ve also found UPS to have high brokerage fees, so if I have something coming via UPS, I have another company handle the brokerage. I think most companies charge a minimum fee up to a certain value and then it’s usually a straight percentage of the value after that. I think US Postal has a much lower brokerage fee but I believe they’re limited on size and weights they can ship. I’ve also been told they can be very slow and unreliable. I think this is why a lot of people/companies in the US won’t use US Postal.
Greg.
Robert,
GST is collected for the Federal Gov’t by whomever is handling the brokerage. Like always, it’s payable on everything at 6% of the value. Brokerage on the other hand can vary quite a bit. I’ve also found UPS to have high brokerage fees, so if I have something coming via UPS, I have another company handle the brokerage. I think most companies charge a minimum fee up to a certain value and then it’s usually a straight percentage of the value after that. I think US Postal has a much lower brokerage fee but I believe they’re limited on size and weights they can ship. I’ve also been told they can be very slow and unreliable. I think this is why a lot of people/companies in the US won’t use US Postal.
Greg.
I have always used USPS for at least 200 items from US and have never had a problem, the only slowdown is on the Canadian side passing through customs
Never use UPS to Canada even for a $1 item because you will be nailed by brokerage fees. Most US sellers like UPS as UPS will pick up at their door and they do not have USPS at all their drug stores like us Canucks do. Funny for a big country not to financially support their own goverment mail service. Stay away from UPS
I have stuff shipped into Canada from the US quite often and if it is shipped by air (UPS and Fedex) you will avoid brokerage fees. UPS and Fedex charge outrageous brokerage fees when you use ground shipping.