PSA:// Canadian Shipping & Duties

lyn*

There has been a change in policies for shipping into Canada. I used to get about $15 duties on things from the USA if they are retail value under $125.

Most recently, I have been charged > $40 for things about $80.

You CAN refuse to pay this charge - simply take back to your post office and say you decline the parcel. You do lose out on your initial shipping charge, but don't have to pay the crazy duties.

This happened with Canada Post - so this is not a brokerage fee issue.

So much for shopping in the US anymore. This blows.

12 years ago

Shopping

12 replies

Latest reply was from merwoman

Glory

Veteran

Thanks Lyn. I have been burned on this so many times that I promised myself I would not order cross border. I once ordered a dance mat for my girls and paid more in duties than the original price.
I often find myself so tempted by items that I cannot get here but so far have stuck to my guns.

12 years ago

Anonymous

It's complicated -- I think It is both the country of origin/manufacture and any trade agreements existing. I have ordered from ASOS three times and never paid duty.

All my Amazon orders haven't been as high as you say for duties either.

I have ordered from Nordstrom once using Borderfree and the duty charge was calculated and paid at time of order and it wasn't that much.

What stores, Lyn? Anthro and Modcloth?

12 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Sorry

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Ceit - this is the weird part; the country of manufacture is the US of A. Technically we don't have to pay duties if the goods are manufactured in USA. We only have to pay a handling charge.

We do have to pay duties if someone in the US imported something and then we are buying it (foreign goods).

I have ordered from ASOS once and I'm waiting for it to come. The UK seems to be better - my Dorothy Perkins usually comes in unscathed.

This offender was ModCloth - Anthropologie I almost never pay customs on.

12 years ago

Jeanie

Veteran

That sounds awful... I think we should start a US to Canada YLF pipeline for shipping clothes.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Tee hee. We could hide them in hollowed logs

12 years ago

Nicole D

Veteran

What ever happened to NAFTA? This is so unfair. That is why I tend to stick with Shopbop, all duties calculated up front and then I can decide whether I still want to buy.

12 years ago

Raisin

Veteran

My experience had been that shipping from the UK is both faster and less fees than from the US.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It seems so inconsistent and arbitrary. I am sure there are reasons, but sometimes, you have to wonder. I will be dinged on one packet and not on another, for no discernible reason. Interesting to know that orders from the UK can actually be better!

12 years ago

Mona

Veteran

I am sorry about your oder, Lyn. I much prefer to make a short trip to USA to buy stuff than order as you never know about the duties.

12 years ago

donnat

Veteran

Yes, i too have been dinged inconsistently. One parcel huge charges at my door. The next one nothing. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.
Yes, it is canada post. Think i will start looking at uk stores. I was always thinking the uk would be worse.

12 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

Well that's a nasty shock!
I don't quite understand what happens with US orders, but it almost seems like there are random audits - most of my orders would fly under the radar, but once in a while I would get whammied with an outrageous charge. This happened with a swimwear company I ordered from - I now buy local. I've never had it occur with Amazon.

12 years ago

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