YIKES!! Could I borrow a U.S. address?

Michelle

Wow. I just called Nordstrom to place my NAS order. Everything was available except the Chanel-esque jacket, which makes me sad, but I was focusing on the positive until I heard the total. The kicker wasn't even my purchases. Nor was it the $46 shipping charge...it was the $250 in duties incurred by the international shipping company they use!

I was wondering if shipping this to a U.S. address and then having it forwarded on to me would circumvent those crazy charges. Has anyone done this and do you know if it works? If so, would I be able to borrow someone's U.S.-based address for this purpose? Obviously shipping charges would be reimbursed post-haste.

15 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

Debbie

Veteran

Michelle you are welcome to use my address just message me.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I think as long as whoever mails them declares the contents as a gift it shouldn't be a problem. Customs is such a nuisance. It really is just robbery.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Same here, Michelle...if it doesn't work out with Debbie. The other option is that I will be in Canada in 4 weeks, so if there is no other option and you can wait four weeks for your stuff, I will mail from Canada when we cross the border.

15 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

HI Michelle,
I can help out too if you need an alternative address

15 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Not to pour cold water on your idea of mailing from a US address, Michelle, but you might want to be careful. Declaring the package as a gift only works if the total amount is $60 Canadian, or less. Otherwise the package will be assessed duties, sales tax, etc. before it is released to Canada Post.

As a fellow Canadian, I know how frustrating it can be to see all those extra charges added onto a shipment, but, unless the goods were actually made in the US or Mexico, duties are a fact of life when importing goods into Canada via the US when the items were originally manufactured in another country. The same goes for paying GST and provincial sales taxes on the goods. Canada Border Services and Revenue Canada can be quite sticky, and sometimes nasty, if they find that you trying to illegally import items.

Just wanted to add a note of caution so no one gets hurt.

15 years ago

Sparky

Veteran

I was going to offer my address to you as well, Michelle, but then read Gaylene's post. You might be better off going with Isabel(MA) if she can mail everything to you once she's in Canada.

On that note, we just applied for passports for the kids and are thinking of a trip to Montreal (just 5 hours from us) at some point once we have them. So keep me in mind for the future.

Oh!! Another idea. Buy the Chanel-esque jacket if it's available even in the wrong size. Then if it comes back in your size, even after the sale is over, you can just exchange it. Just a thought, since I know you really hoped for the jacket . . .

15 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Michelle, I share your frustration completely! I risked to order booties from Zappos and customs duties and tax were 30% of the price! However if you bring goods into Canada over the border you pay only 13% tax - this is what I had to do last Friday.
I was considering to get mail box in Port Huron MI and have shipments delivered there and then pick them up but I am not sure if it works or not...

15 years ago

Ariadne

Veteran

I do not understand why it seems to cost 30% to import items to Canada via mail, according to 51whatever, when it's only the %13 tax plus a $5 customs handling fee if you take it across the border yourself.

Michelle, I didn't order anything from NAS because of this exact issue.

I order from places like JCrew and Amazon frequently, with large orders (over $100) and rarely if ever get hit with ANY customs fees. They use their own checkout systems. I am not a fan of the 51whatever checkout thing.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Wow. I have mailed stuff to my cousins in Canada before and I had no idea that they were paying so much to pick it up.

I am going to talk to our local post office and see what they say. I really would like for Michelle to get her stuff.

15 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the comiseration, offers of addresses etc!
I just placed my order and decided to have it shipped to my own address. I had to drop the purple leather jacket from the order because it alone was contributing nearly $100 to the duties and added an additional $7 to shipping. If I can't get it out of my head, I may have to take you up on some of your kind offers afterall!
Brianna, you're right, the charges are really unbelievable, and you have a fellow FiftyOne hater over here.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Let me know if you change your mind on the jacket and want to send it here !

(Smart move on your part )

15 years ago

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