Online shopping and border fees
- Thread starter Represto
- Start date
Dave here, former owner of your CB550K and regretful seller!
In my experience they charge the GST/ PST at least. If you ship Purolator they take a lung as well for "brokerage fees". Fedex is starting to charge some nasty fees as well. When I brought a spare BMW bike engine over the border from New York I was charged PST/ GST on the selling price.
If you can, have the items shipped via US Mail, land is best, avoid air. Canada Post being Canada Post my packages arrive at my local post office at least half the time without any additional taxes applied. I've actually paid sellers more money to ship US Mail.
In my experience they charge the GST/ PST at least. If you ship Purolator they take a lung as well for "brokerage fees". Fedex is starting to charge some nasty fees as well. When I brought a spare BMW bike engine over the border from New York I was charged PST/ GST on the selling price.
If you can, have the items shipped via US Mail, land is best, avoid air. Canada Post being Canada Post my packages arrive at my local post office at least half the time without any additional taxes applied. I've actually paid sellers more money to ship US Mail.
UPS will charge through the nose for any declared value over $20. Like $35 brokerage fee, plus taxes. Fedex has been good in the past - not sure what changes are underfoot there.
Make sure the shipper only puts the value of the items you're buying, not the total including shipping. I've been burned by that before.
US Mail is always the safest as mentioned. Worst case you pay $5 fee to Canada Post + taxes on the value of the items. Get the seller to mark the box as a gift with $20 value.
Make sure the shipper only puts the value of the items you're buying, not the total including shipping. I've been burned by that before.
US Mail is always the safest as mentioned. Worst case you pay $5 fee to Canada Post + taxes on the value of the items. Get the seller to mark the box as a gift with $20 value.
Best bet, if it's USED parts, make sure it's labeled as that! You don't pay anything on used or old stuff. When I buy stuff from Z1, they describe it as "Old Motorcycle Parts" and I haven't paid a red cent yet even though it's all new. I've probably spent about $3000 total there over the last few years.
Don't even think of screwing around with couriers. If it's able to go by post, DO IT! It's worth it to wait an extra few days, and shipping costs will be less as well.
If you can't get it shipped by USPS or Canada Post, see if you can get it sent to your work address. Companies that do a lot of international shipping will have their own broker. Independent broker fees are a lot cheaper than courier broker fees. I can get anything shipped to work for $16 brokerage for stuff under $2000, which everything I buy is.
Don't even think of screwing around with couriers. If it's able to go by post, DO IT! It's worth it to wait an extra few days, and shipping costs will be less as well.
If you can't get it shipped by USPS or Canada Post, see if you can get it sent to your work address. Companies that do a lot of international shipping will have their own broker. Independent broker fees are a lot cheaper than courier broker fees. I can get anything shipped to work for $16 brokerage for stuff under $2000, which everything I buy is.
