question for buying suff from US?

[Shalongbasi]

I am confusing about tariff, GST and PST.

If I asked someone to buy a camera for me in US and shipped to me, Will the custom border agency charge me these tax? Are there any difference if deliver by US post, Fedex or UPS? If they charge, I need to give morney to delivery guys?

And another thing is that I went to buffalo and bought US$150 musical instrument keyboard a few days ago. And when I came back in the same day, the agency asked, so I told him. He give me a form and asked me to go to immigration office. I went there , a lady just stamped it and gave it back without asking me to pay anything. When I went out, another officer just took that stamped form away. So I did not pay any thing for that. I am worndering if it depends. sometime they will charge you, sometime not.

Any comments are welcome. thanks

[willy]

If I asked someone to buy a camera for me in US and shipped to me, Will the custom border agency charge me these tax? Are there any difference if deliver by US post, Fedex or UPS? If they charge, I need to give morney to delivery guys?
Choose USPS (I think it's like C$5 + taxes on the declaring price) ... and stay verrrrrrryyyyyyy far away from UPS (very high brokerage fee) :!:

[CheapScotsman]

I am confusing about tariff, GST and PST.

If I asked someone to buy a camera for me in US and shipped to me, Will the custom border agency charge me these tax? Are there any difference if deliver by US post, Fedex or UPS? If they charge, I need to give morney to delivery guys?
If you get it shipped US Postal Service (USPS) then USPS hands it off to Canada Post (when it hits Canada). Canada post will charge you $5 (to clear the package through custom) and GST/PST and, possibly, duties (although I have never been charged duty for anything in the last 10 years). Ensure you get it ensured.

If you get it shipped UPS then shipping will cost more AND UPS will charge you a lot more for getting the parcel through customs (http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html) but you will get a tracking number. They will also include GST/PST and the same possble duties as above. All other couriers will do the same.

And another thing is that I went to buffalo and bought US$150 musical instrument keyboard a few days ago. And when I came back in the same day, the agency asked, so I told him. He give me a form and asked me to go to immigration office. I went there , a lady just stamped it and gave it back without asking me to pay anything. When I went out, another officer just took that stamped form away. So I did not pay any thing for that. I am worndering if it depends. sometime they will charge you, sometime not.

Any comments are welcome. thanksI've brought $500 work of stuff across and customs has just waived me through and the next time I've brought $100 work of stuff and they have charged me GST/PST. You got lucky.

[WalnutCrunch]

If you get it shipped US Postal Service (USPS) then USPS hands it off to Canada Post (when it hits Canada). Canada post will charge you $5 (to clear the package through custom) and GST/PST and, possibly, duties (although I have never been charged duty for anything in the last 10 years). Ensure you get it ensured.

You will get a tracking number if you ship it via USPS Priority or Global Express Mail. The prices are quite reasonable to send to Canada.

The Canada Post handling charge is $8 instead of $5 on priority/express packages, but it's worth it especially if you're shipping expensive items like a camera. Make sure you get enough insurance and declare the value accordingly. Like others have said, you'll also be charged GST/PST. I don't think there are any duties on cameras (I could be wrong).

USPS states global express and priority take 3-5 days and 4-10 days respectively. Add at least 1 week on top of that for customs clearance. You'll see in the tracking that it spends at least a week in there, at least that's the case from my past experience.

Do a search and you may be able to find some places that you can ship to in Buffalo. Then you just drive across to get it. Out here in Vancouver, we have places like The Letter Courier in Pt. Roberts, WA. It costs a couple of bucks for them to receive your packages and you bring it across the border yourself.

Whatever you do, do not ship via Fedex or UPS across the border. You'll end up paying these brokerage fees plus taxes...
http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

The only "good" thing about UPS/Fedex is they usually clear customs a bit faster.

[theinfamous]

Anyone use Purolator to ship stuff to the US? I just shipped a webcam to a buyer in the US and am wondering if she's going to be charged any duties to receive it. I put the value as $10...anyone with any experience using them?

[seftonm]

You could clear your UPS package through customs yourself if they do not ship USPS. No fees of any sort except the taxes and you'll get it faster.