question For Canadians who buy from The US

[JeffM 10+ year member]

I was wondering how much you generally get charged for brokerage fee's. I'm going to buy a amp and a Sub, totaling $500, and I wanted to know if there are any issues regarding customs or how much I will have to pay for customs.

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[snoogy17 10+ year member]

it usually isn't that much..probably be like 20 bucks maybe a little more.. Did you buy it off of ebay or is it bought off of a store online. Has it already been shipped. If you're buying it off of ebay and your stuff hasn't been sent out yet. Ask the seller to mark it as a gift and you wont have any brokage fees that's what i usually do when i receive stuff from friends from the states. I'm yet to ask a seller to do it tho because i dunno if it will conflict with shipping insurance. But don't worry dude, it wont cost you an arm and a leg.. It shouldn't be anymore than 50 bucks tops unless the box is insanely big and heavy. But i'm guessing around the $20 mark.

 

[AVSTANG02]

Much more than $20 dollars total all fees for $500

and yah mark it as a gift and it won't get taxes but it may have other fees...

 

[snoogy17 10+ year member]

Much more than $20 dollars total all fees for $500
and yah mark it as a gift and it won't get taxes but it may have other fees...

well i've never gotton any audio stuff from the states yet. But i do buy a lot of car parts and clothing. And when i do it's well over $1000 US and i have not paid over $70 in duty fees. I don't know if weight will relate to this topic a lot or if it's worth which i think is what the big deal is. Paying for whats its worth to have it transfered.. Another way of making the fees smaller is saying it's worth less but having the insurance amount to cover the actual price.

 

[danz24 10+ year member]

not true.. marking it as a gift does means nothing!!

USPS is the cheapest. $5 and taxes on the item.. A product which is $300 will generally be around $30-40.

If you use other carriers brokerage fess will **** you.

It might change depending on your province though.. I live in Ontario.

 

[snoogy17 10+ year member]

not true.. marking it as a gift does means nothing!!USPS is the cheapest. $5 and taxes on the item.. A product which is $300 will generally be around $30-40.

If you use other carriers brokerage fess will **** you.

It might change depending on your province though.. I live in Ontario.

that's odd.. i'm in ontario too. which part are you in? Whenever i get stuff USPS air mail there are no fees at all.. But when i get stuff UPS priority mail ( land ) i have fees. Whenever i get USPS air mail it goes straight to my mail office and there are no fees. It's only when "muskoka"/UPS comes to the door there is fees. Sometimes when you buy stuff online like ebay the brokage fees are covered by the seller. You just need to ask and understand how he is shipping your items.

 

[danz24 10+ year member]

I had stuff from ebay, private sales, and online sites.

As far as I know marking a package less than $20 means no tax.

May I ask you... how EXACTLY does the shipper send the item to avoid the fees????

 

[snoogy17 10+ year member]

I had stuff from ebay, private sales, and online sites.As far as I know marking a package less than $20 means no tax.

May I ask you... how EXACTLY does the shipper send the item to avoid the fees????

whenever i've had something sent to me is was marked as a gift and send USPS air mail. I never get charged anything air mail.. only UPS i get hit with brokege fees..

 

[danz24 10+ year member]

ya i know about ups and brokerage.

So the key is sending it air mail??? I think I did that before and still got dinged on taxes..

What did he value the gift as and what was the item?

 

[JeepSound 10+ year member]

I've been wondering this too.

Whenever I ship something to the U.S I mark it down usually under $10 or N/A, and mark it as a gift. Never had any fees to the buyer.

When I recieve something I ask the seller to do the same thing and have never had any fees.

Now, I don't know how that would work when buying from an online store though, I doubt you could get them to mark it as a gift for you.

 

[snoogy17 10+ year member]

the last thing i got USPS air mail was a 2.r rs custom bumper for a mazda protege and it was not marked as a gift and the value was marked for $250 US. and i know he only paid 50 bucks for shipping from cinci ohio to ontario canada. and i had ZERO fees.. i think air mail voids border/ brokage fees!

jeep sound - i hear ya man! just ask the company to send it via USPS air mail. if you're paying fo rit, you have the right to choose who you want to handle your package.

 

[DDeitz 10+ year member]

ship USPS they are alot better with the fee's then others ( i belive fedex is the worst) seems if ive been hit with a brokerage fee its about 50 bucks.

also if its a commerical sample it might not get tagged. Gift as well..im sure theirs a few other ways