Official Customs, Duties, and International Shipping Questions and Stories Thread

[negativefeedbackloop]

fwiw I purchased a shirt through zm and requested it shipped through dhl express two weeks ago. The item arrived within 72 hours of shipping with no action on my end

 

[yunBW]

And you received it just fine? If so, it just reinforces my confidence in DHL Express.

yeah it just delivery like every other normal packages from dhl, no issue in clearance whatsoever

 

[espen]

I think I finally hit my threshold of ordering from End. No slight to them but jeeze...ordered one of the new Norse/Barbour jackets, $725 CAD, got smoked with a $254 customs bill from FedEx yesterday.

 

[whorishconsumer]

I think I finally hit my threshold of ordering from End. No slight to them but jeeze...ordered one of the new Norse/Barbour jackets, $725 CAD, got smoked with a $254 customs bill from FedEx yesterday.

Youch - that stings.

That’s a 35% duty. I don’t know anything about Canada import/export other than I know tariffs and duties to be considered high. Even then I would ask FedEx to specify the exact guidance they used in charging you. You might have to drill back to the customs docs and personnel at the import/export center.

May not be worth the headache.

 

[illiterate]

Does fedex still make you pay over the phone?

 

[espen]

I took a real hard look at the paperwork and where they attributed the costs. Trust me, a more willing and able-bodied person could totally fight it, but like you said, the headache might not be worth it. Might just have to put End in that category of places that I ultimately can't shop from...or places that use FedEx. Even DHL feels like a downright bargain at this point.

As for paying, I did it in person at the depot in Toronto, even the guy at the counter was shocked. He kept saying "so much duty for a light package" which I chuckled at. I feel bad for those front line guys, they are just trying to do their job, yet I witnessed someone laying INTO a clerk for a duties charge way less than mine.

 

[illiterate]

You can still buy from END but you just gotta make sure the items are covered under NAFTA or CETA. No duties on those. Just taxes + brokerage fee.

 

[zissou]

yeah it just delivery like every other normal packages from dhl, no issue in clearance whatsoever

fwiw I purchased a shirt through zm and requested it shipped through dhl express two weeks ago. The item arrived within 72 hours of shipping with no action on my end

Good to know. It looks like my parcel cleared customs quickly. I’m really not sure why the zm CS folks gave such a dire warning about shipping footwear and clothing via DHL. I had to insist on it for it to happen.

Edit: wow, that was basically overnight shipping thanks to the time difference. I don’t think customs even blinked at the package. Zenmarket did an amazing job packing everything.

 

[illiterate]

Good to know. It looks like my parcel cleared customs quickly. I’m really not sure why the zm CS folks gave such a dire warning about shipping footwear and clothing via DHL. I had to insist on it for it to happen.

Edit: wow, that was basically overnight shipping thanks to the time difference. I don’t think customs even blinked at the package. Zenmarket did an amazing job packing everything.

Yeah, they've been great for me too. Item ships Monday from Japan, it's at my door Wednesday afternoon with DHL Express. When the value of the package is really low they don't even bother with it and clear it straight through customs.

 

[bleeh]

Just to chip in on documentation - since April I've had 2 packages shipped via Fedex and 4 via DHL from Japan, some jackets, shirts, and pants, and I have never been asked for extra paperwork. Value has ranged from $200 - $800. Shipping was always fast and my packages have not been held in customs for more than a couple hours. I'd be curious to know when your package actually gets sent back / when you get asked to fill out documentation.

 

[whorishconsumer]

Am I correct that the duties on importing a goose down coat into the US is prohibitively expensive?

 

[cb200]

I think down jackets in cotton or synthetics are actually pretty low in terms of duty into the US- 4.4% if the right HS code gets used.

Cotton
"6201.92.30 & 6201.92.05 = 4.4% Containing 15 percent or more by weight of down and waterfowl plumage and of which down comprises 35 percent or more by weight; containing 10 percent or more by weight of down"

Synthetic
"6201.93.50 & 6201.93.15 = 4.4% Containing 15 percent or more by weight of down and waterfowl plumage and of which down comprises 35 percent or more by weight; containing 10 percent or more by weight of down "

 

[illiterate]

I thought there were generally no duties on anything under $800 coming into the US?

 

[Landau]

Has anyone ever been hit with a use/sales tax after importing things?

 

[illiterate]

Has anyone ever been hit with a use/sales tax after importing things?

I don't know if they do that any more. They usually collect on delivery. A while back (5+ years), you would get a call or mail asking for $. I recall importing some Nike sneakers from the US into Canada via Fedex. I got a call almost a week after they were delivered asking for payment.