International Shipping fees?

[JiggaMan]

Hey everyone,

My buddy and I are looking to buy some new digital cameras and accessories. The prices for this type of thing is WAY cheaper in the US and online. Unfortunately most online places don't ship to Canada.

What we are planning on doing is finding an american to buy the camera and everything for us, have it shipped to them.. then shipped to us.

It will be around $2000 worth so I am wondering if there is any way to avoid brokerage fees and that type of thing while getting it over the border? If so how do I find out how much it is?

Thanks everyone,
Happy new year!

[FiveFreshFish]

You won't be able to avoid the brokerage fees for goods worth that much. You can minimize the brokerage fee if you can get it shipped via US Postal Service. There will be GST applicable to the declared value.

[Kobe]

Whatever you do, dont use UPS.. I just got some stuff clothes of ebay, paid $6.50 for customs fee's which is nothing...

[JiggaMan]

Thanks for the info... no UPS and go for US Postal Service.

Is there anywhere I can go to see what kind of GST I will have to pay on $2000 worth of equipment?

Also, what happens if I get my american friend to send the equipment to me as a gift. I've heard you may be able to avoid some fee's if it is claimed as a gift.

Any ideas? :dunno:

[FiveFreshFish]

For a $2000 shipment, it makes no difference whether or not it's a gift. You can get your friend to underdeclare the value and pay less GST. This can come back to haunt you if the package is lost because if it had insurance because you'll only recover the declared value. I don't know what happens if you declare too low a value (something comletely unrealistic).

The GST will be 7% of the value of the goods after it's converted to Canadian dollars. You don't pay GST on shipping.

http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/customs/a/shopshipcanada_2.htm