customs charges on ebay

[HTN SWCHS]

im interested in buying jdm recarro back seats with the middle console for a 92 civic hatch of ebay but my friend told me customs charges can be a real killer, anybody know the ballpark range of the extra $$$ i have to shell out on the seats? and on a front bumper as well??

thanks

[Zero102]

If they are shipped via a courier (i.e. UPS, FedEx, etc.), expect between $40-$80 for brokerage fees, plus GST plus any applicable duties.
So, if you seats were say $200, but they were made in the USA, you would pay 7% of the $200 for GST, and no duty.
Usually on higher-value shipments ($100+) they charge more for brokerage, so expect to be in the higer range of the $40-$80.

Now, if they go USPS, expect $5 for brokerage plus duty + GST. Much cheaper.

[HTN SWCHS]

sweet, thanks alot

[rc2002]

Yeah UPS will make everything not worth your while. If they send it by air, there's no brokerage. It'll cost an arm and a leg either way though.

Unless you get the seller to mark down the declared value... Then you'll pay a lot less getting it here. Did you talk to EK2.0 yet? He's got a set local.

[Zero102]

Yeah, forgot to mention that.
Anything faster than standard service with either UPS or FedEx (i.e. 3rd day air, next day, overnight, etc.) and they will waive the brokerage fee. You still pay GST and duty, but it saves you $40-$80.
In a few select cases, it's been cheaper for me to ship something 3rd day air than it is to ship it ground and pay the brokerage, but about 85-90% of the time it's the other way around.

[911sc]

Stay away from UPS, they love to rape Canadians!

[Civicguy]

I got a paintball gun from New Jersey and it was $100 for the broker fees....and it was 1500 CND

[frostyda9]

I'd have them sent insured, and declared as a "gift" ;)

[Zero102]

Technically sending it as a gift is illegal, and doesn't always send you money. If they declare the value appropriately, you will still get dinged the same amount of duty and GST. That said, I have had several packages sent USPS, declared gifts and they all had values under $20. Never paid a cent on them.

This whole UPS hates canada thing isn't quite true. They're capitalists, and an american company, so all they really like is money. That said, all they want to do is get more money. This is why it appears that they hate canada ;)

Always insure shipments coming from the US. It's well worth the few bucks it costs. Seriously speaking, I've had about 30% of my U.S. originating packages arrive damaged/opened with pieces missing.

[TEAMFaint]

UPS = :thumbsdow

I ordered a set of rotors from the US and the brokerage was $40, the rotors cost $200. Its horrible. Dont even try getting them to mark it as "Gift" either, because if they see seats and a front bumper they will know its not a gift.

Best bet is to go with USPS, they won't rape you as hard.