posted on July 16, 2001 06:16:09 PM
Hmmmm, no offense, but why the heck would anyone ask their PO clerks about Customs import & export rules & regs?
[ edited by kiawok on Jul 16, 2001 06:17 PM ]
posted on July 16, 2001 06:18:20 PM
Because they are the only "official" contact available to us. Ever try to get an answer from the actual government agency responsible for something?
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on July 16, 2001 07:06:19 PM
Hi Barrelracer -
The video was sent letter-post (old small packet whose name made a lot more sense than the term letter-post) and not insured (nor did I expect it to be.) And that is correct about parcel post - I regularly ship via small packet uninsured, but for more expensive/heavier items, I ship parcel post and insure the shipment.
I agree with your former post regarding the possible problems associated with not accepting the parcel - I went through that same thought process while trying to decide, and finally decided that paying the charges and then dealing with the problem afterwards was going to be a lot less expensive and less "messy" or confusing in the long run.
Hi Kiawok -
The P.O.'s in Canada are under contract with Canada Customs to take care of collection of duty and taxes for Customs, and therefore are, in a sense, a "front line contact" between the customer and Customs. In other words, they usually have the correct information, or can inform the customer where to find it or who to call.
All -
I should have been a little less pessimistic about receiving a reply! The seller is being very good about the situation, and replied as follows:
Hi i am sorry. If i can do something let me know what it is.
This is a much better response than I expected, and he does appear to be willing to work with me. I just wish he had come back with a suggestion as well; I find it hard to ask for things!
I think I will suggest either splitting the excess cost of the customs charges, as someone had suggested previously, or ask him for free shipping on the future purchase of one of his videos. (each is about the same value). What do you folks think is a fair request? His error was not done purposely, and I don't want to be unfair to this fellow. Suggestions?
Barb
Edited to get rid of a stray smiley!
[ edited by oxford on Jul 16, 2001 07:09 PM ]
posted on July 16, 2001 07:15:26 PM
Hi Barb,
I know what you mean, I hate to ask things like that too.
Unless someone else comes up with a better idea, you could propose both to shipper and let him pick.
As a seller, I might like the free shipping offer better, at least hopefully some money was made on sale of second video.
And that way you (the buyer) aren't waiting for money.
As a side note, I highly commend you for asking that the correct value be placed on your items. I usually down rate it a bit for customs, and have had many bidders actually demand I do this.
posted on July 16, 2001 07:20:37 PMkiawok: I took a look and rest my case. I'd rather have bamboo slivers shoved under my fingernails than try and negotiate a web site like that!
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on July 16, 2001 11:59:51 PM
I recently switched to www.u-pic.com for my package insurance. This way, I save money on the cost of insurance and here's the biggie, I can insure ANY international shipments. Whether Air Mail, Global Priority or Express... Currently the USPS only insures Express or Air Parcel Post... a very expensive proposition. As far as the customs stuff, I just mark it $10 as my insurance carrier say they don't care what the customs slip says... They don't care, I don't care.
I suggest you read the US Customs link I provided above.
US Customs doesn't care what your insurance carrier says, and in the end that's all that matters.
Off the Us Customs site.
Purchase price in U.S. dollars. Provide both the unit price, and if more than one unit was
purchased, the total value for all like items. Fudging or miscalculating the price paid for goods is a bad idea. Many sellers offer to misrepresent costs in an effort to save the purchaser from having to pay duty, but this is illegal. Others sellers are wary of package handlers and do not want them to know how valuable something may be, which could result in its theft. The most common legal precaution against theft is to insure the package when sending it. You should
discuss insurance options with your seller, keeping in mind that misrepresenting the value of an item on the Customs declaration is illegal.
posted on August 13, 2001 10:39:38 AM
There is a very informative post by a former Canada customs officer in the eBay forum on another message board Other Than AuctionWatch. Unscramble the letters and take a look.
Thanks for the link. I always assumed it was illegal to lie since you are filling out a government document. I've gone as far as to cancel one sale to Germany as the buyer kept insisting that I lie. I don't know why International buyers would think it's worthwhile for me to potentially risk some trouble from US federal authorities just to save them some duties they should have taken into consideration before bidding. That sort of thing contributes to turning sellers off to international sales.
posted on August 13, 2001 11:14:09 AM
Gift or Merchandise--does Custom of outgoing country care??
edited to add... It's a shame they don't allow links here. This subject has come up over and over, and finally, somebody with actual real-life experience has posted information which could be useful to all.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Aug 13, 2001 11:17 AM ]
posted on August 13, 2001 01:59:36 PM
If you won't post a link can you at least cut-and-paste the text? Because, I don't have the slightest idea of where to find it.
posted on August 13, 2001 02:28:46 PM
Well, it's kind of hard to do either, when posting a link violates the CG's on this site, and copying a post violates the CG's of the other site. I'm already in trouble with safeharbor this week (unfortunate webpage update mishap, but that's a story for another day), and I'm not looking for any more right now.
I have asked the poster on the other site if he will allow me to post his words here for him.
For starters, here's a site with more information:
posted on August 13, 2001 10:43:14 PM
Hello folks...
My eBay I.D. is "banff.boy".
I was referred here by "mrpotatoheadd" who was kind enough to read my regular epistles on the OTWA eBay Discussion Group where I have been a member for the past 2 years.
I am a former Canadian Customs Officer and, after leaving their employ, opened my own Customs Brokerage service. I am now retired but a regular seller on eBay (hint, hint)
I've read this entire thread with interest. As always, I am continually fascinated by the amount of personal opinion that passes for "fact" when it comes to issues involving Canada Customs. I will do my best to help anyone on this Board if I can.
Basic Fundamentals:
1) The C$5.00 extra charge, over and above normal Duty & Tax (D&T) is assessed by Canada Post, NOT Customs. This is their entirely legitimate (in my view) handling fee for the internal paperwork and accounting that must be done by them to collect these monies from thousands of importers across Canada and remit same to Customs in Ottawa.
2) Valuation - The Customs regulations on this topic alone run into the DOZENS of pages but, very simply, the price a U.S. shipper should place on his declaration form is the actual price paid for the article. In Customs language, this is called the "transactional value" and is the normal basis of valuation for the vast majority of shipments entering Canada. Shipping, handling and insurance charges are NOT subject to D&T...but, of course, as some have pointed out in this thread, if the amounts for these "extras" are simply included in one price on the declaration form, Customs at this end have no alternative but to assess D&T on the only figure they have before them.
"captainkirk" has given good advice about being pro-active in contacting the U.S. (or other) shipper to help him complete the form. However, this is where some Canadians get a little greedy. They try to help too much, if you know what I mean ! They ask or suggest that the shipper decrease the declared value so he/she can save a few bucks on the D&T. I can't emphasize enough how costly and dangerous this is..to BOTH parties to the transaction.
A seller, shipping to Canada who regularly misdeclares the value of his shipments will have his name entered in Customs computers and ALL shipments from this source will be watched very critically in the future. This means that the parcels will be pulled "out of the stream" and set aside for further examination. This causes needless delay for your Canadian consignees and tarnishes the good reputation of the U.S. seller - all because some Canadian importer wanted to save a couple of bucks D&T? It simply isn't worth it - to EITHER of you.
"oxford" (Barb?) - That postal clerk who advised you "to put no more than a $10.00 value on their slips" is in grave danger of losing her job! She is, perhaps without understanding the consequences or meaning of her "advice", guilty of perpetrating a fraud - a criminal code offense. The penalties are severe.
Perhaps you live in a small community where there is no local Customs Office or Customs Broker where you can easily get reliable importing information. But with the greatest respect to all involved, I personally would not ask for, much less be guided by, ANY informtion from postal employees with respect to international trade. They simply don't know what they're talking about.
3) Canadians should ask their American suppliers to ship parcels to them via USPS - NOT UPS unless you require a tracking number on your parcel. Their brokerage charges for clearing shipments through Customs on your behalf are prohibitive for "casual" importers. I should note that UPS AIR shipments are NOT assessed an extra charge for brokerage...but, of course, they've simply buried their fee in the price they charge for air shipment. The cheapest method of shipment to Canada is via USPS.
I'll sign off for now...but would encourage those who may be interested to join OTWA..its free...and access my posts on this subject.
However, I will try to help any members of this Board who ask for info.
