posted on March 26, 2001 02:49:16 PM new
Apologies for the mis-spelling of the title!!
I'm hoping some of the Canadians out there may be able to help me!!
I live in the UK and I just mailed 3 magazines worth a total of $21 Canadian Dollars to my Aunt in Toronto by Printed Paper Rate with a Customs Delaration marking it as a gift of magazines worth $21 Canadian. And as the cover carries lots of decals saying things like 'Happy Birthday' and so on I think it should be fairly obvious to the Customs folks that this is not an item from a Company.
I am aware that there is a $20 CAD duty exemption on all postal goods entering Canada but the fact that these items add up to more than $20 CAD (and I won't lie, they can easily check it) should be irrelevant anyway as periodicals and magazines don't qualify for this exemption. But they SHOULD qualify under the $60 CAD gift exemption... shouldn't they??
How severely do Canadian Customs impose these regulations? And what are the implications for Canadian bidders on my Ebay auctions? Should I discourage Canadian bidders on items worth more than $13 US on the grounds that I can't mark these items as a gift? As a rough guide, I mainly sell books and printed matter which go for between $7 and $85 US.
Your personal experience of receiving foreign items through the mail would be appreciated!!
[ edited by fallen_madonna on Mar 26, 2001 02:58 PM ]
posted on March 26, 2001 03:01:31 PM new
In order for the item to qualify as a "gift", there should also be a card inside the parcel, something along the lines of "Happy Birthday Aunt Polly". The card inside is a Customs requirement for "gifts".
Speaking as a buyer, all I expect sellers outside of Canada to do is put the "high bid" amount under "value" on the Customs declaration.
Do they seriously have the time and personnel to open each and every package that comes in to check the correspondence? Golly.
I sent it 'printed paper rate' and according to the regulation we have here, you are not allowed to include any form of personal communication other than the item itself.
So in adhering to one customs regulation, I've obviously fallen foul of another!!
Poor old 'Aunt Polly'. So what's this gift of mine gonna cost her. Any ideas?
posted on March 26, 2001 03:27:42 PM new
"Do they seriously have the time and personnel to open each and every package that comes in to check the correspondence? Golly. "
Actually I have lost two book into canada. I think they open them to see if they're worth stealing.
I wouldn't sweat it, that package to your Aunt will most likely breeze right on through. They don't have the time nor manpower to inspect each & every parcel that comes through customs, and I've had some high $ items arrive with no taxes tagged on, even when the actual value was placed on the customs invoice.
Capotasto
Stealing books? I imagine if a Federal Customs agent was going to risk tossing his/her career down the drain, they'd find something a little more valuable to steal than one of your books.
posted on March 26, 2001 09:38:49 PM newI imagine if a Federal Customs agent was going to risk tossing his/her career down the drain, they'd find something a little more valuable to steal than one of your books.
I think I agree.
I've shipped stuff to lots less civilized countries than Canada...and a lot of stuff to Canada. I've had stuff I concluded was stolen by customs, but only after buyer refused to pay taxes, and never in Canada even after that.
posted on March 27, 2001 07:23:17 AM new
Canada Customs by thier own admission( in the most recent stats I have seen) catch only 3% of illegal importations.
It is purely a numbers game whether or not you want to roll the dice.
Deterant is almost non-existant and thats why they are sooooo happpppy to find something.
This does NOT reflect on the individual Customs Officer, who is tying to do his/her job with one hand tied behind back.
What Customs people hate is the presumption by people that they are stupid...they are not..and being constantly lied to.(the next person to tell me the truth will be the first!!!)
Believe me they have seen every plan imaginable to avoid paying taxes/duties.
