upriver
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posted on April 30, 2001 07:28:19 PM
Ever since Canada Post raised their rates to include "cubing" by volume, I've been making a trip across the U.S. border to the Blaine, Washington post office to mail large lightweight items, maybe 1 or 2 times a month. I always complete the required paperwork very carefully, and as is my usual practice, I include an eBay-relevant invoice in each package.
Usually I'm through the customs crossing in under 5 minutes.
Today though took an hour, and anyone crossing the border with eBay-related parcels for U.S. destinations should take note of this.
I had 9 packages, 8 of which were eBay sales, all under $100 U.S. I always tell the customs guys that the items are collectibles which I sold on eBay, and the forms you have to fill out list the exact eBay sale price.
So today, for the first time, the customs officer asked what my eBay name was, then with another officer watching, they proceeded to scrutinize my sales history for the past month -- they wanted to match my information on the customs forms with the eBay sales, to make sure I wasn't cheating.
I actually have no problem with that whatsoever. I don't think the officer was very experienced at searching though, as he couldn't find too many of the items, so we went out to my van & he asked me to open 3 of the packages at random (his choice)to verify the information I had on the forms. As everything was a-ok, eBay item numbers on the invoices, bidder's address & e-mail, amount of sale shown separate from postage & insurance, it was a quick no problem check.
I asked why they had started doing this: Apparently until recently they have hardly ever checked eBay sellers stuff. However, within the past month, someone from Vancouver was taking across 2 large Chinese vases, with a "declared" value of something like $10 each, and they said they had sold them on eBay. Maybe the customs officers sensed something fishy, anyway, they checked the person's sales under the eBay ID they gave, and wow, those vases sold for something like $500 U.S. each. So they confiscated the entire shipment the people were carrying, and fined them $500 -- and if they had wanted, there are much more stiff penalties that could have been applied.
But that's not the end. Just out of curiosity, they checked THE VERY NEXT PERSON crossing the border who said they were taking eBay stuff to mail. And guess what? They were lying about the value of the items too, declaring them on the paperwork to be a lot lower than the actual eBay sale.
Well, that appears to have gotten under the skin of the customs guys a bit, as you can well imagine.
So my advice to any Canadian crossing the border is this: DO IT 100% STRAIGHT, if you or your bidder have to pay extra duties, so be it, but don't risk your merchandise, or more, just to try & save a few bucks. You can even get banned from entry into the U.S. And if any U.S. bidder asks you to write down a lesser value on the customs declaration form, don't do that either. That is a legal document & if you enter false information & are caught doing it, there are definitely penalties you could be subject to.
Long post, but likely worth it.
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shaani
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posted on April 30, 2001 08:15:10 PM
Hi upriver,
Interesting information that you have given. We send most items by Canada Post but a few of the larger ones we have shipped from the US. We always bring the auction print-out just in case they ask for it.
So far they haven't asked us to open any packages and they have been really nice to us. I agree that it isn't worth it to falsify any info though I do know some people that seem to have no problem doing it.
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reddeer
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posted on April 30, 2001 08:46:11 PM
Next time try slipping them a box of primo Cuban cigars. 
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upriver
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posted on April 30, 2001 09:40:48 PM
reddeer:
I thought of suggesting they look for something of mine to place a bid on while they were searching through eBay, but thought that might be pushing things a bit...
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eastwest
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posted on April 30, 2001 10:22:25 PM
I i have learned anything from people on AW ..if you want to run it like a bussiness you have to conduct yourself like a bussiness ..i have now learned that short cutes lead to trouble
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Bangkokshopping
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posted on April 30, 2001 11:06:09 PM
So while the government has the border staked out looking for ebay sellers coming into the country from Canada, probably 50 Billion Dollars worth of heroin, cocaine, and other narcotics flow into the country with no problems.
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reddeer
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posted on April 30, 2001 11:15:37 PM
Yup, and several thousand illegal immigrants, on a daily basis.
Ain't that special?
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snakebait
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posted on May 1, 2001 02:32:42 AM
Why tell them you are an ebay vendor? And why put any paperwork in the boxes? If necessary just tell them that you are an antique dealer who trades occasionally with friends and other business acquaintances.
May want to consider boxing AFTER crossing the border.
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shaani
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posted on May 1, 2001 08:28:01 AM
It would be quite difficult trying to find boxes, bubblewrap, peanuts, tape, scissors, etc. on the other side of the border. When I consider the time it takes to package something I doubt that I would want to start doing it out of the back of my pick-up.
Also, the Customs guys aren't dumb. I imagine they have heard it all. I would think they would question me more if I had a box of stuff to "trade". They have the license plate of my vehicle keyed into their computer and a record is kept of each time I cross. It isn't worth my business reputation to be caught smuggling goods into the US.
Many sellers don't have a problem doing things the honest way. It isn't worth telling a lie just to save your buyer a few dollars on duty. When they bid they should take that into consideration.
If you are caught lying they can seize the goods and also seize your vehicle as well as fine you. You could also be barred from entry into the US. Pretty scary stuff.
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Microbes
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posted on May 1, 2001 08:43:49 AM
>It would be quite difficult trying to find boxes, bubblewrap, peanuts, tape, scissors, etc. on the other side of the border.
This is the first I've heard that this stuff is hard to find on our side of the border. 
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 08:45:40 AM
I don't see why you need to mention Ebay at all either. You are bringing items into the states that you have sold to a USA residents, you fill in the paperwork (which includes copies of your invoices) and pay the $5.00 entry fee. When they review your paperwork they will determine the duty (if any)
And bring various shipping supplies, like tape, extra peanuts etc just in case they wish to open the packages.
[ edited by Zazzie on May 1, 2001 08:49 AM ]
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shaani
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:09:38 AM
It would be very difficult to find bubblewrap or peanuts in the town across from my border crossing. And if I got so lucky I would be paying a premium price. But I guess I could dumpster dive in my spare time?
We don't mention ebay either but we do have the auction invoice or our online store invoice in case they do ask. I just don't see the point in trying to lie or get away with something as sooner or later you may get caught. I would never put my business at risk just to save myself or someone else a bit of money.
But I do know some people who brag about the way they do things and that they have never been caught. They run their business their way and I run mine my way. To each their own.
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:13:46 AM
shaani---when I go across the border with shipments, I have a form filled out that requires copies of all invoices. When you go across the border for shipping of items related to your business you are required to submit this and pay $5.00 entry fee. Don't you do this???
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toke
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:15:22 AM
It seems both our governments want every single cent they can get their hands on. 
I'm wondering. What is preventing Canada from disallowing Canadian citizens...who reside in Canada...from crossing the border to mail their items via USPS?
The only reason for a Canadian to do that, would be to circumvent Canada Post's high rates, right? It seems like a logical next step for the tax man. If the situation were reversed, bet the US would do that in a heartbeat.
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shaani
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:19:15 AM
Most of our items go by Canada Post. The bigger items we take across the border and we fill out the forms and pay the $5.00 fee.
If we decide to send more from the US we will probably just pay the yearly fee.
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:20:30 AM
How much is the yearly fee??
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eastwest
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:20:36 AM
I had a friend not pay the 5.00 and said he was going over to get gas in point roberts. He picked up some parecels. He was fined $1000.00 for not paying the fee. He no longer goes across at point roberts he says the boards are to close to each other !!!!
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:25:03 AM
I think the computers at other border crossings will have the information on your friend.
Who fined him?? USA or Canada?
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shaani
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:25:11 AM
Zazzie, I think the yearly fee is $100 and you get a sticker to put on your vehicle.
Eastwest, I have also heard of people being fined. Some have got away with things for several years and then they get nailed.
It just isn't worth the risk.
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:26:12 AM
Shaani---is that the PACE sticker?? I thought that was a different program....
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netsw
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:27:15 AM
As I have repeatedly stated, Internet sales are becoming a major problem for both US and Canada Customs.
With ebay and ubid etc, there is many more parcels crossing the border that are in fact of "commercial" nature.
Every small trader is now a business.
The penalties for smuggling or under reporting differ from those of a non commercial entity.
When you engage in busines the onus of knowledge is on you.
There is one other factor here, UPS and Fedex are buying up the brokerage businesses and it appears with recent changes are lobbying hard to control cross border small package business.
They do want you to clear your own goods, it costs them money.
I supect that they are pressuring the two goverments to make it harder on the small business person to clear their own goods.
Two years ago US Customs were asking travellers if they had any tobacco,alcohol or beenie babies.
Only two of the three were a revenue threat.It appears that Customs can be influenced by a lobby group.
I predict there is a lot more of this behaviour to come.
US Customs received approval for their super computers on April 27th/2001.
The times they are a changin.
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eastwest
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:33:08 AM
The American officer walked over two the canadian side .....it's a very little walk ....and pulled him aside .....not sure exactly what happend..i just know my friend got some paper work and could have been fined up to 10,000 dollars. He had to write a letter ...to someone...
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Twelvepole
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:33:56 AM
It's called easy money....
Ain't Life Grand...
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toke
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:33:59 AM
netsw...
When you say "make it harder on the small
business person to clear their own goods," you mean cross the border and clear customs with their own packages?
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shaani
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:34:12 AM
I think the PACE sticker is a different program where you can cross the border faster when it is busier because they have done a background check on you. You put your own receipts in the box but they can stop you and check also.
The $100 fee I am talking about is a commercial fee for doing business across the border instead of paying the $5.00 each time.
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eastwest
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:36:51 AM
I am not sure why you would pay 5.00 = 7.50 canadian...I ship everything canada post and have been fine!!!!
plus gas plus time ...not worth it to me!!!
[ edited by eastwest on May 1, 2001 09:37 AM ]
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netsw
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:37:45 AM
Eastwest,
A $5 "user fee is levied by Us Customs each time a "commercial" vehicle is processed.This may be your bicycle if you are carrying commercial goods.
An annual sticker may be purchased for your vehicle in lieu of the $5 fee per trip.
The sticker is NOT transferable between vehicles and is good for 1 calandar year.
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:37:55 AM
The Beanie Baby question from customs came from pressure from the TY company--it had nothing to do with the shipping companies.
The US Customs recommend that if the total amount is over $2000.00 you should use a brokerage company--but they don't compel you to do so.
It is also a different form you fill out if it is over $2000.00
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eastwest
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:39:44 AM
A $5 "user fee is levied by Us Customs each time a "commercial" vehicle is processed.This may be your bicycle if you are carrying commercial goods.
I Know that !!! Just not sure why you would want to wait at the boarder in your car...the line ups CAN be long
e2w
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Zazzie
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posted on May 1, 2001 09:40:52 AM
There is never any line-up at Point Roberts.
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