Help, is there customs fees for a camera entering the USA from Canada?

[matt352]

In importing goods from the US to Canada, if the declared value is under $25, Canadian Customs doesn't charge fees. Practically, if the declared value is under ~$50, I've found it hit or miss whether they charge fees or not.

UPS charges a $25 "border processing" or some similarly-named fee, regardless of declared value, which is in addition to Canadian Custom's fees, so I've avoided using them. I ask for USPS instead.

When I do import goods from the US declared at more than $25, I usually count on paying the rough equivalent of sales tax on the declared value--roughly 13-15%--and consider that when I make the purchase. If it doesn't get hit for taxes, I consider it my lucky day. And if the parcel hasn't been stuck in customs longer than a week, even better!

 

[bolohead]

I ship a lot of books from our warehouse in the US to a distributor up in Canada. We had to change our shipping method from UPS to an alternate where we consolidate orders, ship them freight over the border and then drop them in the UPS system in Canada. In essence, it is bypassing the needless and exorbitant customs charges by UPS.

 

[segedi]

Have sent a lot of gear from Canada to US and always UPS. Never has a buyer get charged customs fees let alone brokerage fees. Canada Post doesn't insure over $1000 as mentioned, and they have lost incoming packages from the US... still waiting to get the claim sorted out.

I had a $300 order from B&H shipped to Canada via UPS ground and the brokerage fee was something like $140... from what I gather, they only do this on UPS Ground shipments. I'd like to find out about that class action law suit!

 

[Beemermark]

I'll add this about shipping from the US with USPS and insurance. The method you pick, EMS, Priority, etc determines the maximum amount of insurance and the cost of insurance. I use the USPS web site to ship and it gives you most of the options and costs. Recently I mailed an M7 interstate and postage and insurance was about $20 cheaper to ship Express (overnight) as compared to Priority (2~3 days). So always check the USPS site and compare costs.

And yes, there is no rhyme or reason to the rates.

 

[jwnash1]

Vick,
if you will recall I bought a Nikon from you last year. I cannot recall how you sent it, i suspect through the mail, but I had no trouble and i did not get any hassle from customs or USPS. It has always been my experience in buying and shipping internationally that anything from a private individual labeled a gift on the customs form goes right through without any fees so send it as a gift.
John

 

[jmcd]

Another question is, "can you track it and confirm delivery?" Fairly recently I sent a camera worth about $1000 to someone in Canada, and as Brian suggested above, via Express Mail International so that it could be insured for full value. However, there was no way for me to track the package once inside Canada, and no way to confirm delivery. A few years ago, this was possible.

EDIT: as dfoo points out below, just use the same number on the Express Mail form in the canadapost.ca system.

 

[dfoo]

You can track packages shipped USPS. Once it gets inside Canada you have to track with canadapost.ca.

 

[jmcd]

dfoo: You can track packages shipped USPS. Once it gets inside Canada you have to track with canadapost.ca.

Thanks for setting the record straight, dfoo—I am relieved to know this. Yes, I just entered the number into the canadapost.ca system and it works great, including signature image recorded for online viewing.

 

[kuzano]

No Customs on Optics Into the US....

No Customs on Optics Into the US....

I've been told that the customs laws in the US exempt Optics entering the US, and that is interpreted to apply to Cameras. I've bought numerous camera's from around the world and NEVER paid customs or tarrifs. Supposedly, it's been that way for many years.

I would never use Fedex or Mr Brown, since they internally handle customs and may interpret differently. I do know the internal customs and brokerage fees are one of the reasons both of those shipper cost so much to use for shipping. I've shipped to many countries, USPS Priority Mail, for much less than Fedex, UPS or others.

Delivery has been fast... (four days to a buyer in Thailand, a week to a buyer in the Russian Federation, insured, just last week. Got the eBay positive feedback yesterday.)

I ship 2 or three packages internationally via USPS monthly. Worst case ever... 2-3 hangup in customs at the receiving country.

But back to your question, regardless of what Fedex or UPS may do internally, I believe US customs exempts cameras from any customs duty INTO the US.

I absolutely do not ship through Fedex, or UPS except for exceeding the package limits of USPS, and then, I only ship within the US. If it's international and qualifies, it goes USPS from me. Only Way. Customer can buy elsewhere if they stipulate Fedex, UPS. Ten years now and no loses through USPS.

Go to your local post office main station and acquaint yourself with the friend people there. And NO... I am not a USPS employee, nor to I have any relatives there.

 

[panerai]

I think if you use Fed-Ex or UPS. The buyer is going to pay a brokerage fee + whatever duties are applied to camera equipment.

Canada Post and USPS don't use brokers, so you only have to pay the duties/taxes if charged.

I never use any of the couriers because of those fees.

If the buyer won't pay the fees. Don't sell to him because these types will refuse the package and you'll end up having to pay to get your camera back.

DON

 

[pagpow]

I am in the US and have bought from Canada approx 6 times, other parts of the world (HK, Oz, Japan, various European countries) maybe 6 more times.

The packages have never been opened, delayed, or subject to customs.

There was never a follow-up request for fees.

No packages were over $1,000, but several were in the hundreds.

From Canada, they may, repeat may, all have been by Canada Post -- cannot swear to it -- but from elsewhere, various methods.

None of this experience has occurred after the discovery of the bombs disguised as printer cartridges found entering US a few months ago.

So I have no experience whether the package delivery delays experienced since then have also had changes in inspection or charging practices.

Giorgio

 

[dfoo]

I think if you use Fed-Ex or UPS. The buyer is going to pay a brokerage fee + whatever duties are applied to camera equipment.
...

For canada there is no duty applied to cameras. Essentially, you have to pay the provincial tax. For SOME shipping methods (primarily the cheaper ones) you have a pay an additional brokerage fee based on the value of the goods. Exact details are on the UPS site but they are, deliberately I suspect, obtuse.

In short, use USPS.

 

[JohnTF]

Shipping To Canada and Europe is totally different than shipping to the US, they seemed to have recently taken this stuff to new levels to generate tax income, and their import duties are higher rates, and apply to more stuff.

US Customs used to spend more time on this, you may recall if you are old enough when they asked a lot of questions coming in to the US via air, sometimes asking for receipts-- well, they told me there is a certain exemption, and then a percentage, then-- they do not bother collecting the first $10-- essentially small potatoes.

I have gotten some fairly expensive items posted and insured, delivered to my porch, with no attention by customs, again, mostly small potatoes.

I did import 5000 sheets of custom coated photo paper, and fortunately they listed the value in Cz Crowns, and after trying to find the exchange rate for ten minutes, the guy stamped the paper work-- no charge. The only reason I had to go through this at all seems to be that it was a commercial venture, well, that was the intent, and the stuff was shipped by an exporter air freight to avoid Czech VAT, which he pocketed. ;-)

Some countries sell to the US with no duty, and there are all kinds of rules and exemptions, etc. and I know someone who was fined in NY bringing in a suitcase of camera equipment, only to be passed over the next trip because they were busy.

I do not think the US has high duty regardless, perhaps 5% on shipments, and this may be why so much foreign stuff ends up here-- Am pretty sure the age of the item is also a factor.

Bottom line, ship it insured by your choice, chances are really good it will be considered "small potatoes". Just watch for one of the neighbor kids stealing it.

Regards, John

 

[Dez]

Customs fees

Customs fees

There seem to be a lot of different experiences here.

As a Canadian expat currently living in the US, I have had experience with shipping in both directions. My only really bad experiences have been with huge brokerage charges when using UPS, and if I think of it, I always refuse to agree to having an international shipper use that service. One time, when living in Canada, I recall receiving an item from the US with an attached brokerage charge that was more than twice ther value of the product. I just refused to accept the shipment.

The actual US Customs people seem to be very lenient about charging duties on non-commercial importation, unlike their Canadian counterparts, who seem to nail almost everything..

I'm very happy with the postal service in both countries. In the US, the USPS is fast, cheap, efficient, and reliable. In Canada, well.... when buying something antique, you can be fairly well assured that it will be somewhat more antique by the time it arrives. The old joke is that Canadian postal rates are so much higher to defray the cost of long-term storage that the shipment enjoys en route. But it least it always seems to arrive.😉

Cheers, eh?
Dez

 

[JohnTF]

I used to ship boxes by surface from Prague, it was cheap, slow, and the boxes all were waiting for me at home with no additional charges.

I think the USPS have other fish to fry in general.

John

 

[Mudman]

I've had lots of success with shipping USPS as both buyer and seller - no charges so far!