Shipping to Canada. Customs form?

[rogueleader]

Okay, I put this under the post of my rant against the post office, but now I need an answer to this question so I will make a new topic. Am I right in assuming that no matter how you ship something, no matter what carrier you use, you have to have a customs form to ship to canada? I went to Fed Ex for the first time this week end and sent something to Canada. Friday night the girl told me I did no need a form. I said I did but left and called the next morning. The manager said she didn't know, she couldn't ask because there was no one in the fed ex office on Saturday. They spent about an hour looking through books tried to give me a couple of exporting forms I knew were wrong (had a bunch of stuff about port numbers and nothing about contents or gift or declared value) Finally said that the Fed Ex guy would have to call me on Monday. Now if I have to go in there a third time I will be upset.

 

This on top of the fact that it took them another half hour to figure out how to ship a package ground to California from Virginia. Seriously if their prices didn't cream UPS and USPS I would never go in there again.

 

So anyway, am I right that when shipping to Canada from the US you must have a customs form??

[Adonick]

Well, when you declare customs (and I believe you have to) make sure you mark your parcel as a Gift, rather than merchandise, and also that you value it at 10 or 20 bux. Anything merch and/or 50 bux worth and your recipient will have to pay extra customs fees.

[video game addict]

Well, when you declare customs (and I believe you have to) make sure you mark your parcel as a Gift, rather than merchandise, and also that you value it at 10 or 20 bux. Anything merch and/or 50 bux worth and your recipient will have to pay extra customs fees.

 

 

Maybe he should mark it as he sees fit. If the auction sold for $100 then maybe it will have $100 on it..

 

 

Customs forms are needed for USPS

 

I've never shipped UPS/FedEx internationally, not sure what's needed there.

 

Might try looking on the FedEx website, here.

[Mindfield]

Well, when you declare customs (and I believe you have to) make sure you mark your parcel as a Gift, rather than merchandise, and also that you value it at 10 or 20 bux. Anything merch and/or 50 bux worth and your recipient will have to pay extra customs fees.

 

$14 at the absolute most. If a package exceeds $20 Canadian then it will be subject to federal and provincial taxes on the declared value (7% GST plus provincial tax) and the $5 "processing fee." It usually won't be subjected to that if it's marked "gift" or "other" but they'll sometimes charge it anyway (becuase you'll either get an idiot or an asshole processing your package) and then you have to file a dispute. They also may open the package, and may be none too gentle with it, either.

[Adonick]

Well, when you declare customs (and I believe you have to) make sure you mark your parcel as a Gift, rather than merchandise, and also that you value it at 10 or 20 bux. Anything merch and/or 50 bux worth and your recipient will have to pay extra customs fees.

 

 

Maybe he should mark it as he sees fit. If the auction sold for $100 then maybe it will have $100 on it..

 

 

Customs forms are needed for USPS

 

I've never shipped UPS/FedEx internationally, not sure what's needed there.

 

Might try looking on the FedEx website, here.

 

A) Why in the blue blazes would you voluntarily make your recipient pay more money for absolutely no reason. I would be absolutely IRATE if someone sold me something on ebay and sent it as merchandise and I had to shoulder additional customs fees. It's just common courtesy to send a package as a low pay gift. It's a great way to get negative feedback.

[Mindfield]

More to the point, "Merchandise" is intended for commercial items from retail vendors. It is most certainly not to be used for what amount to private sales of used merchandise.

[JerseyDevil]

Well, when you declare customs (and I believe you have to) make sure you mark your parcel as a Gift, rather than merchandise, and also that you value it at 10 or 20 bux. Anything merch and/or 50 bux worth and your recipient will have to pay extra customs fees.

 

 

Maybe he should mark it as he sees fit. If the auction sold for $100 then maybe it will have $100 on it..

 

 

Customs forms are needed for USPS

 

I've never shipped UPS/FedEx internationally, not sure what's needed there.

 

Might try looking on the FedEx website, here.

 

A) Why in the blue blazes would you voluntarily make your recipient pay more money for absolutely no reason. I would be absolutely IRATE if someone sold me something on ebay and sent it as merchandise and I had to shoulder additional customs fees. It's just common courtesy to send a package as a low pay gift. It's a great way to get negative feedback.

 

Obviously, you don't care about asking people to lie for you. If you have to pay extra fees, it is not the sellers fault, it is the fault of your government. Personally I will do it if I am asked, but that does not mean I feel good about it, its just dishonest.

[Adonick]

I don't claim to be a pillar of morality, however it is well known that customs is just a money grab anyways, and so there is no need to impose fees on an auction item from a personal seller. We have taxes to take care of our purchasing power already.

 

I suppose you don't download any music or use any emulators either.

 

I don't feel I should have to pay 10 dollars extra just to suit the needs of the customs agency on a 25 year old atari system.

[JerseyDevil]

I don't claim to be a pillar of morality, however it is well known that customs is just a money grab anyways, and so there is no need to impose fees on an auction item from a personal seller. We have taxes to take care of our purchasing power already.

 

I suppose you don't download any music or use any emulators either.

 

I don't feel I should have to pay 10 dollars extra just to suit the needs of the customs agency on a 25 year old atari system.

 

Then your beef is with the government not the seller.

 

No I don't download music or play emulators, I don't have a computer.

[rogueleader]

Thanks for all the 'tips' on shipping things. I didn't really need them, I've been doing ebay for awhile and have over 150 sucesfull transactions. I know how to mark a customs form and I know the difference in 'gift' and 'merchandice'.

 

No one has even answered my question which was have you ever sent anything by Fed Ex to Canada with out any kind of customs form? Unless Fed Ex has gone into the smuggling buisness i'm pretty sure one is needed. Am I right??

[AtariLeaf]

Its not up to us to decide which governmental laws to follow and which to ignore. If an item is purchased and money has changed hands, whether electronically or not, then the item is not a gift but a purchase. It does not need to state whether its new or used, its a sale. Period.

 

My only beef, and its happened more than once, is a seller putting a higher value than the auction win stated. I won some carts from the US for $23 and the seller put $30 on the form and was forced to pay higher fees.

 

When it comes to trades, I mark it as "gift" since no money changes hands.

[AtariLeaf]

No one has even answered my question which was have you ever sent anything by Fed Ex to Canada with out any kind of customs form?  Unless Fed Ex has gone into the smuggling buisness i'm pretty sure one is needed. Am I right??

 

Yes, one is needed. I've sent a few large ebay purchases to the US via UPS and Fedex and they always require customs forms. I marked them as "merchandise" and in all likelyhood the buyer in the States had to pay some taxes or customs. I never heard from them but both were well over $100 US.

[MrRetroGamer]

I don't think that it should be "expected" for a seller to misrepresent the value on a customs form. As previously stated, this is an issue to take up with your government and not the seller. I might consider doing it for a friend here on Atari Age, but I don't do this by regular practice. And if you want to tell me that I am a lousy merchant if this is my stance on the issue, then go right ahead.

[rogueleader]

No one has even answered my question which was have you ever sent anything by Fed Ex to Canada with out any kind of customs form?  Unless Fed Ex has gone into the smuggling buisness i'm pretty sure one is needed. Am I right??

 

Yes, one is needed. I've sent a few large ebay purchases to the US via UPS and Fedex and they always require customs forms. I marked them as "merchandise" and in all likelyhood the buyer in the States had to pay some taxes or customs. I never heard from them but both were well over $100 US.

 

Thanks, I just think the people at the Fed Ex store I went to were morons. They even admitted they hadn't been trained. And I know I'm going to have to go to the store again tommorow (for the third time) to sign the ruddy form. As far as US taxes go, I'm not sure but I think the limit is a little higher over here as to waht you can recieve before you have to pay taxes on it.

 

BTW not to add to the off topic debate but I had an employee at a UPS store tell me to mark gift on a customs form because 'ebay doesn't really count' . Not that I am saying she was right, just telling you what she said.

[rogueleader]

Okay, since I got my question answered I'll take this post raelly of topic! In Virginia we are supposed to pay sales tax on everything we buy on the Internet, no matter where it was from. There is a place on our state income tax forms to 'pay' all the sales tax you owe for the year. My question is if you live in VA, or if your state has such a law, do you pay these taxes? I ask because I think this would be somewhat like the customs tax issue.

[Mindfield]

The thing is, these are private sales of used merchandise, no different from a garage or boot sale, save that it's being conducted online. The "Merchandise" box is intended for use by commercial merchants selling items to other countries that would ordinarily be subject to local and federal taxes were it to have been sold domestically by a domestic commercial entity. This does include used merchandise, but only if it's being sold by a commercial vendor of used items. Under Canadian tax law, however, tax exemptions are made for "one-time" or "occasional" sellers, which is intended to mean private citizens selling off used merchandise from their own list of posessions. Such people do not need to pay taxes on the items they sell, and therefore do not (in fact, can not since it would be tax fraud) charge taxes on those items.

 

These exemptions do not apply to automotive or real estate sales, mind you, that's a whole different tax bailiwick.

 

Incidentally, Canadian customs forms do not have a box for "merchandise." Only "gift" or "sample."

[Albert]

Yes, one is needed. I've sent a few large ebay purchases to the US via UPS and Fedex and they always require customs forms. I marked them as "merchandise" and in all likelyhood the buyer in the States had to pay some taxes or customs. I never heard from them but both were well over $100 US.

 

I concur, as I have shipped several packages to Europe via FedEx and I've always had to fill out customs forms, regardless of the type or value of the merchandise. The nice thing with FedEx is you can do all of this online and then print the forms and include them in the waybill pouch. You can then drop the package off at any FedEx location without having to wait in line (this is, of course, assuming that you have a FedEx account so they are charging you directly). Much nicer than how the USPS handles customs, which always requires standing in line at a post office.

 

I have also received many packages from various countries, some large, small small, and I have *never* had to pay any customs fees. And the only time customs became involved with a package was when I received an entire pallet of foot pedals from Germany. That was kind of a pain, as the local customs office is at the airport, but they did let me take possession of them without levying any fees, which was nice.

 

..Al

[rogueleader]

Yes, one is needed. I've sent a few large ebay purchases to the US via UPS and Fedex and they always require customs forms. I marked them as "merchandise" and in all likelyhood the buyer in the States had to pay some taxes or customs. I never heard from them but both were well over $100 US.

 

I concur, as I have shipped several packages to Europe via FedEx and I've always had to fill out customs forms, regardless of the type or value of the merchandise. The nice thing with FedEx is you can do all of this online and then print the forms and include them in the waybill pouch. You can then drop the package off at any FedEx location without having to wait in line (this is, of course, assuming that you have a FedEx account so they are charging you directly). Much nicer than how the USPS handles customs, which always requires standing in line at a post office.

 

I have also received many packages from various countries, some large, small small, and I have *never* had to pay any customs fees. And the only time customs became involved with a package was when I received an entire pallet of foot pedals from Germany. That was kind of a pain, as the local customs office is at the airport, but they did let me take possession of them without levying any fees, which was nice.

 

..Al

 

 

Okay, now this might be a stupid question. But I keep seeing people talking about shipping from home and online. How do you guys get the weight. Do you have your own scales, do you use a bathroom scale, or do you just guess? I always want to print my own shipping slips or postage but I am afraid it will be too little and will come back to me.

 

Although when I was shipping a fairly big package at Fed Ex the other day, I told the girl it ws 27 pounds and she said 'okay' and didn't even weigh it! Guess I shoulda said "Wait 27, I meant 17, yeah thats it!"

 

Seriously though, how do you use the online shipping?

[AtariLeaf]

 This does include used merchandise, but only if it's being sold by a commercial vendor of used items.

 

So if I buy something from someone on ebay who also has a physical store in the US, they are obligated to mark "merchandise" but someone who is just selling yard sale crap is exempt?

Thats a fine line to walk. Do we now ask every seller in the US whether this is just a hobby for them or a business?

 

EDIT: It's magic.

[Albert]

Okay, now this might be a stupid question.  But I keep seeing people talking about shipping from home and online.  How do you guys get the weight.  Do you have your own scales, do you use a bathroom scale, or do you just guess?  I always want to print my own shipping slips or postage but I am afraid it will be too little and will come back to me.

 

Yes, I have an electronic scale, which is very necessary when printing USPS postage, as you don't want to pay to much or have packages come back because of inadequate postage. The scale I have only goes up to 10 pounds. Anything larger I would typically ship via UPS or FedEx anyway, and they *always* weigh the package. I'll print my own FedEx shipping labels for packages

 

Although when I was shipping a fairly big package at Fed Ex the other day, I told the girl it ws 27 pounds and she said 'okay' and didn't even weigh it!  Guess I shoulda said "Wait 27, I meant 17, yeah thats it!"  

 

I've never seen a FedEx location not weigh a package, not including packages that people just drop off (that they have already labeled and presumably weighed). Same goes for UPS.

 

..Al

[Mindfield]

 This does include used merchandise, but only if it's being sold by a commercial vendor of used items.

 

So if I buy something from someone on ebay who also has a physical store in the US, they are obligated to mark "merchandise" but someone who is just selling yard sale crap is exempt?

Thats a fine line to walk. Do we now ask every seller in the US whether this is just a hobby for them or a business?

 

EDIT: It's magic.

 

Generally speaking, if one has a registered business then they are obligated to accurately fill out the customs forms for tax purposes. If they failed to do so and they got audited, they'd get the royal IRS shaft.

 

Private sales by private individuals are not obligated to do any such thing. What they are selling is their own private stuff, not commercial stock that must be accounted for at fiscal year end. It's hardly a fine line; there is a definitive legal distinction being made. One is a commercially licensed vendor who must pay taxes and hire accountants. The other is Joe Putz down the street who just wants to unload some crap that's been lying around. He has a fair and legal right to sell them for whatever he can get for them. Legally, his only obligation is that he has to declare what he gets as income -- though I doubt very many people actually do. That's a damn near impossible nut for even the IRS to crack.

 

Taking all of this into account, then it shouldn't make sense to mark "merchandise" on customs forms for private sales. Private citizens selling "old crap" on eBay should be treated no differently than than private citizens selling "old crap" out of their front yard on a lazy saturday. Buyers from abroad don't even have to pay taxes on it at the border.

[AtariLeaf]

 

 

EDIT: It's magic.

 

Maybe for you Albert, BTW, I feel so violated!

[CPUWIZ]

 

 

EDIT: It's magic.

 

Maybe for you Albert, BTW, I feel so violated!

 

Actually, that was me. LOL

[bruser_inc]

I have never had to fill out a custom form when I shipped something to Canada. I get the shipping and insurance for it. And they person always asks what it is, and I tell them and they mark some code on it with marker. A different one for VHS, CD (or game in jewel case), DVD (or game in DVD case). One time the lady even wrote "used CD"; "used DVD" and "used VHS" on a few I sent out. Never had a problem.

 

I asked one of the guys I sent one of the items to, and he said it just had a stamp put over the code, that it had been okayed by customs, it didn't say that but that was the point. Well, whatever works.

[AtariLeaf]

 

 

EDIT: It's magic.

 

Maybe for you Albert, BTW, I feel so violated!

 

Actually, that was me. LOL

 

Thats it! I'm outta here!

 

Atarileaf runs from the forum, screaming like Ned Flanders