Sending a Graphics card to Canada?

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: The Czar
Private sales are not subject to duty in Canada, even those from the United States. If I remember correctly, on the customs form, there are three check boxes: Gift, Merchandise and Other. Most people mistakenly check Merchandise, if the sale comes from eBay. There's nothing fraudulent about that, but if you are a private individual selling to another private individual, then you can check Other and state that it's a private sale or eBay auction, which would save your buyer the duty fees when being imported into Canada.

Checking Gift would be fraud, as a gift implies there has been no money exchanging hands across the border. You generally don't have to pay your friends to get a gift from them. ;-)

If you're running a business on eBay, however, all bets are off, as purchases from American businesses are subject to a $5CDN handling fee, plus 7% federal tax, plus whatever other tax the province levies against the import (the graphics card guy sounds to me like he's from Quebec, which would be 8%).

As well, there's contact information on the back of the duty slip which your buyer can appeal the fees based on the fact that it was a private sale, or whatever. The most I would say you should do is provide evidence that you are a private individual who sold him the graphics card, if that is indeed the case.

Cheers,

The Czar

Thanks for the Extremely valuable info. I think you should win the "Best 1st Post" award. :thumbsup:

On the form I have here, it has 4 check boxes; Gift, Commercial sample, Documents, Other.

 

[Kenazo]

From a very expereinced Canadian ebayer/AT trader (me):

There are no duties on any computer goods coming into Canada from the US. The following charges do apply:

GST/PST/HST: These sales taxes are billed on anything being taken into the country, new or used, since they weren't paid when the item was sold new in Canada.

Broker fees: These are charged by UPS/Fedex/DLH, or whatever courier you use to ship things into Canada. It's their fee for clearing customs for you. THEY ARE NOT DUTY! There is no duty at all on computer goods coming into Canada. These fees can sometimes be quite high. I once brought in 2 old pentium 100 computers and ended up paying $50 in brokerage fees, which I presume is what the OP's buyer got nailed with.

Those are the only charges to the purchaser. There is no Duty, just sales tax and brokerage fees from the carrier. GST is 7%, PST is generally 7%, depending on the province of destination HST is just a fancy name for GST and PST together and is used in some provinces instead of seperate provincial (PST) and federal (GST) taxes.

That being said, here's my recommended shipping method into Canada:
USPS! When you ship into Canada using USPS the purchaser won't have to pay any brokerage fees except for a ~$5 handling fee, compared to $50 from UPS, FedEx, DLH etc. They will also have to pay their sales tax, THAT'S IT!

example, I live in Manitoba and have 7% GST and 7% PST = 14% total, so if I buy a $200 video card off AT I pay (in total)

Video Card $200 + 14%tax $28 + $5 Canada Post fees = $233

 

[MrControversial]

Originally posted by: wolfman579


Here's the e-mail he sent me:
Hi, I did receive the card, but I don't know what you write on the box , because they charged me another 30 $ for Because its A United State product. It's not the first time for me receiving a package coming from other country specially US. I still need to go get the package , maybe you could write me a letter saying that was a gift from you. Like you shoul of done in the beggining on the box.

If they don't accept, I'm will ask you to pay me back the 30 $ because you did the mistake

Thanks and I'm not happy about the, the videocard cost me so far 150 $ + 30 = 180, that way too much, I can have a new all in wonder 9800 for this price

Your reply:

I'm not Canadian, so how do you expect me to know all the rules. You should have informed me of that fact. Thanks for the money and enjoy the card. You can save $30 by not eating that nasty ass ham that you guys pass off as "bacon" for about a month or so.

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: MrControversial

Originally posted by: wolfman579


Here's the e-mail he sent me:
Hi, I did receive the card, but I don't know what you write on the box , because they charged me another 30 $ for Because its A United State product. It's not the first time for me receiving a package coming from other country specially US. I still need to go get the package , maybe you could write me a letter saying that was a gift from you. Like you shoul of done in the beggining on the box.

If they don't accept, I'm will ask you to pay me back the 30 $ because you did the mistake

Thanks and I'm not happy about the, the videocard cost me so far 150 $ + 30 = 180, that way too much, I can have a new all in wonder 9800 for this price

Your reply:

I'm not Canadian, so how do you expect me to know all the rules. You should have informed me of that fact. Thanks for the money and enjoy the card. You can save $30 by not eating that nasty ass ham that you guys pass off as "bacon" for about a month or so.

:thumbsup::beer:

 

[Mullzy]

I'll hijack this thread as the OP's issue seems to have been resolved and most of you are just bashing Candian customers. If there was duty/brokerage fees for state-to-state shipping you'd get just as many bs/fraud requests from Americans so don't give me this "cheap Canadian" crap lol.

Anyway...

I'm a Canadian who has been looking to buying the odd piece of hardware from EBay. I found a great deal on some SENNHEISER PC150 Headphones (can't find them in Canada for less than $113 CDN.)

So here are my options:

1) Buy in Canada for $113 + $7.90 (tax) + $10.98 (shipping) = $131.88 CDN
2) Buy @ Ebay for $32.99 US + $19.99 (shipping US) = $52.98 US = $65.70 CDN + 7% tax = $70.29 CDN

Obviously option 2 is incredible except for the unknown amount of duty/brokerage fees I end up paying. Anyone have any insite into how much this will cost me. The *value* of the headphones is basically $40 CDN so will it be charged much less?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Mullzy
I'll hijack this thread as the OP's issue seems to have been resolved and most of you are just bashing Candian customers. If there was duty/brokerage fees for state-to-state shipping you'd get just as many bs/fraud requests from Americans so don't give me this "cheap Canadian" crap lol.

Anyway...

I'm a Canadian who has been looking to buying the odd piece of hardware from EBay. I found a great deal on some SENNHEISER PC150 Headphones (can't find them in Canada for less than $113 CDN.)

So here are my options:

1) Buy in Canada for $113 + $7.90 (tax) + $10.98 (shipping) = $131.88 CDN
2) Buy here: Ebay for $32.99 US + $19.99 (shipping US) = $52.98 US = $65.70 CDN + 7% tax = $70.29 CDN

Obviously option 2 is incredible except for the unknown amount of duty/brokerage fees I end up paying. Anyone have any insite into how much this will cost me. The *value* of the headphones is basically $40 CDN so will it be charged much less?

Thanks for your advice!

Did you not read my post a little ways up? Send it USPS and it'll cost you sales tax + about $5 Canada Post service charge.

 

[Mullzy]

Yes I did read it but I think I got confused with the "personal sales" post vs. your "there is no duty, only brokerage fees" post, thinking that since this wasn't a personal sale I would be looking at duty fees.

Anyway, thanks for your help.

 

[Kenazo]

There is no duty on most consumer goods brought into Canada from the US. (except for some clothing and luxury items)

 

[Patrick Wolf]

I just got back from the USPS Post Office and I sent it Global Airmail Parcel Post insured for $550.00 to Ontario. It says SDR value is $375.65, what does this mean?

I checked the "Other" box. I put "Used Video Card for a Computer" on the customs slip. And I also put "Electronic DO NOT XRAY!" on the outside of the package.

Can someone tell me how much this buyer is going to have to pay for GST or whatever he has to pay for?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
That's really good to know. I wonder how come the Canadians taht regularly use this board haven't mentioned this?

Because I've yet to see a USA customs form list "Other." Even when there's bold lettering three inches high across the outside and a receipt stating used goods inside, I still get the shaft on duty, ten times out of ten.

That's not to say it doesn't work when you do it yourself. I'm fortunate enough to live on a border city, and can import my own goods by having them shipped to the UPS outlet on the USA side. I bring them in with a receipt, pay taxes only, and no duty fees.

I think the issue is just that the majority of parcel handlers issuing these fees are - no offense - utter morons. In theory, you can file a reassessment form or something of that nature in an attempt to negate fees, but it's a losing cause.

- M4H

 

[mooncancook]

I just sold a graphic card (Radeon 9100) to someone in Canada. Make sure you use USPS service instead of UPS or Fedex. I heard they might charge duty fees. The only incident was that the box was opened and checked by Customs (they put a note on the box as decribed by the buyer)

 

[The Czar]

First off, thank you to all those who offered their appreciation of my first post. I was just offering some information gained from experience to clarify a few things .

Originally posted by: wolfman579
I just got back from the USPS Post Office and I sent it Global Airmail Parcel Post insured for $550.00 to Ontario. It says SDR value is $375.65, what does this mean?

I checked the "Other" box. I put "Used Video Card for a Computer" on the customs slip. And I also put "Electronic DO NOT XRAY!" on the outside of the package.

Can someone tell me how much this buyer is going to have to pay for GST or whatever he has to pay for?

Well, being a used item from a private individual, he may not have to pay anything, although I have a feeling that there is a $60CDN (~$50USD) limit on that (I know that it is that way for gifts coming into Canada).

Being in Ontario, the reciever will be subject to 15% tax (7% federal sales tax and 8% provincial sales tax). So, the breakdown will look kinda like this:

Declared value($CDN): $550.00
Cdn Customs Handling Fee: $5.00
Subtotal: $555.00
Tax (15% of $555.00): $82.50
Total: $637.50

Another note, if there are any Canadians who travel to the US frequently, this may be of some use to you:

If you have friends/relations in the US, you can ask your friend if it would be alright to have your item shipped there, and if they would hold it for you until you get there. Then, when you go down next, bring the item back with you across the border and declare it as a purchase on your return to Canada. After 48 hours, you can bring back $200CDN (~$150USD) duty free, and after a week it jumps to $1000CDN (~$800USD) (at least, it was the last time I was down to Louisiana).


I generally don't have stuff over $50USD off of eBay shipped to me directly, because I have a better use of my money than giving it needlessly to the government :-D.

Cheers,

The Czar

 

[Kenazo]

Czar, I'm pretty sure there's no sales tax on the customs fees, in my experience. (in manitoba)

 

[The Czar]

Really? Cause the last time I had duty charged to me (I'm in Calgary, Alberta), it was on a ~$15 CD. I was charged ~$6.50 Customs fees, which consisted of $5.00 handling fee and $1.40 tax. I'm in Alberta, so it's 7% tax, and on $20 ($15 for the CD and $5 handling fees), there's $1.40 worth of tax.

 

[Ike0069]

And exactly what is the Canadian Gov't doing with all this "tax" money.
Hell I can't even figure out why we have a closed border. I'm begining to think it's only so the Canaian Gov't can make some extra money.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: The Czar
Really? Cause the last time I had duty charged to me (I'm in Calgary, Alberta), it was on a ~$15 CD. I was charged ~$6.50 Customs fees, which consisted of $5.00 handling fee and $1.40 tax. I'm in Alberta, so it's 7% tax, and on $20 ($15 for the CD and $5 handling fees), there's $1.40 worth of tax.

That's not duties, that's the handling fee from Canada Post/the customs ppl, for clearing customs w/ your item. It's not duty, which is a tarrif charged on goods imported into the country. Entirely different thing.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

That Canadian I sent the first graphics card to for $102.50 e-mailed me after I asked hiim to leave feedback and he said this:

I have made the card work but tje image is not good , I souder the part but there still 32 bit meg ram that I can do nothing about it , For the feedback you<re name has been removed from my list how do I do a vote if its remove and I don't even know if I will give a good feedback the carc got here really bad shape and I lost lots of money 180$ Canadian and nothing prove me that you shipped the card damaged and try to make it look like damaged shipping because I don<t understand how it got damaged so bad like that

He already said the heatsink I put on the card was too heavy for it and it was not safe for the trip, now he says he doesn't understand how it got damaged...I smell some more BS.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: wolfman579
That Canadian I sent the first graphics card to for $102.50 e-mailed me after I asked hiim to leave feedback and he said this:

I have made the card work but tje image is not good , I souder the part but there still 32 bit meg ram that I can do nothing about it , For the feedback you<re name has been removed from my list how do I do a vote if its remove and I don't even know if I will give a good feedback the carc got here really bad shape and I lost lots of money 180$ Canadian and nothing prove me that you shipped the card damaged and try to make it look like damaged shipping because I don<t understand how it got damaged so bad like that

He already said the heatsink I put on the card was too heavy for it and it was not safe for the trip, now he says he doesn't understand how it got damaged...I smell some more BS.

He soldered it? Wow. I hope he doesn't still expect you to replace it after that!

- M4H

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: wolfman579
That Canadian I sent the first graphics card to for $102.50 e-mailed me after I asked hiim to leave feedback and he said this:

I have made the card work but tje image is not good , I souder the part but there still 32 bit meg ram that I can do nothing about it , For the feedback you<re name has been removed from my list how do I do a vote if its remove and I don't even know if I will give a good feedback the carc got here really bad shape and I lost lots of money 180$ Canadian and nothing prove me that you shipped the card damaged and try to make it look like damaged shipping because I don<t understand how it got damaged so bad like that

He already said the heatsink I put on the card was too heavy for it and it was not safe for the trip, now he says he doesn't understand how it got damaged...I smell some more BS.

Just quit talking to him and forget about feedback. Consider yourself lucky he didn't leave a negative.

Does anyone know for sure if there is a limit in value for private sale items coming into Canada or not? By this I am referring to the duties & taxes of course. Thanks.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Well, I told him that I highly recommend he leaves Neurtal/Postive feedback, because if he leaves a Negative, I will also leave a Negative, and I have plenty to say.

So he left a Positive, and I left a Postive.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Does anyone know for sure whether or not there is a limit to private sales getting taxed when sending to Canada? I need to know because Im about to send a card to Canada and would like to save the buyer some money. Any factual info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

UPS charged my customer a fee cuz I labeled it Computer components. Bleh. Not to mention it took 2 weeks to get there (from Berkeley, CA). What the hell.

 

[The Czar]

As long as the package is labeled as a Private sale, and that it contains used goods, and it falls under the $20CDN ($1CDN = ~$0.80USD; $1USD = ~$1.25CDN) limit, the recipient does not have to pay anything above and beyond the cost of the item and shipping. Send the item Canada Post / USPS, and NOT Fed-Ex or UPS, as they charge fees for clearing the border.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) collects provincial retail sales taxes (PST) on most taxable imports valued at over $20CDN entering Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The CBSA also collects Harmonized Sales Taxes (HST) on most taxable imports entering Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

From:http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/b06-e.asp

Anything above that limit, and the recipient will be liable for a handling charge and sales tax upon entry into Canada.

Cheers,

The Czar

 

[Pr0d1gy]

So about $45 or less for gifts? Totally weak. Well, thanks for the info & link.
I guess sending an X800XT to Canada really isn't worth that kind of risk...at least not to me it isn't.