Customs, Duties, and Brokerage Costs

[Gary]

I see that many people have been receiving Smart Strings and other related light-generating items in the mail over the past few weeks.

Being Canadian, I'm familiar with the associated costs of Customs, Duties, and Brokerage fees when ordering packages from the United States. I was wondering whether people have been paying these costs for their orders from China.

When responding, can you please indicate:

• Where you live (i.e. United States, Canada, or...)
• The value of your order
• How much you were dinged in extra costs?

[RJ]

Is that crickets I here in the background?   

RJ

[chrisatpsu]

I live in the US
I purchased $0.00 so far
So far I have not been dinged any fees so far.


: )

[jeffcoast]

I thought they did away with all those sorts of fees in the US a few years ago? That has lead to all the outsourcing that has made China such a huge manufacturer for all sorts of products for the US market.

[Gary]

Is that crickets I here in the background?   

RJ

Am I being ignorant of something that's supposed to be blatantly obvious? 

[rm357]

Most favored trading country (or something like that)

Not sure of the details, but i think it gives both nations unrestricted market access.

Now i need to google it...

RM

[smartcontrols]

I believe our great RRowan posted the link to the details you are looking for in this thread.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

[RJ]

Is that crickets I here in the background?   

RJ

Am I being ignorant of something that's supposed to be blatantly obvious? 

No I was being funny,  Normally when a user asks about such info on public forums no one replies.

RJ

[JimWright]

I live in the US. They will deliver mine on Monday. But the delivery notice does not say that I owe anything so I don't think that we will have any customs fees due.

[Gary]

So I guess we don't have any fellow Canadians who ordered yet? Or are they too shy to post? 

Luckily, I have my brother who lives in Seattle that I can ship stuff to and get my tax/duty/free exemption while I visit for 48 hours or more, but shipping directly to my place in Canada would be nicer.

[SteveMaris]

Made me laugh...

[taybrynn]

I think is depends on your country of origin and applicable laws for the amount of the items and the classification of those items.

Most are not having any import duties as the amount is too low or they do not qualify.

[lightsup]

I am from New Brunswick. I ordered from China and Hong Kong in small amounts  shipped by mail and I never had to pay no fees of any kind.

[taybrynn]

Most don't have an issue.

If you have a $10k order ... you might pay an extra 8% tariff.

[bugless]

I called DHL and they said their brokerage fee's would be about $7 on a $300 order

Doug

I'm in Surrey, BC