Problems with shipping to Canada

I'm Canadian, and I end up going to Seattle to pick stuff up, because CANADIAN CUSTOMS are a pack of petty rogues. In fact I'm in the US right now picking up an architectural model that I had a friend of mine build. He builds violins, guitars, manolins etc...

(I can't resist making a plug for him - he does impeccable work - he is an as yet undiscovered mastercraftsmen of stringed instruments - his company is called 'Brave Old World' guitars. tel# 509-493-0230. He deserves this credit! (and he's a terrible self promoter)

If I were to have it shipped directly to Canada it would have cost me up to 500$ in taxes and duty.

On the rare occasion that I do use Fedex, I use air, not ground. Brokerage fees are included with air so it ends up costing about the same.

I have shipped to Canada several times in the past without any problems at all. I was under the impression that if the Canadian buyer refuses to pay the duty taxes he could not take possesion of the shipment. Canadians here on Audiogon are friends as well as some of our best members. Can't let one or two isolated incidents destroy that!

Hi,I am canadian,and I bought so many things from US through USPS,UPS,every time I received the parcel I have to pay custom tax and management fee before you take the parcel.I don,t think the delievery guy will let you take the parcel without payment.One thing I don,t undestand when the shipper from United Stated pay the cost to Fedex or UPS to ship to Canada,the receiver of Canada has to pay the fee to Fedex or UPS again.From my experience,the USPS is better than UPS and Fedex.

I am Canadian and I had many items bought in the USA and shipped by Fedex, and never had any problems, I did pay duties and taxes as I should. Here is my story, one day I get a item delivered to me at home which I bought in the USA delivered by fedex. They want me to pay them a broker fee for clearing the package, I had ask the seller to put on the package that I would clear my own customs, and he did. I questioned the issue with fedex and they told me that I couldn't clear my own package. They told me that they had an agreement with the Canadian goverment that they would clear all packages coming into Canada. I replied I don't think so, let me look into it. Let me just say that the price of clearing items going to Canada is very expensive, and I found out that fedex had lied to me, and did let me clear my own items. I think the item cost $35.00 and the clearing cost for customs was as much. Also many poeple don't know how to use the free trade agreement between USA and Canada. If the item is made in the USA the trade agreement may apply, which means no duty just provincial taxes apply. For the Canadians who are not paying there share on these transaction shame on them, they should be reported to the gon and suspended. Seller should not have to pay any duties no clearence fees or taxes, why should they. I now reside in the UK and I have to pay all the same here, clearence fees, vat 17.5% taxes and duties and I do.

I just bought an amp from someone in Canada and everything was smooth, 3 day shipping, through customs via FEDEX, no problems. Dealing with the exchange rate was a small hassle.