Mailed a pkg back to Canada - so annoyed

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I am here to complain and forewarn about how you send pkgs back to Canada

I've sent plenty of things big and small back home over the last 7 years...biggest or most expensive was a gamecube for my nieces once at Christmas.

• I recently sent 2 pkgs containing back to school stuff - backpack, pair of shoes, socks, assorted pens,pencils in each box. Total value was $100 each.
• I mailed it through Fedex at the local Parcels Etc. store - they guy had me write the contents of each box and approx value as usual
• 3 days later I got a call from Fdedx asking me what was in the boxes....I asked why that wasn't on the label since that info had been collected...they of course had no idea why
• 2 days later another call from Fedex this time asking what was in the other box - apparently the 2 boxes had somehow been separated despite the fact that it was a 'shipment of 2 items'. They also had no idea why
• Nieces got their stuf - everyone is happy

Now 2 weeks later - my Dad (where the pkgs were sent) got a bill from Canada Customs for approx $50 which he has to pay on the contents.

So I am trying to figure out who I should complain to? I have never had to pay anything extra for gifts sent in the mail - esp something of such low value.

One friend told me it has to do with the private Shippers like Fedex or UPS crossing the border- brokerage fees? I have to admit I usually use USPS and have never had a problem.

so pi$$ed

[jerod_gavel 16]

There are two different items that are specific when shipping outside the U.S.A.

1. Carriage Value (for insurance)

2. Customs Value.

If you are shipping, always write $10 for Customs. And then write gift on the description for family.

If you are shipping to someone other than family, make sure you list this as the value you paid in a store. Usually you can get away with this because the family member did not pay for anything (it was a gift).

On carriage value, write 0. This will prevent you from paying on insurance for the item. It is a waste, and gets exponentially more expensive.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I doubt lying about the value of my pkg contents would help the case - I'm sure they xrayed and can see roughly what was inside so they'd know it wasn't $10. I wonder if I missed writing gift.

I think the main sisue was that the Parcel's etc guy was a jerk and didn't give me the proper form. When I've used USPS...I have always truthfully written the value and my family has never been charged extra.

There are two different items that are specific when shipping outside the U.S.A.

1. Carriage Value (for insurance)

2. Customs Value.

If you are shipping, always write $10 for Customs. And then write gift on the description for family.

If you are shipping to someone other than family, make sure you list this as the value you paid in a store. Usually you can get away with this because the family member did not pay for anything (it was a gift).

On carriage value, write 0. This will prevent you from paying on insurance for the item. It is a waste, and gets exponentially more expensive.

[jerod_gavel 16]

I doubt lying about the value of my pkg contents would help the case - I'm sure they xrayed and can see roughly what was inside so they'd know it wasn't $10. I wonder if I missed writing gift.

I think the main sisue was that the Parcel's etc guy was a jerk and didn't give me the proper form. When I've used USPS...I have always truthfully written the value and my family has never been charged extra.

I never said lie about it. I said write that the contents are gifts. They are looking for people who are selling items and not paying for customs duties. These are usually not applied to gifts for family members. Hence why I said write $10 value. This is normal. If you send a package every day with an X-box in it, they would probably be suspicious of what your family is doing with them. But a one off gift is not suspicious at all. The $10 value would be from your shipping charges. Otherwise, you are not claiming the content has any value. (You family isn't making a profit off this.) They should have had you fill out a customs declaration form that says anything below a certain amount does not qualify for customs duties. I would recommend you go to a FEDEX office directly next time. They can help you out with the forms, and would be able to explain what boxes to check and how to write everything correctly for gifts to family. As well, they can give you the Harmonize codes for everything.

[Kimbear 53]

I dont know about Fedex but i'm assuming its the same as UPS..they always charge brokerage fees no matter what and its a real pita. Usually i send stuff USPS since its cheaper, even if it takes forever.

[Teddy B 17,252]

USPS is the best and least expensive way to send packages to Canada.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Ineresting so I wonder if USPS builds the borkerage fees into whatever they charge - there was absolutely no mention made of these fees when I mailed my pkg, but I've learned my lesson. LIke I said I have mailed many pkgs back home...just fun gifts for people, never anything super expensive.

I'll be phone Fedex regardless

[Teddy B 17,252]

Ineresting so I wonder if USPS builds the borkerage fees into whatever they charge - there was absolutely no mention made of these fees when I mailed my pkg, but I've learned my lesson. LIke I said I have mailed many pkgs back home...just fun gifts for people, never anything super expensive.

I'll be phone Fedex regardless

I know USPS and Canada Post work together, whereas UPS and FedEx are their own entity. How that affects brokerage and customs fees I'm not sure, but I don't believe USPS needs to use brokerage services because Canada Post acts as their broker. I believe Canada post gets the same free service from USPS on packages from Canada to the US. Below are two links, for USPS to Canada and UPS to Canada. It appears that UPS charges an "entrance fee" along with brokerage fees, duties and taxes. USPS appears to only charge duties and taxes if applicable.

http://about.usps.com/publications/pub141/canada.htm

http://www.ups.com/media/en/ca/ca_brokerage.pdf

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Update - phone US Fedex cust service who then gave me the number for Canadian Fedex Cust service. The guy was really nice and explained to me that it's because Fedex or UPS are private carriers and Canadian custom's border agents to be there because their shipments are reviewed - each and every one. Canada Customs applies tax on any gift over $60 now-a-days when you're shipping (and say not driving them over the border yourself) and on top of that the markup and taxes on certain items (ie: adult shoes which were in my gift pkgs) is insane.

They actually revalued my packages - citing that the used Ugg slippers I sent my niece (because I didn't like them anymore after a year of occassional use) were worth much more than I said.

There were actually 2 bills - $50.94 and $34.50 - 1 for each pkg - out-f-ing-rageous.

They also explained that using USPS is generally better because they hand over to the Canadian Postal Service who doesn't have the time or manpower to review every pkg so most times things slip through without extra charges ever occuring. I've been ona roll for 7 yrs now I guess

[Flames9_RN 358]

Whenever I send gifts back to Canada...just use USPS, and no one has ever been charged Custom fees!

[gad33 47]

It really is hit and miss when you will be charged customs/import on packages sent to Canada. But they can charge for goods over the value of $60.00 even for gifts. Canada Post has a $5.00 processing fee but Fed Ex and UPS are higher.

As annoying and costly as this is, divide the fee amongst all the other parcels you have sent so the amount is lower and try to make yourself feel better.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I always send Christmas packages back for my family with all of them in one box, if I can manage it. I list the value of items and I also take all of the receipts or stickers from the gifts and attach them to one page with the item written next to it, if necessary, showing the price. I then total up the list of items for each person in the package, making sure that no one person gets more than the duty free limit and then pay the one shipping fee. That list with the original price stickers or receipts on it goes in with the package documentation. I used to use UPS but after they royally fouled up Christmas for my family last year both here in the US and in Canada by taking 5 weeks to deliver what was supposed to take 5 days, I am only using USPS. USPS has a $5 brokerage fee but whenever I have sent anything to Canada there has never been any additional charges that the recipient has had to pay. I do get a lot of things on sale or at discount rates and that is why I include the price stickers and receipts - it shows that I am declaring the true price paid for the item.

The only real down-side is that the recipients see the cost of the items which seems really sucky when it is a gift.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Kathryn41

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

I send things ALL the time from the US to Canada (where ALL of my family lives).

I do NOT use USPS, it is, for me, much more expensive than UPS. Example - I just sent a 12X12X6 box that weighed approx. 8 pounds to Canada. USPS = $41.77 UPS = 26.54. So usually I go onto UPS.com and fill in the customs paperwork online (description of what I'm sending, the value, how many and where it was manufactured). After I'm done, I print it off and bring that paperwork to the UPS store. They resist putting that paperwork into the customs sleeve sometimes (actually this last time the lady at the UPS store got REALLY offended that I was asking her to include my paperwork from UPS.com but I insisted).

Anywho, I don't usually have any issues, sometimes they will call the receiver (my mom or sister) and ask if they are expecting a package from me and what's inside....

A Canadian UPS agent told me once to write "UNSOLICITED GIFTS" on my paperwork (which I have) and it's been a relatively smooth process....

[Flames9_RN 358]

We just gave up sending gifts!! I just send $$$$ to my sisters so they can go out and buy them stuff!! Rather give them the extra shipping $$$ than the mail companies,lol

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Just a funny side note - I received an email from a friend today in Ontario thanking me for the package I had sent to her last July. She just received it today! There was a message stamped on the front of the package - "Was Sent To Thailand"! The correct address was clearly printed on the box but somehow it took the scenic route! It was sent through USPS.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Kathryn41