Leon Paul to Canada Duty Nightmare

[Fencergrl]

What about for me? I'm about to order a bunch ($600+ USD) of stuff for fencing, and I need to know if I'm going to pay a fortune in duties if I buy from LP like I do from F.net (shipping)

Like I and others have said before (in another thread) we usually don't pay duties when we order from LP just taxes because of the way they declare their goods. If you're concerned about calculation errors, see if they'll ship the item with a commercial invoice using pounds instead of USD.

Commercial invoices with the goods will eliminate any future issues of charging the wrong currency. Commercial invoices are simply invoices used for "custom purposes only" (and usually state this in big letters on the top of the invoice). The new issue LP will have will be idiot customers who will think they received a bill & are being charged twice. I know this because I've spent many years with different companies explaining to the not-so bright clients that the commercial invoice shipped with the product really, really, really is as stated "For Customs Purposes Only" and it is not a bill but part of the required paperwork for international shipments.

When I order from f-net I usually pay duty as well... hence the difference in your customs bill. Naturally this will be even more if you allow f-net to ship via UPS, as they take a huge chunk for brokerage.

It's not about what you order so much or even what customs agent you get. It's how your vendor fills out the customs declaration.

[Wetmelon]

I c.

I'm still a resident of North Carolina. I might buy the stuff in the states come Xmas break and then just drive it across - no duties cuz I'm not "importing" anything... it's just there temporarily while I'm at school.

[Fencergrl]

Exactly! You own it if you reside in the US and are just visiting Canada. They may ask if you're bring gifts etc... so you might have to make a declaration, but that doesn't mean that you have to pay anything.

[Fencergrl]

Bring stuff across as part of your personal items is really the easiest and cheapest method of dealing with customs.

1) because it's easy to tuck some fencing items you bought at a tournament (and perhaps used) in with your fencing gear & not declare it.

2) They often wave you through if you are just honest with them and the value of the goods isn't substantial.... 14% on $100 isn't worth making some agent inside do paperwork... so they just send you on your way.

The only way you pay for small items is if you use a Nexus card, because they always process those because you self-declare. And you always self declare because they reserve the right to take away your card if they catch you not declaring.

It's the commercial folks that get burned... in time and money.

[MAni]

I ordered a shipment of 520 $ and got charged 110 $ tax....really sucks

[Fencergrl]

Taxes have to be paid whether you buy locally or internationally. If you're going to ***** about taxes then why just on fencing gear?

[Wetmelon]

Lol +1 Fencergrl

Yea, when i brought everything over for school (3 grand in computer equipment) and a lot in clothes, they didn't even ask... they just waved me through. They were more worried as to whether or not the car we were towing was staying in Canada