Shipping from Canada to California

[RPSharman]

Hi,

Looking for recent and actual experience in terms of buying stuff from Canada and having it shipped to California.

I am curious about duty and/or California use tax.

It's a private sale of a $900 item. The item is only worth it to me if I am not assessed import duty. I know I am supposed to pay the "use tax", but I don't want that decision made for me.

Thanks,

Robert

[pvanstry]

I don't know about duties ( all tought I have sold many things to my fellow Americans and never heard back that they had to pay extra ), but one thing for sure shipping cost more that way vs the opposite. Canada to USA is usually around 30-50% more in shipping than the same but reverse.

[André Boisvert]

I sold an item worth very close to that to a guy in California in May. Since I've had bad experiences shipping stuff from the US to Montreal with Fedex and especially UPS (very expensive brokerage fees to pay at the door), and much better luck with the mail, that's what I recommended. ExpressPost/USPS with signature required was about $45 IIRC, and buyer didn't have extras to pay at the door. About 4 days.

[Henchman]

Mail.

Stay away from UPS and Fed-Ex.

UPS is the worst with their out of control brokerage fees.

[bleueblancrouge]

i haven't sold to the u.s. but buying from the u.s. i know that due to the free trade agreement, all electronic items do not have duty added on. so i can only assume that is a 2 way street.

[fieldmixer]

Stay away from UPS at all costs. No pun intended. There should be a class action lawsuit. Their "brokerage fees are absolutely disgusting. Robbery with no recourse.

USPS or CanadaPost always.

[jwill]

Just sold an item in Canada, my bank debited an additional 19$ on a 225$ check because of value difference in currencies and the recipient told me he had to pay a 50$ import tariff! JHW....I too used USPS no problem