Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello, I recently started a trade with someone that lives in Canada. I've heard horror stories about shipping to/from Canada but I've also heard some people have no problem other than increased shipping. Has anyone had experience. good or bad, when shipping to Canada? Is there anything I should do/expect in the long run? Any help would be great. Thanks in advanced.

Canada customs is horrible (speaking from experience here). The threshold for imports before you pay tax in Canada is also really low ($20 IIRC). Anything over that and you pay GST on it.

Yes, it is apparently very expensive to ship overseas from the US. The facts that we share the longest contiguous border and most of our population lives within a few hours drive of said border seem to be irrelevant.

I bought a toy train from someone literally living about 80km away from my place and since it had to be shipped to Pitney Bowes' warehouse, the shipping was twice the price of the train. Taxes? 5$.

Within Canada, shipping is cheap and surprisingly fast. Once something clears custom, even on the west coast, it takes 2 days to get to Quebec, on my lap.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you've heard horror stories from Canada, I can't even begin to imagine what you've heard of Italy or Russia...

Canada customs is just like any other country's customs service. If you declare a significant amount as commercial goods, they may tax it -- or they may not. For example, I often buy from Secret Weapon Miniatures, and I never get taxed. My orders are usually around $100 USD (because of their shipping brackets).

Personal gifts, within reason, are not taxed, though, so if you're sending toy soldiers to a friend, it won't be taxed.

Another popular alternative for people within driving range of the US-Canada border (which is to say, most Canadians, as most of our major cities are pretty close to the border) are parcel receiving services. For example:

http://mbistore.com/

Americans can send parcels there, and Canadians drive across and for a couple of bucks pick it up. It is extremely popular for Canadians buying goods, for example, from Amazon.com (instead of .ca). Or, when the dollar was at parity, Games Workshop, LOL -- instant 20% discount! For those who aren't familiar, Canadian prices are about 20% higher than US ones; right now, the difference in currency is probably around 18%, but historically, it fluctuates anywhere from USD being 25% higher to CAD being 10% higher, so there are some real cross-border shopping opportunities!

Most of the horror stories are from a decade plus ago in all honesty. Most of it had to do with stuff getting damaged realy badly.

I haven't had or heard of issues like that for YEARS.

Thank alot guys, any idea what the rate for tax is coming in to the US? Or does it vary. Has anyones package ever been held up by customs?

willb2064 wrote:
Canada customs is horrible (speaking from experience here). The threshold for imports before you pay tax in Canada is also really low ($20 IIRC). Anything over that and you pay GST on it.

ive ordered lots of stuff including 40k from discount game store over the years and never had any problems.

the threshold is more like 49 dollars actually.

as long as you're not an idiot and declare less than 49, mark as a gift and write "toys" and not "laser guns" on the package you should be ok.

Regarding the logistics of the Canadian system, I've had no issues and i've sent a number of things back and forth over the border. The only issues are the price as people have already mentioned.

The ridiculousness of the system mostly comes down to the subsidies that the majority of canadians have to pay so that people living out in the boonies can get the same service. One thing I miss about no longer living in Korea is that there, it cost $1-2 to ship a package between destinations that could be 4-8 hours away. Not so here.

Anyways you can trust your stuff with the Canadian system at least as much as the US one.

So a good idea would be to mark it as a gift and under a certain value?

 OniTakai wrote:
So a good idea would be to mark it as a gift and under a certain value?

Only if it's a gift, and under a certain value.

Falsifying legal documentation in an effort to save a few bucks is rarely a good idea.

Any idea what the range of taxes of gifts over exemption are? It is a gift but i don't want to mark it under its value.

kb305 wrote:

willb2064 wrote:
Canada customs is horrible (speaking from experience here). The threshold for imports before you pay tax in Canada is also really low ($20 IIRC). Anything over that and you pay GST on it.

ive ordered lots of stuff including 40k from discount game store over the years and never had any problems.

the threshold is more like 49 dollars actually.

as long as you're not an idiot and declare less than 49, mark as a gift and write "toys" and not "laser guns" on the package you should be ok.

Alot of times it's up to the customes agent if you pay or not from my experience. Fill it out properly and hope they don't charge. Any fines you pay for labeling it wrong will excited what you would pay anyway.

 insaniak wrote:

 OniTakai wrote:
So a good idea would be to mark it as a gift and under a certain value?

Only if it's a gift, and under a certain value.

Falsifying legal documentation in an effort to save a few bucks is rarely a good idea.

mhm, and what is the real value in the case of used warhammer? obviously, it's not msrp or even discounted price.

used/painted warhammer can often sell for next to nothing.

and it is kind of like a gift, because you are trading with each other, not actually selling merchandise IMO.

kb305 wrote:

mhm, and what is the real value in the case of used warhammer? obviously, it's not msrp or even discounted price.

And there's the issue , really . I can't speak for Canada specifically, but in some countries if the customs guys think that something is being deliberately undervalued, they'll just slug you for what they think it should be worth.

Theoretically that happens here, although our thousand dollar limit before taxes or duties apply means it's rarely an issue for miniatures.


And that aside , personally I don't regard 'there are low odds of me being caught' as a particularly good reason to break the law. YMMV.

Thanks guys, i'll file it as accurate as possible and hope for the best

In my experience: If the package rattles, even at low values, customs will be more likely to open it. In my past experience, I've only had to pay customs on 20% of my orders. YMMV.

@kb305: Whenever I send trades: I'd mark the package as "used model kit" and set whatever price you want.

Thanks for the tip, used model kit definitely sounds like a good thing to list it as.

Canada post is also pretty fussy about the format of address used (as I know to my cost as I've had stuff I've sent to my uncle over there bounced back) and where it should go on the letter/package, the link below goes into detail

(and remember you MUST have a return address on there too, again details on the link below)

https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/kb/details.page?article=addressing_mail_accu&cattype=kb&cat=addressing&subcat=accuracy





and for customs form they say

•an accurate description of the contents and quantity of items (e.g. if the item contains a cotton t-shirt, specify 100% cotton, new or used). Do not use general terms such as “GIFT” or “CLOTHES”. Distinct items should be listed separately. A proper description means customs is less likely to open the package

•the value of contents and currency

•the insured value (when coverage is purchased) or declared value for carriage

•the net weight

•the signature of the sender (REALLY important, make sure you sign)

...Yes, but all of the above you expect from a proper civilised country, eh?