Anyone Order From Canada Lately?

[Foozle]

I just ordered an I/S tank bib from Scott at Talisman Leathers in Ontario (CANADA) who, in the past, I've purchased from before.

Before filling the order, he kindly informed me that I may incur a 35% duty fee plus a $15 - $20 brokerage fee - and that he'd understand if I wanted to cancel my order.

However, I recently purchased a pair of Honda OEM timing belt tensioners from a vendor in Japan (~$140 USD) and was similarly told to expect an additional charge to be collected by DHL upon delivery.  It never happened - so the whole tariff thing has me confused.  Perhaps it relates to items over a certain value?  Or can I expect to be billed at a later date?

Anyone have an insights or experiences?  Granted, a leather tank bib isn't exactly a high-dollar item . . . . I just want to know what to expect.

Terry

[t-man403]

I insist when ordering out of the states, that shipping HAS to be done via usps only. That way it gets delivered to me via Canada post. When shipped this way, especially with items that are used, there is no duty or tax but if shipping happens with fedex/ups or others, there is always a fee at the door even on used items hence my insistence that usps gets used. I have turned away deliveries due to the wrong shipping company being used.

[Rams]

I honestly have no idea but, this is the response I got when I asked a Canadian acquaintance.  I doubt this will answer your question but, here is what he said.

Originally posted by Patrick:

Yes... although I suspect that post might be old, as the situation has changed somewhat over the years.

Cross-border shopping/shipping (from the US to Canada) is something that I've dealt with for decades, always on the receiving end. (I've never shipped anything across the border to the States.

Yes, it used to be the case that using the postal service was always the best way to minimize duty charges and brokerage fees. The postal service didn't charge a brokerage fee, and duty wouldn't be collected at all if the value of the shipment was less than 20 dollars. That may or may not be the same situation when the shipment is going the other way (from Canada to the US).

In the last few years, another option has become available, where the vendor themself collects the duty prior to shipping (the amount is added to the original bill), and the shipping company is then not involved in collecting the duty... therefore no outrageous brokerage fees. So in this situation, it's fine if a private carrier (as opposed to the postal service) is used for shipping. RockAuto now ships in this manner, and it's worked out great.

Of course, the whole situation has now become a lot more complicated with Donald Trump wishing to apply variable tariffs on various items... and it seems to change week to week. So... it's difficult to give a definitive answer on the best way to now ship across the border with the way things currently stand.

Rams

[Foozle]

Thanks, fellas - I appreciate the input.

After reading about UPS (the proposed vendor) levying brokerage fees that can exceed the cost of the item, I cancelled the order.  Scott (Talisman Leathers) told me to check back again when things have eased.

There had apparently been a de minimus threshold value on items < $800, but that exemption ended the end of August.

I understand the purpose of the tariff is to encourage domestic purchases.  On this note, does anyone know of another vendor making quality tank bibs for our aging Valkyries?

Terry