Outrageous Canadian Customs Fees!!!!

ILOVEGUCCI · Jul 15th, 2008, 08:32 PM

I bought a pair of Gucci Boots off eBay for $770. The seller sent it to me as a gift with low value, not tags, no receitp. Canadian customs open the package and decidde that the value of the item is $1500 and they want to charge me $500 customs fees which I refuse to pay...What can I do at this point? I really want the boots but I'm not paying those fees. The office is closed today and I will have to phone them tomorrow but I have a feeling they'll want me to pay and then dispute the charge. What do i do??
I stated the situation with my buyer and says to call customs and insist that this is a gift from her to me but I'm afraid customs will say just pay the customs fees an open a claim and an investigation will happen the...

print*model · Jul 15th, 2008, 08:50 PM

Glad you created your own thread. You should be able to get more help now.....

Anyway, from what I understand, it doesn't matter if the form is marked as a gift or not. Customs can and will still charge you fees. Technically, your seller should've marked the form as merchandise and valued the contents at $770.00. That way, you would've had to pay fees based on the true auction value and not some number customs decided to pull out of thin air.

It's illegal to falsify customs forms. I really don't know how customs will handle this other than perhaps sending the package back to the seller if you refuse to accept it. If that happens, she can always fill out the form honestly and re-send the package to you. Good luck with this!

ILOVEGUCCI · Jul 15th, 2008, 08:54 PM

Yeah I guess you are right. I believe I will have to send it bag as you stated and have the seller resend it to me again. Would the seller have to pay shpping costs on her end for this item? Would I be liable for this cost?

Even if she declares the true value should she include a copy of the eBay receipt in the bag so they'd know that I only paid $770?

Quote:

Originally Posted by print*model

Glad you created your own thread. You should be able to get more help now.....

Anyway, from what I understand, it doesn't matter if the form is marked as a gift or not. Customs can and will still charge you fees. Technically, your seller should've marked the form as merchandise and valued the contents at $770.00. That way, you would've had to pay fees based on the true auction value and not some number customs decided to pull out of thin air.

It's illegal to falsify customs forms. I really don't know how customs will handle this other than perhaps sending the package back to the seller if you refuse to accept it. If that happens, she can always fill out the form honestly and re-send the package to you. Good luck with this!

PinkSuadeSoho · Jul 15th, 2008, 08:57 PM

That is strange, how did they come up with that figure in the first place. I've never heard of that, quite odd. This is exactly why they were discussing why sellers don't want to ship to Canada. Let us know what happens.

print*model · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEGUCCI

Yeah I guess you are right. I believe I will have to send it bag as you stated and have the seller resend it to me again. Would the seller have to pay shpping costs on her end for this item? Would I be liable for this cost?

Even if she declares the true value should she include a copy of the eBay receipt in the bag so they'd know that I only paid $770?

I was thinking about whether or not the seller would have to pay any charges to the package back and I honestly don't know. Hopefully, someone else here can answer that.

I ship to Canada quite often and I've never included any paperwork in with the package but I suppose it couldn't hurt.

biggestbaglover · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Yup...this is what happens! It has happened to me before also. Actually, you are stuck with the fee as the charge is assessed at what Canada customs deems the item to be worth, not necessarily what you paid for it. So...even if you send it back and the customs form is filled out for $770, you will still pay the original customs fee as it is based on the "assessed value". IT SUCKS!

hwjfj2006 · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

That is strange, how did they come up with that figure in the first place. I've never heard of that, quite odd. This is exactly why they were discussing why sellers don't want to ship to Canada. Let us know what happens.

That is real! I sent a coach bag set to my friend as gift and the custom finally charged her $30 custom fee. Sounds like gift thing is not working. I will be very careful of sending package to Canada.

PinkSuadeSoho · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:14 PM

^ Of course it is real^

they do random spot checks on packages. What's odd is the figure they came up with.

biggestbaglover · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

^ Of course it is real^

they do random spot checks on packages. What's odd is the figure they came up with. They can't charge you a customs fee for a gift, that I know for a fact.

^^^Actually, they CAN charge you a customs fee for a gift. They CAN and they WILL if your package happens to be opened. I know this as it has happened to me.

PinkSuadeSoho · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:24 PM

^ I've never been charged for anything sent as a gift ever! What is the point in marking as a gift? Also, quite often I have had things that have been opened and re-taped, and there wasn't a fee/duty tax ever applied.

mememeow · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:24 PM

The best thing would be for the seller to ship it to a mailbox ( u can open one) close to the US border where you live. And then you can drive down and wear it on your way back. Even if you were to spend a week in the States, if you declare the boots on your back into the country,you would have to pay duty, because the value of the boots is a lot higher than the maximum merchandise amount you are allowed to bring back into Canada.
I often shop in the States, but have everything ship to my family within the States and when I get the chance drive or fly down to puck them up.

biggestbaglover · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

^ I've never been charged for anything sent as a gift ever! What is the point in marking as a gift? Also, quite often I have had things that have been opened and re-taped, and there wasn't a fee/duty tax ever applied.

Consider yourself very fortunate! This had never happened to me either until very recently! I think that they are really cracking down.

LouiseyPeasey · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

^ Of course it is real^

they do random spot checks on packages. What's odd is the figure they came up with. They can't charge you a customs fee for a gift, that I know for a fact.

Yes, of course they can charge you customs for a gift! Every country has a limit on the value of a gift that can be received without customs charges, and it's usually very low - in Canada, it's something like $60, in the US it's $100. If the value of the gift exceeds that amount, they can and will charge customs on the full assessed value. In the US, the value of merchandise that you can receive without duty is $200 - that is double the amount you can receive as a gift. Always declare the item as merchandise, and include paperwork to prove the declared value - otherwise, the customs broker is free to determine the value.

jadecee · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:28 PM

Only gifts under a certain amount aren't subject to custom fees. I can't remember the exact amount anymore but it's some really low amount like $20 or $50.

As for the earlier discussion, if the seller is doing you a favour and marking it at a low value - if you send it back it definitely shouldn't be their responsibility to pay for shipping to send it to you a second time! It's not their fault customs fees got levied and the seller gains nothing for lying on the customs form for you.

PinkSuadeSoho · Jul 15th, 2008, 09:29 PM

Again, it may be a different reason, for your case vs. mine. I have things delivered on a daily basis and there is no reason for them to charge me.

Jul 15th, 2008, 08:32 PM	#1
ILOVEGUCCI Member Location: Canada	Outrageous Canadian Customs Fees!!!! I bought a pair of Gucci Boots off eBay for $770. The seller sent it to me as a gift with low value, not tags, no receitp. Canadian customs open the package and decidde that the value of the item is $1500 and they want to charge me $500 customs fees which I refuse to pay...What can I do at this point? I really want the boots but I'm not paying those fees. The office is closed today and I will have to phone them tomorrow but I have a feeling they'll want me to pay and then dispute the charge. What do i do?? I stated the situation with my buyer and says to call customs and insist that this is a gift from her to me but I'm afraid customs will say just pay the customs fees an open a claim and an investigation will happen the...

Jul 15th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#4
PinkSuadeSoho Live the Life U Love Location: British Properties,Beautiful By Nature! Spectacular by SIGHT! :)	That is strange, how did they come up with that figure in the first place. I've never heard of that, quite odd. This is exactly why they were discussing why sellers don't want to ship to Canada. Let us know what happens. __________________ Close your eyes to the faults of others What is needed is less: less greed, less fear, less hatred, less prejudice Nothing can make your life more beautiful than perpetual kindness

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:14 PM	#8
PinkSuadeSoho Live the Life U Love Location: British Properties,Beautiful By Nature! Spectacular by SIGHT! :)	^ Of course it is real^ they do random spot checks on packages. What's odd is the figure they came up with. __________________ Close your eyes to the faults of others What is needed is less: less greed, less fear, less hatred, less prejudice Nothing can make your life more beautiful than perpetual kindness Last edited by PinkSuadeSoho; Jul 15th, 2008 at 09:38 PM.

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:24 PM	#10
PinkSuadeSoho Live the Life U Love Location: British Properties,Beautiful By Nature! Spectacular by SIGHT! :)	^ I've never been charged for anything sent as a gift ever! What is the point in marking as a gift? Also, quite often I have had things that have been opened and re-taped, and there wasn't a fee/duty tax ever applied. __________________ Close your eyes to the faults of others What is needed is less: less greed, less fear, less hatred, less prejudice Nothing can make your life more beautiful than perpetual kindness

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:24 PM	#11
mememeow Will soon be banned. Location: Canada	The best thing would be for the seller to ship it to a mailbox ( u can open one) close to the US border where you live. And then you can drive down and wear it on your way back. Even if you were to spend a week in the States, if you declare the boots on your back into the country,you would have to pay duty, because the value of the boots is a lot higher than the maximum merchandise amount you are allowed to bring back into Canada. I often shop in the States, but have everything ship to my family within the States and when I get the chance drive or fly down to puck them up. __________________ Wishlist: On a purse ban since I will moving to my first house! RM Nikki night blue (waiting for a great deal!)

Jul 15th, 2008, 08:50 PM	#2
print*model Member	Glad you created your own thread. You should be able to get more help now..... Anyway, from what I understand, it doesn't matter if the form is marked as a gift or not. Customs can and will still charge you fees. Technically, your seller should've marked the form as merchandise and valued the contents at $770.00. That way, you would've had to pay fees based on the true auction value and not some number customs decided to pull out of thin air. It's illegal to falsify customs forms. I really don't know how customs will handle this other than perhaps sending the package back to the seller if you refuse to accept it. If that happens, she can always fill out the form honestly and re-send the package to you. Good luck with this!

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#6
biggestbaglover Member	Yup...this is what happens! It has happened to me before also. Actually, you are stuck with the fee as the charge is assessed at what Canada customs deems the item to be worth, not necessarily what you paid for it. So...even if you send it back and the customs form is filled out for $770, you will still pay the original customs fee as it is based on the "assessed value". IT SUCKS!

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:28 PM	#14
jadecee Member Location: Great White North	Only gifts under a certain amount aren't subject to custom fees. I can't remember the exact amount anymore but it's some really low amount like $20 or $50. As for the earlier discussion, if the seller is doing you a favour and marking it at a low value - if you send it back it definitely shouldn't be their responsibility to pay for shipping to send it to you a second time! It's not their fault customs fees got levied and the seller gains nothing for lying on the customs form for you. __________________ Blissful completion of must-have collection - now everything else is just gravy!

Jul 15th, 2008, 09:29 PM	#15
PinkSuadeSoho Live the Life U Love Location: British Properties,Beautiful By Nature! Spectacular by SIGHT! :)	Again, it may be a different reason, for your case vs. mine. I have things delivered on a daily basis and there is no reason for them to charge me. __________________ Close your eyes to the faults of others What is needed is less: less greed, less fear, less hatred, less prejudice Nothing can make your life more beautiful than perpetual kindness