A question for Canadians

I'm considering the possibility of buying a lens on E-Bay, from a reputable seller in the US. Any other Canadians out there BTDT who can tell me what percentage of sale price it's likely to cost in customs duties/taxes/whatever when it crosses the border? Thanks for your help.

I believe that they might get you on the full sales tax (GST and PST). There isn't any duty on camera lenses. Don't use UPS for shipping, they will charge you a huge amount of $$ for brokerage. Try to use USPS, when it arrives at Canada Post you pay $5 brokerage plus taxes.

Check out http://www.photoprice.​ca …uty-brokerage-demystified for info on buying lenes from the US.

Thanks, that's very helpful!

ceegee wrote in post #5352565
Any other Canadians out there BTDT who can tell me what percentage of sale price it's likely to cost in customs duties/taxes/whatever when it crosses the border?

I did not order from eBay but did purchase a used lens from another forumer in the states. When the person put the full declared value on the package and sent with USPS, the incoming canada post courier charged me full GST + PST + $4.95 handling fee. To lower that cost, you might want to convince the other person to put the declared value at something lower than what the lens would otherwise cost, and perhaps wave it off as a gift. However, the seller probably might not like it b/c the insurance might only cover up to the declared amount.

I bought a lot of stuff from the United States (B&H) over the past two years and had it shipped to Canada. First of all, buy while the Canadian dollar is strong, then expect your credit card company to skim off the top by giving you an exchange rate that is about 3% less favorable than the rate you see shown on the news every night. Now, the duties you will be charged depends on where the items you purchased were manufactured and what they are. I am pretty sure that Japanese camera equipment coming into Canada from the States is not charged duties. Camera related stuff that was originally made in China or Italy will be charged duties. (It's 6.5% for stuff from Italy, and I think less for Chinese items). Finally you will have to pay the full GST and provincial sales tax for your province (unless you are a company with a registered GST number, then you only pay the GST portion). I am not an expert with regards to this stuff, but this information reflects my general experience.

If your item from ebay is used, it may be treated different at the border (charged less perhaps).

By the way, the last order that I had UPS import for me was done so free of charge. I do not have my own broker so they got the shipment through customs for me, and did not charge anything. Maybe its a new policy?

In regards to UPS brokerage fees...

You will be charged ridiculous brokerage fees if your item crosses the border on the surface. (i.e. UPS standard/ground)

Brokerage is INCLUDED in the shipping price if your item crosses the border in the air. (i.e. UPS Expedited/Express/Worl​dwide Saver)

You will have to pay tax for either option.

Seeing as you are in Montreal...maybe have it sent to a "Mailboxes etc." type store on the US side and bring it over yourself? I know of people doing this and even when they do declare it the customs officer just wave them through anyway.