Carl,
A question I have to ask.... If I send something UPS or FedEx to Canada, the buyer has to pay some kind of fee, which is basically some guy doing paper work. I have bought things from Canada and had to go thru it too. I get my part, and days later I get a bill from UPS or FedEx for the customs fee. Do you not have to go thru that there?? I basically have to ship out of this country thru the post office using air-mail, or people get mad at me.
Mike
Good question Mike. Yes we do but only if the value of the item is over $500 (declared value), it could possibly be $900+, I forget which one. When an item has a declared value over either one of those prices they send out a letter within 1-3 days. On the letter, it shows what has arrived, where it came from (vendor), the declared value and the custom fees owing. There are references #s. You then call it up and pay via CC over the phone. Once paid over the phone it's released and usually arrives within the next 2 days.
For a $500 item you usually pay around $70-$150 depending on the class of goods. To me, it's a load of BS lol. There really is no way of knowing what they do to "earn" this payment. They could just sit on their backside, have lunch and say: "Dave, whaddya think, $120 customs for this one?! "Na, make it $156, I want that new Celine Dion CD".
But, if I want the part(s), I have no choice but to pay. That is why I laugh when I see some of you US guys going: "Man, I'm so PO right now, took 4 days to get my gauge!!!" LMAO.....I'll take 4 days any day, heck, I'll take 10.