I'm in Canada and while back I received an order from Fusicks. No problems with the order, but got a surprise when I got a bill from FedEx for $75. Since shipment was prepaid I couldn't figure out what this extra charge was for. I phoned FedEx and they informed me it was a customs charge. I phoned Fusick and they confirmed that on shipment to Canada that is the case.
I have ordered from Rock Auto a number of times and never had to pay a Customs charge. Anyone know why orders from one, but not the other was subject to a Customs charge?
Canadians shopping from US should be aware that the maybe subject to this additional charge.

 

I think we all see so many extra sur charges these days because of the Covid shut downs. So many restaurants etc have jacked their prices to compensate for lost revenue.

 

FedEx rapes us Canadian's for customs charges.

 

I don't think Fedex is the one doing the raping. It's the Canadian government.

 

From what I've read, this is because rockauto will sometimes move parts on its own to a location in another country and then ship from there. Is it possible the part you received from rockauto was shipped from somewhere in Canada? If so, that would seem to avoid a customs charge as the part is not crossing the Canadian border.

From the rockauto website. I put in bold the relevant comment.

What does "May take up to X days to ship due to Destination Address" mean?

A part you chose must be transferred to a location which can ship to you, which takes X days. You may see this message if your shipping address is a post office box (some warehouses don't ship mail) or you are in a different country (some warehouses can't ship internationally). Choosing a different part and/or a shipping address where FedEx can deliver may eliminate this delay.

 

If you weren't informed of the customs charge when ordering the parts you shouldn't be obligated to pay them. I ordered over $750 of ham radio parts in November 2020 and the parts never came. I finally cancelled the order and returned my additional purchases from the same supplier in person. Using COVID as an excuse for lousy customer service is pretty low.

 

I am willing to bet the parts from rock auto were shipped out of a warehouse in Canada and did not cross the boarder.
The customs charge is your Country. Most vendors are going to assume you understand the taxes in the country.
Summit /jegs/Fusick Assume I understand that I am to report the purchase on my state taxes for the sales tax. Almost no one does this, but they assume you know you aware of it. Canada's customs fees/taxes would be the same.

 

Maybe it is certain items or the overall cost? I have had FedEx and UPS bills in the hundreds and it is not like thousands were spent. Where USPS is usually less for their brokerage fees. Trust me it isn't uniform by any means, some brokerage bills seem especially rapey. Yes, Trudeau constantly has his hands in my pockets like every employed Canadian, taking everything he can.

 

I agree, there is no consistency, just surprises. I have used fedex because they've been reasonable compared to ups. UPS has been brutal, I guess fedex has climbed aboard. The charges are ridiculous sometimes.
Have you used rpmparts out your way. They're in Saskatoon I think.

 

I haven't used RPM but if I can't find used grills, I was thinking them or a place in Ontario to get new ones for my 70S. Yes, UPS seems to be the worst of the bunch.

 

I had the same thing happen to me big ripoff won't buy over the boarder any more

 

I've got it coming into the US also... no issues using USPS, but typically $20-30 customs fee for UPS.

I have 1 company in Canada that I do business with & never an issue even with UPS shipping.... but I think they are selling US made parts.

 

This isnt just a recent issue due to covid. I used to sell parts 10-15 years ago, and import taxes to Canada were unreal. UPS was the worse at upping the costs. This is one of the reasons you have people who only sell to 48 states. And why others suggest you have someone south of the border receive your parts, and then drive them across for you. But that is not an option now with the Canadien border being shut to non-essential travel.

 

Jaunty Ind Greyghost, I'll check where my Rock Auto parts were shipped from. I know they didn't take long to get here.
Olds 307 403 I was wondering if Customs charges were only applied over a certain $ amt.
Chuck, I've used RPM in Saskatoon. They are OK if the have the part, but if you have to order you might or might not get it. Also their website is about 4 or 5 years out of date so the prices aren't current.

 

I sold many things on Ebay that went to Canada.
Even on old parts and toys.
Everyone had to pay some Customs charge.
Since I sold old used stuff I marked them for a few dollars.
I really didn't count "collector value" as an actual value.
The customs charge is based on what is filed out on the customs slip.
It's not any shipping carrier or Fusnick's,
it's your Country.
This has always been a thing for the 20 years I've been doing this.

I would add the shipping carrier adds their own brokerage fee which I think is based on top of the your custom charge.

 

Yup, It isn't the vendor or the shipper, it is CANADA's government.
Vendors are not going to fudge a customs slip( documents).
Something has to fund that healthcare up there, eh.
The shipper nor vendor is making anything off that "tax"

 

Riddle me this then, how come I could prepay $8 US customs for an order that was $300 US from Cliff Ruggles through USPS. I have received brokerage fees for 10 times that through UPS for similar priced items and similar size. Yes, our government wants their share but some of these companies are cashing in for filling out a piece of paper. Most of us avoid UPS and FedEx for that reason.

 

Easy, the USPS doesn't get stopped and checked at customs, Canada, assumes the us government postal service is on the up and up. Fed x, ups gets held up at customs, It cost money to have a truck and driver sitting idle. Time= money. simple as that.

 

That makes sense and is probably the case, the border officials, like MOT(DOT) I deal with, if they don't like you or your company, expect delays which cost money . I also know Summit has worked out a special deal with FedEx, shipping through them is now and is always the cheapest through FedEx vs UPS or USPS with no extra charges after the fact. This is why I pick and choose where I buy my parts over the border. A nearly $200 charge after the fact for brokerage fees has made me much more careful where I buy and who the shipper is.

 

Just read something interesting on the stamps.com website about Canadian tariffs and why there can seem to be no consistency when it comes to what fees you have to pay for an item shipped to Canada. Canada charges tariffs based on where the item is made, not where it's shipped from. NAFTA (or what replaced it) removed tariffs on North American made goods, so if you're in Canada and you buy an ACDelco part made in the U.S. or Mexico, you don't pay a tariff. But if it's made anywhere else, and many ACDelco parts are made in China, then you WILL pay a tariff regardless of where Rockauto or anyone else sends it from..

 

This also makes sense and I would imagine a lot of Cliff Ruggles parts are made in the USA, it explains the low duty. I bet if I went back, the nearly $200 charges were on made in China parts.

 

I’ve been branded with the extra brokerage charges from UPS & FedEx. Always try to use United States postal when possible. When the border is open it’s worth the drive to get your parts at your US mail box. Still pay sales tax depending on the cost and maybe duty. No brokerage fees though. Usually free shipping to to the border.

 

I checked my last Rock Auto order and it was shipped from the US, but it was sent via USPS and CanadaPost. Like Tuffnut said I'll try to have items I have to buy from the US shipped by mail.
thanks everyone for your responses.

 

And it never stopped at customs. The USPS and Canada post have a deal/contract.
Being that it never gets held up at customs, whatever is filled out by shipper isn't "checked" to be correct BY customs.
All other shipper, will get random packages opened and checked at the boarder . Because of this, other shippers are very careful of what the Documents read. I am willing to bet, if USPS tracking was worth a darn,and wasn't handed off to another postal service they can't control. More vendors would use USPS. but vendors know they will have better luck with package issues with fed x and ups. And if it goes missing be able to file a claim. I don't know about Canada post. but I know USPS, doesn't always scan when they deliver.
Ups, and fed x do, and their drivers tablet will have recorded the GPS markers of where that driver was when he/she scanned it.
Harder for deadbeats to claim they didn't get something when the drivers tablet has the GPS data of in front of your address , when scanned shipping label.

Years ago I was shipping a custom parts for a low volume odd ball vehicle. I had a bunch made when I had mine produced and sold the rest of the batch, that ended with 4 more batches, but that was another story. Any who, I sent A bunch to Canada, One guy that bought these parts, was also into another vehicle, so I sent in the package a USA car club tee shirt in his size. but never listed it on the forms, as It wasn't commerce it was just a gift I tossed in ,as it was his size and to small for me. That tee shirt held that package at the boarder for 28 days. Why it took that long, no idea.