Leanna there is no way around it. When the parcel is insured for a certain amount, we the customer here in Canada run the risk of paying extra once it lands here. With that being said, there is a possibility of re-imbursement as you provided a "service". In all reality as purty as the v/c's are, they arent a new product.
I myself have called Canada Customs when I recieved a part.(sorry cant remember what the issue was). But I did get a cheque from them.
Also when I spoke on the phone to Canada Customs the lady told me its luck of the draw. $20 and under its not worth their while, anything above that is fair game and they spin the wheel.
Another sidenote...great member here Badsport recieved a shipment for Dad n I from Comp cams. He reshipped to Dad and insured it for what it was worth $500 and Dad had to pick up at the post office....not a frickin cent in extra taxes/fees!! Go figure....
Steve, THANK YOU. That's the closest thing I've gotten to a real answer. Maybe it's not so much the
stated value of the contents but what it's classified as on the form that brings out the calculators?? There is no box on the form for a "Service" ... so I get to choose from
Gift
Documents
Merchandise
Returned Goods
Commercial Sample
Humanitarian Donation
Dangerous Goods
Other
I've always checked the "Merchandise" one because it's the closest thing to car parts. Maybe "Returned Goods" is a better or safer option? But admittedly most of my Canadian customers' parts were purchased raw here in the U.S. and their sellers sent them straight to me to work up.
Everything in my shipment has to be itemized, weighed and valued (either determined by me or my customer) even down to the number of business cards I toss in there. I have no intentions to lie -- as Memike and Tony Fields would say, that's not how I roll -- or get my company in any hot water, but exorbitant unexpected fees are not acceptable to me either.
In looking through a few copies of the Customs Forms I've filled out, I notice a box that I DON'T fill out called the "SDR Value" that has a number in it apparently filled in by the postal clerk when I bring the box to them. Gdrill's valve covers were shipped to him yesterday (as timing would have it); my Insured Amount of $500 has an SDR Value right next to it now of $325.10. WTH is an SDR Value??
I sure wish one of our former Postal employee members used to work in the Customs division and could shed some real light on this, especially since the number of international PSC customers has REALLY expanded the last couple of years to Australia, Sweden and Germany. They're probably used to spending too much to deal with stateside vendors but if there's something I can do as a business owner to minimize or eliminate those expenses altogether I'd love to know what it is. Just "living with it" is not an acceptable option to me, and I know it isn't to you guys either.
rotest:, only bummer I got hit with an extra 63 bucks for border fess did not see that coming,so much for using USPO to save on shipping.
