A question for our Canadian face painters & others outside the U.S.

[Sherry]

I just received a message from an artist in Canada that I shipped a package to.  They said they were happy with the product but got killed on taxes at the border.  They had to pay an extra $85.  This is the first time anyone's contacted me and let me know this.

Does this happen with every shipment from outside your country or is it random?

[twink-elle]

Hi Sherry,
It's kind of like a lottery when you buy from the States and ship to Canada. Sometimes you get nailed with taxes and duty sometimes not, it is always more likely if you spend more. I usually pay when I order more than $100 which is why I don't mind buying about $50-$70 at a time, in that case I don't usually pay duty. I still save money by ordering from the States(especially when our dollar is in good shape) because shipping inside Canada is higher and the prices are inflated (in most case b/c of the value of the dollar in recent years.)
I buy a lot of things online I just can't get in Canada and realize I just may have to pay more.

Some people will ask you to put "gift" on the customs declaration but if it gets opened and checked and is obviously not a gift both parties could face trouble or the package may be seized.

[twink-elle]

Here's just a sample of prices from a site in Toronto that sells facepaint online.
snaz 18ml  - 11.99
snaz sparkle 18ml - 15.99
snaz jumbo  pallette 89.99
wolfe 30g - 10.95
paradise - 12.99
standard shipping starts at $10
So, I'll risk maybe having to pay duty because it will probably still be cheaper and if not I can unusually get some things I can't find here.
Don't feel bad about it Sherry, it is a fact of life!
Danica

[Sherry]

When I first started shipping to Canada, the lady at the post office up in Georgia would have me put "gift" on it, but I never felt right about it.  What you said must have been her reason for doing that.  I really didn't want to get in any trouble, so I now always put "merchandise", because I know it's merchandise and not a gift.    I'll keep that in mind though if I send out any prizes from the contests.  I'll know to put gift and save people on duty.

Wow, those prices are high!  I wonder what the reason is for that.  Maybe they have a higher cost of business  up there?  Has me curious.  I thought it was interesting that I was getting a high amount of Canadian orders.

Thanks Danica!

[twink-elle]

Some of the reasons things cost so much more here:
distributors always have to pay duty and taxes on their imports. (the prices I posted are before GST, our 5% national tax grab on all goods and services)
our dollar fluctuates greatly in relation to the US dollar meaning sometimes my dollar is only worth 76 cents US sometimes(not often) it's close to equal, distributors who buy when the dollar is low can't recoup the exchange rate without having higher prices
What bugs me are the Canada/US prices on books which don't change with the exchange rates and even Canadian written and printed books are cheaper to buy in the States.

The most I ever had to pay duty and taxes on a package was a $520 airbrush starter package, I was charged an extra $92. Too bad it never caught on around here and I had so much trouble with the equipment and ink.

[Sherry]

Ouch!

[twink-elle]

Thanks Sherry,
I just got my order with the DFX black, white, lt blue, lt green and lavender, and the sunshine cake. Everything is beautiful. It got stalled somewhere but I've got it and the best part was .... no extra charges!
Danica

[Sherry]

Wow, it feels like I mailed that ages ago.  I'm glad it arrived! 

[Wildcatfin]

Totally randomn. Have been hit a few times on packets to the UK or HK (1 got refused to Hk - glitters!!!??).
Can really bite - best if you can ask them to put 'gift' on the packet if they will...

Cat x