My experience with ordering Clearkote

D

DeNiro

New member
I ordered the Millenium Package A ($55 US) and 2 bottles of Vanilla Moose ($20 US) plus $10 US for shipping/handling. The package was sent out Feb 19 and arrived Mar 13. So after converting $85 USD to CAD my Visa was billed to $131.84 CAD. Not too bad, I was expecting to pay that much. What I was not expecting when the package arrived is to pay an additional $30.62 CAD (GST+PST+$5 handling fee). This $30.62 is calculated from an amount written on the package by the sender that said "Value: $120". If you use the exchange rate that is written on the package (1.4721) times 120 this equals to $176.65 CAD. So from the $176 is how they get the $30. My question is why did Mr. Glass write $120 as the value of the package, why couldn't he put down $75 which is the real cost of the product or any lesser amount so I wouldn't have to pay so much taxes! Even the post woman who handed me the package said most people are surprised when they hear they have to pay these extra charges. I don't think I'm going to be ordering anything from the States anymore. I'll stick to just getting Meguiars and S100 here in Vancouver. Just wanted to warn any Canadians on here that if you plan on ordering anything from the States be prepared to pay these extra charges.
 
I learned this lesson long ago when shipping anything from anywhere with UPS or Fedex. Which one did Clearkote use? Maybe next time tell them to ship by USPS. I've never had to pay any kind of BS (err...brokerage) fee with them.
 
It was USPS that's why I only paid $10 for shipping but as soon as it crosses the border you gotta pay GST, PST plus $5 handling fee.
 
DeNiro said:
It was USPS that's why I only paid $10 for shipping but as soon as it crosses the border you gotta pay GST, PST plus $5 handling fee.
Click to expand...
Yep. You have to pay GST plus PST plus $5 no matter who you ship with.



Importing Canadian Style 101: :down



The GST and PST is duty, and you pay that whenever you buy merchandise from outside the country. I think some products like printed matter or food might be exempt, but I don't remember the specifics right now.



The $5 is a standard handling fee for Customs & Revinue.



Items valued up to $60 in Canadian funds marked "GIFT" are not subject to duty. Any amount exceeding the $60 will be charged duty (the amount over only). It does not hurt to ask a retailer to send it as a "gift" either. ;)



The dreaded UPS and FedEx will charge you an arm and a leg for their fancy-shmancy customs brokerage, which supposedly ensures an item's timely passage through customs. The last time I had something sent UPS the brokerage fees and duty combined cost almost as much as the item itself. :mad: AVOID COURIER COMPANIES LIKE THE PLAGUE. United States Postal Service is as cheap as it gets. :up



Also, if you're not home and Canada Post misses you, you won't have to drive all the way to the UPS center to get your package, just your local postal outlet.
 
Thanks for the warning!!!



I was just going to order a bunch of stuff from Clearkote!! I think I will have to re-think that idea!!



So, if a friend in the US sends the parcel and calls it a gift ($60 Can.) we do not have to pay the PST and GST?



Hmmm...now to find some guys that are willing to help us Canadians out!!



:o
 
Yeah, Mr. Glass probably never knew about these costs, as he probably never shipped to Canada before. In my experience, if you explain to the vendors what the costs are, they may be some workarounds, or he could just lower the written costs. I think he put that on the package for insurance purposes, in case it was lost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top