Cbsa & me.

[dutchydoc]

Hey everyone, I had ordered a lower mechbox for my ICS on the 3rd of August from a reputable US retailer(please don't post about the "dangers" of the US, its a lower mech-box not a gun). I was not expecting any trouble as I have ordered from them numerous times in the past. I had payed to have Global Express Shipping, witch should have guaranteed me two-three day delivery. Well the retailer sent me a tracking number that didnt work the first, second,third or fourth day, on the fifth day I called the USPS and inquired about my package. They did not have the T.number "in the system" and said to contact the sender and get a new one.

So emailed the retailer, who said he personally handed the package to the post man on the morning of the fifth, but "he would keep an eye on it" (whatever that means). So last night on the tenth of august the tracking number worked, said it was not shipped until the ninth of august, it had made it to Ottawa but was being held by customs..
No big deal I figured they would open it up see that it was exactly what was marked on the box and it would be on its way.

Well it got to me this morning, with a hitch..
Another 29 dollars was wanted, as I was not at home at the time I could not ask what this was all about or try to refuse paying. So it says the 29 dollars is a customs inspection charge. WTF is a customs inspection charge, I would expect this sneeky shit form UPS but not from Fed-Ex.
So it has now cost me more than double the price of the part, just to have it shipped to me. The Global Express Guaranteed shipping was almost worth as much as the part.

What I am asking is has any one else had this issue, and what way should I approach the situation. Should I ask for some type of reimbursement from the retailer, USPS or Fed-Ex?
I assume no on the later, as it was here on time if it left on the ninth.
Or should I get on all fours and let life corn-hole me? (please refrain from posting suggestions of the corn holing option).

Thanks for the help
Dutchy.

[surebet]

Reimbursement? No.

Welcome to the wonderfull world of importing cock ups. Just cut your losses and move on.

[ex]

What you seem to have been charged is GST/PST on the assessed/declared value of the item and the customs handling charge which I believe is either $5.00 or $10.00. This is standard practice and should be expected on EVERY package you receive from outside of Canada. It does not always happen but this is not abnormal in the least.

EDIT:
IT sucks none the less.

[dutchydoc]

Thanks lads, I figured I would not be seeing any money back. Its the first time I have got nailed with the "tax" though. At any rate life goes on, thanks again for the help. Could of been worse, at least customs only had it for a few hours. Hell that might be a new record them.

[jamuke]

I never purchase items from the US unless it's shipped USPS, out of some 100 purchases never had any trouble, UPS FEDX shipments always had some extra charges ( once got dinged for an extra $200 on a $400 item WTF) though I did purchase 2 2X12 guitar cabs from Florida( 40 lbs each) from some fella who worked in FEDX, no extra costs,but they did leave them on my porch all day.

I never understood the customs charge as I assume packages sent USPS also clear customs, and the brokerage fees seem to be like "yes you paid to ship the item but now we have to take the item from the warehouse, put it in a truck and deliver it ..and that's extra"

You're SOL for getting any $$ back

[shiftsup]

I absolutely refrain from doing any US purchases that are not sent via USPS.

Otherwise your gonna pay.

[dutchydoc]

OK global Express Shipping is from the USPS, when it gets to Canada it goes via courier to the recipient. If you want two-three day shipping to Canada from the USPS, this is the only way it comes.

http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInt...Num=8298799353

[jamuke]

It never pays to be impatient with US purchases,
"expedited ground service and wait" is the mantra

[shiftsup]

That's shitty. On August 5 I ordered $114.00 worth of non restricted airsoft items from UNCompany. The EMS shipping from HK was $30.00.

However, the item was in my hands on August 10 without any surcharges.

[dutchydoc]

Yep well, like I said EX answered my question. I will now expect to have this charge applied to all shipments.

[Gunny_McSmith]

Originally Posted by dutchydoc

Yep well, like I said EX answered my question. I will now expect to have this charge applied to all shipments.

It actually depend.... because it's up to the sender to declare the value of the items in the package.

US retailers are most likely to declare the full value of the item (you paid 300$, they'll write 300$ on the box), while chinese retailers will declare the item to be around 20-30$ and that the items are only TOYS

and the law is that under a certain amount of money, or certain categories of items, they won'T charge you Custom fees!