There are two sure things in life - taxes and death.

The issue you have with UPS is their brokerage fee of $45 Canadian dollars
and $5.75 dispursment fee - total crap.  Fed-Ex isn't nearly as bad but they
arn't as cheap as the post office.  If you send it snail mail there is a $5
brokerage fee - reasonable.  If you send it Express there is a $7.50
brokerage fee - again reasonable.  No matter what, the person recieving the
package will pay 7% GST and the applicable sales tax.  If it is a dutyable
item, like a German car part there is another 6.1% duty on that.

Insurance and declared value are two different things.  I send wire
harnesses to the USA all the time with $500 insureance and a declaired value
for customs of NIL, as the harness that is being shipped is the CUSTOMER'S
harness in the first place and you don't pay duty on a repaired item going
back to the USA.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of developtrust
Sent: August 14, 2003 10:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Shipping to Canada and customs

I recall a former posting regarding shipping items to Canada and a way to
avoid customs charges.

I am shipping some used parts to Canada in the next few days and do not
recall the best method. I do recall not to use FedEx or UPS but to use USPS.

Does anyone recall if shipping as a gift is one way to ahve the recipient
not pay customs fees. We will insure the item for $900.

Advice needed ASAP

William