I'm Choked! OverPaying for Duty + taxes + broker fees on Lens Shipped From Japan

[GregY]

Well I paid the duty this morning and they delivered it this afternoon. So I now have it in my hands. Worked out well considering what could have happened.

Braxus can you clarify if it was 'duty' or P.S.T., G.S.T. & brokerage fees? Thanks

 

[braxus]

Braxus can you clarify if it was 'duty' or P.S.T., G.S.T. & brokerage fees? Thanks

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

 

[GregY]

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

Thanks, I asked because i've never been charged duty on lenses/cameras from Japan....
I'm about to order some Foma paper from Fotoimpex since no one in Canada has stock.... apparently no duty but looking as the same charges since they ship DHL....

 

[Don_ih]

looking as the same charges since they ship DHL....

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

 

[GregY]

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

Don, in my orders the 'brokerage' fees from the companies... DHL, UPS have been 4-6x the amount of tax they've been collecting for the government(s). Postal charges for the same services have been more reasonable, but Fotoimpex only ships to Canada via DHL... so it goes.

 

[MattKing]

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

Yep - particularly since the PST + GST/HST is calculated after the duty, excise tax, and/or excise duty is added on.
With the latter only being seen frequently on things like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or vaping products.
I'll tweak your thread title.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yep - particularly since the PST + GST/HST is calculated after the duty, excise tax, and/or excise duty is added on.
With the latter only being seen frequently on things like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or vaping products.
I'll tweak your thread title.

It's the same everywhere, they compound up the duties & taxes.

My own issue of overcharged VAT, due to an error, has been resolved with the UK Border Force, although I have not yet received the refund. I had a very nice email informing me of a full refund with a personal tough, the woman signing with her first name, after adding "I hope that helps".

Ian

 

[ant!]

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

As I wrote before: On private packages/family gifts, latest I had were in January, I never got any charges in about 12 years, even when the declared value was around $100 (the official tax free limit for shipped gifts seems to be $60: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html ).
On commercial shipments/online shopping, it is completely correct to get GST+QST/PST or HST charged, as you would if you buy within Canada. This is in Europe and probably every country except the US the same. Sometimes it slips through, but you can't count on it. The high brokerage charges of DHL, UPS etc I find more problematic.

 

[Don_ih]

On commercial shipments/online shopping, it is completely correct to get GST+QST/PST or HST charged, as you would if you buy within Canada.

I know. What I was saying is they seem to becoming more strict about it and letting fewer packages through without adding HST. I did get lucky a few days ago and got a delivery that slipped through.

 

[ant!]

I feel the slower/cheaper, maybe even untracked the shipping is, the higher the chance it might slip through. But this is just a personal observation which might not be actual true.

 

[GregY]

I know. What I was saying is they seem to becoming more strict about it and letting fewer packages through without adding HST. I did get lucky a few days ago and got a delivery that slipped through.

Don, based on how big a sample size....?

 

[MattKing]

Moderator's hat - no helmet on:
Folks - don't go anywhere near the politics of borders!

 

[Don_ih]

Don, based on how big a sample size....?

Just what I said - my own experience. I get maybe 20 or so purchases from outside the country per year. A few years ago, I got more and very rarely had to pay extra. Now, almost every one I have to pay extra.

Let's not forget this is a big country and what happens in Ontario doesn't necessarily happen in Alberta.

 

[Subversive Mk II]

Why anybody should "bark" on Postal or any other worker?? Insane! What is wrong with people? Just rhetorical question.

Sometimes, the delivery Postal Worker was the poor sap that had to ask the recipient for the extra cash.
Barking happened.
I reserved my barking for when some seller grossly over-packed an item and as a result bumped it up into a much higher cost bracket. I was not pleased when I had to go the nearest postal depot to collect it and fork out the extra €25 or so. I was even more disgruntled when informed their steam-driven system couldn't take plastic, necessitating an extra journey to find a working ATM.

 

[campy51]

I won't buy anything out of the US. It's just not worth the trouble. I once sold and item and shipped it to Canada by UPS insured and because it was international and the value of the item my local UPS drop off couldn't accept it, I had to go to a UPS distribution center which took 1 1/2 hours out of my day. I can see it being worth it if the items from Japan are cheaper but they are on the high end anyway and their idea of mint is much different than mine.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I guess this is so, especially with the tariffs you guys get slapped on. My experience with Japanese sellers has always been positive. I find that they tend to underrate items.

 

[skahde]

I guess this is so, especially with the tariffs you guys get slapped on. My experience with Japanese sellers has always been positive. I find that they tend to underrate items.

It depends. I had canon vt from a japanese seller advertised as mint where the shutter-cloth looked like a planetarium when illuminated with a torchlight. The reaction was top-notch, though: Full reimbursement, and just keep the camera!

 

[DREW WILEY]

I've had wonderful interactions with Japanese dealers. In fact, I've gotten cameras shipped clear across the Pacific faster than I could from most US dealers - in one instance, 18 hrs all the way from Tokyo to my doorstep, with no special surcharges. But I must admit, I live only 10 min from major distribution centers for FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS, with the International Airport these parcel carriers use just half an hour from their distribution hubs, all within half a mile of one another. I often drive right past those on the way to a convenient photogenic shoreline park.

I haven't tested the waters yet since all this tariff complication nonsense arrived. It's all still just too unpredictable, even from a legality standpoint, plus all the extra expense. I have pretty much all the equipment I need anyway, and wouldn't even consider more until some of this dust settles.

 

[skahde]

From my own observation ordering from Japan has some points going for it but there are problems too. One being their interpretation - or better put ignorance - of the good old shutterbug rating-scheme and just rating everything mint and exc if it's not completely fubar. You have to read their description to the last comma and carefully inspect the pictures and can rely on their words but one needs a bit to familiarize with the different approach. The other seems to be the humid climate: Many items are infested with fungus, more than I personally see from Europe or the US.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Ya, like the time I ordered an OM-1 listed for parts to transfer over to mine. When it arrived, it was in MINT condition, and worked!

 

[DREW WILEY]

I got one of my prized tele lenses from Japan advertised as Ex +++, and it took me half an hour trying to figure out why it wasn't listed "Like New" instead. Even the original box was flawless. Eventually I found a minuscule meaningless ding on the removable lens hood.

Another time, I opted for a bargain priced "Texas Leica" Fuji 6X9. It had a bit of finish scuff, but an absolutely mint primary lens, having been covered by a UV filter the whole time (itself scuffed). So what was the fly in the ointment? Turns out, the tip of a cable release had been broken off in the shutter button socket, and prevented that from working. Rather than making a fuss, I simply used a drill bit and ordinary easy-out, and permanently cured the problem in under five minutes.

So it all depends. I liked that 6X9 so much, that I ordered a later model of it (a Fuji GW690 iii) listed as "near mint". That was another case where I simply couldn't find anything distinguishing it from a completely new product, box n' all, except that five rolls of film had gone through it, according to the built-in counter. Lucky timing too, since that same model has more than doubled in price the past couple of years.

In terms of EBay listings, you want to look at all the details carefully. Does the actual set of pictures match the exact item being listed? Is the model number correct. Are there hidden excessive shipping costs? Does the dealer sound competent and experienced, and ofter a reasonable return policy if you're not satisfied?

I've never had a lens fungus problem from Japan. I did once from a seller in the southern US.

 

[Don_ih]

I've never had a lens fungus problem from Japan.

You need to order some RB67 lenses.

I'm pretty sure fungus was part of the design.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Maybe if it was some ultra-rare antique Pinkham & Smith soft focus lens, and I was into that style, I'd be willing to spend another four thousand dollars for the optional lens fungus. It probably wouldn't work properly without it.

 

[GregY]

I guess this is so, especially with the tariffs you guys get slapped on. My experience with Japanese sellers has always been positive. I find that they tend to underrate items.

Me too..... better than described & 4 day delivery from Japan to my door (over a weekend)!

 

[mshchem]

Me too..... better than described & 4 day delivery from Japan to my door (over a weekend)!
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How many of these do you have now