Canadians Customs - Do I have any recourse?

Factual Questions
1

My wife and I are going to be going to Niagara Falls on vacation. Since my wife is crazy about teddy bears, I thought it would be a great idea to have a custom “made-for-the-occassion” bear sent to her at the hotel at which we’ll be staying. So, I went to the local Build-A-Bear outlet, built my bear, and had it shipped up to the hotel to be waiting for us when we got there.

Cost of Bear: 36.00
2 Day Shipping: 16.95
Look on her face when she sees a bear waiting for her in the room: Priceless

I received a call from FedEx today about the bear saying that the package was stopped by customs and assessed a $26.60 (CAD) customs fee. I told the FedEx rep that it was silly to charge about $20 USD customs on a bear that cost only $36.00 to begin with. I was told that the reason that the fees were imposed was because the BAB people declared it’s value at $105 and didn’t mark it as a gift. As a result, the bear was stuck in customs. I was told I could either pay it or have it sent back. Well, Mrs. Steinhardt’s happiness is worse an additional twenty to me, so I paid it; although it was a bit disturbing to have to pay.

Do I have any recourse here? Is there anyone I can go after to get the fees back?

Zev Steinhardt

2

Go after BAB. For one, why did they declare value in excess of what it was?

3

That was my first thought as well. I wonder if (assuming diplomacy doesn’t work) I can chargeback on my credit card for the customs fee amount?

Zev Steinhardt

4

Probably yes. However, given the smallness of the amount almost surely diplomacy would work. Although I doubt this could properly be declared a gift. If your wife lived in Canada temporarily and sent it to her from the US yes. However, both of you will go to Canada. But BAB was clueless declaring the value as being more than it actually was.

5

The Canadian Border Service has a review process for disputes. No idea how it works, but you might want to check it out: review process

6

Thanks for the link, Northern Piper, but it’s a short trip – I don’t want to spend time in front of a clerk to plead my case. :slight_smile:

Zev Steinhardt

7

I think it should also make a difference that you are ordering from a US company for an item to be delivered to your wife (a US citizen, I’m assuming) to be transported by your wife back to the US in a few days. You’re not really importing the thing into Canada at all.

My guess is that if you send a letter to one of the customs offices in Northern Piper’s link after you return, you can probably get the matter resolved.

8

zev, aren’t you just the sweetest husband!
Bet the look on her face will be worth all the hassle.

9

zev, it does say that “after the fact, you can contact one of our offices.” When you’re on your way home, why don’t you see if the Canada Customs folks will give you some sort of document to show that you’ve taken the bear with you, and then contact the regional office to see if that would be enough to persuade them that no duty should have been paid - temporary presence in Canada?

10

Zev, that’s a very sweet thing to do.

But what BaB did, in over-declaring the thing’s value to customs, sucks, and I’d threaten them with no further business if they don’t make good to you on this.

11

Hi, I worked for an eBay Powerseller. FedEx Ground charges very heavy brokerage fees in addition to customs fees and the like. Are you sure you are not dealing with FedEx brokerage fees, and not customs fees?

In addition, I’ve never shipped an item internationally, USPS or FedEx, wherein I didn’t have to fill out a form asking if the item was merchandise, gift, etc., and asking its value. In fact, on domestic FedEx shipments, we are always asked about the item’s value.

tries to not to go on a rant about eBay buyers who want me to illegally mark items as gifts