# Ebay Shipping Overseas Custom/Duty Fees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510 "2013-06-08T22:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/1 "2013-06-08T22:38:00Z")
Will be heading to canada to live there for a few months. I will be ordering a computer monitor from ebay that ships from the usa. I see they list the cost in us and cad dollars and the shipping as well. However, it says the seller it isn’t responsible for custom, dutie fees and all that is the buyers responsibility. Does that mean there is extra costs to have a monitor shipped from the usa to canada? So if it cost 200 dollars total for monitor plus shipping in CAD dollars, is there any additional custom charge or whatnot? I assumed there was none but when i saw this message, there is? If so, how much is it usually? Does it depend on the weight of the monitor or something else? ---
**Author:** ![TNWPsycho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/47e85d/32.png) [@TNWPsycho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNWPsycho)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/2 "2013-06-08T22:46:14Z")
I ship close to 2000 packages a year with Ebay and have never heard of a custom or duty fee. International shipping can get very expensive however. A couple pound monitor could easily cost $30-$50 USD to ship. Maybe thats the charge? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/3 "2013-06-08T22:49:59Z")
Some information: > [@](#): > > Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadians do not have to pay duty on most American and Mexican manufactured items. But be careful. Just because you buy an item from a U.S. store does not mean it was made in the United States. It’s quite possible it was imported into the United States first and, if so, you may be charged duty when it comes into Canada. So check before you buy and if possible get something in writing from the e-store in case the Canada Customs people decide to be particular. > > Duties on goods vary widely, depending on the product and the country in which it was manufactured. Other charges and duties may also apply depending on the item, for example excise duty and excise tax on luxury items such as jewelry. In general, on goods ordered from a foreign retailer there is no assessment unless Canada Customs can collect at least $1.00 in duties and taxes. If you have specific questions about Canada customs and duties, please contact a Canada Border Services Agency office or the Border Information Service. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/4 "2013-06-09T00:08:20Z")
Check out this site for details. They’ve even got a page that will calculate the duties for you based on the product and it’s cost. > **[Sign in | The Duty Calculator](https://www.dutycalculator.com/signin/?signin&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dutycalculator.com%2Fdc%2F6675577%2Felectronics-games%2Ftv-home-theatre%2Ftelevisions%2Fimport-duty-rate-for-importing-electronics-television-from-china-to-canada-is-6%2F)** > > Sign in and run your Import Duty calculation. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/5 "2013-06-09T00:15:38Z")
I suggest you also look at buying it from a Canadian source. A company like UPS or FEDEX is going to charge a brokerage fee. You are also going to have to pay Canadian sales tax. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/6 "2013-06-09T23:38:10Z")
I don’t know current brokerage fees, but unless things have changed radically recently you want the sender to send via mail, NOT via UPS. UPS’s brokerage fees are much higher than Canada Post’s. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/7 "2013-06-10T01:10:45Z")
I ship to Canada for ebay sales. Weight is a huge determinant of cost. Why in the world buy a monitor from the US when they are readily available in Canada? It’s absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/8 "2013-06-10T02:59:02Z")
I second the “avoid UPS” recommendation. I once bought a mini keyboard for my computer on eBay, cost was 4 bucks, seller was in Texas and shipping via UPS. IIRC, shipping cost was about 20 bucks, but once it got here the brokerage fees added another 25 bucks. Also, it’s not unusual for Canada Customs to charge sales tax (federal and provincial, depending on your location) for cross-border purchases. I’m not sure if it applies to everything, or just to items that are not exempt under NAFTA. ---
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/9 "2013-06-10T21:19:10Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I ship to Canada for ebay sales. Weight is a huge determinant of cost. Why in the world buy a monitor from the US when they are readily available in Canada? It’s absurd. Because the monitors that i need has to have 1600x1200 or 1920x1290 resolution. I found one or 2 on ebay that ship from the usa to canada for 200 dollars but thats not counting the custom/duty fees. The only monitors that have this resolution that ships from canada on ebay cost like 700-900 dollars for one. Thats the reason… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/10 "2013-06-11T00:33:34Z")
> [@pauly1](#): > > Because the monitors that i need has to have 1600x1200 or 1920x1290 resolution. I found one or 2 on ebay that ship from the usa to canada for 200 dollars but thats not counting the custom/duty fees. > The only monitors that have this resolution that ships from canada on ebay cost like 700-900 dollars for one. Thats the reason… You don’t want to shop Canadian retail? In googling prices the difference between US and Canadian prices (not including VAT tax) seems very minor. Here’s just one. > **[Computer Parts Canada - NCIX.ca](https://www.ncix.ca)** > > NCIX.ca is Canada's Computer Parts & Home Goods online warehouse. We promise the best selection and the best prices! $ 310 Canadian after rebate from a Canadian store, and they do ship. ASUS PA248Q 24.1IN Widescreen LED Backlit IPS LCD Monitor 1920X1200 6MS 80M:1 HDMI DVI DisplayPort Here’s another > **[Computer Parts Canada - NCIX.ca](https://www.ncix.ca)** > > NCIX.ca is Canada's Computer Parts & Home Goods online warehouse. We promise the best selection and the best prices! Samsung SyncMaster LS27A850DS 27IN Widescreen LED PLS LCD Monitor 2560X1440 5MS 300CDM DVI DP Pivot On sale for $ 699. Canadian - Same Monitor for US market - $ 749.00 US [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001523](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001523) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/11 "2013-06-11T00:59:47Z")
That fee is for freight forwarding. Think of it as using someone’s good name, to get it across the border. UPS charges $35, post office is like $5-10. When I used to buy things off eBay this was always the first question before I would bid. ---
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-shipping-overseas-custom-duty-fees/660510/12 "2013-06-11T23:49:15Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You don’t want to shop Canadian retail? In googling prices the difference between US and Canadian prices (not including VAT tax) seems very minor. > > Here’s just one. > > [http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=73621&vpn=PA248Q&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1288](http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=73621&vpn=PA248Q&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1288) > > $ 310 Canadian after rebate from a Canadian store, and they do ship. > > ASUS PA248Q 24.1IN Widescreen LED Backlit IPS LCD Monitor 1920X1200 6MS 80M:1 HDMI DVI DisplayPort > > Here’s another > > [http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=64747&vpn=LS27A850DS%2FZA&manufacture=Others&promoid=1288](http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=64747&vpn=LS27A850DS%2FZA&manufacture=Others&promoid=1288) > > Samsung SyncMaster LS27A850DS 27IN Widescreen LED PLS LCD Monitor 2560X1440 5MS 300CDM DVI DP Pivot > > On sale for $ 699. Canadian - > > Same Monitor for US market - $ 749.00 US > [Are you a human?](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001523) Is it possible to find one that is 1600x1200? Or one that is used or that would not be possible? The thing is i plan to use it for 3-6 months and then sell it back on ebay canada…