Has anyone been dinged by customs if shipped by EMS?

[ConvoyGTR]

What worked for me, was that anything bought online that was below $50ish, wouldn't get hit by Customs and anything above, if shipped by EMS would pass through with no charges. That has always worked for me until today, when I got my package and was charged $20 bucks in taxes and handling for a $100 package from Hobby Search (I'm aware HS is required by law to put the actual price on their packing slip).

Anyone got any tricks to avoid Customs? Has anyone else been dinged using EMS? Maybe, I've been lucky all these years?

BBTS doesn't count becuz I got charged Customs on 99% of everything I bought and I know that has happened to 99% of you out there too! >.<

[Akroyer]

I have had two come by EMS so far and $0 so far. As for BBTS, my last two from them have also been $0. Just taxes, which I expect and would be paying anyway.

[FreedomGundam]

I had a friend that worked in customs. Basically it works like this:

- random selection of packages to be evaluated for customs
- if the package is marked as merchandise (ala BBTS), you get dinged.
- if the package is marked as gift, then the value of the contents is checked:
= if the value is above some number ( I think it's $30), you get dinged.
= if the value is below that, you're usually safe. Unless they don't believe that number, upon which THEY will determine the value themselves, and ding you with customs.

The method of shipment doesn't change the above.

[Jeepmanhastj]

I've dealt with our lovely CCRA for over ten years now since I started with eBay in '98 and this is the basic rules for packages as my experience goes:

-"Merchandise" under $20CAD, they don't care about.
- Anything "Merchandise" and above $20CAD will get hit with the lovely $5 handling fee, taxes and duty for the country of origin (if it applies). Example: something made in the USA does not have duty because of NAFTA.

For an item sent as "Gift":
- $60CAD value and under is the magic number for them.
I was told once that there had to be some proof of "gift" like a Birthday card etc but I haven't had that happen to me.
As long as the item isn't huge or the box extraordinarily big I'd think it wouldnt be a target for customs.

I once got 3 Gundam PG kits sent to me from Cali valued at $48USD and gift -and they bought it. But man that box was massive! 18LBS and biiiiiig! I lucked out on that one.
but what can CCRA do, they have to believe the sender.

I got dinged once on a "gift" and they refunded me the charges after I sent in the Customs declaration form (green one attached to the box and the explanation). Took 3 months but I got it back.

Usually senders aren't too bad with helping you out - but I've seen Ebay sellers starting to not help out with customs values. especially the store type ebay sellers.

Regarding method of Shipping - I always found FEDEX and UPS to be brutal from the US. Brokerage fees and duty always charged.
From Overseas, EMS was always quick and tracked. never an issue with customs.

Originally Posted by FreedomGundam

I had a friend that worked in customs. Basically it works like this:

- random selection of packages to be evaluated for customs
- if the package is marked as merchandise (ala BBTS), you get dinged.
- if the package is marked as gift, then the value of the contents is checked:
= if the value is above some number ( I think it's $30), you get dinged.
= if the value is below that, you're usually safe. Unless they don't believe that number, upon which THEY will determine the value themselves, and ding you with customs.

The method of shipment doesn't change the above.

[ConvoyGTR]

Interesting. I've had 8 or so shipments by EMS and regardless of value, none have ever been dinged. But, if it was shipped by SAL, I would get dinged everytime... I guess it was random chance all along. Thanks for the info FreedomGundam and Jeepmanhastj.