FYI for Canadian Brides

[Cindy*]

Hi Ladies,

 

I just wanted to share my experience with buying things from US brides on this site to hopefully help other Canadian brides. All of the sellers that I have dealt with have been great!!

 

However, I never thought to ask anyone to include a receipt in the package. I have now received a couple packages that I bought from brides in the US where customs has opened the package and completely over estimated the value of goods and charged me way too much duty. There are instruction on the back of the customs form about how you can go about trying to get a refund but its a huge hassle. I think a receipt would probably go a long way so that if customs opens your package, they know right away what you paid and will hopefully charge you the correct amount of duty.

 

Anyways, this is just my experience but I hope it helps some other brides out there.

[bahiabride2010]

Thanks for the heads up...I haven't thought to even look at that! Gotta love fellow BDW brides sharing all of their wisdom!

[YIweddings]

good plan!! It wouldn't be much of a savings to buy something at a great price and end up paying more for it.

[punkie569]

Thanks for posting this. I've also bought a few things from brides on here and luckily I have had no problems. I guess it helps that I've only bought a few small things but it's good to know if I wanted anything big.

[amygirl1169]

I always ask the seller to indicate on the customs form that the item(s) are a gift. That way you don't have to pay any customs on them. I haven't had any issues with any shipments I've had.

[SusieQ]

Yeah I have had a bride purchase stuff for me and I wasn't charged any duty... God Love her she has been amazing for me, I don't know if its how she has wrapped things but it wasn't opened.... That is good info though!!!

[sunstarsmoon]

I learned from my own experiences not to order from the states. I ordered this cute little hoodie for my dog cost was 9.99 by the time I paid shipping and all the custom etc fees the hoodie ended up costing me 50.00. some stuff I have ordered and never paid duty so its kind of a hit and miss. I do find if the item is shipped UPS I end up paying alot of custom charges and broker charges. I now send my items to my daughter in Vegas.

[Cindy*]

I think it is sort of random whether customs opens your item or not, just like how some cars get pulled over at the border and some don't. I bought stuff from a bride for $100 but customs opened it and wrote that the value of goods was $300 so I had to pay almost $50 in duty. I am fighting it using my paypal invoice to show the actual purchase price but it is a hassle. Indicating that its a gift or sending it to someone in the states are certainly good ideas though. I will still buy stuff but I will just ask the sellers to include a receipt to be safe.

[midnight24]

oh this is a good tip to know. i hadn't even thought of asking for a receipt.

 

i just ordered something from etsy...and it paid through paypal. i wonder how that will work out? i hope i don't have to pay too much duty for it.

 

thanks for sharing.

[AlexsBride]

I STILL think there should be a separate little forum under the Buy/Sell section for us Canadian girls! Even if there is a receipt for what you paid, customs can still say that the VALUE of the goods is more than what you paid and you still might be stuck with duty fees.

 

I am pretty leary of having stuff shipped from the states, even as a gift, because of this. Luckily I have a cousin in Texas who visits Canada all the time, so I have a "wedding mule in the states!"

 

Although with the exchange rate as good as it is, we CAN find some great deals online and in the States!! Thanks for the heads up!