Ornament Exchangers from Canada, question for you...

[jfulcer]

Ok, My OE person is in Canada - when I ship the ornament out, is there any way to avoid either I or my OE person from having to pay an arm and a leg for customs fees??? How should I declare it???

 

[epcotfan]

Hi there,
Although I'm not participating in the exchange I may be able to help. If you mark the item as a gift the recipient will be exempt from customs fees if the value is under $60 Canadian. Be aware though that if customs inspects the package it needs to look like a gift. Enclosing a gift card helps. Otherwise commercial goods are duty free if under $20 Canadian.

This info is from Canada Post:
"Customs officers may open and inspect all incoming mail, except letters less than 30 g, without permission from either the sender or the addressee.

Gifts from friends and relatives, valued at $60CDN or less, are duty and tax exempt. Goods imported into Canada, valued at $20CDN or more, are subject to all duties and taxes."

I believe gifts from abroad into the US are duty free if under $100 US.

 

[mickey65]

I'm in Canada and my OE came for the US last year with no problems. Just went to the post office and picked it up. I do believe it was marked 'gift' though.

 

[sammi]

My OE person that sent me my ornament last year was from New York and never had a problem with added charges etc. Maybe we just got lucky though.

 

[Kaos Creator]

Hey it was me that jfulcer sent to last year and we had the problem!!!!
Mark the little green customs form as 'gift' and put the declared value as 10 bucks. It should zip through no problem!

 

[Scratch42]

This is the best way to do it!
And make sure you write "GIFT" in big letters!

It seems they are less likely to look!LOL

Scratch

 

[jfulcer]

Kaos,

Yeah, I asked at my post office and they kinda shrugged and said "I DUNNO". lotta help they were.

I will make sure to mark it as gift and under $10 in value (cough, cough).