Canada Customs-What a bunch of F***ers
 

Okay I am really pissed off and I want to vent about Canada customs, I don't care if you read it or not, but I will bitch!!!!! I ordered a letter t-shirt from a company which I like and totally recomend so I will name them because they have nothing to do with this...but it's Greek Gifts Etc. Anyway, because of our shitty dollar and exchange rates, I paid 45 dollars including shipping and handling for a t-shirt!!!!! I was not impressed, but I really wanted a shirt with my letters on. Well in the past 2 weeks Canada Customs has decided to, without informing the public or putting it up on their website to start charging for parcels that come from outside Canada. This fee goes to Canada Customs. Well because of the exchange rate I have now paid 55 dollars for a t-shirt...a f***ing t-shirt!!!! It's the principal of the thing. I mean what is this all about....? Oh I am so angry I just want to send it back and get my money back, but I don't want to take it out on the company because they have nothing to do with it. F***ing beaureaucracy!!!!

okay that's my vent

Lady Pi Phi that is terrible!

I have seen things from Greek Gifts Etc and am quite impressed with a lot of their items that you can customize. I have actually considered buying things from their site because they are awesome items and for the most part, very affordable prices. I think it is soooooo WRONG of the Customs to do that!

I didn't know Greek Gifts Etc was based in Canada:confused:

At least you have the option of sending back :( Don't buy from GreekGear they're shady. :mad:

I'm really wary of any of those online Greek gift retailers...call me paranoid. It's a little more of a hassle, but I usually just order stuff through the Greek store on my campus. It's a little more expensive, but...

We're getting two more Greek stores, too, so maybe the competition will make everyone lower their prices! ;)

Oh, and Lady Pi Phi, that is REALLY ridiculous! I about fell out of my chair when I saw how much you had to pay for one t-shirt. :eek: I think it's time to get out the ol' sewing machine, what do you say?

I would never have paid $55 for a t-shirt. That is ridiculous and it sucks! I'm sorry that happened to you! :mad:

Tacking an extra shipment charge on at the border, especially one that can amount to 20% of the shipment cost, has the same effect as adding a border tariff. I gotta wonder if that violates the WTO Agreement. It may not if they treat every import from every country the same way, but either way it sure sucks.

I am really tempted to send the shirt back but I feel bad because it has nothing to do with Greek Gifts. The-shirt is a very resonable price( if of course you're paying in US dollars). But I don't want to pay to have it shipped back because I might as well just pay the 10 dollars and keep. I am so frustrated. I am going to call and bitch at someone there tomorrow, and I mean bitch. There will be yelling. Because I am so not impressed.

Canada: #1 in being North of The United States

Oh! Ok now I feel like a nerd. Sorry for the confusion and thank you for the clarification localsororities !

Lady Pi Phi, when I order things from the states I have them put gift on the parcel so I don't get slammed with paying for customs.

That's a good idea. I'll see if can do that from now on. I should let our paraphanalia girl about this so our chapter isn't going to be charged an arm and a leg to ship things from the states

If you have a number of girls who want shirts try this guy at:
www.simon.ca

He's based in Montreal and he did our rush shirts for us this year.
It worked out to be around $450 for 36 (including XXL) high quality shirts... and the shirts were delivered 3 days after the order was finalized.....

I think were going to use this guy for a while :)

Thanks Rob,

I'll let our girl know about that site. I met with some of my sisters for lunch today and did I just bitch. I did pick up the t-shirt. I am going to appeal to Canada Customs. I know I won't get my money back but at least I'll feel better if I can bitch at them.

I know how you feel Lady Pi Phi!!!

I ordered my wedding dress online and had it shipped to my parents house in Nova Scotia.....so Art wouldn't be tempted to look. I thought I was getting a great deal on the dress. I had found it in Tampa for $575 plus alterations (and a return trip to Tampa to pick it up....plus the worry of taking it with me home!!!) I got it for $390.....shipping to Canada and a garment bag included!!!!

However...when it arrived, the UPS guy tells me I owe $109 in duty taxes!!!!!!:eek: :eek:

Nowhere on the website I got it from does it say I will be charged duty taxes....no where!!! I personally felt that the site should have mentioned that there may be additional charges to send things to Canada, but they didn't.

I paid the stupid fees.....but was very pissed about it!!!! Stupid customs fees!

Now when I send stuff to my mom, I always put gift on the info sheet....no way do I want my mom to get stuck with some stupid Customs fees!!!!

I know duty taxes suck but they pay for things like social secruity.

Canada customs started charging fees about 2 weeks ago. If this is to pay for social programs, what the hell are they doing with all the other money we pay in taxes that supposedly are going to social programs...

I'm moving to Alberta...at least I won't have to pay PST.

I'm right behind you LOL. In BC we end paying 14.5% (GST & PST) What is it in Ont.?

I never heard about this customs thing - aren't the Liberals running a surplus right now?

I can beat that!
 

14.5% eh?
In Ontario, we pay 15% taxes (pst & gst). It's insane. And they're talking about raising the GST to 10% (which is a raise of 3% from what it is now). Americans would never stand for these kind of taxes.
I've ordered things from the States a couple of times and I got slammed with duty taxes. It's just not worth it.

Unfortunately, duty has been a pain since the good ol 1800's!

I used to ship computer equipment from Canada to the US - the paperwork for each item (mouse, keyboard - you get the picture) was about 30 pages per shipment.

Clothing is has one of the largest % duties along with shoes - around 20/22 %

example - Shoes- $20
now add duty - 22% - $4.40 = 24.40 USD

24.40 x exchange rate of 1.59 = 38.78
http://money.cnn.com/markets/currencies/americas.html

add any excise taxes and the like = 38.78 +5

43.78 x GST (fed tax) 7% = 46.84

(Prov tax should not be charged - this can only be charged by a company who has a provincial sales tax number - i.e. UPS in Toronto charges a processing fee, then PST can be charged on the processing fee)

If you are going for a road trip with your chapter, most US campus tend to have a Greek store where letters/t-shirts can be made. Call about 2 weeks before and order one, and then pick it up on yur visit. If you are out of Canada for at least 48 hours, you have up to $200 Cdn of goods you can bring back duty free.

For more info, visit Canada Customs and Revenue Agency at http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/menu-e.html

I thought raising the GST to 10% was just a nasty rumour.

I never heard the 10% rumor, but I think there would be hell to pay if they decided to do that. My uncle just moved to Calgary to save on taxes.

And while I am aware of duty taxes, this is the first time I have ever been charged for having things shipped from the states...so either this particular one is new or they are just stupid and forgot to charge me...I'd like to think they're stupid...but not that they forgot to chagre me.

I have just decided not to order anything from the states anymore. It's not worth it.

Thats a lot of money to keep the Queen happy and in Buckingham Palace.

lol

Hey,

I feel your pain....but I find most Greek online retailers will put $0 or gift on the info so you are charged less duty.

it is crazy...i bought 2 ceramic pin boxes for my sisters and had it sent to their house since i'm outta town....well my total cost was around $25 usd, they were charged $20 cad for duty....that sucks...
yet, i also ordered tumblers and balloons for the chapter, online cost $145 dollars...they were charged only $17 cad..(?)

so it really depends on what you are shipping!

As for t-shirts and other apparel...Guelph must have some local screenprinting/embroidery places. In windsor we just use them and prices are usually ok...esp for larger orders.

Love in the Bond

Jen

ps...just met a couple of your sisters at CIFC!

It is ridiculous. Our appareal girl has actually found a new place in London, I think they're called Distinctly Greek, but I think we'll be doing a bit of ordering from them. We actually ordered some sweatshirts from Buffalo and a couple of the girls are driving down to pick them up to save on Shipping (and hopefully duty).

Clothing isn't really a big problem, but specialty items we have to go to the States for.

Emily

P.S Did you enjoy the conference...I wanted to go but I was low on funds...I'm sure I'll hear all the stories in Chapter