Canadian UPS charges

[GoldOxide_imp]

Last week I sold some CB 1000 parts to a guy in BC Canada , value $ 50 .
The USPS was $ 55 to send and UPS was $ 39 , of course I went with the UPS.
When the package was delivered the buyer had to pay a COD charge of 40 for handling and tax to get his package.
If I had used the USPS would they also charged that amount ? or only tax ?
It must be very costly to import things into Canada , I have bought thousands of dollars in MC parts and gear from Germany and Japan and never paid any import duty.
Peter or others : what is the scoop ?

UPS will usually charge a [hefty] "broker fee". If the item qualifies for GST/HST (taxes), that will be applied too.

USPS has a decent relationship with CanadaPost. From USPS GST/HST will be applied, and sometimes a wee handling fee (e.g. $5 or so, plus tax).

If an item comes direct from Hong Kong, usually it can pass directly to Canada without any tax, especially if the item originated/was manufactured there. If the same item went to the U.S. first then onto Canada, then full taxes are applied because the item was not manufactured in the U.S.

= = =

Items from say Italy or Germany direct to Canada experience usually just the GST/HST tax (if handled by CanadaPost at Border Customs), which is 13% in the province of Ontario.

Many times the sender from other country to Canada will include the GST/HST in the purchase price and the item will be delivered directly to Canada without further charges, especially if it is handled by CanadaPost.