Selling US to Canada

[AllieLuv83]

A buyer contacted me and asked if I would sell to a Canadian and that not many people would. Are there different procedures selling out of the country? Higher precautions that I would need to take? Why wouldn't many sell to a Canadian?

 

[vintagelover229]

You need to be careful shipping out of the country since many companies won't insure gold/jewelry/watches/coins over the boarder. If you DO have it done-I would consider a couple of different options. I would either look at an escrow service-an appraiser (ship it to them and the buyer picks it up there after the funds have cleared your account) or if you "trust" the buyer ship it UPS or some other carrier (DO NOT SHIP IT USPS THEY DO NOT INSURE JEWELRY OVER THE BOARDER-EVEN IF YOU INSURE IT) with tracking and signature confirmation. However even then they could say they signed for it and it was "missing" from the package. It's risky-and I've had pieces shipped from the USA to Canada arrive just fine (even USPS) however I did have a cheap band that I bought from a PSer a size 4 benchmark band and it didn't ever show up. Tracking stopped in NY some where and it never arrived. I'm not sure if it was insured but she just refunded my $ but that means she was out the 60.00 (not sure if that was with or without shipping). It was a bummer-but I'm glad it wasn't my diamond pendant cross that got lost!

Another option you could do is see if you can find a reputable jeweler in the area that would work as a third party too-but an appraiser would probably be better so the buyer can make sure everything checks out on their end. But if your shipping to Canada remind the buyer that there will be a cash on delivery fee-of duties/taxes that will need to be paid as well.


It's not impossible-but you both need to be aware of what could happen. I'm glad I've found buyers willing to ship to me in Canada-but usually I just have it shipped to a family member in the states and brought up when they visit or when they ship a larger package to me-just to be safe.

Good luck!

 

[kelpie]

A buyer contacted me and asked if I would sell to a Canadian and that not many people would. Are there different procedures selling out of the country? Higher precautions that I would need to take? Why wouldn't many sell to a Canadian?

I just sold my OEC ring to Canada. I sent it priority/return receipt/insured. The tracking made me anxious, it looked like it was going nowhere on USPS when I actually needed to go to Canada Post's website to track it. You need to fill out a customs form. It was relatively painless.

 

[ruby59]

I recently sent an expensive piece of jewelry to Australia. I used Fed Ex Global with insurance and Signature Confirmation. Yes, it is expensive, but the online tracking updated me every step along the way. And it also alerted me to the fact that the package had been signed for and by whom. It zipped right past customs to a country known to be slow in that area. You can insure up to $1,000.

From what I read before I selected them, Fe Ex has an excellent track record with very few problems.

Edited to add: I sell on ebay and have shipped internationally a few times. Not sure if you are selling through ebay or diamond bistro. I can only address ebay. You cannot get online signature confirmation when you ship USPS internationally. And the tracking is useless, states that you dropped it off and it was delivered -- nothing in between. If this is ebay, any item over $250 requires signature confirmation in order to protect you as a seller against scammers who claim the item never arrived.

 

[heather2012]

OMG@!! Before you do anything READ THIS!!!!!!

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/warning-of-potential-scam-buyer-on-db-t166150.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/warning-of-potential-scam-buyer-on-db-t166150.html[/URL]

 

[AllieLuv83]

Someone is trying to buy my engagement ring but he is located in Canada. Thank you for all of the great information.

 

[Laila619]

I wonder if it would be easiest to ship somewhere in the US near the border like a Fed Ex facility, and he could drive down to pick it up?

 

[Enerchi]

I have done that before - have an item shipped to a cross border FED EX/UPS store and pick up there. The delivery point just wants photo ID (passport/drivers licence) and then the item is released.

Then... up to the buyer if they choose to declare the item or not. If they do, they are charged duty and taxes ... but then... I'm not sure if ALL taxes are applied, or just the GST? Maybe another Canadian would have a better answer for that.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I am a Canadian and have received many things from the US, recently an item I bought on ebay from a private seller like yourself. I really like USPS Global Express guaranteed because FedEx handles the delivery.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have done that before - have an item shipped to a cross border FED EX/UPS store and pick up there. The delivery point just wants photo ID (passport/drivers licence) and then the item is released.

Then... up to the buyer if they choose to declare the item or not. If they do, they are charged duty and taxes ... but then... I'm not sure if ALL taxes are applied, or just the GST? Maybe another Canadian would have a better answer for that.

Buyer pays all sales taxes applicable in their province, HST or GST/PST.

 

[ruby59]

I am a Canadian and have received many things from the US, recently an item I bought on ebay from a private seller like yourself. I really like USPS Global Express guaranteed because FedEx handles the delivery.

Dreamer, you mentioned ebay, so it peaked my interest, as I am a seller who does occassionally sell outside the US. I do not know if your item was under or over $250. If over $250, what kind of signature confirmation did the seller get? Unfortunately ebay has become a buyers paradise filled with scammers who are readily claiming the item was never received. I talked with someone at paypal and also reviewed ebay's requirements. Items over $250 must have online signature confirmation in order to protect the seller. USPS does not provide that internationally.

And what is the difference between USPS Global Express through Fed Ex and just getting Global Express through Fed Ex? Can you get online signature confirmation and is it less expensive?

 

[Enerchi]

I have done that before - have an item shipped to a cross border FED EX/UPS store and pick up there. The delivery point just wants photo ID (passport/drivers licence) and then the item is released.

Then... up to the buyer if they choose to declare the item or not. If they do, they are charged duty and taxes ... but then... I'm not sure if ALL taxes are applied, or just the GST? Maybe another Canadian would have a better answer for that.

Buyer pays all sales taxes applicable in their province, HST or GST/PST.

I'm in Ontario so its 13% HST. I think there is also the 8% duty tax as well, is that correct? Thanks in advance DreamerD for the info!

 

[wakingdreams53]

I just shipped to Canada (sold an OEC to Cluless) through Global Express Guaranteed. She'll have to pay the applicable sales tax.
Cost a little under $40. A bit pricey, but she should get it by tomorrow.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have done that before - have an item shipped to a cross border FED EX/UPS store and pick up there. The delivery point just wants photo ID (passport/drivers licence) and then the item is released.

Then... up to the buyer if they choose to declare the item or not. If they do, they are charged duty and taxes ... but then... I'm not sure if ALL taxes are applied, or just the GST? Maybe another Canadian would have a better answer for that.

Buyer pays all sales taxes applicable in their province, HST or GST/PST.

I'm in Ontario so its 13% HST. I think there is also the 8% duty tax as well, is that correct? Thanks in advance DreamerD for the info!

No duty on jewelry at all, Canadians *only* pay HST/PST + GST. Sseller should indicate it is "US made" on the customs forms. I tell all sellers to describe jewelery or diamonds as "Adornment, US made" with no other descriptions and especially no mention of diamonds or jewelery. Adornment is a category in customs so using that label is accurate and allows customs to correctly classify your goods and being free of duties. But no escaping taxes.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I am a Canadian and have received many things from the US, recently an item I bought on ebay from a private seller like yourself. I really like USPS Global Express guaranteed because FedEx handles the delivery.

Dreamer, you mentioned ebay, so it peaked my interest, as I am a seller who does occassionally sell outside the US. I do not know if your item was under or over $250. If over $250, what kind of signature confirmation did the seller get? Unfortunately ebay has become a buyers paradise filled with scammers who are readily claiming the item was never received. I talked with someone at paypal and also reviewed ebay's requirements. Items over $250 must have online signature confirmation in order to protect the seller. USPS does not provide that internationally.

And what is the difference between USPS Global Express through Fed Ex and just getting Global Express through Fed Ex? Can you get online signature confirmation and is it less expensive?

I don't know the answer to all your questions! I am a buyer and not a very prolific one. All items I bought were over $250, all were diamonds of rings.

With all of my purchases I signed for the items on delivery. One was sent regular USPS express mail, which means when it crosses the border Canada Post takes over its passage! So if you want to track an item sent that way, then you should not log into USPS you log into www.canadapost.ca and track that way with the same number. I signed and so there was a record that Canada post should have been able to provide. In fact, I bet you can see signature confirmatio online on Canada post's website? You should call canada post and ask what happens to an item that they deliver that originated in the US and requires a signature.

We used Global Express GUaranteed because the seller did not have a local FedEx and this way could go through USPS to get FedEx. I like FedEx Express service as an importer because they do not charge a brokerage fee (well, $10) and I find them easy to deal with for customs. UPS charges high brokerage fees for some of their services. Global Express Guaranteed through USPS cost $60 plus insurance. You do sign for a package. I am not sure about the online confirmation thing. Since I signed electronically with FedEx, seems to me they could provide you with a copy of the signature provided on delivery.