Discussions

I want to order 3 small items from amazon.com marketplace sellers and a friend (doesn't have a computer) wants to order 2 small items also from amazon.com marketplace sellers. All these items are significantly cheaper ordering from amazon.com - we want to have them all shipped to Border Shipping Services.  
 
My question is - should I order all 5 items in my name or should 3 articles be ordered in my name and the other 2 in my friend's name - does it make a difference at customs? - each article is worth less than $20. When the articles have all arrived both of us would go together to pick them up at Border Services.  
 
On Thurs morning I emailed this question to Jay at Border Services and have had no reply yet - do they usually take several days to answer e-mails?  
 
Thanks for reading - I'd like to know your answers.

When returning same day technically can't bring anything back without paying duty unless it falls under nafta. However, I have gone down for groceries and not had to pay duty when I have brought back $50-100 in non grocery items. It depends who you get at the border. Likely if you and your friend each had a couple of items they might just let you go. On the cbsa website there is a duty and taxes estimator so you can see how much it would cost- it usually isn't too bad.  
 
Border Services charges per package.

Above answer is accurate for customs. Border services charges $4 for the first package and $3 for each additional package in each person's name. So if they were all in one person's name, you would save a couple of dollars there.

From Norder Svcs Website:  
 
 
 
-1st Box - $5  
 
-Each Additional Box - $3  
 
-Packages over 50 lbs. - $10  
 
-Pallets or Forklift Services -or over 100# -- $20  
 
-Packages must be picked up within 2 weeks or storage charges apply.  
 
Vehicles, atv's, snowmobiles, quads, boats, cars, pickup trucks, anything on a trailer is $20 + $5 a day for storage.  
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If you are both going to head down, then you are best to have the items addressed to the actual owner. With each person's total at well under $100, the CBSA will likely just tell you to have a nice day. But when you cross the $150 mark, it is a crap shoot if you are going to pay tax.  
 
You might have to set up a gmail account for your friend if he/she is not on the net in order for them to purchase from Amazon.

Just order ur stuff in ur name and the other person in there name print off ur recipts go to boarder services get parcels then wen u get to customs they ask how much tell them ur total then other person say there total he might make u pay or say have a nice day... How ever if it was just u going I would order it all in ur name be easier at customs

Jay is busy guy it easier to get tracking number on all the stuff them u see arrived go down there. he does charge a fee so take cash u.s funds I'm sure he perfers he will accept can money tho

....on Friday.  
 
2 parcels to pick up. - $8US  
 
Stopped at customs for the usual questions, showed him the invoices (that I printed out before I left, don't count on them being in the box) told him the value ($125) and he let me go with no taxes to pay. Items were curtains for the bedroom and auto parts.  
 
It easy, simple at the border and you can save a ton of money. As much as I would like to support the local economy, I have to support the household economy first.  
 
Go for it!  
 
Marpet

The only advantage of putting it all in one name is the savings at Border Shipping. I've picked up stuff for other people and customs didn't care as long as I declared everything and paid the applicable duty.

Typo on my previous post - yes, the first package is $5 at Border Services.

It would be far easier just to buy everything in your own name. When you come across the border it's just all your own stuff. If you pick up stuff for someone else and they're not there it's a hassle.

Decided to put all 5 items in my name since I'm the one with the amazon.com account and the total is only $41 plus $3.99 shipping for each article ($19.95)- so other than paying Jay at Border Services - I may not even have to pay duty on such a small amount.

We went in December and picked up from border services. We also went and got groceries and other things. When we got to the border he asked how long we had been down (3 hours) where we had been and our car total ($600 - about $150 in groceries) and he let us go without paying. Not expecting that to happen everytime but it's sure nice when it does.