Customs fees from wooden to canada?

[yves d]

I'm looking to order a fixed back and gold mount plate. Has anyone been charged customs or taxes?

 

[Philip Bowen]

Who you're ordering from won't affect what customs fees you are charged; it's what shipping method you use. I can almost guarantee you'll be paying high brokerage fees if you choose UPS, FedEx or any of the other courier companies. However, if you get them to ship to you using USPS (CanadaPost takes it on once it reaches Canada), it's unlikely you'll be charged any customs fees at all. If you are charged customs by CanadaPost, the rate will be reasonable (generally GST + $5-10 brokerage).
I've never seen UPS, FedEx or otherwise charge even remotely reasonable customs/brokerage rates (think 25% and up depending on the item). UPS once charged me 120% for a small replacement part that I ordered from the manufacturer. Complaining didn't get me any money back. It's not so much paying a premium due to being in a different country that annoys so much as the fact that UPS's customs broker made significantly more money on that part than the actual manufacturer.
I've been ordering various videography bits and bobs from the States to Canada for about a decade. Generally once every 2-3 months or so.
I have yet to be ripped off by brokerage with USPS/CanadaPost. I have *always* been ripped off by brokerage with any of the private couriers.

That's just my experience anyways.

 

[Bob Gundu]

Just buy the WC stuff from BHPhoto. Cheaper shipping and all the costs are up front.

 

[Roger Singh]

I buy directly from DV Shop. Straight conversion to Canadian dollars with no 2.5% conversion rate fee, and no shipping charges. You do pay taxes of course There's a good staff there, I'm just not sure if they ship out from their store.