Quote Originally Posted by RockyR View Post
I can't speak to Canadian Customs (and for Canadian Companies), but we absorb all shipping costs from Scotland and all US Customs fees.
Hi Rocky,

Some specific feedback for you. I've ordered three kilts from USA Kilts, in three separate orders, for delivery to Canada.

Duties/taxes were waived for 2 of those orders, and I was billed taxes for just one of those orders. The brokerage fee for that order was $5 (for about $43 in actual taxes).

If you had sent those orders to me via UPS, I'd have paid over $120 just to cover UPS's brokerage fees.

Thus your choice of shipping method (Global Priority Mail from USPS) has saved me $115 is UPS fees, plus taxes on two kilts (another $80-$90 probably).

Thank you!

There is a perception that duty can be entirely a lottery, and to an extent that is fair comment. However, your choice to use USPS and not, say, UPS, was guaranteed to save me at least $115 (the difference in brokerage fees). The saving would have never been less than $115, because UPS (like FedEx) always collect taxes and duties (unless the amount is below the legal minimum). The "lottery" component was that the saving was as much as $200 in this case, but it was always guaranteed to be at least $115.

Again, it is worth highlighting that the major portion of the saving was not statutory government "taxes and duties", but was "brokerage fees" charged by the courier for their services.

Thanks for great service, Rocky.

Mike