Ali Express orders requiring duty?

[sswilson]

Has anybody here ordered something from Aliexpress that was sufficiently expensive you'd expect to pay duty on it? If so, what was the process to pay the duty?

I'm considering ordering a $170 keyboard but the Global retail channel uses DHL to ship from the US and I have no desire to get a $90 customs clearance bill so I'm considering the aliexpress option.

Any experience with this?

 

[Jokester]

Luck of the draw with most of that. I haven't been dinged coming in from aliexpress so far.

 

[lowfat]

For DHL you will always pay brokerage. It won't be cheap but IIRC not near as bad as UPS.

 

[Jokester]

Yeah never use DHL if you want to avoid. They are the worst imo. Basic shipping like usps or similar from other countries has better luck

 

[sswilson]

For DHL you will always pay brokerage. It won't be cheap but IIRC not near as bad as UPS.

Hrmmmm..... the bill is already $185 ($35 shipping) what's a typical DHL brokerage fee? Are we talking another $30 or is it typically more?

I dunno.... might end up holding off on this if I can't convince myself that the aliexpress order (shipped by aliexpress) would make it through relatively painlessly.

What happens with a Canada Post international package if customs deems it to require duty? I'm looking at the CP site and it looks like they'll charge $10 brokerage and collect the taxes owed at the door if customs wants to apply them?

I may wait for a couple of days (apparently there's a "spring" aliexpress sale coming shortly) and just bite the bullet to take a chance on the canada post route (aliexpress basic shipping).

 

[JD]

Should be fine if it's AliExpress shipping. I haven't had to pay anything thus far. That $149USD Alldocube tablet I bought came through without owing anything.

AFAIK electronics are duty free, so you shouldn't owe any on a keyboard. It should only be HST/GST + Brokerage.

 

[Bond007]

I would have said that I wouldn’t worry about it, but dhl, ups and fedex like their $ (dhl may be the worst). Not sure what to expect.

 

[SugarJ]

DHL will send you a text before delivery with the amount owing. It's usually PST+GST+$17-20. You can pay it before it arrives at your door so the driver doesn't have to collect it.

 

[moocow]

I ordered 2 MKB87 kit from KPRepublic way back in 2020. It costed $178.30 USD and I got charged $20.80 CAD for duties. Can't remember if they declared the full amount tho.

 

[FreeKnight]

Definitely paid it on my biggest Barrow order.

Haven't had to on a couple. Like Jokester said seems to be luck of the draw.