While we're on the subject I'll tell you how screwed I got one time. Before we moved to Montreal my Canadian girlfriend and I lived in California. We were going to Quebec to her parents for Christmas. I found some nice jewelry to get her for Christmas in a mail order catalog. There wasn't enough time to have it delivered in California before we left so I asked them if they could deliver it in Canada. No problem. When UPS showed up at my in-laws house they wanted something like 60% of the value of the item in tax before they would hand it over. I was shocked and refused to pay. They UPS guy went away with the package, I had my credit card block the charges and my girlfriend didn't get a Christmas present that year.
That was back when I had the illusion that the US/Canada border was just a formality. Jim On Friday, June 14, 2002, at 05:48 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > There is no sure way to avoid duty and taxes. Even if the item is used, > you > will still be liable for duty and taxes. Occasionally (as in Blue Moon > and/or Hell Freezing Over time) the overworked boys and girls down at > the > customs office might be on their donut/doughnut break and overlook a > chance > to gouge you, but that is rare. > If you receive it by mail, especially if you insure it, you will almost > certainly pay tax on it. > The US expatriates who go home to visit now and then are the only ones > with > a good way of beating the system. For everyone else, this it'd be a good > time to reach across the border and make an American friend, a "GST > Pal" if > you will. Enduring friendships have been built on less solid ground > than the > hope of saving money. > And how 'bout that nafta... > > Chris H -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
