Anyone in ontario (or Canada) order meds online from the U.S?

[Sully]

Hi everyone!
Its that time of year we need to get our dogs on heartworm meds for the Summer. Browsed online and saw I can save some money by ordering online from 1800petmeds or Drs. Foster and Smyth even with the shipping cost. We have two newfies and one newf cross so its a pretty big hit when we take them all in for their heartworm tests and to get all the meds, especially bc two packs are needed each since they are over the 100ibs limit for the biggest boxes. Anyways my only concern is that I am in Ontario, and they are in the states. I'm not overly familiar with buying in Canada and bringing it across the border, all I know is sometimes I have to pay duties/customs when my package reaches me, and other times I do not. So wondering if anyone in ontario, or somewhere else in Canada even, has ordered meds from these sites in the USA and if you were charged duties/customs when you got the package? I just don't want to bother doing it if by the time I pay the shipping and all the fees I've paid the same I would locally, or more. Does anyone know how I could find out exactly what fees I'd have to pay if I did order them in??

Thanks in advance

 

[new_2_newf]

No only are you looking at duty, but depending on who it is shipped with you could be looking at a brokerage fee as well (UPS really likes to hammer you there).

If the store fills out the forms correctly and lists the contents as 'dog medication', the odds are yes, you'll have to pay duty plus the Canada Post fee for dealing with the package (if they shipped it USPS). If they fill it out as 'gift of dog toys' and give it a value of $20, you likely won't have to pay either.

I order my meds online all the time, normally from kvvet, but I live on the boarder, so I have it shipped to Michigan and import it myself.

 

[Sully]

Thanks! You're lucky you live close to the border, I'm jealous! I wish I had a friend/family member in the States I could have it sent to then mailed to myself to avoid all these nonsense fees, that would be sweet. Especially because the shipping is always free within the USA!

If I found out who they use to courier it, could I find out the brokerage fee by contacting the courier? I just want to have an idea of what my total is going to be with those fees before ordering. I hate not kowing then being surprised when they show up at my door lol

 

[new_2_newf]

yep. you can also call customs and ask what the duties would be like, I'm sure they'd help explain it to you.

Here is the website that sort of lays it out:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html

so say you spend $100 CND on stuff in the states. You'd have to pay the 13% HST, so in this case, $13. if Canada Post delivers it, it's an $8.50 "service fee" on top of that (similar to a brokerage fee).