Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

[soxfan]

So I just received my end of a recent trade here on the forum....thanks Dustin Wolfe for the Jennings GU jersey.

BUT....

As I was picking up my pacrel today, my post office informs me that the package was opened, inspected and then RE-EVALUATED by Canada Customs....and to top it off, they have put their own "EXPERT" opinion on its value at $300...NOT the $100 value (sent as a GIFT by the way) that was written on the Customs tag (green one) on the box.

So, with no price tag on the jersey, and a sworn declaration value of $100 by the sender, what gives Customs the right to make up their own value and then charge me....either way, it was sent and declared as a GIFT!!

Just an FYI, I am disputing this...its not the $$ its the principal of it, and if anyone cares to know, I will update when I have an answer.

Brutal!

Jeremy
macleodjeremy@hotmail.com

[3arod13]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

So I just received my end of a recent trade here on the forum....thanks Dustin Wolfe for the Jennings GU jersey.

BUT....

As I was picking up my pacrel today, my post office informs me that the package was opened, inspected and then RE-EVALUATED by Canada Customs....and to top it off, they have put their own "EXPERT" opinion on its value at $300...NOT the $100 value (sent as a GIFT by the way) that was written on the Customs tag (green one) on the box.

So, with no price tag on the jersey, and a sworn declaration value of $100 by the sender, what gives Customs the right to make up their own value and then charge me....either way, it was sent and declared as a GIFT!!

Just an FYI, I am disputing this...its not the $$ its the principal of it, and if anyone cares to know, I will update when I have an answer.

Brutal!

Jeremy
macleodjeremy@hotmail.com

Wow! I didn't know they could even do something like that. Pretty Scary. They could have estimated the value $1,000.

[platinum1]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

So I just received my end of a recent trade here on the forum....thanks Dustin Wolfe for the Jennings GU jersey.

BUT....

As I was picking up my pacrel today, my post office informs me that the package was opened, inspected and then RE-EVALUATED by Canada Customs....and to top it off, they have put their own "EXPERT" opinion on its value at $300...NOT the $100 value (sent as a GIFT by the way) that was written on the Customs tag (green one) on the box.

So, with no price tag on the jersey, and a sworn declaration value of $100 by the sender, what gives Customs the right to make up their own value and then charge me....either way, it was sent and declared as a GIFT!!

Just an FYI, I am disputing this...its not the $$ its the principal of it, and if anyone cares to know, I will update when I have an answer.

Brutal!

Jeremy
macleodjeremy@hotmail.com

So Did they charge you? and if so How much?

[soxfan]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

They did indeed charge me.

On the "value" of $300, they charged me $41.00!

And after just speaking to them, they want me to prove that I didnt pay for, it, and to have the sender prove that he was at one point selling it for less than $300! And I am not going to do that, it is not his problem.

This is turning out to be yet another kick in the gut by the Gov to grab some more $$!

Jeremy
macleodjeremy@hotmail.com

[spartakid]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I'm confused, was it U.S. or Canadian customs that imposed the "expert opinion" and fee?

[otismalibu]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

And that's why I never ship back to the homeland...or anywhere else outside of the US.

The seller should always insure an item that's worth more than they would be willing to eat. Obviously, you can't insure an item for $500 and then declare it's value as $50.

And on top of that, all the buyers want it sent as a gift, so they can avoid any taxes.

Can turn into quite a mess.

[CampWest]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

they want me to prove that I didnt pay for it

Haaa... thats always funny to me... Prove you didnt pay for it... How can you prove something you didn't do? Tell them you can't give them a documentation of no payment because no payment was made so there is no documentation of no payment - BECAUSE IT WAS A GIFT.

How can you prove you didn't pay? One cannot prove non-existence of something that is non-existant, because there is no proof of existence.

I cannot prove aliens didn't blow up Atlantis, but I cannot prove that they did. Similarly, I cannot prove that Big Foot didnt eat my dog that disappeared one evening.

And how can the sender prove they were selling it for less than $300 if the sender never had it for sale.

Ughhh... people not understand basic logical thinking...

[Bravesfan]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

O' Canada.......... land of the socialist!

[soxfan]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

Now I dont really agree with that last comment...but it is frustrating.

And this happens on BOTH sides of the border from time to time...I am just saying its frustrating!

Jeremy

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

O' Canada.......... land of the socialist!

+1

Dave M.

[platinum1]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

You should of told them its was a Xmas gift.
Next time I send something I'm going to put a letter in the package saying, I hope you enjoy your GIFT!! lol

[TriplexXxSports]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I didn't read all the posts/replies, but I do know this (and it comes from a wife that works w/ postal)...

Customs has the right to open and inspect any package, whether it is a document or a 40 cubed box valued at $40,000. You shouldn't really send anything as a gift through customs. For whatever reason that seems to send a red flag and makes the packages take longer to get through the system.

FWIW, for the insurance part of it, I know when doing a claim for an object that was either broken or damaged, you have to show an invoice or some sort of value for the object. Considering sports memorabilia is only as valuable as what someone will pay for it, they shouldn't be able to revalue this and charge you for it. I know that the insurance company our personal store uses doesn't even insure that type of thing.

Either way, the situation is shady. But you always have to consider the fine print agreements(which most of us ignore).....

[cohibasmoker]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

You should of told them its was a Xmas gift.
Next time I send something I'm going to put a letter in the package saying, I hope you enjoy your GIFT!! lol

"Xmas gift" won't work either. Maybe "Holiday Gift" would work but certainly NOT Xmas or Christmas gift.

Just an opinion - hope I didn't offend anyone.

Jim

[Dewey2007]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I think "Boxing Day" gift would be more appropriate if shipping to Canada around the holidays.

"Xmas gift" won't work either. Maybe "Holiday Gift" would work but certainly NOT Xmas or Christmas gift.

Just an opinion - hope I didn't offend anyone.

Jim

[dwolfe12345]

Re: Customs has "expert evaluators"? GIVE ME A BREAK!

Hey Jeremy feel free to email me and I will give you all the information you need. I'll give you my number and have them call me. I paid right at $100 for it and we traded for $100 worth of memorabilia.