JoeCanuck

General Section => Off Topic => Topic started by: Pete The Greek on January 23, 2007, 09:42:44 PM

Title: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: Pete The Greek on January 23, 2007, 09:42:44 PM
Most of us Canadian collectors here at one point have had packages sent from the USA, in which the evil empire known as Canada Customs once in a while gets their grubby little hands on our package.  At least US customs doesn't open the package being sent up here....right?  Here is one for a loop and it still baffels me.

I bought an really hard to find figure from Argentina.   At this point of my collecting, I will pay prioriity shipping with tracking as I am not playing games with rare items.  So the seller sent the package via FedEx and I got here in one business today.  Now, that is freaking fast. But look at this picture I took of the package that was sent (as it caught my eye right off the bat):

 (http://http://img157.imagevenue.com/loc439/th_05525_Picture_001_122_439lo.jpg) (http://http://img157.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=05525_Picture_001_122_439lo.jpg)

You can see the package was sent from Argentina to my address in Canada.  But look at the top of the package.  A US customs tape job with that Homeland security stamp on it.  The package was sliced open.  Sigh.............why the F@*&^ did US customs open the package in the first place?  Last time I checked, Ontario isn't a American State.  What a joke. 
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: beekerzz24 on January 23, 2007, 10:05:52 PM
Very Odd!!! That would definitely be a question for fedex themselves to answer.
I did hear a rumor of those south americans stuffing drugs in those GI Joe diapers!! ha ha.
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: Raptor on January 24, 2007, 09:16:10 AM
Hmmm. Never thought about it, but your package would have gone through a US reshipping depot. Why this entitles them to open it I have no idea, but it looks like you're going to have to get your fireign figures shipped up in diplomatic pouches.

That's not good. I'm not even sure that they have the right to do that, mind you I'm sure that there's something in the shipping agreement with Fed Ex that gives them the absolute right to do anything that they want to anything anywhere ever. 

-  :chicken:
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: Stealth Viper on January 24, 2007, 09:53:43 AM
Yeah...

Fedex didn't direct ship it.. it probably got into a nearby US airport (Buffalo? Detroit?) and delivered via ground from there.

So it got hit by US customs.
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: BHMike on January 24, 2007, 12:18:40 PM
...and yet today I get a package that was sent up from the U.S.

It contained.

2 MOC Wrestling figures.
Some paint.
Spray glue (gonna be doing some custom carding) ;-)
X-Acto knife and blades.
Lighter for a friend of mine (It's wrestling related).

ALL of that was shipped in one box.

It wasn't open - and I had no duty to pay.

It was labeled as a gift, and it was 'Toys & things'.

Go figure.
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: Pete The Greek on January 24, 2007, 12:44:06 PM
I will probably contact FedEX about this.  But I won't make a big issue about it as my figure arrive intact with all accessories.  At least US customs can't charge me duty tax. :lol:
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: Tattoo Shane on January 26, 2007, 02:52:59 PM
That is bizarre. I think you should contact Fed Ex at the very least to get an explantion for the rest of us. ;)
Title: Re: US customs = opening Canadian bound packages
Post by: akpayne on January 26, 2007, 07:24:27 PM
That really does suck - I had to read your message twice to confirm that you didn't say it was shipped from the US!

Makes me wonder - I don't know if there are products that are legal in canada but not in the US - but would they seize the package if it contained such items?  And if so - would anyone let you know?