Time To Give Up The Hobby

[woodrow]

You can order by the leaf and blend yourself but that’s another part of our hobby. Sometimes you can get a tin into Canada. i was stung pretty good last year about this time. Keep the orders small. Network with other Canadians like myself. Chat.

 

[tzinc]

they literally have no formula for taxing tobacco they just make it up as it goes

for years I would get dinged on 1 2 orders out of 16 18
BIG BROTHER figured out a why to ding you every time now

 

[Wapask]

they literally have no formula for taxing tobacco they just make it up as it goes

for years I would get dinged on 1 2 orders out of 16 18
BIG BROTHER figured out a why to ding you every time now

But there is one and if you educate yourself to know it and send things back for re assessment with a letter attached to the parcel it kind of forces their hand to follow the tax laws and not just making stuff up and pulling ridiculous numbers out of the air.

Assessments come with the badge number of the CBSA officer responsible for them for a reason.

 

[tzinc]

thanks I did not know there was an appeal process
how much would the percentage tax be?

 

[Wapask]

thanks I did not know there was an appeal process
how much would the percentage tax be?

It's right on that piece of paper they stick to the side of your parcel with the duties and taxes, it has the CBSA officers badge/registration number on it as well (or it should).

You are obligated to pay Excise duties per Unit (which is 50g per unit) of roughly... you know what, just check my posts earlier in this thread I kind of laid it out for OP and did the math for him and he pretty much ignored me but it is in this thread as an example.

You are expected to pay excise duties, provincial tobacco tax and GST/PST on your order plus the $10 canada post processing fee. It is good to always check what the taxes are when you order from the US because sometimes they will actually under tax you too which is a gift! Its the times they seriously over tax that you need to send back for a re assessment.

Also never order a pipe and tobacco in the same order, for some reason those get hit more than anything.

 

[elvishrunes]

It's right on that piece of paper they stick to the side of your parcel with the duties and taxes, it has the CBSA officers badge/registration number on it as well (or it should).

You are obligated to pay Excise duties per Unit (which is 50g per unit) of roughly... you know what, just check my posts earlier in this thread I kind of laid it out for OP and did the math for him and he pretty much ignored me but it is in this thread as an example.

You are expected to pay excise duties, provincial tobacco tax and GST/PST on your order plus the $10 canada post processing fee. It is good to always check what the taxes are when you order from the US because sometimes they will actually under tax you too which is a gift! Its the times they seriously over tax that you need to send back for a re assessment.

Also never order a pipe and tobacco in the same order, for some reason those get hit more than anything.

yes 100% it forces their hand, they know you wont pay their scam prices when you return it for a reassessment, so they come back with a fair offer, usually 20-30$ Can a tin extra tax for me. Luckily, my last three orders have been 25$ tax Can per tin, I can live with that.

I can’t say I don’t miss the old days tho, here’s an order I got for a codger friend of mine tax free, exactly four years ago.

 

[lithicus]

But there is one and if you educate yourself to know it and send things back for re assessment with a letter attached to the parcel it kind of forces their hand to follow the tax laws and not just making stuff up and pulling ridiculous numbers out of the air.

Assessments come with the badge number of the CBSA officer responsible for them for a reason.

You certainly aren't wrong. It is up to us to educate ourselves. But, I feel like a simple miscalculation here isn't the problem or reason why the OP is questioning whether or not to give up pipe smoking. Even if customs got it right, the taxes are just getting out of hand. People are calling the government tyrannical, not focusing on real problems, and not serving their best interests.

Someone else did the math for the OP already:

You have to take into account the Excise tax per unit (I believe units are 50g) + your provincial tobacco taxes which are per gram + the gst and pst on your order.

24oz is roughly 680 grams thats 13.6 Units of 50g per unit at $11.92379 so youre charged $162.25 in Excise taxes roughly

Alberta tobacco taxes hit 41.25 CENTS per GRAM of LOOSE tobacco

41.25×680÷100= $280.50

So thats 280.50 + 162.25 = $442.75

Now what did your order cost? Was there pipes in it? You can calculate your GST and PST plus the extra $10 you're charged as a processing fee.

If they ovsr charged you send it back for re assessment and itll come back costing less and if it still isnt right you can pay, type up a letter with the math and request to be reimbursed for the over payment you made.

24oz isn't all that unreasonable. We tend to buy in bulk to save money and stock up on our favorite blends.

24oz of PS400 Luxury Navy Flake (which is #2 on the most popular bulk blends list) is just under $90 on smokingpipes right now. Add $162 in excise taxes, an additional $280 in Alberta taxes, $10 processing fee, goods and services tax, and sales tax... you're paying more than 5 times the cost of the tobacco in taxes and fees alone. It's crazy... I feel bad for the Canadians if everyone is getting hit like this. I fear it won't be long until it is like this in the US as well. (God I hope C&D stays in business throughout the rest of my life time )

 

[Wapask]

You certainly aren't wrong. It is up to us to educate ourselves. But, I feel like a simple miscalculation here isn't the problem or reason why the OP is questioning whether or not to give up pipe smoking. Even if customs got it right, the taxes are just getting out of hand. People are calling the government tyrannical, not focusing on real problems, and not serving our best interests.

Someone else did the math for the OP already:

24oz isn't all that unreasonable. We tend to buy in bulk to save money and stock up on our favorite blends. 24oz of PS400 Luxury Navy Flake (which is #2 on the most popular bulk blends list) is just under $90 on smokingpipes right now. Add $162 in excise taxes, an additional $280 in Alberta taxes, $10 processing fee, goods and services tax, and sales tax... you're paying more than 5 times the cost of the tobacco in taxes and fees alone. It's crazy... I feel bad for the Canadians if everyone is getting hit like this. I fear it won't be long until it is like this in the US as well. (God I hope C&D stays in business throughout the rest of my life time )

That was me who did the Math for OP lol

 

[lithicus]

That was me who did the Math for OP lol

I tried to quote you, but I was working across multiple pages and couldn't figure it out so I copied pasted hahahah Thank you for doing that math!!
EDIT: Ohh hahahah I just realized I was quoting you to yourself... doh

 

[elvishrunes]

You certainly aren't wrong. It is up to us to educate ourselves. But, I feel like a simple miscalculation here isn't the problem or reason why the OP is questioning whether or not to give up pipe smoking. Even if customs got it right, the taxes are just getting out of hand. People are calling the government tyrannical, not focusing on real problems, and not serving their best interests.

Someone else did the math for the OP already:

24oz isn't all that unreasonable. We tend to buy in bulk to save money and stock up on our favorite blends.

24oz of PS400 Luxury Navy Flake (which is #2 on the most popular bulk blends list) is just under $90 on smokingpipes right now. Add $162 in excise taxes, an additional $280 in Alberta taxes, $10 processing fee, goods and services tax, and sales tax... you're paying more than 5 times the cost of the tobacco in taxes and fees alone. It's crazy... I feel bad for the Canadians if everyone is getting hit like this. I fear it won't be long until it is like this in the US as well. (God I hope C&D stays in business throughout the rest of my life time )

A bit late I know, but there’s no law you can’t break that 24 oz into 1/2 or 1/3, 2 or three orders. In fact you have to unless you know how to slip through unseen these days.

 

[sparker69]

It's right on that piece of paper they stick to the side of your parcel with the duties and taxes, it has the CBSA officers badge/registration number on it as well (or it should).

You are obligated to pay Excise duties per Unit (which is 50g per unit) of roughly... you know what, just check my posts earlier in this thread I kind of laid it out for OP and did the math for him and he pretty much ignored me but it is in this thread as an example.

You are expected to pay excise duties, provincial tobacco tax and GST/PST on your order plus the $10 canada post processing fee. It is good to always check what the taxes are when you order from the US because sometimes they will actually under tax you too which is a gift! Its the times they seriously over tax that you need to send back for a re assessment.

Also never order a pipe and tobacco in the same order, for some reason those get hit more than anything.

I can't remember who it is, but someone on here from Ottawa even had a spreadsheet that automatically did the calculations based on province. I have the calculations from a Quebec group that I posted already.

 

[newbroom]

Unfortunately, we are unable to reship orders refused at Customs, even to US addresses.

It's the thought that counts. I'm thinking of you Chris. It ain't over till the heavy-set woman sings.
Elbows out!

 

[Choatecav]

I just have to say that I have followed this thread pretty closely and continue to be just "gobsmacked" at the ordeal that you folks from other countries have to go through to enjoy this basic hobby of pipe smoking. Never would I have dreamt it would be so tough and/or costly to simply order tobacco blends. I certainly will not take if for granted any longer, just how "good" I have it here.

Also, I want to say that I am sure glad that you persevere and that you are active on this forum. I very much value the comments from those of you in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, France, Europe, Greece and everywhere else around the globe. Your insight, stories and beautiful pipes are of interest to us here in the States and we most certainly value getting to know you a little bit.

Hang in there, friends.....