Returning A Stamp For Refund To Canada, Import Duty Fee

I'm in the U.S. and recently purchased a stamp online from a stamp firm in Montreal for about $450.

The stamp is a 238 US Columbian 15c, mnh that came with a 2022 PSAG cert, graded 85 with no faults mentioned.

Upon receipt of the item, it had a considerable amount of gum bends/wrinkles. I understand that this issue can have some gum bends and such, but I was shocked that there was no mention of this on the certificate. Pic attached.

I asked to return for a refund, which the seller had no problem with. It cost about $18 to mail the item back via UPS in a rigid envelope, about 6x8 in size, around 3oz. Dropped it off a couple days ago and today I get notification from UPS that I have to pay an import fee of $46 CAD before they will deliver.

Is this right? I put on the content description that it was a stamp being returned and I even had printed in the envelope the e-mail from seller and info on the transaction. Anyone run into this? Can I dispute?

First mistake was using UPS and not the USPS.

You are "importing" to Canada an item of value which Canada charges for. There was no duty leaving Canada (or coming into the USA), but that is different than going into Canada.

Your dealer may have some information which may be helpful.

There a dealers who have Canadian and US addresses but nearly refuse to move inventory for the US to Canada.

I do not believe "gifts" have a duty.

Correct.
The $46 bill might not be a tariff/duty but is a handling fee that UPS charges for managing the paperwork and processing through customs.

Here is a chart of the UPS "Entry Preparation Fees" for importing into Canada. This is in addition to the duties/tariffs/taxes (which may be $0, but you are still charged the handling fee).

Entry Preparation Fees
This process involves checking the commercial invoice submitted with the goods and completing entry preparation procedures required by the CBSA, including calculation of the applicable duties and taxes for each type of commodity included in the shipment. A fee may apply for this service.



From:
https://assets.ups.com/adobe/assets...de-ca-en.pdf

I ran into this when the auction house used UPS from Canada to the US. Fortunately for me it was only $24, but still an unexpected surprise. I wrote more about it here,
https://goscf.com/t/90669#844981


I do not know of any way to avoid the fee once the package is in the hands of UPS. You may be able to call them and have them return the package to you (risky) but you will likely have to pay another $18 in postage for the return trip. It is also not clear if the package has already been processed or has cleared customs, and if so, the $46 fee will still be due for services rendered. I wish the UPS place where you dropped off the package had warned you about this potential fee situation.

Thanks for the replies. I already paid the import fee.

Guess this is an expensive lesson learned. I would have thought I was fairly 'safe' with a 2022 issued cert. A $400 refund is better than keeping it though.

I wouldn't have accepted the stamp either if the substantial gum bends and wrinkles were not disclosed. That is on the dealer. Generally, gum bends/wrinkles aren't to my knowledge specified on any of the big three's certificates. I can't recall any of the hundreds of certs I had for my US stamps mentioning these things including my Zep's which are notorious for this. My guess is that it is considered an as-produced condition?

Zepps you almost expect bends. Columbians not so much.