Today I received a +50 year old motorcycle fender, in the mail, from the USA. Despite paying the sender for “shipping” Canada Post notice suggests I owe another $138! Usually I just pay the hit, but this seems outrageous. My understanding is there is no duty on used, old parts. Anyone know for sure and ever contested these charges? Thanks, John D.

Yesterday I had to endure Canada Posts new overseas shipping program where you do all the info on your computer/device and print off your own labels or put barcodes on a phone etc and bring to post office. Website (though simple) didn't work, don't have a printer or cell phone/device so back to post office where I managed to get package shipped the old way,took less time than 5 minutes. But no guarantee that item would actually be shipped and if it isn't delivered I pay for return postage or they toss it!

I ordered two wheels, an exhaust, two side covers, a points set and wheel dampers from Thailand from a single seller for my '64.. surprisingly cheap, $250 for the lot. When they arrived at my door - together - on the same day - in 6 different packages - the duty charges were around 60 each on the wheels and exhaust, 20 for each side cover and 20 for the dampers and points.
It was a rough morning.

I have heard that $60 is a sweet spot for getting by Canadian customs and a lot of my friends that buy things from foreign shopping sites ask the seller to mark the value down and send it as a gift. I think it voids the shipping insurance, but no one I know has had a package lost yet..

I just got a parcel from the UK shipped by courier service (Parcel Force)  it arrived at my door in five days and was delivered by Canada Post. No duty's etc.  Not complaining .PS was marked as Vintage MC parts,

I just ordered a BMW fairing and windshield from Poland. The fairing was $600 less than ordering from Wunderlich in the U.S. The package cost 80 Euros to ship and arrived at my door with no fees.

I use Cross Border Pick-ups to bring packages from the U.S. and I declare them as vintage parts "Parts Exempt Under Canadian Tariff 9966.00" and they arrive with no duties if they are for a vehicle older than 25 years.  

Also look here:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d10/d10-15-20-eng.html

In general, if you use a courier service, you will be charged duty, taxes and brokerage fees. If you use mail from the U.S, you will be charged taxes and very rarely duty. If the package comes via mail from somewhere with non-English writing i.e. Poland or Thailand, it will arrive with no fees or taxes.

That's my experience anyway.

Cheers