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Hi everyone, Eric here.
If you’re based in the US, you probably already know the border has gotten complicated lately. With recent shifts in US-Canada trade policies, import tariffs and border fees have increased drastically.
Navigating these cross-border changes as an independent Canadian brand hasn't been easy, but my priority has remained completely focused on one thing: protecting you from inflated costs, border delays, and surprise fees.
To keep your shopping experience smooth and fair, I have officially switched all US orders to a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) checkout model.
I wanted to personally explain why I made this switch—and how it actually keeps more money in your pocket.
What’s Worse Than Paying a Duty?
Paying a duty on a duty.
When import taxes rise, many stores panic and try to hide those fees by "baking" them into a product's list price. It might look cleaner on the surface, but it's an expensive trap for you.
Customs calculates tariffs as a percentage of the listed full retail price. Let me give you a quick example using a 50% tariff rate.
(And before you think 50% sounds crazy—between Section 301 duties under 19 U.S.C. § 2411 and Section 232 tariffs under 19 U.S.C. § 1862, hitting up to 50% in border fees is, unfortunately, a reality.)
Here is how the "baked-in" trap works:
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Say a product’s true retail value is $50.
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To "bake in" a 50% tariff, a store has to double their list price to $100 just so they can break even.
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US Customs then calculates 50% on that artificially high $100 list price—and takes away $50.
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Result: The merchant still nets $50, but you paid $100 out of pocket. Why? Because you just paid a tax on a tax.
How we do it instead:
I refuse to play that game. We keep the list price at its true $50 value and list the required duty separately at checkout. Because of this, US Customs only taxes the $50 base price with $25 duty. You pay $75 instead of $100.
You save $25 simply because we didn't artificially inflate the list price.
(Seeing a separate duty fee at checkout might not look as sleek, but it truly keeps more money in your pocket!)
Avoiding Customs Limbo & Border Delays
There is another huge reason I switched to this upfront DDP model: stopping your gear from getting stuck at the border.
To dodge tariffs, many overseas shippers try to under-report item values on customs forms. Because of this, US Customs has heavily ramped up inspections. When a package gets flagged for a suspiciously low valuation:
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It gets pulled aside for formal examination and re-evaluation.
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It sits in a customs warehouse for an extended period while agents demand proof of value, delaying your delivery indefinitely.
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Worse yet: Shipments often aren't insured for their full value due to under-reporting, exposing you to potential loss if something goes missing.
Because your order is now processed under our DDP setup, duties are cleared upfront. Your package passes through US Customs smoothly—no red flags, no valuation audits, and no inspection hold.
Eliminating the "Doorstep Surprise"
Finally, I wanted to eliminate surprise fees at your front door.
Under older shipping models where taxes aren't paid upfront, delivery couriers (like DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.) charge extra "brokerage" fees—often up to $15 or more—just for the hassle of collecting the tax from you in person.
With our DDP switch, we pay the exact required US duty directly on your behalf at checkout. Your package travels straight from our Canadian warehouse to your door, and you don't pay a single extra cent in carrier handling markups.
My Promise to You
Here is my guarantee whenever you place an order with us:
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Zero Surprise Fees: The total at checkout is the final price. You will never pay extra fees or brokerage charges at your door.
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Transparent Base Prices: We will never inflate our product prices to conceal tariffs.
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Fast, Direct Delivery: Because duties are cleared upfront, your package moves through US Customs without inspection holds.
Thank you for continuing to support this brand across the border. My goal will always be to give you the highest quality gear, honest pricing, and a completely seamless experience from checkout to your doorstep.
If you have any questions about how this works, or just want to chat about gear, reach out to me anytime via email or chat!
Best,
Eric
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