What to expect with ordering online to Canada (Customs etc)

[Kadett]

At some point I'm going to be ordering some snus from buysnus.com and was wondering what peoples experiences were with receiving shipments to Canada.

I live in Ottawa, Ontario and have read differing opinions about how difficult its going to be. I've heard that buysnus.com will break the shipments down and send packs of 5 cans each so that they can fly under the radar.

My question is how likely/ often do people get their shipments from buysnus.com intercepted by customs. Is it something that happens often or very rarely? Is it a total crapshoot or are 5 can packs pretty safe?

Also if I do get a package intercepted are the duties totally insane or are they OK to absorb once in a while. I ask because I don't want to order say $50 of product and get some nutty letter from CBSA asking for thousands in tariffs and duty.

Any opinions and experiences appreciated.

[darkwing]

I have ordered a number of times from Northerner, 5 cans a time. Out of I suppose 8 orders, some were obviously opened and therefore delayed, and one time I had to pay an extra $16 or so on the 5 cans. That package was the only one in which the cans were still in a roll format, stacked one on top of the other, whereas the rest which were not charged duty were all lying flat in the package. The packages all were delivered to my door and I did not have to pick them up at a post office, except that one which was charged duty.

In the end, all my imported cans were much cheaper each than the DuMaurier ones I purchased today...

[The Cook]

Ive been buying snus for about eight months now, I have had only one episode with Customs. I was charged $10.00, $5 for handling and $5 for duty. I've always order 5 cans at a time, and they just flow through customs.

I ever you get dinged by a big surcharge on your snus order, pm me, as I know a bit about just what customs can charge on snus.