Feb 15, 2026
Bonnie O’Connell had found the perfect gift for her 4-year-old granddaughter, who was just learning to skate: a Barbie wearing a Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) jersey. But the Barbie, with a Tim Hortons logo, was primarily released in Canada.
So, the Boston-based grandmother asked her cousin in Nova Scotia to pick up the Barbie and ship it to her. But after receiving the doll, she also received an invoice of $802 from FedEx — for a Barbie that cost $30.
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“I just got a pain in the pit of my stomach,” O’Connell told WCVB NewsCenter 5 (1). “I didn’t even know what to do or what to say.”
It turns out there was a clerical error with the value of the package, but the doll was also subject to a 35% tariff on goods entering the U.S. from Canada, as well as brokerage fees from the carrier.
While WCVB intervened and FedEx dropped the charges, O’Connell’s experience highlights how duties, tariffs, brokerage fees and misclassified imports can turn seemingly harmless cross-border purchases into financial nightmares.
Here’s what you need to know before hitting “buy now” on your next online purchase from an international seller.
Why shopping online could cost more
If you’re shopping online for goods sold abroad, you may not realize you could be on the hook for import duties and brokerage fees that in some cases far exceed the item’s value.
Import duties are taxes imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), depending on the item’s classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
Previously, many goods valued at less than $800 had a duty-free exemption (referred to as de minimis) from Canada. But as of Aug. 29, 2025, de minimis has been eliminated for all shipments coming into the U.S. — regardless of their origin or value (2).
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Goods from Canada that aren’t compliant with the USMCA free-trade agreement are subject to a 35% tariff — and Barbies aren’t compliant. Goods from other countries are subject to different tariff rates: 30% for China, 50% for India and 15% for the EU. But these rates are subject to change, so it’s worth looking up the latest rate (3) at the time of purchase.
Carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL also charge brokerage fees or customs fees for clearing goods through customs, which can be a complex process — and tariffs have made this process much more complex. Now, even a $30 Barbie can be subject to mandatory customs processing and documentation review (4).
In O’Connell’s case, the FedEx clerk made a mistake with the decimal point on the paperwork — so a $29.97 Barbie doll was listed with a $2,997 value. With the exchange rate, that came to about US$2,100. Add to that a 35% tariff rate, coming to $742, and brokerage fees, and O’Connell was left with a bill of $802.
While the amount would have been much less on a CA$29.97 Barbie, O’Connell would still be responsible for the 35% tariff and brokerage fees. And for small purchases, those fees could come close to — or even exceed — the item’s actual value.
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Don’t get caught by surprise
Before buying anything from outside the U.S., make sure you understand how much you could end up paying in taxes and fees. Without that clarity, a bargain purchase can turn into a costly lesson. In the end, you may decide the purchase isn’t worth it.
Check where the item is shipping from and if it’s subject to tariffs. Either the shipper or receiver pays duties, taxes and fees. When the shipper pays, it’s called Delivery Duty Paid (DDP). When the receiver pays, it’s called Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) (5).
Always check if you’re responsible for paying those fees. In some cases, retailers will allow you to prepay fees at checkout, which is often the simplest (and most transparent) option.
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Otherwise, you’ll typically receive a notice that you owe additional charges on your international shipment. You can often pay the carrier online before delivery, although the delivery driver might also be able to accept payment at the time of delivery.
O’Connell’s experience also serves as a reminder to check any paperwork you sign (she said her cousin didn’t look at it before signing, and thus didn’t notice the clerical error).
And if you don’t pay? Your package could be held until you pay the required duties, taxes and fees.
Doing your due diligence could help to avoid a massive bill you weren’t expecting.
“I love my granddaughter dearly,” O’Connell told WCVB, “but none of my grandchildren get that kind of money spent!”
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
WCVB NewsCenter 5 (1); NPR (2); Avalara (3); NBC News (4); DHL (5)
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Vawn Himmelsbach is a veteran journalist who has been covering tech, business, finance and travel for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Metro News, Canadian Geographic, Zoomer, CAA Magazine, Travelweek, Explore Magazine, Flare and Consumer Reports, to name a few.
