Boston Grandma Hit With $802 Tariff Bill for $30 Barbie Shipped From Canada

A Boston grandmother says she was stunned after receiving an $802 tariff bill for a Barbie doll that cost just $30, a mistake that underscores the complications many families are facing with cross-border shipping this holiday season.

Bonnie O’Connell ordered the doll as a Christmas gift for her 4-year-old granddaughter after spotting a special Barbie dressed in a Professional Women’s Hockey League jersey. Since the doll was purchased in Canada, O’Connell asked a cousin in Nova Scotia to ship it to her.

The trouble began when the shipping paperwork incorrectly listed the Barbie’s value at nearly $3,000 Canadian dollars instead of $29.97. That error, combined with a 35 percent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods, led to a massive import charge. After conversion and additional fees, the bill totaled $802.

O’Connell said the package was delivered without warning, and the tariff invoice arrived weeks later. She contacted FedEx, but was initially told it could take months to resolve the issue.

The incorrect charge stems from new tariff rules and the elimination of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed items valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. Now, even low-cost gifts are subject to customs assessments, added paperwork, and potential fees.

After local reporters intervened, FedEx reversed course and removed the $802 charge from O’Connell’s account. The company did not immediately comment on how the paperwork error occurred.

Canada Post has since reminded customers that all packages sent to the U.S., including gifts under $100, must now be assessed for tariffs and paid before shipping.

O’Connell says the experience serves as a cautionary tale, urging people to double-check all shipping documents before signing and to be aware of the added costs that may come with international gift-giving.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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