B2L2

Rule #1 : never use Fedex or UPS to ship to Canada.  Their brokerage fee is terrible.
Rule #2 : use USPS if you have to ship to Canada from USA.
Rule #3 : if USPS is not a possible way but only Fedex/UPS, do you own declaration (ask them to ship to the airport depot and then you pick up the item and walk across to declare duty/tax.

None of the above will save you duty or tax.  If you don't declare the actual value, you are taking your own risk.  Custom could experiment your package in any of the method above.  Even you ship it to the States and pick it up yourself.

B2L2

Could you show me where you find the $10 brokerage fee by Fedex?  Unless they changed last 2 years, Fedex was charging similar to UPS before.  Now, they do provide that "brokerage-inclusive" shipping.  Which is good since you know exactly what you're going to pay.

Check this site out for estimate if you're shipping from USA to here:
http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/

Yes, I did self-clear before (#3).  Once you have your tracking number, you could call them and tell them you're going to clear custom yourself.  They will give you the instructions.  Basically for Vancouver, the item will be stayed at the port of entry (in my case, airport cargo terminal).  You then go to pick it up the delivery sheet at their depot first.  There is a Canada custom office right across the street.  So you go there, declare your item for entering Canada, put the duty and tax.  Come back to the depot and show them the form that you declared your item, then you're good to go.

Time consuming and I remember that depot close at 6pm.

Now I usually just ship to Blaine (stopped using Pt. Roberts for years), pick it up and then drove back.  Nowadays, custom seldom charge duty/tax for $100-200 item even you're returning the same day.  (well, I did need to pay duty+tax on a $110 item before.)  I wouldn't encourage to under-declare any items.

B2L2

If the repair is covered by warranty and you don't need to pay for the repair, you shouldn't be charge for duty.  But you better keep all the documents for that.

If you send it south for repair and you paid for the repair, they could still charge you GST on the repair cost (if they are picky).  Again, keep your original receipt and all documents.

If you simply claim your item is being return from a repair and you don't have any documents to support that, well you're on your own risk again.  I heard people used this way to "ship" their item and this backdoor is definitely known to the custom.  Whether they pick on you depends on your luck.

Let me ask whether you know the possible outcome if custom doesn't trust what you said and you don't have any prove or support documents?  Maybe this could help you to make a decision in which way to go.

In the worst case, they could confiscate your item.  Few stories that I heard.  A car went down to the State for work and didn't declare that on its way back, the car was seized.  A lady brought her old jewelry back to HK and have shops to work on it to increase values, when coming back didn't declare anything, the jewelry was seized and her name go onto their blacklist.  She got search every time crossing the custom.

B2L2

回復 14# aucht

Good to know that Fedex only charge $10 flat as brokerage fee.  Thx for the info.

B2L2

12% tax + duty depends on what's your item