If you learn the custom/tariff rules you won't get burned. They are primarily set up to be fair about being applied to items only once in regardless how often it crosses the border. If an item was sourced from an American company originally and sent to Canada, it is assumed that the fee was paid then. When the same item is later sold across the border to the US, you declare that on a customs form and pay no fees. In case of Naim gear, which is produced in neither country, I don't know what the rule is because I have never had it come up. As for Paypal, Canada has its own service in that role. I don't blame them either for that. If I can't pay a Canadian brick and mortar dealer with my Visa card, I generally send a Western Union money order. My bank offers them free to good customers and for .99 for others. Most banks in the world treat these like cash and they usually process overnight.
