Buying an item from Canada

Best shipping is via the mail, shouldn’t take too long. If it’s used goods I don’t think there any duty. If new they may be but for most things I’ve bought I’ve never been charged it.   All in all buying and selling across this border is about as easy as dealing in the USA 

I’ve purchased electronics twice w/o any problem. I would advise speaking to the seller by phone first, so that there are no misunderstandings.
If you ship via Canada Post, it will be very slow and the tracking # will be meaningless when it leaves Canada. After clearing customs USPS will transport the item.
UPS is fast; they pickup the item, it gets held in customs for a short time, then UPS continues the delivery. You will be charged a customs fee based on the manufacturer’s country of origin plus the fee to import from Canada to the US. If the seller is a dealer he can give you an estimated fee.

When UPS comes to your door they will charge you the fee as COD (and they want cash).
Today $2500 CAD equals $1968 USD and that gets charged to your credit card or PayPal.

Folkfreak is correct; if the item is from a private seller there shouldn't be any fee. My purchases were from a dealer. For electronics I still recommend using UPS.
I purchased vinyl and CD's no problem thru Canada Poat.

I purchased a 4K preamp from a Audiogoner who lived in Canada. There was no duty tax and it went Canadian Post and then on the the USPS. It took 5 days from Vancouver, Canada to me in New England. I also purchased a CD player from another Gentleman in Canada. It took like 3 days via Canadian Post.  This past Summer, I purchased a new cartridge direct from the Canadian Distributor and I still didn't pay any duty taxes.  It came via UPS and took 4 days.  Easy Peazy.

In my experience, from a private seller, shipping takes double the normal time to go through customs and such.