Customs Fees when flying through Canada

I believe you will go through US immigration/passport control/customs in Vancouver.

https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/navigate-yvr/customs-and-immigration/us-customs-and-border-protection#:~:text=Through%20U.S.%20preclearance%2C%20the%20same,%3A30%20and%2023%3A30.

Does Vancouver airport have US immigration?
Through U.S. preclearance, the same immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections of international air passengers performed on arrival in the United States is completed before departure at YVR instead. Please note that US CBP is operational between the hours of 04:30 and 23:30.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/menu-eng.html

Those folks may be your best bet for accurate info.

Can you have the purse shipped by the seller? Should be able ( maybe?) to avoid the VAT, and when it gets to the US, you will get a 'duty bill' to pay upon delivery. ( at least than is what I encountered when I shipped an item from Venice).

While shipping might be an option, with such a large purchase I’d be much more comfortable having it in my possession. I feel like there has to be an answer out there because I know this isn’t a super uncommon travel route for people who live near the border.

Have them quote you a the cost for shipping, insurance and any customs charges. When they ship you will get a tracking number. We have done several times in that manner.

@ed- as I said, I’m aware how international shipping works. I’m not interested in shipping a 5 figure once in a lifetime purchase no matter what kind of insurance is quoted to me. Thanks for the suggestion but I’m looking for information about the method of transit I asked about.

As per the Canadian Border Services Agency, Travellers, Visitors to Canada, What you can bring with you, tab:

You must declare all goods when you arrive at the first CBSA port of entry. Our BSOs check goods you are bringing in or taking out of Canada to verify what you have declared. If you declare goods when you arrive and take them back with you when you leave, you will not have to pay any duty or taxes

First, it is always better to take something with you rather than shipping. Taking with you, you are eligible for exemptions, shipping you will pay full duties.

Second, even if, by calculation, you are liable for duties, often at border control, if the amount of duties is not significant (under $100's of Dollars) they usually just move you on, too much effort to process when carrying items through.

While I can not absolutely verify what might happen in Vancouver, the fact that you are not importing the item into Canada, they should collect no duty, only the US would. Of course, since you are driving into Canada, then driving out, how do they know you are not handing the bag off to someone in Canada?

If Vancouver though is doing US customs, then you should be fine, as long as you actually do go through US Customs, as opposed to Canadian, since you will be exiting the Airport.

The section I referenced above on the CBSA website references a sometimes used option to issue a ‘Temporary Admissions Permit’ with a security deposit all of which is cleared once you leave. If this even is done in your case, because you are driving across the border, hopefully they can guide you on where to do this step ie at the CBSA office at the land crossing.

My suggestion? Either email CBSA or ask the CBSA agent at the border the next time you go across. I drove to YUL from upstate NY and on the way back from CDG-YUL, I sadly had nothing of substance to declare so I didn't have a conversation w the very nice CBSA agent at the airport.