I order from customrccars.com to canada all the time and have never really had any issues.
Customs fees sem to be totally random (in canada anyway). usually all my stuff is shipped the exact same way through small parcel USPS. The odd time I get dinged, but there doesn't seem to be any reason or pattern as to what parcels get dinged wtih customs fees...

Sorry to hear that PJ, $#17 happens...