Merci Beaucoup everybody. Lots of info & suggestions to think about.

Anthony

I'm just learning this stuff now. But this is what I'm learning for the duty rates (tariff):

Canada has many tariff classifications based on country of origin. The general tariff is 35%. Tariffs for products originating from NAFTA countries are mostly 0%. The tariff rates for goods are listed here:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p.../01-99r3-e.pdf


List of countries and their tariff classifications:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p.../2005loc-e.pdf


This link describes the tariff classifications (Most Favored Nation, General Preferential Nation, UST, CCCT, LDCT, MT, etc):

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p.../2005act-e.pdf


For example, to find out the tariff for a snowboard that you mail ordered, check this link (page 7):

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...005/ch95ne.pdf

This shows that if you bought a snowboard that was made in Japan, then the tariff will be 7.5% because Japan falls in the Most Favored Nation category but doesn't fall into any of the Beneficial Nation categories. However, if the snowboard was made in Brazil, then the tariff will be 5% because it falls under the General Preferential Nation category. Now, if the country of origin of the snowboard falls in one of the other beneficial categories (UST, CCCT, LDCT, MT, MUST, CIAT, CT, CRT) then the tariff will be 0%. Finally, if the country of origin does not fall into any category, then the tariff will be 35%.

This link shows provisions to the tariffs rules (for non commercial purposes only). It shows that if you leave the country, you can bring stuff back without paying tariffs or have a reduced tariff (within limit):

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...005/ch98ne.pdf

Using the snowboard example, what this tells me is that if you brought the snowboard back (not mail ordered) into Canada after 48 hours outside the country and the total value of the goods you are bringing back is $200 or less, then the tariff is free. If the total value is between $200 and $300, then the tariff is 7% for snowboard made in Japan and free for the snowboard made in Brazil.

If you have been outside Canada 7 days or more, and your total value is $750 or less, then the tariff is also free.

If you have been outside Canada 24 hours or more and your total value is $50 or less, then the tariff is free.

You can see it gets pretty complicated. If I understood these publications right, then this should help answer your question about the duty. You'd just have to look up the tariff for lamps if it exists.

You then have to pay GST and PST on top of the tariffs of course.

Anyway bottom line is UPS is only worthwhile for high value items, it is not so bad paying a $50.00 or $60.00 brokerage fee on a light fixture worth $1000.00 but for a $100.00 order it is a rip-off.

USPS (U.S. mail) has much more reasonable brokerage fees but there is more of a risk of items getting damaged.

Again, my thanks for all the swift & insightful (New Year=new adjectives :biggrin: ) responses.

Anthony

I don't think "insightful" is a really new adjective. Google returned 10 pages of usage. :razz:, and I just managed to use it in another post in this forum. :cool:

As far as the US Post Office goes. I have done more that six orders with Premium Aquatics. All were sent USPS. All arrived in fine condition. I never paid more than GST and the $5.00 handling charge. :cool: But the larger concern nowadays is the large mailing cost. My last order of one pendant valued at $109.95 US cost $25.00 US to mail. :mad:

"Insightful" is a new adjective for me to use on CanReef :silly: <silly> But seriously, thanks for all the posts regarding this topic.

Anthony

Yeah, it'd be nice if BC had 0% PST as well.

Thank the NDP for that...

Governments are an amazing bunch of crooks. First they tax you on what you earn, and then when you spend what little money you have left, they tax you on that. Then to add insult to injury they waste what they have stolen from you. Horsethieves used to whipped. :mad:

Perhaps if they stopped handing out welfare to drug addicts and squeegee kids then we wouldn't have to pay any PST.