Question about online orders and duty

[cvrle1]

I think I'll ask my parents to get me an icecap 660 ballast for x-mass. Heck it's only $270 at J&L and I might even MO it if I don't have to pay too much for the duty and all the other charges.

Doeas anyone know how much I would pay for the duty and the rest of stuff. I know that some people get their stuff sent to the states by the border but I never did that so not sure how it works. If you can explain it to me that would be great. Ballasts go for $170 US minus 20%-25% in some places.

Thanks for the help

[Bryan]

I have ordered plenty of times in the past in th past and there generally is NO duty on most things. If there is it's generally small 1-3 percent, but rarely charged. You will be charged GST though.

WARNING!!!!WARNING

Do not have your parcels shipped by UPS. If the value is over 20.00 CDN they will charge a 35.00 brokerage fee plus duty and taxes. Have the pacrecl shipped by U.S. Air or Parcel Post. The post office only charges a flat fee of 5.00 plus duty and taxes. Unfortunately most mail order places prefer to ship by UPS. I think FedEx offers the same type of 5 day servoce as UPS but without the outrageous brokerage fee.

You can get around the UPS problem by having your parcels sent to a mail box in Blaine and driving down to pick up your parcels. Mail Box International offers this service to Canadians. I think it's about 12.00 per year plus 2-3 bucks per parcel.

[BCReefer]

If you ship VIA FedEx and the cost of the goods in under $500.00 (estimated) then the duty is included in the cost. Not sure about the GST though.

[Bryan]

But does FedEx chage a brokerage fee if the value in under 500.00

[cvrle1]

Thanks for the info.

That is exactly what happened when I got my skimmer. O ordered it online and UPS was shipping company. I had to pay $50 for those fees. Could you give me the address or whatever I need in order to get my stuff shipped to that post office in Blaine? I mean for $10 a year and no duty + brokerage fees I'll do it.

[Troy F]

I'm not judging anyone, money is money after all but I think we should consider that if we shop over the border there are a whole list of economic ramifications not least of which is the stores in our area lose business. Just a thought.

Example: Icecap at J&L's is $270 Icecap from US mailorder is $170 x 1.55 = $263.50 then add your shipping/brokerage/duty and gas to drive down to Blaine to pick it up. Support Canadian business.

[Silverfish]

Just my $.02, I have to agree with Troy if the products you are buying are that close in price or even a bit more here in Canada, support local business it seems pretty cutthroat out there and it is nice to have quality shops nearby. (for you folks in Van anyway!) [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[titus]

Hello Guys,

Trick of the trade.
1) Ship via UPS Ground.
2) Call UPS that you'll pick up yourself
3) Goto UPS Office in Richmond (by the airport) and pickup a slip
4) Goto Revenue Canada to pay for the GST (not duty b/c IceCap is US)
5) Bring the payment stamp (by Revenue Canada) back to UPS Warehouse (across their office) to pick up your goods.

Titus

[Bryan]

In the past I have used two. Mail Box International in the mini-mall (International Village I think it's called) close to the truck crossing. They charge a yearly fee plus a pickup fee. You have to go down and set up a account

or

Blaine Enterprises
936 Peace Portal Drive, Blaine, WA 98230
(360) 332-6825

It is a home business and they only charge a couple of dollars , no yearly fee. they are in Blaine close to the Douglas crossing.


Give them a call to see if they still operate the service.

Basically when you order you have the shipper put your phone number next to there address on the package. Blaine Enterprises calls you when it arrives. I used this place for years and they were great.

But as the other poster's say, if the cost is comparable it's not worth the hassle of driving down.

-=Bryan=-

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cvrle1:
Could you give me the address or whatever I need in order to get my stuff shipped to that post office in Blaine? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Bryan]

Can this still be done. I called UPS awhile back and they wouldn't give me a straight answer if I was allowed to clear the package myself.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Titus:
Hello Guys,

Trick of the trade.
1) Ship via UPS Ground.
2) Call UPS that you'll pick up yourself
3) Goto UPS Office in Richmond (by the airport) and pickup a slip
4) Goto Revenue Canada to pay for the GST (not duty b/c IceCap is US)
5) Bring the payment stamp (by Revenue Canada) back to UPS Warehouse (across their office) to pick up your goods.

Titus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>