View Full Version : No tax, no brokerage?
Robert1950
10-09-2007, 11:13 AM
I ordered a replacement kit from RS Guitarworks. It was on sale, regular $45, sale for $29. It was last day so, I went for it. I looked at the shipping options., $10 UPS or $22 EMS. I just couldn't do UPS - the idea getting hit by their obscene brokerage fees scared me. I went EMS (Express Mail International). Well, it arrived today, delivered by Purolator. No taxes, or brokerage. Go figure.
violation
10-09-2007, 11:21 AM
EMS = USPS so yeah sometimes you get nailed sometimes you don't.
iaresee
10-09-2007, 11:50 AM
IIRC anything under $45 is not inspected at the border.
I had an amp shipped to me via UPS from Victoria Amp Company, and was not hit for brokerage or taxes, so it's not just a value thing. (The amp was/is a bit more than $45.00:smile:)
iaresee
10-09-2007, 12:09 PM
Sorry, it's $20. Anything under $20 is automatically duty/tax free, $60 if it's labeled as "gift":
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/postal/ind_duty_free-e.html
Anything over and you get lucky or you don't. They don't inspect every package.
Tarbender
10-09-2007, 02:57 PM
I also bought a kit from RSGuitarworks last week, only I chose UPS - what a big mistake. $10.30 for freight, and when they delivered it they wanted another $28.00 for brokerage and taxes, which meant 10.30 plus 28.00 = $38.30 for a kit that only cost $37.00. I refused the shipment when it was delivered, and UPS in its superior way of doing things has now tried to deliver it to me again... for the 3rd time! When I contacted RSGuitarworks to inform them of the situation they said I could have used USPS but that was $30.00. There is no way I'm paying $30.00 for a $37.00 item. On a good note this is the only time I've ever had an issue importing from the states; and, the last kit I got from RSGuitarworks had a couple of scratchy pots in it, so I'm not really sure if they're worth the extra money. Might just order some replacement pots from GuitarParts Canada.
dwagar
10-09-2007, 03:12 PM
RS has to get it's act together. This is the only reason I refuse to buy from them.
flashPUNK
10-09-2007, 03:53 PM
Just to note..
I got a Tim pedal from a TGP member about a month and a half ago. He marked the item "Gift" but declared the value of it to be $100 (I actually paid over twice that). Anyway, I didn't get charged a single dime by customs!
Robert1950
10-09-2007, 08:09 PM
I also bought a kit from RSGuitarworks last week, only I chose UPS - what a big mistake. $10.30 for freight, and when they delivered it they wanted another $28.00 for brokerage and taxes, which meant 10.30 plus 28.00 = $38.30 for a kit that only cost $37.00....
I'm glad I went with my gut on this one.
shoretyus
10-09-2007, 09:24 PM
It seems to me that any kind of commercial label will get dinged.
J S Moore
10-10-2007, 10:34 AM
The last time I bought from RS I was able to choose something like regular parcel post. It was less than UPS and took longer but I didn't get dinged at the border.
I think getting charged fees at the border with Canada Post largely depends on whether the agent feels like doing there job at that particular time or not.
I agree UPS is unreasonable in it's fees. Canada post has never charged me a fee over $7.00. I phoned UPS over a $40 charge on a $75.00 parcel and was told that brokerage fees are charged based on the value of the shipment. I don't think value has any bearing on paper work up to a certain point so to me that is completely unreasonable.
iaresee
10-10-2007, 11:01 AM
I think getting charged fees at the border with Canada Post largely depends on whether the agent feels like doing there job at that particular time or not.
+1 to that. I find the chance of getting inspected far less with Canada Post.
I agree UPS is unreasonable in it's fees. Canada post has never charged me a fee over $7.00. I phoned UPS over a $40 charge on a $75.00 parcel and was told that brokerage fees are charged based on the value of the shipment. I don't think value has any bearing on paper work up to a certain point so to me that is completely unreasonable.
Yup, it's a binned system for their fees. I've yelled long and loud at them before to no avail. It is a very silly system. They do have the bins up on the web site now:
http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html
The thing about UPS is they make shipping stuff really, really easy. As someone who ships a lot of stuff it's always more work to use DHL, and a lot more work to use Canada Post. UPS comes to my door, brings boxes, helps me back it, and carts it away. And for very little money from my end. They just get it all back when they drop it off at the customer's end. I try to avoid them whenever I can but sometimes they're the only solution to a shipping problem.
Soldano16
10-15-2007, 08:49 AM
I had an amp shipped to me via UPS from Victoria Amp Company, and was not hit for brokerage or taxes, so it's not just a value thing. (The amp was/is a bit more than $45.00:smile:)
They can take months to bill a high dollar item. Were there no customs papers when you got the amp?
Soldano16
10-15-2007, 08:52 AM
The thing about UPS is they make shipping stuff really, really easy.
I've been using Canada Post/USPS for everything now. Cheapest and least damaged packages. Cheap insurance.
Last UPS shipment left a $5K guitar on my porch, even though the seller, Capsule Music, asked for signoff.
They can take months to bill a high dollar item. Were there no customs papers when you got the amp?
It's been well over a year, and nothing has hit me yet. The amp was shipped prepaid. There is no duty payable, as it is a USA made product, but I should've paid some PST/GST.
I take this as a small victory.
Guiary
10-15-2007, 04:39 PM
I know I've ordered things from Tubes to pedals with no duty yet. The one time I bought used car speakers off of Ebay I was dinged with the cost of duty on the speakers new! Nice hey?
Hi,
I know I've ordered things from Tubes to pedals with no duty yet. The one time I bought used car speakers off of Ebay I was dinged with the cost of duty on the speakers new! Nice hey?
Did you challenge? Most times you'll win and it costs nothing :)
Cheers!
Guiary
10-15-2007, 07:47 PM
Nah I just paid the fees... I wish I knew about challenging the charges. The speakers were $80 used and duty was $48. That was 4 yrs ago though
...I wish I knew about challenging the charges....
You fill out the form or call the number on the back of the invoice with the charges :)
olanaii
10-16-2007, 09:17 PM
I also bought a kit from RSGuitarworks last week, only I chose UPS - what a big mistake. $10.30 for freight, and when they delivered it they wanted another $28.00 for brokerage and taxes, which meant 10.30 plus 28.00 = $38.30 for a kit that only cost $37.00. I refused the shipment when it was delivered, and UPS in its superior way of doing things has now tried to deliver it to me again... for the 3rd time! When I contacted RSGuitarworks to inform them of the situation they said I could have used USPS but that was $30.00. There is no way I'm paying $30.00 for a $37.00 item. On a good note this is the only time I've ever had an issue importing from the states; and, the last kit I got from RSGuitarworks had a couple of scratchy pots in it, so I'm not really sure if they're worth the extra money. Might just order some replacement pots from GuitarParts Canada.
Sorry to say this on my first post but...This is why more and more people in the US won't ship to Canadians. I hope you still paid the shipping fees.You the customer need to research what extra charges may be applied when shipping from the States to Canada it's not their fault UPS charged a brokerage fee. Won't be long before we can't order from RSGuitarworks...Thanks
This is why more and more people in the US won't ship to Canadians.
That comment irritated me, sorry.
My US based wholesalers are smart enough to not even offer a courier option to Canadians. If RSGuitarworks wants to pull a McMaster style hissy-fit, their loss... we are the customer, we employ them, we can go elsewhere :wink:
olanaii
10-17-2007, 05:44 PM
I agree if you chose USPS which charge the $5 to brokerage it through the border and the company decided to ship Ups or Fed Ex then by all means don't pay the brokerage and complain. But if you knowingly ship through a courier pay the price.
I guess this strikes a chord because I've missed out on some good deals from the States because of Canadians refusing the shipment. They didn't know the fees involved refused the item, then stopped payment on the item. The sellers down there won't get burned twice and who can blame them.:rockon:
Hi,
But if you knowingly ship through a courier pay the price.
Agreed there.
Sometimes a company does just plain ship through courier anyway, not knowing the fees either of the trouble it is for us. It's such a problem though, that if that happens on on Ebay to a buyer outside the US unwittingly, it's a valid reason to go into arbitration.
Cheers!
Wild Bill
10-18-2007, 09:18 AM
Hi,
Agreed there.
Sometimes a company does just plain ship through courier anyway, not knowing the fees either of the trouble it is for us. It's such a problem though, that if that happens on on Ebay to a buyer outside the US unwittingly, it's a valid reason to go into arbitration.
Cheers!
You can't expect someone living in another country to always know how screwy things are here in Canada! It's up to us to warn them! WE should know the best way to ship to us and advise the supplier at time of order!
I mean, whaddathey supposed to be, psychics? Who would ever think that Canada would be so petty and primitive in their border policies?
It's OUR fault, not theirs!
Couriers may take a $40-$50 brokerage fee but they also deliver in a day or two. With mail, it takes one day to get to the border and then Canada Customs or Canada Post will take a week or three to get it to your house. That's why the mail is cheaper.
Personal parcels are a spit in the ocean of the volume of shipping that crosses the US /Canada border. Our trade totals BAZILLIONS every day! Couriers are a deal when your shipment is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. $50 to get it here quickly is then cheap.
Now, if you asked for mail and they used a courier anyway then I'd say you had a right to bitch...
:food-smiley-004:
Hamstrung
10-18-2007, 11:13 AM
What I can't understand is when a seller in the states goes to the trouble of getting the estimate of shipping from UPS to a Canadian address why they can't tell them what the receiver will be charged including brokerage and taxes up front. Knowing only the "shipping" fee portion is basically useless!
For example, I recently bought an amp ($500) from someone in the states. When he went to UPS to get the shipping cost to Canada they said $88. Now they know where it's going in Canada (in my case Ontario). They know they'll be charging PST & GST and they know what their brokerage fees will be so why can't they quote all that to the seller who can then forward that to the buyer before he commits. After paying the $88 I got dinged another $126 when it got to my door!
I know they can total it up front because I bought a guitar from Carvin in the states a few months back. They use UPS exclusively BUT when you pay for the shipping through Carvin all brokerage and taxes are covered so you know exactly what the cost will be to your door before you even order the product! The total to ship a $1800 U.S. guitar was $59.97.
Hi WB,
Now, if you asked for mail and they used a courier anyway then I'd say you had a right to bitch...
Uhhhmmmm, that pretty much WAS what I was talking about :wink:
That happened to me with Mouser Electronics. I put in notes on each line item as well as the "special notes" box at the bottom, USPS ONLY! What did they do? Shipped it FedEx.
As for the Ebay sellers I mentioned, most do announce USPS on the auction, then send UPS internationally without telling the buyer.
So yes, my right anyways, to bitch is 100% bought, paid for and earned :D
Amberry
10-18-2007, 05:36 PM
What I can't understand is when a seller in the states goes to the trouble of getting the estimate of shipping from UPS to a Canadian address why they can't tell them what the receiver will be charged including brokerage and taxes up front. Knowing only the "shipping" fee portion is basically useless!
You have to keep in mind though that a seller in the states doesn't necessarily know what brokerage or taxes will be billed. Look at how many people post in forums asking others if they know. Your taxes differ between provinces, duties depend on country of origin. A company that can give you a quote on their item including taxes knows the requirements for shipping because that's their job. A private seller is just that - a private seller. I work in the transportation industry and still get people in the states that don't grasp that you can't get from Vancouver to Calgary in an hour, let alone know border policies. Brokerage fees are one thing - its a set tariff rate for the company involved. Duties get a bit more iffy.
It's the recipiants responsibility to know what they are getting themselves into. You can't expect someone from another country to know this countries policies. It's no different than if someone from the US had shipped the exact same item to India - how the heck would they know what's going to happen when it leaves their hands? We're still a foreign country.
olanaii
10-18-2007, 05:49 PM
I think we can agree if you choose courier expect to pay the price and don't refuse shipment?
Now where the hell is my 1993 PRS Custom hope the guy used USPS like I asked.:2guns:
Emohawk
10-20-2007, 01:50 PM
Well, I don't ship a whole lot of stuff, but here's some of my experiences. Note that this is based on where I live...St. John's Newfoundland. For couriers this place might as well be the peak of Kilimanjaro...
UPS
Every time I've shipped form the US I've gotten hammered at the border when using UPS. They're also PAINFULLY slow, even in Canada. I ordered some stuff from BC a while ago and it took 3 weeks to get here. There's absolutely no excuse for that. Their online tracking is a complete joke as well. I refuse to use them unless I have no option. I've also been to their depot here and what I've seen done to packages makes me cringe.
Purolater
No complaints, but I've only had a couple of items shipped by them, and only within Canada.
USPS
No problems, but again I haven't used them a lot. I do have a package coming from Metropoulos Amplification via USPS so we'll see how that goes.
Canada Post
Lately they've been really good with me. Relatively fast & no issues.
DHL Worldwide
Here's where I got the biggest surprise ever. I ordered a bunch of motorcycle parts from a place in Ohio, some of which were manufactured overseas. The package was a couple hundred bucks. It arrived at my door in 3 days with NO additional fees of any kind (the company I purchased from includes the handling fee in the shipping rate). Three days to Newfoundland from the US is unheard of. Hell - I can't get a letter across town in a week! I just placed an order with Ceriatone so we'll see how DHL does shipping here from Malaysia.
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