experience with ISTNC shipping to Canada?

Hi All,

I'm wondering if any Canadians in the forum ordered a laptop from ISTNC and had it shipped to Canada. Any brokerage fees, duties or taxes that you had to pay?

Thanks,
Sandeep

P.S. I wouldn't mind hearing about other resellers shipping to Canada as well

 

Living in Canada, I'm quite interested in this topic as well.

So I'm guessing shipping USPS is the only way to avoid brokerage fees? I've heard some major nightmare stories about people buying $300 worth of merchandise, and getting charged $150 in brokerage fees, plus taxes.

What's the difference between brokerage and duties?

I'll feel more confident about buying computer stuff from the United States from now on.

 

This question really has nothing to do with one reseller or even Asus computers, but rather shipping methods.

1. USPS is preferred by our Canadian customers because there is no brokerage fees (because USPS is the government)

2. Computers don't get taxed duties to canada.

3. You will pay your Federal and Provincial taxes upon delivery regardless of shipping method, who you got it from, or what type of thing you are importing.


UPS is frowned upon as I found out... we stopped using UPS all together more than a year ago, but stopped shipping that way to Canada about six months before. The brokerage fee UPS charges is ridiculous....

Also, shipping ground (FedEx and UPS) at all isn't secure... we lost many packages that way.. all pacakages arrived open and completely rumaged through... some times with parts missing..... no way to collect insurance as long as the box was delivered.... WE even had one time where a pocket pc was also in the same box and that was completely gone and there's nothing you can do about that.

FedEx International Priority and Economy are great, but can be expensive. Their brokerage fee is built into the service and really the only option going by air is 24-48 hours or 3-4 days..... But you will get it. Certainly the safest and most reliable way to go.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Well, yeah, we've heard the same. The brokerage fee is what you pay them to broker the package through customs..... With FedEx a lot of people are turn away by their high prices, but their fee is in that cost and nothing is hidden... with UPS, not only don't you know about them, but they are often very high.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

So then I suppose the question is this...

For us Canadians, would you recomend us simply to look to canadian dealers to save both hassle and money?

and if the answer is yes, could you suggest any canadian dealers you know to be trustworthy?

 

I would suggest you do what you felt comfortable with. I'm not going to send away business when someone wants to shop with us, but just understand what's involved. Unless you're going to find a place and go and pick it up where you're still going to be paying tax (and you want to give them your business)..... you're going to be paying for shipping anyway. USPS shipping from the states is fairly cheap and Fedex isn't that bad either, really.

All I know is that any and all Canadian Asus dealers popped up within the last year. If you can trust that sort of limited experience, I'm SURE there is someone in Canada that will at least sell you a product.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]