Shipping to Canada

Say I choose standard shipping at X dollars. What does the "+ normal customs" mean, is that an extra cost? If so how much is it?

 

It's an extra cost, and it depends on the value and weight of your item. For how much it is, contact the retailer you're buying from.

 

^^^ what he said.

Phone is best, but email works fine as well.

 

It's based on value of item, last time i got something from states it was
$5 for $75 dolar value with shipping included
$50 for $500 dolar with shipping included

 

You don't pay duties on laptops (apparently) but you have to pay a customs brokerage fee of about $100. It's probably cheaper to just choose UPS express (which will waive the brokerage fee).

 

Hmmm , yea i really dont feel like paying a brokerage fee. -.-

 

I chose USPS and I got nailed for $320. Not bad, considering I expected $400. Did not choose UPS because I did not want to bare the thought of seeing the laptop destroyed upon delivery.

 

You pay both taxes.... almost for sure.

Brokerage fees are $10~90 with UPS/FEDEX while fixed at $5 with USPS/CP

 

Well unless xoticpc or PNB can PM me with a possible solution it looks like I will have to buy from Eurocom =/ . Its even lamer since Eurocom is in Ontario and I will have to pay 13% tax.

Anyone know of a reseller in Canada that isn't located in Ontario?

 

How do you know that? An XoticPC rep told me yesterday that you only pay local tax (ie GST + provincial tax) on the purchase.

 

www.directpc.ca
Based out of BC I believe. They sell 570RU D901C equivalent - Pro Star rebranded I believe but don't quote me on it. No idea how reliable they are , just know that they sell em. Prices about same as Eurocom's-haven't really looked closely.

I'd still rather buy from powernotebooks/Xotic but I'd ask them first about shipping to Canada and see what it entails as I'm sure they've shipped to Canadian customers.

 

That depends on the shipping method used.

 

you pay PST and GST and if your shipping ground you also pay the customs broker fee. But if you ship via air than you only pay PST and GST. If your a student you receive 50% off shipping.

 

To whom do I pay the GST and PST?

 

the government of course. and technically me because I work for the government.

 

Yeah I know that, what I meant was when do I pay the taxes and to whom?

 

That is a good question lol... come to think of it... I don't really know! someone help out? I'm not going to pay the ups man 300 in taxes lol.

 

I paid the Canada Post lady $320 and signed a document verifying I did. So if the tax man didn't get it, it is not my problem because they have a document saying I did!

 

Tax men usually have a way of making that your problem, but I see the point.

So we pay a US retailer the price + shipping, and pay the rest when it arrives?

 

That's correct. The delivery person will collect the taxes due on behalf of the government. If you buy from Eurocom we collect on the governments behalf.

 

Why $320? How does that add up?

 

Got my system from PCMW, delivered by FedEx.

If you ship via ground with UPS/FedEx you have to pay a brokerage fee that is dependent on the value and type of good (CAD65-100). If you ship via air the brokerage fee is covered in the billing (actually comes out to be cheaper/more cost effective than ground).

Now there is no Duty on H/W assembled in Mexico/US/Canada, but as stated before you must pay GST+PST of your state. Please note that the Harmonized/Classification Code for a "Laptop Computer" is 8471.30.00.00, this code is used to determine whether you will be charged Duties and Tax.

If you shipped via FedEx your item will be delivered and you won't pay tax. That is until FedEx Trade Networks (FedEx - but not really, I guess you could think of them as FedEx's brokers) sends you a letter in the mail. This letter will outline the specs of the item shipped, as well as the tax levied upon it. It will also contain payment details - this is payable upon receipt btw. You will also be charged a finance fee (since FedEx Trade Networks fronts the money to the Government on your behalf, hence creating credit for you).

Hope this helps a little. I am not quite sure how UPS manages it but I used them to RMA my system back (no taxes/duties on RMA/Repair status shippments), they are pretty quick as well. They also seemed slightly cheaper than FedEx.


/Saad

 

About that, UPS have a plus for brokerage fees when you choose express shipping. I never understood how Fedex works for all the fees. Several times, I had fees to pay at the door, and other fees by mail :S Their website is even worse than UPS. CanadaPost >> UPS/Fedex. I never understood how can Canadapost charge a flat rate of 5/8$ of brokerage fees.

Anyway, my guide doesn't cover Fedex since I never understood how it worked and I only use them in Canada but you can get a good idea of the whole thing

 

anyway... I don't think its a good day to buy stuff from the states our canadian $ is poo poo

 

it was good to like 2 months ago =/

 

Sorry to take a slight deviation away but part of the problem is a lot of traders are sitting in cash and buying USD for when the market is going to start to right itself again which by all accounts will be at the VERY minimum early Dec after the US election. So if you're hoping for a currency correction in the short term I wouldn't bet on it.

 

Don't want to get into some speculation here but the dilemma is: high CAD or low gas price... because everyone knows that when the gas price go up, our dollar follows