canadian buying from us

how would the tax work? is it charged at checkout or is it charged via custom fees?

 

Custom fees. I think it's 13% (it was for me) of the CAD value of the machine. Just have your credit card ready for the delivery person at the door.

You could (maybe?) call the shipping courier and pre-pay the fees via credit card over the phone. Not sure if that is possible, but I'd try it if I was ordering from the USA again.

 

hello aintz,
typically you pay for taxes at the time of delivery. Each reseller might handle it differently. We only collect for the price of shipping and the price of the comptuer. I've also heard that people have been sent a bill after the item was delivered, they had to pay the courier at the time of delivery, or they had to go pick it up and pay at that time. I guess it all depends on your province. I would suggest calling your local customs agency or even your local UPS facility to see how they handle it

 

The rep from Reflex Notebook posted a buyer's guide on here not long ago. Here's the thread.

I have not had to import an item as expensive as a laptop, but ordering things from the US over the years I can echo much of what he's saying in terms of what you get charged.

I hate UPS for cross border delivery. Their brokerage fee is pretty high. I'd personally rather have someone ship USPS (will come via Canada Post/Express Post), or even FedEx, but that's just me.

 

Yeah, from my experience USPS is a much better option for cross border delivery, they only charge a few bucks or nothing at all. It's a bit random, 9 out of ten our customers receive their systems free of charges when shipped via USPS but 1 will be charged some ridiculous random amount 1-15$

 

Hi, there are no import taxes/duties when shipping a notebook from the US to Canada - you simply pay the PST/GST/HST, depending on your location. This is the same tax that you would pay if you purchased a laptop locally.

Also, if you get UPS Express or Expedited Shipping, then you don't have to pay a brokerage fee.

UPS: Rates for Customs Clearance into Canada

 

thanks for the link

does every shipping company charge brokerage fee? i know ups brokeage fee is ridiculous (50bux on a 100dollar boxing glove)

 

I don't think USPS charges anything as far as brokerage. The trick is finding/convincing a seller to ship it to you that way if their workflow is all through UPS or FedEx.

Here's a good run-down article/guide on eBay, but it all still applies. Shipping to Canada via the United States Postal Service

 

USPS doesn't charge any fees. Same goes for all expedited/priority services.
Depending on your reseller, you may be offered a service including the brokerage fees, or even a free shipping

 

USPS is the only cross-border carrier that won't charge brokerage fees like Fedex, UPS, etc. You will be charged taxes and a $5 handling fee. However, that's really a hit/miss as I've had $200 packages go right through and a $70 slapped with taxes.

Done 10+ cross border purchases and requested USPS everytime as brokerage fees of other companies usually borders on the ridiculous. Try to request them to mark it as a gift as they tend to be a more lenient on those.

 

UPS expedited and Fedex Priority both have brokerage fees included and won't charge you extra. Their standard and cheapest shipping methods will not include b. fees.

 

As far as USPS goes if i recall we lose the tracking ability once it crosses into Canada, so if it's something you're worried about this may not be the best method.