Purchasing From The U.S. To Canada
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
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From: Brampton Ont.
Purchasing From The U.S. To Canada
Does anyone know of any other charges other than shipping that is added to the cost of items purchase for suppliers such as Van Steel, Ecklers, Mid America etc from Canada?
What I was hoping to avoid was duty, but I guess that's unavoidable, is so how much would I expect to pay and how do I go about paying it? Is there any other hidden charges?
Thanks.
What I was hoping to avoid was duty, but I guess that's unavoidable, is so how much would I expect to pay and how do I go about paying it? Is there any other hidden charges?
Thanks.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
The is no duty on parts made in North America, free trade took care of that.
When you buy from an American company, on top of regular shipping, most of them charge extra money for handling because it is coming to Canada. If they ship it with a courier, you will be dinged at the border for brokerage fees, which they will collect along with the taxes on the value of the goods when they make the delivery to you. UPS seems to charge the most for brokerage fees. Some companies (Eckler's and Corvette Central I believe) do their own brokerage and take care of the taxes, so when you get the delivery, you don't pay any additional money. You won't save much money this way, the taxes will still be the same, only the brokerage fee will be a little less, it is only a little more convenient to not have to pay at the time of delivery.
The only way to get around the brokerage fees is to have the parcel shipped through the regular mail, you will still pay the taxes that way.
The only way to get around the brokerage fees and taxes is to have it shipped through the mail, with the sender indicating it is a "gift " to you. No company wil do that for you, only a private sale.
Anyway you slice it, you will have to pay to play, no way out of it!
When you buy from an American company, on top of regular shipping, most of them charge extra money for handling because it is coming to Canada. If they ship it with a courier, you will be dinged at the border for brokerage fees, which they will collect along with the taxes on the value of the goods when they make the delivery to you. UPS seems to charge the most for brokerage fees. Some companies (Eckler's and Corvette Central I believe) do their own brokerage and take care of the taxes, so when you get the delivery, you don't pay any additional money. You won't save much money this way, the taxes will still be the same, only the brokerage fee will be a little less, it is only a little more convenient to not have to pay at the time of delivery.
The only way to get around the brokerage fees is to have the parcel shipped through the regular mail, you will still pay the taxes that way.
The only way to get around the brokerage fees and taxes is to have it shipped through the mail, with the sender indicating it is a "gift " to you. No company wil do that for you, only a private sale.
Anyway you slice it, you will have to pay to play, no way out of it!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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You may or may not have to pay duty , but you WILL pay GST and PST. If you ship by UPS or FedUP, expect them to make you bend over to pay for 'brokerage charges'.
Try buying from a local source who can retail cheaper than you can import, or see if your supplier will ship by postal service. Much cheaper.
Try buying from a local source who can retail cheaper than you can import, or see if your supplier will ship by postal service. Much cheaper.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Originally Posted by Maymyvetteliveforevr
Does anyone know of any other charges other than shipping that is added to the cost of items purchase for suppliers such as Van Steel, Ecklers, Mid America etc from Canada?
What I was hoping to avoid was duty, but I guess that's unavoidable, is so how much would I expect to pay and how do I go about paying it? Is there any other hidden charges?
Thanks.
What I was hoping to avoid was duty, but I guess that's unavoidable, is so how much would I expect to pay and how do I go about paying it? Is there any other hidden charges?
Thanks.
I bought my car on Ebay. it came from the US. I have posted how it works, who to use and what it cost on the other site...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97
jim
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Best not send it as a "gift" these packages are the first ones that will be inspected at the border, the customs guys then will go on the internet to JEGS and look up the value of the part and you will pay taxes on the full value of the part, so if you got a good deal on ebay you just got bent over. Better just to put a lower value on the item (read this on the internet somewhere, I always do it the legal way ) 
The ORIGINAL and bestest
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From: Toronto Ontario
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Originally Posted by MotorHead
Best not send it as a "gift" these packages are the first ones that will be inspected at the border, the customs guys then will go on the internet to JEGS and look up the value of the part and you will pay taxes on the full value of the part, so if you got a good deal on ebay you just got bent over. Better just to put a lower value on the item (read this on the internet somewhere, I always do it the legal way )
I love lining the government of Ontario's pockets with my money!!
Last edited by 7t2vette; Nov 25, 2005 at 08:17 PM.
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
That's what I am getting at, customs guys are not stupid, maxium value for the "gift" is $60CND, they will open it up and inspect it and if deemed to be worth more than 60 bucks you pay the taxes on what they figure it is worth, 1bad69 knows someone this has happend to.
There is something about sending it by air mail that you don't get chaged any extras including taxes but it cost more to begin with.
There is something about sending it by air mail that you don't get chaged any extras including taxes but it cost more to begin with.
Last edited by MotorHead; Nov 25, 2005 at 08:22 PM.
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The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by MotorHead
That's what I am getting at, customs guys are not stupid, maxium value for the "gift" is $60CND, they will open it up and inspect it and if deemed to be worth more than 60 bucks you pay the taxes on what they figure it is worth, 1bad69 knows someone this has happend to.
There is something about sending it by air mail that you don't get chaged any extras including taxes but it cost more to begin with.
There is something about sending it by air mail that you don't get chaged any extras including taxes but it cost more to begin with.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Thanks for all your replies. I've gone through all the posts looking for a general consensus and can't seem to find one. Having a relative ship it through regular mail seems to be the easiest/cheapest way...but is it reasonably safe too? I could always have him ship each piece individually but that might end up costing quite a bit too. I wish I could find a local supplier that was just as cost-efficient! I guess I'll wait to see if anyone else posts some advice.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
No I wasn't aware of that. What I'm pricing out at the present time is the interior package which is carpet, door panels (bare), and leather like seat covers. I found Wilcox to be very competitive. I would imagine that Ontario Corvette Corral would be higher in price even after I factored in Wilcox's,..... U.S. exchange.
Race Director
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I built my whole car over the last ten years with parts from the states, just buy the parts, pay the taxes and brokerage fees, it is still cheaper than buying from any store/performance shop in Ontario
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by MotorHead
I built my whole car over the last ten years with parts from the states, just buy the parts, pay the taxes and brokerage fees, it is still cheaper than buying from any store/performance shop in Ontario
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
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From: Montreal Qc.
Originally Posted by Glass Act
You can get all Corvette America parts through Ontario Corvette Corral, but I'm sure you know that. 
I've also done the ship-to-MailBoxesEtc-store across the border and just go pick it up.....
