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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: ichiro17 on May 08, 2007, 11:03
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Hello,
First of all, I'm really sorry for posting in this particular forum because it wouldn't let me post in Off-Topic.
Anyhow, I'd just like to say I'm pretty sad with B&H given that I wanted to buy a lens from them and have it shipped to Florida to my grandparents who would then be bringing it to Canada when they return and I would save on any duties, however, I asked B&H to give me a letter that they would pay for the shipping back if there were any issues with the lens once it arrived, and they said no. Perhaps they don't want to my business and $2000 US in additional revenue, I don't know, but I just want to know that B&H backs their product.
Can anyone who's bought from them in Canada and had the lens shipped to Canada tell me how much duties are? I would save $600 by using B&H in Florida vs buying the identical lens here.
Thanks in advance.
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i have shipped a ton o' stuff from the states to canada... and generally you have to just pay the taxes, whatever they are.. 14% or so. if they ship via ups (which is what i think they use) I believe there is a $25 brokerage fee...
probably still quite a bit cheaper than buying it in canada.
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I never bought anything from B&H but from my experience with other sellers, duties will be equivalent to the two taxes you have to pay in Canada.
What can make a big difference in the final cost is which shipper they use, because the shipper will charge you a brokerage fee. From my experience, UPS is the worst and I remember paying them 65$ in fees for a purchase value of 300$ (excluding taxes and duties)!!!
My best exp. is with USPS and Canada Post; it's a littlebit longer but costs a lot less!
Claude
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Well its an option, but its also an addition 200 dollars Canadian if thats the case because I would pay no tax whatsoever if I shipped to Florida. I just have to weigh the pros and cons and see what happens.
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I would still ship it to your grandparents and save the $600 dollars, then still pay the full postage from Canada if you wanted to return the lens. The odds of needing to return the lens have got to be pretty low since you are spending sufficient money to indicate a decent lens. And I am assuming that you have done your esearch and know exactly what you are buying.
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Ya I have
I know exactly what I want.
Jobo GIGA ONE 40GB or 80GB Standalone harddrive
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L
Thats about it...I mean the 200 dollars in tax will cover a lot of shipments back if needed
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Also, if the product is faulty I am sure that you would take it up with the maufacturer rather than the retailer anyway.
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I bring stuff into Canada from time to time - mostly by UPS.
I broker my own goods whenever I can. I tell the shipper to place on the weighbill "do not deliver, customer will self-broker". This means that UPS calls when it is at their depot (they are usually out near your airport). I pick up the paperwork. I drive to customs (very close) fill out form and pay duties and taxes. I go back to UPS with the papers from customs and pick up my packages.
You can ask UPS what their brokerage fees are to see if it is worth your trouble. It's a real drag self-brokering, but I have saved a few hundred $ by doing it myself.
I've bought stuff on ebay and paid more on brokerage fees than the item.
Also, even though we have "free trade" with the United States, you pay duties based on the country of origin. I imagine the lense is made in Hong Kong? Then there's pst gst.
If you do wind up having it shipped, I find that the good old post office treats you much more fairly and don't soak you with additional fees.
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yeah i don't think i have had any brokerage fees from the post office, just the taxes which are to be expected.
And thanks for the tips on how to self-broker a package, I am planning to do it on a package I am receiving soon and had no idea what to do. :)