Buying Canadian parts from the US question:

Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?

Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?

--
Slacker

 

Slacker wrote:
> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>
> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?

I order other stuff by mail and in my experience I haven't had to pay duties on the non-big dollar
stuff. You can look up the duty and taxes on one of the .gov sites. If I buy WHILE I am up there,
(smaller stuff) I just carry it back with me.

Penny

 

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>
> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
>
> --
> Slacker
>
>
>
>

The Technical answer is that when any international shipment arrives in the US you are suppose to
declare, to US Customs, the value and a HTS code (classification of the goods) that tells what
percentage rate the duty should be. Customs can accept this, take your money, and release the
shipment or argue the value and/or duty rate or hold your package for inspection for all that
illegal stuff your smuggling. Usually you pay a broker to fill out and submit all the paperwork for
you and arrange duty payment with customs.

The way this would be handled by a Canadian bike shop selling you something, is by shipping to you
using FedEx or UPS. Both FedEx and UPS will act as a broker and add their broker fees and the duty
charges into their freight bill. The shop can pre-calculate these charges and include them in your
bill with them or have the shipment sent freight collect (including these other charges). Just
because you may not SEE these charges don't mean you haven't paid them somehow.

Trust me no commercial freight enters the US without clearing customs, that's what smuggling is and
UPS or FedEx aren't going to risk that and neither would any business. As far as the US Government
is concerned, no matter who or how or how much you paid for something, you do not own it until
you've paid the duty and cleared it through customs. Now there are items that are duty free between
countries (remember all that NAFTA free trade agreement stuff), but a broker must still fill out the
paperwork. Remember Customs is part of the same department as the IRS, you have to file taxes even
if you don't owe anything. If you are carrying it across the border yourself, customs most often
realize that they don't have the time to stop everyone collect money and fill out paperwork for
small ticket items and I think there is a $200.00 limit that you are allowed without duty, I may be
wrong on this.

No you know enough to get a job as Broker.

--
Chas Spaz <[email protected]

 

> > Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
> >
> > Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
> >
> > --
> > Slacker
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> The Technical answer is that when any international shipment arrives in the US you are suppose to
> declare, to US Customs, the value and a HTS code (classification of the goods) that tells what
> percentage rate the duty should be. Customs can accept this, take your money, and release the
> shipment or argue the value and/or duty rate or hold your package for inspection for all that
> illegal stuff your smuggling. Usually you pay a broker to fill out and submit all the paperwork
> for you and arrange duty payment with customs.
>
> The way this would be handled by a Canadian bike shop selling you something, is by shipping to you
> using FedEx or UPS. Both FedEx and UPS will act as a broker and add their broker fees and the duty
> charges into their freight bill. The shop can pre-calculate these charges and include them in your
> bill with them or have the shipment sent freight collect (including these other charges). Just
> because you may not SEE these charges don't mean you haven't paid them somehow.
>
> Trust me no commercial freight enters the US without clearing customs, that's what smuggling is
> and UPS or FedEx aren't going to risk that and neither would any business. As far as the US
> Government is concerned, no matter who or how or how much you paid for something, you do not own
> it until you've paid the duty and cleared it through customs. Now there are items that are duty
> free between countries (remember all that NAFTA free trade agreement stuff), but a broker must
> still fill out the paperwork. Remember Customs is part of the same department as the IRS, you have
> to file taxes even if you don't owe anything. If you are carrying it across the border yourself,
> customs most often realize that they don't have the time to stop everyone collect money and fill
> out paperwork for small ticket items and I think there is a $200.00 limit that you are allowed
> without duty, I may be wrong on this.
>
> No you know enough to get a job as Broker.
>
> --
> Chas Spaz <[email protected]>

Dang, much appreciated!!! Now that's info.

I remember hearing about stuff getting hung-up in Customs before. The Canadian distributor I'm
buying from is shipping the goods FedEx (on the US side) and I forgot who the Canadian shipping
company was. You're absolutely correct about UPS/FedEx acting as a broker; I forgot that we've used
them at my work.

I made an arrangement for the distributor to pay for the all shipping/tax costs, but I wanted to
make sure I'm not going to get stuck with some unforeseen fee and my body armor held hostage
somewhere in Kansas!

Thanks again!
--
Slacker

 

Chas wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
>> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>>
>> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
>>
>> --
>> Slacker
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> The Technical answer is that when any international shipment arrives in the US you are suppose to
> declare, to US Customs, the value and a HTS code (classification of the goods) that tells what
> percentage rate the duty should be.

<yawn big snip>

all this is true IF your declared value is OVER a certain amount. If it's under it can be dropped
off into your mail box with the declaration form intact. Other wise the shipper will hold it hostage
unless you have squared it up. I've purchased opals from Australia ( limit $400, opals are good deal
right now guys) and had them drop shipped, fabrics from Canada, (for personal use) drop shipped,
clothing from Canada (for personal use) , dropped shipped. The only time i've dealt with custom
brokers is when I've done sksi patrol unifrom orders with a Canadian value of over $12000 Then I
used a custom brokers to handle evertyhing, including NAFTA considerations.

what you need to know is what the limit is on bike parts for personal use before you have to pay
duty, and then just order less than that. You can break it into more than one shipment.

quote from the site re internet purchases;
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purc hases.xml#personal
Informal Entries: If the value of your purchase(s) is less than $2000 and your goods are being
shipped by mail or freight, they may, in most cases, be imported as an informal entry. However,
there are exceptions to this. For instance, if the importation is determined to be for commercial
purposes, the value limit for filing an informal entry for many textile items is either $250 or $0 -
depending on whether or not the item is subject to Quota (see below). Clearing goods through Customs
as an informal entry is less arduous a process than clearing them by filing a formal entry.
Essentially, when goods are cleared as an informal entry, Customs will prepare the paperwork,
including determining the classification number and duty rate for your merchandise.

also: Packages whose declared value is under $200 ($100 if being sent as a gift to someone other
than the purchaser) will generally be cleared without any additional paperwork prepared by Customs.
However, Customs always reserves the right to require a formal entry for any importation and
generally exercises this option if there is something unusual about the importation, or if important
documents such as an invoice or bill of sale do not accompany the item.

unless you are spending lots of $$ or bringing something in that's on a flagged list, there's no
reason that it can't be dropped off at your front door.

Penny

 

Slacker wrote:
> I remember hearing about stuff getting hung-up in Customs before. The Canadian distributor I'm
> buying from is shipping the goods FedEx (on the US side) and I forgot who the Canadian shipping
> company was. You're absolutely correct about UPS/FedEx acting as a broker; I forgot that we've
> used them at my work.
>
> I made an arrangement for the distributor to pay for the all shipping/tax costs, but I wanted to
> make sure I'm not going to get stuck with some unforeseen fee and my body armor held hostage
> somewhere in Kansas!
>
> Thanks again!

all you ordered is body armor? that should be no problem to have mailed in.

penny

 

"Penny S." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Chas wrote:
> > In article <[email protected].net>,
> > [email protected] says...
> >> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
> >>
> >> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Slacker
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > The Technical answer is that when any international shipment arrives in the US you are suppose
> > to declare, to US Customs, the value and a HTS code (classification of the goods) that tells
> > what percentage rate the duty should be.
>
> <yawn big snip>
>
> all this is true IF your declared value is OVER a certain amount. If it's under it can be dropped
> off into your mail box with the declaration form intact. Other wise the shipper will hold it
> hostage unless you have squared it up. I've purchased opals from Australia ( limit $400, opals are
> good deal right now guys) and had them drop shipped, fabrics from Canada, (for personal use) drop
> shipped, clothing from Canada (for personal use) , dropped shipped. The only time i've dealt with
> custom brokers is when I've done sksi patrol unifrom orders with a Canadian value of over $12000
> Then I used a custom brokers to handle evertyhing, including NAFTA considerations.
>
> what you need to know is what the limit is on bike parts for personal use before you have to pay
> duty, and then just order less than that. You can break it into more than one shipment.
>
> quote from the site re internet purchases;
> http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purc hases.xml#personal
> Informal Entries: If the value of your purchase(s) is less than $2000 and your goods are being
> shipped by mail or freight, they may, in most cases, be imported as an informal entry. However,
> there are exceptions to this. For instance, if the importation is determined to be for commercial
> purposes, the value limit for filing an informal entry for many textile items is either $250 or $0
> - depending on whether or not the item is subject to Quota (see below). Clearing goods through
> Customs as an informal entry is less arduous a process than clearing them by filing a formal
> entry. Essentially, when goods are cleared as an informal entry, Customs will prepare the
> paperwork, including determining the classification number and duty rate for your merchandise.
>
>
> also: Packages whose declared value is under $200 ($100 if being sent as a gift to someone other
> than the purchaser) will generally be cleared without any additional paperwork prepared by
> Customs. However, Customs always reserves the right to require a formal entry for any importation
> and generally exercises this option if there is something unusual about the importation, or if
> important documents such as an invoice or bill of sale do not accompany the item.
>
> unless you are spending lots of $$ or bringing something in that's on a flagged list, there's no
> reason that it can't be dropped off at your front door.
>
> Penny

Good info Penny, thanks!

But I don't think I would want $368 in gear "dropped off at my front door."
--
Slacker - this aint your little chicken wings stuff ;^ )

 

Slacker wrote:>>

http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purc hases.xml#personal

>>
unless you are spending lots of $$ or bringing something in that's
>> on a flagged list, there's no reason that it can't be dropped off at your front door.
>>
>> Penny
>
>
> Good info Penny, thanks!
>
> But I don't think I would want $368 in gear "dropped off at my front door."

That's what you get for living in SoCal.

 

"Penny S." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Slacker wrote:>>
>
> http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purc hases.xml#personal
>
> >>
> unless you are spending lots of $$ or bringing something in that's
> >> on a flagged list, there's no reason that it can't be dropped off at your front door.
> >>
> >> Penny
> >
> >
> > Good info Penny, thanks!
> >
> > But I don't think I would want $368 in gear "dropped off at my front door."
>
> That's what you get for living in SoCal.

Very true....had a coffee mug stolen not too long ago.
--
Slacker

 

"Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>
> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
>
> --
> Slacker
>
>
>

Is it the same the opposite way from an online vendor such as jensonUSA> to Canada?

TIA,

Dave

 

"Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> --
> Slacker - this aint your little chicken wings stuff ;^ )
>

HEY!!!!! I resemble that remark!!!!

Mike - Any time yer ready Bwoy!

 

"Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>
> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?

I am going up there next week, what do you need?

- CA-G

Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

 

In article <[email protected]>, Slacker wrote:
> Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
>
> Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?

All the answers you got were good, but also keep in mind that if you buy goods that are made in the
US or Canada (or Mexico), free trade rules kick in, and you aren't supposed to pay any duty at all.
It works both ways across the border. So if you can find the stuff you want from Core Rat or Cove
or whatever, you should be able to declare, prove that it was made in Canada, and not pay any duty
at all. That should apply for shipped goods as well, though you may have to pay the duty at the
border when shipping, then take it back for a refund. I'm not sure how that works. In any case,
check the free trade laws. I may be a bit fuzzy on exactly how it works, but I think that's more or
less correct.

JS

--
========================= [email protected] ========================
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or maybe just happy. - Nirvana, Dumb

 

slacker, where are you ordering from?

P.

 

"Penny S." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
>
> slacker, where are you ordering from?
>
> P.

Yodo Bike, Montreal
--
Slacker

 

> "Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> > Anyone here (USA) ever purchased bike parts from a shop located in Canada?
> >
> > Are there any fees/taxes are involved (other than shipping)?
>
> I am going up there next week, what do you need?
>
> - CA-G
>
> Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

Thanks for the thought, but I already ordered my gear.
--
Slacker