[aHHH!] - flash gear into BC Canada! pick up in point roberts?

[Marloon]

hey guys!

i have a couple of light stands and stuff that are coming into canada. its coming from BH photo, and i just wanted to know the best way to get them into vancouver BC.

i have heard that you can get it shipped to point roberts in washington. can someone tell how i can do that? do i have to buy a box from them?

Thanks!

[msowsun]

If you do get it shipped to a Postal Box in Point Robert's, what will you tell the Canada Customs guy at the border?

"Please don't look in the trunk, I don't want to pay GST?" :)

[J Kacey]

UPS or Fedex will not deliver to a post office box..........
Unless to have a friend with a Point Roberts address you are out of luck.

[quijibo69]

When I lived in the Fraser Valley I used these guys all the time.... UPS & Fedex delivered to there ;-)

http://www.packageexpress.com/

I'd look for a similar service in Point Roberts or, depending where you live, you might have better luck in Bellingham (through Peace Arch or 176 st)

edit:

A quick Google search found this in Point Roberts. (you owe me a beer)

http://www.tsbshipping.com/

[Rellik]

TSB Shipping is the place. Daryl, the owner, is awesome and will take care of you. Just check the website for all the details.

There is another place in Point Roberts called the Letter Carrier. I've never used them, but have heard they are not very organized and will take awhile to get you packages.

If you do get it shipped to a Postal Box in Point Robert's, what will you tell the Canada Customs guy at the border?

"Please don't look in the trunk, I don't want to pay GST?"

You tell the Customs officer you have xxx amount to declare. You go into the office with your receipts and pay for the GST, PST, and duties if they apply.

Generally camera and lenses don't have duties. Stands and equipment may vary though.

[DimensionZero]

This site has a quick overview of what items you will have to pay duty on for photography equipment. http://www.photoprice.ca/article/duty-on-camera-equipment

For a more comprehensive list, check out the Canadian Border Services site (specifically bullet point 90) http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/tblmod-1-eng.html


While on the subject, here's a place I just found a few days ago in Delta which seems to have pretty fair prices. I think, if I did my math right, the 50D body that I want is cheaper here even after taxes than it would be to buy from B&H, have it shipped and with the exchange..
http://www.photoexpert.com/

[Milamu'g]

OMG, why the hell didn't I think of this before!!????
Best idea ever! Now let's hope the us dollars come a bit down!

[Marloon]

US DOLLAR! COME DOWNNNNNNN!!! lol...

i have a posting by AlanU. i will post it when i get home from my night shift at the hospital.

[AlanU]

Marloon,

You do not have "rent" a PO box. When you cross the Canadian border declare the camera gear in CDN. Be pleasant or they may stick a glove (you know where).

heres what I wrote earlier in another post.

The letter carrier (not opened on sundays) will be one of the best places to get things shipped.

http://www.thelettercarrier.com/contact.htm (http://www.thelettercarrier.com/contact.htm)

NO SETUP required. Just give the "retailer" your name and (letter carriers address). Some US companies have policies that say "WILL NOT SHIP TO PO BOX" I just give my name and the "Address" and never have a problem. Just make sure you tell the credit card company (visa, MC) to add 145 tyee drive as an alternate address.

John smith
145 tyee drive
Point Roberts, WA
98281

When the company phones to confirm your shipping address the credit card operator can only say YES or NO when the "company" ask if its a valid address.

Go to the post office and tell them your name. Pay a buck or two (cant remember) and they simply hand you the package. They have 2 separate "money tills" one for CDN and one USD. Cant get easier than that.

[AlanU]

Dzero,

Good $$$ find with that company...heres something to consider.

Go to future shop and tell them to match the price. Then get 5% off the difference.

If you were loyal to an established camera shop I'd say go there and get them to match. No need to drive everywhere to get the best price. Most shops will match prices that are advertised on the web.


This site has a quick overview of what items you will have to pay duty on for photography equipment. http://www.photoprice.ca/article/duty-on-camera-equipment

For a more comprehensive list, check out the Canadian Border Services site (specifically bullet point 90) http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/tblmod-1-eng.html


While on the subject, here's a place I just found a few days ago in Delta which seems to have pretty fair prices. I think, if I did my math right, the 50D body that I want is cheaper here even after taxes than it would be to buy from B&H, have it shipped and with the exchange..
http://www.photoexpert.com/

[FociBC]

I usually get the dealers to see if they will use USPS instead of any other courier services. This way I don't get ding at the border

[DimensionZero]

Oh yeah! I completely forgot about price matching. I know Kerrisdale Cameras will price match, but I don't believe they will beat it, Broadway Camera I think does?

But that's a good point. Maybe my new 50D will come sooner than I originally planned... :)

Dzero,

Good $$$ find with that company...heres something to consider.

Go to future shop and tell them to match the price. Then get 5% off the difference.

If you were loyal to an established camera shop I'd say go there and get them to match. No need to drive everywhere to get the best price. Most shops will match prices that are advertised on the web.

[AlanU]

Oh yeah! I completely forgot about price matching. I know Kerrisdale Cameras will price match, but I don't believe they will beat it, Broadway Camera I think does?

But that's a good point. Maybe my new 50D will come sooner than I originally planned... :)

Dzero,

Without a question get it from Futureshop!!!! They sell the 50D (body only) for $1499.99. Photo Experts price is different by $130.99. Thats aprox 13 bucks off of $1319 = 1306.00.

Just make sure Photo Expert has the 50D body in stock.

[FociBC]

If I had the 50d body in stock I'd price match it for you. I do have some 40d bodies :)

[Milamu'g]

Dzero,

Good $$$ find with that company...heres something to consider.

Go to future shop and tell them to match the price. Then get 5% off the difference.

If you were loyal to an established camera shop I'd say go there and get them to match. No need to drive everywhere to get the best price. Most shops will match prices that are advertised on the web.
Does future shop match US prices (converted obviously)? Main thing though, is that future shop carries very little worthwhile, photography wise. Strobist stuff is almost impossible to get anywhere, although some dude on craigslist seem to have set up a home shop

[FociBC]

FS will not match those prices and neither will Best Buy

[msowsun]

Why not just have B&H ship it to your own address in Vancouver, B.C.?

I have ordered from them before and had absolutely no problems with shipping to Canada. There is no duty on photography equipment, but you will have to pay Provincial sales tax (PST) and General sales tax. (GST) Still cheaper than buying in Canada.

[quijibo69]

Why not just have B&H ship it to your own address in Vancouver, B.C.?

.....You usually save at least 50% on the shipping charges.

Money $aved on S/H = more money for gear :D

[Marloon]

arent we allowed to attain $50 dollars per person per trip to the states per day. LOL! lots of per-s there. lol. can't i just bring 5 other people with me and declare a lower amount?! LOL

[AlanU]

arent we allowed to attain $50 dollars per person per trip to the states per day. LOL! lots of per-s there. lol. can't i just bring 5 other people with me and declare a lower amount?! LOL


Even a fresh out of school RN can surely pay for pst and gst taxes :) DC1 level 1 (rookie?) or level 9 (veteran) your still making decent bucks.

B&H is certainly cheaper than any camera shop in Vancouver. On craigslis locally someone is trying to sell an impact 8' aircushioned stand/umbrella swivel/32" convertible umbrella for $125CDN which can be purchased at B&H for $47 dollars. Oddly enought $125CDN is a decent price considering its in town with no shipping/tax fees.

Msowsun, shipping on heavy items from US to Canucktown is expensive. Also US folks have no idea that we get hit with FEDERAL and PROVINCIAL tax on items (NO exemption). An American getting stuff shipped from Canada "might" get hit with duty (Countries that are not NAFTA) But to my knowledge they DO NOT get state taxed. Shipping stuff from one state to another is ghetto cheap especially when USPS has decent sized boxes flat rate.

[Marloon]

hahahahahhahaha!!!!! that's definitely fair enough alanU. :D thats hilarious actually! i just dont want to get DINGED so much. LOL...

[Marloon]

just because a rookie nurse earns money doesnt mean the nurse aint cheap still... did i just degrade my self image? LOL

[AlanU]

just because a rookie nurse earns money doesnt mean the nurse aint cheap still... did i just degrade my self image? LOL

I wasn't snubbing you. My wife's an RN at DC1 level 9 (union) and with the new outreach program she's DC2 level ? (not sure). She's unbelievably keen on budgeting in the household....unlike me.

Canadians gets the shaft in terms of taxation. I'd say majority of all US folks are not aware of how good it is for them when it comes to getting shipped goods. The dirt cheap shipping in the Continental USA is a huge benefit to them.

For lighter packages UPS worldwide is the way to go for brokerage. Just pay the post guy GST and PST.