Import to Canada

Any Canucks out there who can help me with this one? The prices for lens and bodies from US is a lot cheaper. I am tempted to try getting something from there. Do you know how much import duties we have to pay? I checked with the custom web and they said photo equip is duty free. does it mean we only have to pay PST adn GST? I don't mind that. With to-day's exchange rate, we are well ahead.

Hello Stephen,

I import stuff all the time. Basically you only pay the GST plus whatever provincial tax in effect in Vancouver.

B&H and Adorama are tops for service and fast shipping.

Bye

Thanks, ticonne. Those are the 2 companies i like to try.

I highly recommend B&H, (I'm sure Adorama is fine too) prices are great and shipping is fast even when being shipping all the way out to the Maritimes.

The following thread might assist in this matter.

https://photography-on-the.net …642&highlight=i​mport+duty

Enlightment came to me too late (bought my Tokina from B & H before the thread).

My experience with UPS is such that I'll never use them again, and they aren't held in the highest regard in my parts, but that's another story. Their main strength seem to be in aggressive marketing making them commonly seen, but it'll be a cold day in hell when I think about them again.

Another thought: With the CAN/US dollars being essentially at par, the prices are going to start getting closer, quite likely making the advantages of mail order purchases smaller. It has already happened with vehicles and motorhomes (personal experience), and the trend is not going to stop there. The 40D where I bought my 30D just twelve months ago is $200 less than I paid for my 30D.

Always keep in mind the lines in the old song, "My Momma told me - you gotta shop around".

Johnsoir wrote in post #4031549
I highly recommend B&H, . . . . shipping is fast even when being shipping all the way out to the Maritimes.

Last summer when I was in Nova Scotia it was quite close to NYC.

Depending on what you're buying you might want to consider that Canon Canada just began a double rebate program. You'll have to do the math to see if it's worthwhile. There's a post in the market forum there with information.

Glenn NK wrote in post #4031694
.... Another thought: With the CAN/US dollars being essentially at par, the prices are going to start getting closer, quite likely making the advantages of mail order purchases smaller.....

Glenn, I agree with you in that pricing on some recent Canon items is starting to equalize between CDN/US (ie 40D is only $100 different at release). Also agree the trend will probably continue.
However, it appears that existing items in the product line are still where they've always been > absurdly far apart. Especially lenses IMHO.

This may be an extreme example, but one i've been watching.
The Canon 300mm f/2.8 current pricing:
B&H $3,899 US (plus a bit of shipping)
Henry's/Vistek $5,599 CDN (just went off "sale" price of $4,999)

Given the dollar is pretty much on par, that's an obscene difference.
I'm all for supporting the Canadian economy, but not when it calls for an additional 44%. My money will be going south in a couple months.

As an aside, sorry to hear about your UPS experience. I might have just been lucky so far, but I've bought 4 lenses from B&H, all UPS expedited, without an issue.
Greg

Use either fedex air express (fedex priority is what B&H calls it) or post office for delivery or you will pay brokerage fees that can be rather high.. I agree with glenn that ups is rather poor for shipments that come from the us. Brokerage will be another $7.00 from either of those two services.

HMMM i had a different experience wiht UPS, i ordered a lens from B&H, paid for the fastest delivery and had the lens in my hand in under 24hours with a smile from the delivery guy!

BiPolarBear wrote in post #4031842
Glenn, I agree with you in that pricing on some recent Canon items is starting to equalize between CDN/US (ie 40D is only $100 different at release). Also agree the trend will probably continue.
However, it appears that existing items in the product line are still where they've always been > absurdly far apart. Especially lenses IMHO.

This may be an extreme example, but one i've been watching.
The Canon 300mm f/2.8 current pricing:
B&H $3,899 US (plus a bit of shipping)
Henry's/Vistek $5,599 CDN (just went off "sale" price of $4,999)

Given the dollar is pretty much on par, that's an obscene difference.
I'm all for supporting the Canadian economy, but not when it calls for an additional 44%. My money will be going south in a couple months.

As an aside, sorry to hear about your UPS experience. I might have just been lucky so far, but I've bought 4 lenses from B&H, all UPS expedited, without an issue.
Greg

Greg:

I think the problem with some price differentials is that many dealers purchased stock when our dollar was $0.85 US - it's just too much to swallow.

On the same issue, a local RV dealer sold stocked five Itasca motorhomes and sold four at $120,000, and they have one left. The saleman indicated that they would have to reduce it to $100,000 because of the change in the exchange rate. Itasca's website lists the same model for 2008 at $85,000 base price. It has already affected the price of used motorhomes at other dealers. We're not buying, we're just dreaming.

On the UPS thing, I didn't use expedited.

I'm in Alberta and have purchased many times from B&H. The only Canadian store that seems to compete with them is The Camera Store in Calgary.

When you buy from B&H use UPS Expedited. This option will get the goods to you in three working days from the time B&H has the goods picked up by UPS, and ALL brokerage fees are included. The only additional charge you will get is for GST & PST. I usually get a bill for the GST/PST charge in the mail about a week after delivery. They include a 1-800 number on the bill that you can call to pay with a cc over by phone.

I actually kept stats for my deliveries and found that UPS delivered from B&H to Edmonton in 47.7 hours with a standard deviation of 8.5 hours. The longest delivery time was 68.4 hours. Of course this is excludes weekends and Canadian or US holidays. Also, don't start the clock from the time you complete the on-line order because it sometimes takes a few days for B&H to pass on the goods to UPS. They have a calendar showing their hours of operation:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …nter/HoursOfOpe​ration.jsp

Note that choosing any other UPS delivery option will result in getting a big bill for brokerage fees and a huge rise in your blood pressure. Also, when working out the cost difference be certain to include the 3.5% that Visa charges for US to Canadian currency conversion.

How/what is Canon's warrenty coverage on items bought in the US and shipped to Canada? If something goes wrong, do they honor the warrenty here in Canada or do I need to ship it back to the US for repair?

Darren.

You get a USA&Canada Warranty card so no problem.
I use/have package sent express US mail then no broker fees.

Glenn NK wrote in post #4032467
Greg:

...I think the problem with some price differentials is that many dealers purchased stock when our dollar was $0.85 US - it's just too much to swallow.

Glenn, good point. Sounds logical. So new purchases by the Canadian vendors at an equal exchange rate should help level the pricing between the borders as new stock is acquired. Eventually.
It might get weird though. Replenished stock should drop in price a fair bit while something they haven't yet bought at the new exchange rate will stay where it is? Could be quite the mishmash. I don't know how that high finance corporate purchasing works.

But even still, i'm not sure how a 15-18% old exchange rate accounts for up to a 40% price difference. Something is wonky.
I dunno, i just want to blame somebody, cause i feel like we're getting hosed.

Greg