buy gear from US

Hi,

I would like to get some advice from you guys. I am looking forward to purchase some gears from US since Canon equipment 's price in Canada here is way higher than US. For example the Mark III is 5699 CAD adn BH is selling for around 4499.95. So if I order from US, how much do I have to pay for duty.. etc. I am located in Alberta. Thank you.

Sam

Are you ordering from online? If so there shouldn't be any taxes, unless specified by the source... I don't think B&H has tax restrictions for certain states. Now, the problem you'll run into is that your shipping address may cause a change in price of the products...

This thread may help:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=385147

There are zero taxes/duty (except GST) when you import camera gear from the US to Alberta.

I order from the US quite frequently. There is no duty on camera equipment but Canada customs will charge you both the GST and provincial taxes based on the declared US value, converted to CAD. There should not be a customs handling fee unless the shipping company uses a 3rd party customs broker. Getting products shipped via the USPS is always safest for this purpose.

You may want to consider purchasing a 3rd party warranty with your camera. I have had problems getting US purchased Canon products serviced in Canada. I've had a Canon lens serviced under a Mack warranty and it was pretty painless.

if you ship VIA UPS, they will soak you outrageous brokerage fee's so be careful of that. but you will for sure have to pay both cdn taxes.

jorl wrote in post #4078744
if you ship VIA UPS, they will soak you outrageous brokerage fee's so be careful of that. but you will for sure have to pay both cdn taxes.

True the UPS comment.

Both taxes aren't necessarily true. It depends on either what province the package enters canada OR what province he lives in. I think he'll pay alberta tax and that's it.

jorl wrote in post #4078744
if you ship VIA UPS, they will soak you outrageous brokerage fee's so be careful of that. but you will for sure have to pay both cdn taxes.

Yes, but if you ship it via UPS Expedited, they will charge you something like $5 for the brokerage fee.

i thought UPS was UPS, like standard UPS you always get the d!ck in the mouth when it comes time for delivery. i've bought a 60 dollar item and got a 61 dollar brokerage fee when they showed up at the door.

i always ship to the US now and go over and pick it up. because of brokerage fee's (i live right on the boarder at Michigan) i send everything to a Postal pickup place, pay $5 dollars to pick it up and then bring it back over myself.

as for the taxes, In ontario they make you pay Both, and thats 14% im not sure on Alberta tax. but i wouldn't see why Albertan's would pay only one tax while Ontarian's pay both?

joel

Thank you so much guys, I think in Alberta here we only have GST. But I just want to make sure the price will not be more than what I have to pay locally... 5699 + GST!!

Sam.

Make sure your information is current. Over the last couple of months, the US Dollar's value has dropped to the point of "Parity with Canada" so that what was is no longer...in other words, your quoted prices may not hold today.

I don't know how that holds in the on-line sales, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Hope this helps,

Tony

Tony Long Photos on PBase

This is what the local store want...

http://www.vistek.ca …ebCode=230165&C​ategoryID=

and even added shipping + tax, it still cheaper to order from BH.. I guess...

I'm in Hawaii, so I really don't know about stuff. Could you drive over the border, buy stuff, and then just bring them back? If they stop you at the border just say, "This old thing?". You wouldn't have any receipts because you tell them that it's your camera that's 2 years old... Okay, so basically you lie. Does this work?

When I buy something in USA (like know) I wait for some of my friend or colegues go to USA and order that item from him. And I't 40% cheeper for lenses then in Croatia that way

Use UPS Expedited for shipping and you will not get dinged the high broker fees. If you use the cheaper UPS ground services, expect to pay big time when you receive your shipments.

segasaturn wrote in post #4079702
I'm in Hawaii, so I really don't know about stuff. Could you drive over the border, buy stuff, and then just bring them back? If they stop you at the border just say, "This old thing?". You wouldn't have any receipts because you tell them that it's your camera that's 2 years old... Okay, so basically you lie. Does this work?

There is no need to do this since there is absolutely no duty for importing camera equipment from the US to Canada. The same goes for negative scanners, CF cards, printers, camera batteries ... I even buy stereo headphones and there is no duty.

The op just has to select UPS Expedited and he will know his cost including brokerage charges right up front. Other than that VISA adds approx 3% (because of handling the US to Canadian conversion), and for Alberta you need to pay GST after delivery.