Canadian duties when ordering from the US?

Ok, I am looking at buying used glass... and just realized that buying NEW from the US might be a better option for me.. but I need input from those who've tried this..

For EXAMPLE, With Cdn $ slightly higher than US$..

A Canon 85mmf/1.8 costs:

in Canada ==> $589.99+$76.70taxes = $666.69Cdn

at bhphotovideo, it's listed as $369.99+$28.95shipping = $398.90USD

Does anybody know how much taxes I will get dinged when it crosses customs? At $400US, even if I get dinged 20% taxes, it ends up being $480.. Which is about the price I can get if I bought used locally..

Sucks to be in Canada!

If the shipping is done by USPS/Canadapost, the most they can charge you for tax is whatever your local GST/PST is. However, where most people get dinged is with private shipping companies such as USPS or Fedex. These companies charge "brokerage fees" which is just some fee that covers them dealing with the duty/tax laws. The best way is buy the lens on eBay, ask for USPS shipping as a gift, and you probably won't have to pay any taxes.

I've been wondering this too. And does it make a difference if it is shipped across the border, or if I have it shipped to Michigan (say the UPS store) and then drive it across. I should remember to ask my friend how much he had to pay for his lenses. Really wish the Canadian prices were comparable to the US prices. Or that people would be willing to sell used equipment across the border.

This forum is for cameras, not lenses, BUT:

There is no customs duty on cameras and lenses from the USA.
You pay PST and GST on your total, i.e. goods & shipping costs.

Hurry up - US $$$ = CAN $$$......almost.

Further to my previous comment now that I read the other response:
No, I never paid any "brokeage fees" when dealing with B+H. They use UPS for shipping. They will not ship with the postal service.

BEWARE - I dealt with Adorama 2x and both times they tried to screw me on the shipping, i.e. charging twice of what the actual charges would be; maybe it was just the individual salesmen, but just be careful.

Oops.. sorry, I posted here.. I was reading another post about buying a camera body in bhphotovideo in this forum.. so I decided to check out bhphotovideo... and saw the lens prices..

Good to know! Yes, they do send via UPS Worldwide.. Thanks for giving me the answer I wanted to hear! Yey!!

Oh, btw.. do they package it pretty good?

UPS ground charges for brokeage fees, not UPS expediated or express.

I have bought lens and flashes from BH a few times. Most time, only PST applies. somtimes, both GST and PST

http://www.photoprice.​ca …uty-brokerage-demystified

I've dealt with Adorama a few times and never had problems with them in any regard. Although in general using UPS for out of country service usually ends up with me paying somekind of brokerage fee. Never have the problem with Fedex

B+H Is also very well noted. You cant really go wrong with going either of the two.

Snappy is right. You dont pay tax or duty for lenses or cameras that you buy from the states and get sent up here. Anything else in the package can be charged though. Tripod, CF cards etc..

Although with most things that are over a few hundred bucks it always works out for me to be cheaper to get it from the states and even after duty, tax, shipping, currency exchange (at parity now) it still comes out cheaper then buying it locally

EDIT: And as for packaging both Adorama and B+H packed there packages excellent in all of my experiences. Tones of the airbags in side and fill going around everything you could stick it by. Wouldn't get damaged if it fell of the truck probably

snapppy wrote in post #9947516
This forum is for cameras, not lenses, BUT:

There is no customs duty on cameras and lenses from the USA.
You pay PST and GST on your total, i.e. goods & shipping costs.

Hurry up - US $$$ = CAN $$$......almost.

Yep, never paid anything more than the local tax (PST & GST) on my camera gear from B&H or Adorama. Anything other than lenses or bodies get duty put on top though, even if they are "camera gear."

And the parity of the $$ is looking too good to pass up right now. I've got my shopping cart at B&H filled right up

slingnanay wrote in post #9947473
in Canada ==> $589.99+$76.70taxes = $666.69Cdn

at bhphotovideo, it's listed as $369.99+$28.95shipping = $398.90USD

Does anybody know how much taxes I will get dinged when it crosses customs? At $400US, even if I get dinged 20% taxes, it ends up being $480.. Which is about the price I can get if I bought used locally..

OP, just check out www.photoprice.ca, which does all the calculations of tax, duty, s&h, and brokerage fees for you, comparing the best US options (B&H, Adorama) to Canadian stores.

For your 85mm f/1.8: http://www.photoprice.​ca …-85mm-f1.8-USM-price.html

Your quote of $589 in Canada is a bit high, but the US is still cheaper than the cheapest Canadian store.

slingnanay wrote in post #9947473
Ok, I am looking at buying used glass... and just realized that buying NEW from the US might be a better option for me.. but I need input from those who've tried this..

For EXAMPLE, With Cdn $ slightly higher than US$..

A Canon 85mmf/1.8 costs:

in Canada ==> $589.99+$76.70taxes = $666.69Cdn

at bhphotovideo, it's listed as $369.99+$28.95shipping = $398.90USD

Does anybody know how much taxes I will get dinged when it crosses customs? At $400US, even if I get dinged 20% taxes, it ends up being $480.. Which is about the price I can get if I bought used locally..

Sucks to be in Canada!

I wish to order camera equipment from the states too but taxes and duties and crap have always kept me from doing it so I usually just try to find a cheap local source like a camera store in Calgary, AB. They are cheaper than most other stores mostly because you only have to pay GST in Alberta so that very same 85 f1.8 lens would cost you 562.21 + 28.11 GST = total 590.32 CAD which is still a lot more than if you order from BHphotovideo but still cheaper than the price you found.

http://www.thecamerast​ore.com …esults/taxonomy​%3A12%2C70

Only thing I would be concerned about is focus issues when buying a lens. If you live in the US many retailers will provide you with a USA shipping voucher. Canadians will need to either drive to the border or ship out of their own pockets.

I'll buy camera accessories in the US but I typically buy new body/lenses at local shops for convenience. If you factor in shipping a second time and the savings will certainly become less and less.

snapppy wrote in post #9947516
There is no customs duty on cameras and lenses from the USA.
You pay PST and GST on your total, i.e. goods & shipping costs.

This is the correct answer, but you will often see all kinds of misinformation being posted. What you pay is the sales tax and the sales tax only.