Ordering from Adorama while in Canada

All,

Quick question: I saw a post while I was searching for something else, and saw a post from Helen at Adorama where Canadias will NOT get charged the phantom charges from UPS or Fedex if selected. I always have used USPS because of some hair-raising charges they seem to make up over coffee, having lunch at a pub etc...I know this does still occur from regular deals, but some companies have this 'built'in' (and it's lower)

Any first hand experience? I wanted to place an online order for a spare LP-E4, but I know I can get USPS if I call.

And yes, I do expect to pay the 13% HST, I want to know about if the funny stuff has gone away (like the extra $30-40.00 they might charge in addition to the HST).

Thanks so much in advance.

There's a thing called brokerage.... that's what UPS charges those crazy amount for.

But if you have the tracking number in advance, you can call up UPS (or whatever company) tell them you will clear the custom by yourself to save brokerage fees. They should then prepare your paperworks... Pick them up then you go to customs office and clear the shipment and pick up more papers. Then go to UPS pick up your shipment when it arrives, with all your paperworks.

GL

if i'm not mistaken if you have it shipped UPS express, not ground, the 'brokerage' fees are built into the price however if you choose the cheaper ground method then you'll be dinged for brokerage. I believe its the same concept with Fedex but im not 100% sure
The other thing you could do is if you live pretty close to the border have it shipped to a border town (UPS store or something like that) and pick it up and drive it over yourself and declare it and pay the HST when you cross over.

bfinta wrote in post #10318104
if i'm not mistaken if you have it shipped UPS express, not ground, the 'brokerage' fees are built into the price however if you choose the cheaper ground method then you'll be dinged for brokerage. I believe its the same concept with Fedex but im not 100% sure

When shopping with Adorama for shipping to Canada, you can choose from: FedEx International Economy, FedEx International Priority and UPS Express
With UPS Express, there should be no additional brokerage charges for customs clearance, as these are included in the shipping fee.The same holds true for FedEx International Economy and FedEx International Priority.

Thanks Helen..just wanted to be sure!

I just went thru this purchasing a used ef 100mm f2 lens from Adorama. I was very pleased with everything. I choose Fedex international priority and when it came thru the border to Fedex in Vancouver, I had to pay PST, GST and some unexplained $10.50 fee. It took less than a week from order to delivery. I was very impressed with Adorama and Fedex.
...Terry

Overkill-F1 wrote in post #10322206
I just went thru this purchasing a used ef 100mm f2 lens from Adorama. I was very pleased with everything. I choose Fedex international priority and when it came thru the border to Fedex in Vancouver, I had to pay PST, GST and some unexplained $10.50 fee. It took less than a week from order to delivery. I was very impressed with Adorama and Fedex.
...Terry

Good to hear; thanks for the f/back

The $10 fee may have been something to do with Internation Product Codes Categories, called HS codes, but only FedEx could tell you for sure.

http://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hs​code.cfm?cat=16

This list categorizes the products, and I believe that different categories may have different tax rates.

Overkill-F1 wrote in post #10322206
I just went thru this purchasing a used ef 100mm f2 lens from Adorama. I was very pleased with everything. I choose Fedex international priority and when it came thru the border to Fedex in Vancouver, I had to pay PST, GST and some unexplained $10.50 fee. It took less than a week from order to delivery. I was very impressed with Adorama and Fedex.
...Terry

I too have recently had the occasional extra small fee (usually around $10) from both Fedex & UPS priority on express shipping and this fee is not disclosed at the time of shipping. This has been on both retail purchases from B&H, and personal purchases from private US sellers, but not on wedding album purchases.

Fedex will bill me a month or two later for the amount if it's not collected at the door. I'll look for a receipt but from memory it's some kind of mystery fee