B&H shipping to Canada?

Hello all.

I want to know from you who have buy from BH and live in Toronto, or other places in Canada, how much is customs and shipping?

I live in Mexico, but next week (from sept 2 - 9) i will be in Toronto and want to buy a 20D from B&H since is the one of the best prices I have see on the internet.

Also beachcamera has a good price, but they doesn't ship internationaly.

What do you recommend me?

thanks.

nobody from Toronto that can help me or give me an opinion?

ppuga:

Never fear. There is always someone on this forum that will eventually come thru for you. LOL

Try this link:

http://www.imageswest.​ca/cross-border.htm

I had posted this information a while back and I see that he has updated his site and information. This should be what you are looking for.

Wondering why you'd go through the hassle of shipping to Toronto? Why not buy in Toronto and avoid shipping costs?
B&H price on a new 20D (body only) is $1,309 U.S.. Shipping costs, according to their site, will vary from $39.50 U.S. to $92 U.S. I don't know if there's any tax involved, but depending on how it's shipped, you might get screwed by Canada Customs. I recently ordered some equipment from the U.S. and when it arrived, Canada Customs charged me a "handling fee" and then put provincial sales tax and federal tax on to the original cost of the item (I'm still fighting with them on that. The equipment was neither made nor sold in Canada.)
Two of our local camera stores have a good price on the 20D - Aden Camera (www.adencamera.com) lists it for $1,424 U.S. ($1,699 Canadian) and Downtown Camera (www.downtowncamera.com) lists for $1,415 U.S. ($1,689 Canadian). Just figure in 15% tax (8% provincial and 7% federal) and you've got your camera.
Plus, you won't have to wait for it. You walk in the store, plunk down your credit card, and walk out with the camera.
By the way, I have used Aden Camera for all my purchases in the last three years. Let me know what you decide and how this turns out whichever route you decide to go.
cheers,
jim
jim

The import handling fee charged by CPC is $5.00.

The PST and GST are collected on declared purchase price regardless of importing or buying locally.

I always compare and then buy from BH if there is more than ten percent savings with all costs factored in.

Thanks, Bruce, for the info .... I still can't understand the reasoning behind charging Canadian taxes on goods produced and sold outside the country, and I'll still keep yammering away at Canada Customs over the policy (a losing battle, I know, but it makes me feel better to vent at these guys).
Noticed you are from "near Ottawa". Are you, perhaps, a government employee?

cheers,
jim

I am from the Government, I am here to help you...............

Naw, just kidding, but I work in retail so the whole tax collection thing is all too familiar to me.

The federal government, despite removing many tariffs as a result of the NAFTA agreement, still wants to get their nickel out of every Canadian citizen's purchases regardless of where the goods came from.

And they collect on behalf of the Provinces too. Some mail/internet businesses within Canada do not collect PST for out of province customers (i.e Simons in Montreal only charges me GST when I have product shipped to Ontario), but they all must collect for sales within the province.

For that reason I love Alberta; it is such a pleasure to go shopping while out there and only pay the GST, not to mention the convenience and selection of non-government run booze stores on every corner.

Thanks Bruce ... they sure do want to drain every G**D**** nickel out of us ...

cheers,
jim

woow

thanks all for your answers, all very helpfull!!

And what to say, I dont knew about ADEN CAMERA or DOWNTOWN CAMERA, I just knew in a trip last year HENRYS, and its very expensive.

I will be arriving TORONTO, in friday 2 at night, and be all week long, so I will have time to visit both stores!

think both are near my hotel, I will be staying in the Strathcona Hotel in York St. the first days and then in the SoHo Met in Wellington. So I think all will avoid all the customs, shipping and other things.

Thanks Pals!

ppuga:
You're more than welcome. If on your last trip you were at Henry's big downtown store, you were actually very close to Downtown Camera's location. They are just around the corner.
Aden is on Yonge St., with two stores quite close to each other. One deals mostly with used equipment, the other new.

cheers, and good luck,
jim

ppuga:

You might also want to check this out. I am assuming that you are not a Canadian Citizen, but are visiting? If so then this would apply.

"As a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) you paid on eligible goods and short-term accommodation while visiting Canada."


check it out at this url:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca …dents/visitors/​tax-e.html

Every little bit saved is more for the next lens...

eastcoast909 wrote:
ppuga:

You might also want to check this out. I am assuming that you are not a Canadian Citizen, but are visiting? If so then this would apply.

"As a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) you paid on eligible goods and short-term accommodation while visiting Canada."


check it out at this url:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca …dents/visitors/​tax-e.html

Every little bit saved is more for the next lens...

More good advice, John, I had forgotten all about that rebate. Even more incentive for our visitor to buy here.

cheers,
jim

Those Ontario prices aren't that hot. My local "expensive" store lists the 20D kit lens at $1899.00. (BC).

I will buy in the states, get it shipped to a drop point then drive across and pick it up. There is an ebay seller that sells for cheap in Canada too.

http://feedback.ebay.c​om …&ssPageName=STR​K:MEWA:SID

$1609 with kit lens. Add applicable taxes.

I can do this, but get it shipped across the border, drive down (20 minutes from work) and save $225 in taxes. (%14)

One fly in the ointment with importing something while visiting is that B&H and most other online retailers will only ship to the address that is used for the credit card billing and generally will not ship to hotels, rented mailboxes, etc.

Getting money back from the tax is somewhat a hassle, you have to send your original reciepts and it can take up to 6 months to get your money back. Its not worth it... so I'm a proud supporter of Canada's economy and I even pay taxes.