I am condering purchasing a spotting scope from the US and shipping to British Columbia. Has anyone done this? Do you get charged duties when it comes across the boder. Are duties charged on just new items or do they get charged on used items as well. Meaning is there any duties charged on a already used item? Any experiences would greatly help. Thanks
Anbody bought optics from US?
- Thread starter Steelie73
- Start date
Spotting scopes are OK with both countries laws. You will be charged GST plus B.Cs provincial tax if you have one. Duty will depend on where the spotting scope was made in the first place. American is OK, German (For example) should have a duty, if they aren't asleep at the wheel at customs. I paid duty on a set of used Zeiss binos a while back.
Dogleg
Dogleg
- Location
- The Police State: Ontario
In this land of high taxes, customs first changes the value to $CDN, then charges duty, GST, PST, and a $5 charge for them to make out the bill
For example, a $500 US spotting scope will be taxed approximately $183.
And that is for a US made product with no duty applied. Expect to pay more for foreign made units. These outragous charges are the same whether new or used equipment.
For example, a $500 US spotting scope will be taxed approximately $183.
And that is for a US made product with no duty applied. Expect to pay more for foreign made units. These outragous charges are the same whether new or used equipment.
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Liberal-Hater,
The taxes, although hated, are no worse than if you were to buy it at home. That part's a wash. If the price is lower, so is the tax. Charging a handling fee in order to charge me tax is infuriateing, but so are many other things, like retailers charging close to double the fair market price!
The taxes, although hated, are no worse than if you were to buy it at home. That part's a wash. If the price is lower, so is the tax. Charging a handling fee in order to charge me tax is infuriateing, but so are many other things, like retailers charging close to double the fair market price!
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liberal-hater said:In this land of high taxes, customs first changes the value to $CDN, then charges duty, GST, PST, and a $5 charge for them to make out the bill
For example, a $500 US spotting scope will be taxed approximately $183.
And that is for a US made product with no duty applied. Expect to pay more for foreign made units. These outragous charges are the same whether new or used equipment.
After paying shipping, taxes and the $5 admin fee I still come out approx $200 savings per Leupolds for the two I bought in 2006.
Danny
If your close enough to the border have it shipped to a US mailing company, go pick it up yourself and declare it at the border. Shipping will be cheaper, you get a day out, and fill up on REALLY cheap gas!!!! If you want a link to a good place PM me.
I've had some 150 products shipped from the US including optics, gun parts, accessories, sporting goods etc. As the others have stated there are usually no issues, even with some imported goods from Tiawan, China, etc.
The best shipping method I have found is USPS (United States Postal Service) for price, speed and foremost no hassle. Golbal Priority is their best method and insurance is cheap. No tracking.
Fedex is OK? (only used them once). UPS are the ones who will charge the h*ll out of you for duty, tarriffs, brokerage etc. sometimes equalling the value of goods.
You will pay the sales tax (in most cases) plus the $5.00 fee to collect it. Tax is determined by the sellers value. Best to be honest.
No fees/tax for items valued less than $20.00US.
The best shipping method I have found is USPS (United States Postal Service) for price, speed and foremost no hassle. Golbal Priority is their best method and insurance is cheap. No tracking.
Fedex is OK? (only used them once). UPS are the ones who will charge the h*ll out of you for duty, tarriffs, brokerage etc. sometimes equalling the value of goods.
You will pay the sales tax (in most cases) plus the $5.00 fee to collect it. Tax is determined by the sellers value. Best to be honest.
No fees/tax for items valued less than $20.00US.
Steeleco said:
I use Hagen's in Blaine. they charge $3.USD for the phone call to notify you when your pkg has arrived, and you have 2 weeks to pick it up before storage charges begin.
as above....don't use UPS as they charge outrageous import handling fees.
...yes, don't forget to drive across the border with an empty tank, and fill up on cheaper gas while you're there.
and Hint: even if you've only been down 20 minutes, if you declare anything at Cdn customs on the way back that totals under $100Cdn, they wave you on w/o stopping to collect duty, gst, or pst....the effort to collect on anything under that amount just isn't worth their time.
...now if only Leupold's were under $100 !!
As far as I know there is no duty on used optics from the U.S. BUT you still pay GST, PST, and the $5.00 handling fee if shipped by USPS, which is what I prefer, lately I have been buying quite a bit of stuff from Ebay. Yes declaring the item as a gift can breeze right through customs without paying a dime, BUT it can also backfire. I have had items declared as gifts and customs decided to place their own value estimate on the item and had them value the item far higher than I had paid charging me more customs charges than I should have paid. I guess it all depends on who is working there that day and whether or not they are having a bad day. I think it's better to have a value declared regardless, even if it is lower, you will still pay but it should be less. If there is no value declared like a gift for example and they are in a pi$$y mood then you could pay through the nose.
I guess it all depends on who is working there that day and whether or not they are having a bad day. I think it's better to have a value declared regardless, even if it is lower, you will still pay but it should be less. If there is no value declared like a gift for example and they are in a pi$$y mood then you could pay through the nose.
