Importing riflescope from EU/ buying online, what are the fees, duties?

[dany19176]

I'd like to buy riflescope for my Blaser R8 with rail system, most likely Zeiss V8 1.8-14x50 or new Swaro Z8i 2-16x50 SR, but it's near impossible to get one here in Canada for reasonable price, it's all on special order. I came across this website optics-trade.eu and send then an email asking if they can ship to Canada. They said no problems and apparently have many customers from Canada. On their website price shown is in CAD and I was wondering what other fees/duties other than taxes would be applicable to this purchase.
Do you guys have any experience with this? Do you know what duties are charged on optics made outside of Canada? I did little bit of research and according to dutycalculator.com there are 0% duties, but not sure if i can believe it!

 

[Blastattack]

I'd like to buy riflescope for my Blaser R8 with rail system, most likely Zeiss V8 1.8-14x50 or new Swaro Z8i 2-16x50 SR, but it's near impossible to get one here in Canada for reasonable price, it's all on special order. I came across this website optics-trade.eu and send then an email asking if they can ship to Canada. They said no problems and apparently have many customers from Canada. On their website price shown is in CAD and I was wondering what other fees/duties other than taxes would be applicable to this purchase.
Do you guys have any experience with this? Do you know what duties are charged on optics made outside of Canada? I did little bit of research and according to dutycalculator.com there are 0% duties, but not sure if i can believe it!

Sounds like you've already answered your own question.

 

[dany19176]

Yes, but I want to be 100% sure and avoid costly surprises when I pull the trigger. Do you have experience with them and all you paid were taxes-5% for Alberta? Or just saying since there is nothing else to do....

 

[ivo]

I believe anything made outside Canada the US or Mexico is subject to 6% duty. Also there is the European VAT which is a tax that you may have to pay as well. You will have to pay the 5% GST in Alberta as well.

 

[CanAm]

Yes, but I want to be 100% sure and avoid costly surprises when I pull the trigger. Do you have experience with them and all you paid were taxes-5% for Alberta? Or just saying since there is nothing else to do....

just google customs tariff and read the duty rate yourself right off the government website. there is no set rate of duty, but you will pay gst

 

[CanAm]

I believe anything made outside Canada the US or Mexico is subject to 6% duty. Also there is the European VAT which is a tax that you may have to pay as well. You will have to pay the 5% GST in Alberta as well.

nope on the first 2, yep on gst

 

[Blastattack]

I believe anything made outside Canada the US or Mexico is subject to 6% duty. Also there is the European VAT which is a tax that you may have to pay as well. You will have to pay the 5% GST in Alberta as well.

Duty is based on what the product is and where it was made. There is no 6% flat fee. European VAT is subject only to European buyers. Buyers outside the EU do not have to pay any VAT.

 

[medvedqc]

I'd like to buy riflescope for my Blaser R8 with rail system, most likely Zeiss V8 1.8-14x50 or new Swaro Z8i 2-16x50 SR, but it's near impossible to get one here in Canada for reasonable price, it's all on special order. I came across this website optics-trade.eu and send then an email asking if they can ship to Canada. They said no problems and apparently have many customers from Canada. On their website price shown is in CAD and I was wondering what other fees/duties other than taxes would be applicable to this purchase.
Do you guys have any experience with this? Do you know what duties are charged on optics made outside of Canada? I did little bit of research and according to dutycalculator.com there are 0% duties, but not sure if i can believe it!

be sure they do not charge you EU VAT you will get a better deal ....

on the Canadian side yes you will pay gst and some forget but handling fees from customs if they open the parcel and they will ....

 

[tacfoley]

No sales outside the EU attract ANY kind of Eurotax. Merchandise from UK to Canada, or anywhere else not in the Eurozone, is exempt the 20% VAT charged to UK buyers - the same level of VAT is applied to S&B or Swarovski - but only to buyers WITHIN the Eurozone. Makes buying some British-made products seem like a bargain, until you tot up the shipping costs et al. For instance, YOU guys can buy the wonderful new John Rigby double rifle at a bargain £95,000, whereas WE have to pay 20% VAT on top of that basic price.

tac

 

[redrams9]

Hi Danny, I looked at that site too, and am intrigued, so please do post your experience, if you decide to order that way?
I thought about it a while ago but decided I was way more comfortable dealing with a Canadian dealer and someone I could talk to directly on the phone and answer all my questions in real time, etc.
If you are looking specifically at the Zeiss and Swarovski products, why not call Omer at Plainsight Solutions? He's a long time CGN dealer on here, and I ended up buying a brand new Zeiss 4.8-35 V8 from him, and got the second one in the country! I bought a S&B from him last fall, and his prices and service are fantastic! Highly recommended! He carries both those lines as well.

 

[AP]

Buying Canadian is always good....but regrettably the level of service in Canada seems to be falling while that in Europe (at least on the continent) seems to be getting VERY good! I have personally had EXCEPTIONAL service dealing with Voere (Austria), Zeiss and EAW...occasionally small language challenges but ALWAYS polite and very helpful...and very prompt!
More and more I run into Canadian vendors who are either indifferent about winning a customer....or just plain rude! Like they all took their training from the 'new' Bell Canada!

While I am #####ing I should also add a very strong recommendation for and compliments to WARNE (mfr of scope bases etc) for their terrific service and extremely pleasant customer service reps!!!

 

[SIGP2101]

I ordered from them many times but only mounts and rings. A+ vendor. For Canadian customers shipping is free and no tax. It is hit and miss with our customs. Sometimes customs will hit you with extra expenses sometimes the will not. You have to be ready for that. Most of the times I was lucky. Another thing with this vendor is that will fully refund you or replace product if it is lost which is important for peace of mind. No silly arguing with them. They will treat you with dignity and respect. Sometimes item will arrive within 7 days sometimes month and a half. They are very small company but good one.

 

[burnaby]

Macroman on another thread mentioned your IOR shat the bed. Any chance you imported it from optics-trade.eu and got the poor warranty service; Or was it local Canadian distributor.

Eye on the The IOR Tactical 5.8-40x56/IL FFP, CRUSADER from optics-trade.eu but worry about reliability and warranty.

I believe anything made outside Canada the US or Mexico is subject to 6% duty. Also there is the European VAT which is a tax that you may have to pay as well. You will have to pay the 5% GST in Alberta as well.

I dont own any IOR products personally. I was shooting with Ivo when his $hit the bed. Have the new models improved? I dont know but if I am going to spend money for a premium optic I wont gamble on a product like IOR with a poor track record for reliability and a distributorship that is less than helpful when assistance is needed.