buying a DB from US. Ship to Canada

thechips · #1 11-04-2006, 09:59 AM

I'm in Toronto and I'm interested in buying a double bass from the states.(thinking either upton or a wilfer)
I've got a quote for shipping, but I'm not sure how much I'm looking at for taxes, duties or import fees?
driving over the border may be an option if it works out cheaper.
anyone here from Canada who has bought a DB from the US?

Steve Clark · #2 11-04-2006, 11:13 AM

You'll pay PST and GST on the declared value and I would expect some duty as well. Oh, and brokerage fees. ON and on. Everyone gets their pound of flesh.

Jake deVilliers · #3 11-04-2006, 12:45 PM

Beware of the grossly inflated "Brokerage Fees" levied by UPS,DHL and FedEx!

These charges sometimes exceed the value of the shipment and may soon be challenged in a Class Action Suit in Ontario.

http://www.poynerbaxter.com/UPS/registration%20form.htm

Bass · #4 11-04-2006, 01:49 PM

Hey, I have an Upton Laminate Hawkes arriving on Monday. So far, the cost of the bass is $2,500 CDN dollars. That includes Revolution Solo II pickup, adjustable bridge, gig bag, stand and shipping.

I'll let you know what the tax, duty and handling is when I find out. I'm crossing my fingers the government doesn't rob me. Ontario will be somewhat different I suppose.

You may want to look into a used upright. I have a notion taxes are reduced if not eliminated on used goods (not sure though).

thechips · #5 11-04-2006, 02:33 PM

ok thanks.
bass - yeah I'd be really interested to know how much extra you had to pay on top of the price for your Upton bass.
also please let us know how you rate the bass when it arrives.
good luck!

Bellbass · #6 11-06-2006, 10:28 AM

I bought a double bass from stringemporium.com and had the bass delivered in the US where I picked it up (the closest airport from Montreal - a 4 hours drive. Steve was kind enough to reduce the price on the bill to 500$. So I paid GST, PST and 7% of duties. A total of 124$ for a 500$ transaction. A good thing a picked it up: saved on transport and enormous custom fees normally charge by UPS (but not USPS). Steve told me that lots of players from Toronto had basses shipped to Buffalo to pick. Most of them (as he told me) where not even checked at the border (but I was and they did not believe the bass was only worth 500USD - so they called Steve who cleared it for me). Steve is a great guy to do business with, you should check out his basses - a good deal.

Charles

Rob Hunter · #7 11-08-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechips

I'm looking at for taxes, duties or import fees?

In September 2004, I purchased an Eminence bass (a great bass, I might add) and had it shipped from New Jersey.

I'm looking at the UPS invoice right now:
- Customs GST - 183.88
- CA Ontario PST - 210.15
- Brokerage GST - 5.14
- Entry Prep Fee - 62.75
- Disbursement Fee - 10.64
TOTAL: 472.56 (Cdn)

Wish I had today's exchange rate back then!

ninnlangel · #8 11-09-2006, 10:10 AM

I drove up from NYC to Montreal with my freshly purchased Czech Ease, and had to drop another $1400 Canadian at the customs... that hurt.

thechips · #9 11-09-2006, 11:03 AM

$1400!? my god.
I'm going off the idea reading all this...all I want is a decent DB to start on. I don't particularly want to drive across the border either.
Isn't there any good Canadian makers out here?

**Francois Blais** · #10 11-09-2006, 01:22 PM

You can check basses at Geo Heinl in Toronto (Church Steet).
There may be other places too.
I don't know if Leif Luscombe has basses in stock.

Rob Hunter · #11 11-09-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechips

$1400!? my god.

I just sent you a PM (I may have a bass to sell in Toronto).

**Adrian Cho** · #12 11-09-2006, 05:26 PM

I don't know where you're located but Upton is not that far to drive from Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal and it's worth driving there because you'll get to try the bass out and you can drive it back and avoid a lot of the hassles. I suggest crossing over on the Quebec side in the late evening.

Jake deVilliers · #13 11-09-2006, 05:34 PM

"had to drop another $1400 Canadian at the customs"

Could you tell me/us what the breakdown was on that total? Was there more than just GST & PST on the Canaddian Dollar value?

Thanks, Jake

PS I'm very sorry for your loss.

Steve Clark · #14 11-09-2006, 06:14 PM

I'm curious about that breakdown as well. I'd appreciate any info you can giver there. A real DB is something I'd like to have some day and since my brother in law lives in Manhattan it would be worth the trip although fitting it in my new VW GTI might be a tad tricky. The Czech Ease is an interesting option for sure.

Bass · #15 11-09-2006, 06:49 PM

Hold it...

I just picked up my Upton Laminate Hawkes from the shipping terminal 1 1/2 hours ago. I cleared it through customs this morning, and there were no additional fees besides GST / PST. (For non-Canadians, this is the General Sales Tax and Provincial Sales Tax which are 6% and 5% respectively, but the PST varies by province).

There is no duty (tariff) on double basses. Zero. The shipper did not charge any additional handling fees, presumably because I cleared it myself. Jake DeVilliers makes a good point - ensure the shipper does not charge any excessive broker / handling fees.

So the bass with bag, stand, pickup and adjustable bridge was approximately $2,456.78 + $48.81 shipping + $270.25 tax = $2,775.84 (Canadian Dollars).

It might be a good idea to advise the shipping agent in advance how you plan to clear the bass through customs. Further, you may consider clearing the bass through customs in advance (ie pay your taxes before it gets there to avoid border delays).

**Adrian Cho** · #16 11-09-2006, 08:30 PM

I haven't checked lately but I thought that duties do apply to double basses unless they are made in North America in which case they are exempt under NAFTA.

Jake deVilliers · #17 11-10-2006, 01:01 AM

Unless you are taking sales away from an established CDN company, there shouldn't be any duties levied.

There are some grey areas, including parts, and the discretion of the border agent will come into play. Generally, I find that if I have an interesting story that engages their imagination, they're a pretty helpful bunch.

billyfalconer · #18 11-10-2006, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Clark

A real DB...fitting it in my new VW GTI might be a tad tricky.

No problem at all. Put down the back seats, open the hatch, put the neck up between the front seats.

thechips · #19 11-10-2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass

Hold it...

I just picked up my Upton Laminate Hawkes from the shipping terminal 1 1/2 hours ago. I cleared it through customs this morning, and there were no additional fees besides GST / PST. (For non-Canadians, this is the General Sales Tax and Provincial Sales Tax which are 6% and 5% respectively, but the PST varies by province).

There is no duty (tariff) on double basses. Zero. The shipper did not charge any additional handling fees, presumably because I cleared it myself. Jake DeVilliers makes a good point - ensure the shipper does not charge any excessive broker / handling fees.

So the bass with bag, stand, pickup and adjustable bridge was approximately $2,456.78 + $48.81 shipping + $270.25 tax = $2,775.84 (Canadian Dollars).

It might be a good idea to advise the shipping agent in advance how you plan to clear the bass through customs. Further, you may consider clearing the bass through customs in advance (ie pay your taxes before it gets there to avoid border delays).

congrats!
this is promising news.
which shipper did you use?
you picked up the bass from a Canadian terminal didn't you?
what do you mean when you say that you cleared it through customs this morning?
questions questions.

I'm not keen on driving across the border because I don't really drive that much over here and being from the UK originally (perm res in Canada now) so I'd find it a bit stressful driving about in the states on those crazy 5 lane highways.

Bass · #20 11-10-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

I haven't checked lately but I thought that duties do apply to double basses unless they are made in North America in which case they are exempt under NAFTA.

Adrian: you can check the customs tariff at this site. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...-99/ch92ne.pdf It says, "92.02 Other string musical instruments (for example, guitars, violins, harps). 9202.10.00 00 -Played with a bow NMB Free" I gave the border guy this "tariff number" and everything was AOK. They asked where the bass was built, and I told them USA - Upton Bass. I realize the body is made in Germany, but presumably any duty owing on the German parts have been previously paid when they were imported into USA.

Chips: Upton bass uses Fed/Ex and Day & Ross were the carrier (trucking company) for Fed/Ex. The bass travelled North to Quebec, then west to the local Day & Ross shipping terminal.

Clearing through customs means paying taxes and allowing for an inspection. Once the bass arrived at the shipping terminal, I picked up the paperwork from Day & Ross. The paperwork is a bill of sale with a price and description of the item. At this point, Day & Ross sent the bass to a "bonded warehouse" at customs.

Then, I travelled to the customs outlet, showed them the paperwork, gave them the tariff number, and payed taxes. Then, customs notified Day & Ross that the bass was cleared, Day & Ross picked up the bass from customs and I picked it up from Day & Ross.

This might have been easier and quicker if I did this by phone, in advance, as it crossed the Quebec / US border. I don't know. Or, you could probably have Fed/Ex clear it for you, but they'll probably charge a fortune.