Having a bass shipped from Canada?

McHaven · #1 10-21-2009, 11:51 PM

Hi guys,

I found a bass I really want, but its located in Canada. I'm just curious what fees/customs/taxes/etc Americans pay when importing an item from Canada. I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible, and I just don't know the procedure. I've never had to deal with import fees.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (And no, the seller can't drive over the border and ship)

Jim Campbell · #2 10-22-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHaven

Hi guys,

I found a bass I really want, but its located in Canada. I'm just curious what fees/customs/taxes/etc Americans pay when importing an item from Canada. I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible, and I just don't know the procedure. I've never had to deal with import fees.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (And no, the seller can't drive over the border and ship)

i heard the rates from canada to the us are much higher than the other .....if it was made outside of nafta there could be duty...check out the fedex or ups web pages and ask about customs self brokerage,state ,federal taxes

Soverntear · #3 10-22-2009, 01:16 AM

well coming from the US to canada, the best way to avoid over fees is to get them to send it as a gift, theres no duty on it that way

WookieeForLife · #4 10-22-2009, 04:10 AM

I want to help. I just can't.

Thornton Davis · #5 10-22-2009, 06:14 AM

I haven't shipped to the USA in a year but if the bass you want to buy was made in the USA, there will be no duty.

If it was made in Canada or Mexico, there should be no duty either because of the NAFTA.

If it was made anywhere else in the world you will pay duty.

Either way you will be charged a brokerage fee which is usually $40.00 (approx).

TD

Jim Campbell · #6 10-22-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornton Davis

I haven't shipped to the USA in a year but if the bass you want to buy was made in the USA, there will be no duty.

If it was made in Canada or Mexico, there should be no duty either because of the NAFTA.

If it was made anywhere else in the world you will pay duty.

Either way you will be charged a brokerage fee which is usually $40.00 (approx).

TD

in canada we are able to self broker and avoid the fees....i'm not sure that option is open to us buyers,but a call to ups would clear that up.....sending it as a gift would be fraud and might result in a loss of the instrument,heavy fines,and or jail......us customs people are not idiots and they do have access to the net......state taxes may apply

McHaven · #7 10-22-2009, 09:08 AM

Thanks everybody. Anyone else have more advice? This bass was made in Japan in the 70s (Neckthrough Rick copy) and I imagine doesn't qualify as duty free.

Pilgrim · #8 10-22-2009, 09:26 AM

I have the impression that shipping via USPS avoids some fees that are incurred when you ship FedEx or UPS. Might be worth checking.

crayzee · #9 10-22-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I have the impression that shipping via USPS avoids some fees that are incurred when you ship FedEx or UPS. Might be worth checking.

+1 on that. I know that when receiving packages from the US, I'll only accept it being shipped via USPS. FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc... all charge brokerage fees that can end up being anywhere from 20-50% of the total declared value of the item.

So, my advice would be to get the seller to pack the bass up very well and send it via Canada Post. That way, you don't have to worry about brokerage fees (I think).

iamlowsound · #10 10-22-2009, 10:27 AM

Post it. You might have to pay some taxes, but those don't usually add up to much.

lowsound

Jim Campbell · #11 10-22-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHaven

Thanks everybody. Anyone else have more advice? This bass was made in Japan in the 70s (Neckthrough Rick copy) and I imagine doesn't qualify as duty free.

may be in a duty free category like antiques...unfortunately usps is not an option for shipments originating in canook.....im not sure if postescanookistanpost will accept something that big.....

McHaven · #12 10-26-2009, 06:32 PM

Well, we'll find out if I incur any fees soon. Just bought the bass.

Jim Campbell · #13 10-26-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHaven

Well, we'll find out if I incur any fees soon. Just bought the bass.

ask your carrier about self brokerage....if ups clears it the bill could be very high......way more than you would think reasonable for shuffling a few papers

bass12 · #14 10-26-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

ask your carrier about self brokerage....if ups clears it the bill could be very high......way more than you would think reasonable for shuffling a few papers

+1 on that. I just bought some strings and had them shipped from the U.S. to Canada via UPS. Big mistake. It cost $31 CND in brokerage fees - for strings! Of course, I also had to pay tax on top of that. In the end, I paid an extra $42 on what originally seemed like a good deal. With USPS, on the other hand, there are no brokerage fees. Next time I'll know!

McHaven · #15 10-26-2009, 08:59 PM

Its coming Canada Post into USPS

McHaven · #16 11-10-2009, 09:27 AM

Well, the bass was shipped out on the 28th. It is supposed to take about 11-12 business days. So this Friday it should be here. Honestly, the worst part of my day is going to the post office on campus and not having it there. I really want this bass haha.

What does concern me is that the tracking hasn't updated since the 3rd. Its just been sitting in Chicago. I talked to a customs officer there today, and he looked around, and couldn't find it. He doesn't think a guitar from Canada is anything that is going to get extensively searched. Chances are the workers missed a scan and it just hasn't been updated online.

Here's hoping it arrives soon

Geddyfleaharris · #17 11-10-2009, 04:49 PM

It seems once the package crosses the border the tracking gets twitchy. I shipped a bass to Florida this spring. The bass hadn't arrived after awhile so I went looking for it for the buyer. Tracking said it was stuck in U.S. Customs. The buyer emailed me an hour or so later saying that the bass was sitting in his living room.

So don't put too much faith in the tracking. But I have bought/sold several basses across the border and have never had an issue.

McHaven · #18 11-11-2009, 08:42 AM

Well, its at my post office. Too bad today is veteran's day. I get to wait another damn day.

steinny · #19 11-30-2009, 11:56 AM

bump for this --- anyone know what duites you pay from Canda?

Yvon · #20 11-30-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steinny

bump for this --- anyone know what duites you pay from Canda?

If the bass was built in canada, us or mexico you shouldn't pay any duties.