!!Comatoa$ted

Have any Canadians, or anybody in Canada had stuff shipped to them from Nashbar. I was thinking of ordering some cycling shorts and a heart rate monitor because with shipping and exchange it is cheaper than any place I can find here, even MEC.

I was just wondering on if anybody has any experiences that they can share with me, and if they had to pay any duties above the cost of the shipping, goods, PST and GST?

Jarery

Bike parts I believe are duty free. I bought a fork and paid gst and 5 bucks handling I believe. Shipping took a couple weeks though.

free_pizza

It was either Nashbar or Jenson, but i asked them for a shipping quote for a set of tires, they quoted me over $70usd (and that was the cheapest rate they would give me) for the order, so i politley emailed them back and told them they must have made a mistake, they said there was no mistake.

free_pizza

i got zinged every time i got bike parts from the US.

EricDJ

I send a lot of items to Canada. Some pople get PO boxes on this side of the border to get items and then come accross to retrieve them. Can you send the items to someone in the US who can resend and mark gift on the forms?

ajay677

If possible, do not ship via United Parcel Service. Their brokerage fees are astronomical. The only way to avoid it is to notify them you'll broker your own order.
Ship via United States Postal Service. The brokerage fee is $5.00 plus whatever duty and tax your order attracts.

patc

I have ordered from both Nashbar and Performance. In addition in order about $5000-7000 of photo stuff every year for work. In general:

1) Thanks to NAFTA, there are no duties on most things imported into Canada from the USA. There are no duties on most (or all?) bike related items. If in doubt, call Canada Customs.

2) The importer (that's you) must pay GST and PST (or HST) on the total value of goods imported, including shipping costs. You will normally be asked to pay this at the door by Canada Post or the courier.

3) The delivery company can and will charge you a brokerage fee, and you usually have no option but to pay it or return the item. This is were you can get really screwed!.

Canada Post - they only charge a few bucks for brokerage. US Air Parcel to Canada is pretty fast. Canada Post may open your package for inspection, usually because the shipper was lazy on the paperwork (e.g. "misc. bike parts"). If tracking is available it will usually only be updated twice - when shipped, and when delivered.

FedEx - check their web site for brokerage rates, they seem cheap but I haven't used them much. FedEx also often forgets to charge you for brokerage and tax. FedEx tracking is updated frequently, and includes an esitmated delivery date.

UPS - Do not use UPS ground service to Canada! The brokerage fee will bankrupt you. See this UPS chart. UPS Express or Expedited includes brokerage fees in the cost, are fast, and may not cost much more than Ground. UPS has gotten very lazy about tracking, I can no longer predict when something will arrive based on the tracking info. They also really, really damage boxes.


The biggest problem I have importing goods is with US retailers either not offering a range of shipping methods or saying one thing then using another service. For example using UPS Ground after I asked for USPS Air Parcel, which can add $40 or more in brokerage fees. As mentioned above some stores are not detailed enough on the paperwork, but the worst that will do is take an extra day clearing customs. Finally keep in mind that some things can't be shipped by air, which may include de-greasers and other solvents.

Oh yeah - if paying by credit card, check the exchange rate. They don't give you the current exchange but collect a bit more as a hidden service fee.

EricDJ

iirc Nashbar uses UPS, would explain their fees. Depending on the order size, you can ship to someone in the USA and let them reship via USPS. If it fits in the one rate large envelope, that can be $13 bucks to Canada and the sender can mark gift on the claims form.

patc

Nashbar can and will use USPS.

!!Comatoa$ted

I ordered about $100 CAD from Nashbar even with 30% tax and duty the stuff is about $40 chaper. I just hope I dont get sponged for something else along the way.

EricDJ

I seem to recall someone who posted on these boards from Canada who ordered from them and specifically asked for usps, but the did it regular anyway and the receiver still got an extra bill for 150 when the item arrived.

Lolly Pop

I bought $100 worth of clothes and accessories and paid $35 fees at the door and $25.99 shipping. It wasn't the bargain I had hoped. It also took them ages to finally give me a price on shipping.

For Amurricans it's probably a good deal but in my case I wouldn't order again to have items shipped to Canada.

patc

I've had no problems from Nashbar, but certainly when Canadians shop from the US they should compare prices WITH shipping, exchange, taxes, and brokerage. Sometimes you can save big $$$, other times its not worth it, and sometimes its cheaper here.

!!Comatoa$ted

I looked at all the prices for shipping and exchange, and the fee that visa charges, if you add the taxes, duties and shipping, which works out to about 32% it is still cheaper than anyother place I could find in Canada. I just hope when the order gets here they do not find some other stuff to ding me with.

I had no problem dealing with the person on the phone who took my order they were very helpful and they indiacated exactly what they would be charging me, they even charged my visa while I was talking to them. I can't wait to get my new toys.

operator

I ordered about $80 CAD worth of stuff off performance and got dinged $40 CAD for customs/duties/brokerage.

Never ordering again unless it's off ebay, with gift declaration. This was with fedex too.

baxtefer

this guy speaks the truth (mostly)

SHIPPING/BROKERAGE:
UPS- NEVER USE UPS GROUND (AKA STANDARD) to ship stuff to canada. Brokerage fees will kill any deals you get by odering from the US. However if you get a deal on UPS Express or UPS Expedited, brokerage is included in the price!

FedEX- is marginally better, but still, the brokerage fees are pretty high

There is a way to get around brokerage fees if you live near the customs facility through which your package clears! probably only useful if you live in Vancouver or Montreal. Call ahead and say you'll act as your own broker. FedEx/UPS will have the package held at customs. you go there, fill out a few forms, pay your tax/duty and get your package. no brokerage fees!

USE USPS! Nashbar ships USPS to Canada, Performance uses FedEx Ground. Which is why operator and others have gotten dinged huge with brokerage. Canada post handles the packages on the Canadian side and only charge a flat $5 brokerage fee regardless of the value of the shipment.
Downside is that tracking usually is unavailable, or when it is, it sucks.
Also, Canada Post/USPS packages may get delayed more at the border than UPS/FedEx stuff.

DUTY:
- most bike *parts* are duty free with a few exceptions: built wheels for example carry a 7% duty (I think) while unbuilt hubs/spokes/rims would be duty free. (then again I've bought several sets of wheels from the US without being hit with duty)
- complete bikes carry a 13% duty!
- see https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...005/ch87ne.pdf (PDF!) for duty rates
- there is duty on most clothing.

TAX:
- GST + PST (though there is no PST on bikes + parts in BC! woot!) on the *declared value* on the customs form. There is no tax on the shipping cost. No way to get around this unless you fudge the customs documents. however if the declared value is <$20 CAD. or <$60 and it's a "gift" it is tax-free

operator

Baxtefer, thanks for the good info. Is that list complete for what isn't duty free? I don't mind paying the tax.

My only beef is that nashbar has a fairly limited selection on bike stuff.