DroogBC

I've been looking more and more at Ibex bikes as of late, but I'm concerned that Customs Canada will bend me over when it comes to duty. The last thing I need is the good value of Ibex flying out the window if customs decides to charge a rediculious duty fee for importing the bike.

Does anyone know if any duty is charged on Ibex bikes entering Canada, and if so how much I should expect to pay if I decide to go the Ibex route?

baxtefer

most bike *parts* are duty-free (one notable exception is built wheels)
but complete bikes carry a 13% duty.
you'll also have to add 7% GST to that too.
add fedEx/UPS brokerage fees into the mix and your deal evaporates quickly.

you live in Surrey eh? I can think of a few ways to get around this problem.

DroogBC

Do tell.

jbrians

I don't think I buy the 13% duty part.
PST and GST and exchange on the currency, yes.
Mine came up by UPS (it was still a bike when it got here) and the two taxes was all I paid.

fmw

NAFTA. What a joke.

baxtefer

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...005/ch87ne.pdf says 13%.
whether that actually gets applied consistently is another issue.
it depends on what they consider the "Country of Origin" to be. if it's the US it's free, or since it's likely manufactured in Taiwan or China, then the 13% might apply.

UPS didn't charge you a brokerage fee?

there's no PST on bikes and parts in BC. yay!

SimonMtl

There is a way to avoid paying the UPS brokerage fees. When the UPS guy knocks at your door, you tell him that you will clear the customs yourself. So he will bring back the Bike (or whatever) to the UPS warehouse of your city.

Then you go pick it up at UPS telling them that you want to clear the item yourself. They will then fill in some papers for you right away, then you have to go to the customs office of your city, usually a few blocks from the UPS warehouse. Overthere, you clear the customs for your bike, and therefore get rid of the unjustified brokerage fee that UPS charges (usually around 45$ can). For NAFTA covered items, you pay no custom fees, only 5$ for administration bla bla.

And finally, you go back to UPS and pick up your bike. I live in Montreal and have done this a few times (not bikes though).

You can't do that with Fedex though, because they send you the brokerage fees by mail, a month or two after you got your item. Only then you know how much you paid for your item.

But before clearing the customs yourself, double check if UPS is charging you the 13% tax, you may be better off paying the 50$ than risking to end up with the 13% at the customs office

Anyone else has bought a bike online in Canada?

skookum

If the bike is dutiable you will have to pay BOTH -the $50 brokerage fee to UPS and the 13% duty plus the 7% GST. -unless you clear it through customs yourself as Simon suggests. The $50 is just their fee for handling the paperwork. It doesn't include the duty.

I have imported a couple of American made bikes - so no duty, just the GST. Brokerage fees vary with the company. It might be worthwhile to check with a couple of different couriers and have your bike sent with one that has lower fees if possible.

You should be able to check rates of duty with the CCRA online, but a quick google search didn't reveal the page, they might have hidden it.

operator

Or do what me friend did. Have it shipped to a bike shop across the border and ride it back.

qqy

You can also avoid all the customs nonsense by just shipping via USPS/Canada Post. You will get hit with GST & PST +$5 handling. Still much cheaper than buying in Canada if you get a good deal.

skookum

Well not really. You'll still be liable for the duty if applicable. I find on smaller purchases -bike parts etc.-they aren't too sticky and a lot of it comes through without duty, I think they figure that if it comes from a shop in the US, US is the country of orign, which for most bike parts simply is not true.

If they are doing their job and they figure out that the bike was made outside the US you will have to pay duty.

Can you ship an entire bike by USPS?