ssnead

Can anyone comment on ordering from UK internet stores. Hassles with duties & taxes? Returns?

-Thanks

Jinker

I ordered stuff from PBK a few times four or five years ago. Smaller boxes didn't get dinged with duties, a bigger one did.

I get the feeling that after a while, CCRA catches on to which suppliers send something that should be charged duties, and less and less 'slips by'.

simonaway427

I've ordered from chain reaction (a seatpost costing about $110 cad) and i was not charged any duties or taxes upon delivery.

DVN

I've ordered from Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and a ton from ProBikeKit. Great experiences with all of them, though I haven't had to return anything yet (knock on wood!). I order from PBK frequently and would recommend them without hesitation.

It seems that generally orders over $75 or so get hit with taxes and a $5 handling fee. Still huge savings, and it's handy for me because they give me access to a selection of products I can get at my two LBS's.

Solorouleur

I have made two orders from Probikekit in the last 3 months.

Transit time was around 3 weeks each time, but I think both my orders spent about a week in customs in Toronto.

Things that should have been hit with duty (Helmet, shoes, etc) were all listed as bike parts, thus avoiding the duty.

Stuff comes in a sketchy blue bag and the original packaging, so it is hit or miss if the boxes are damaged.

Overall, good experience if you can wait for your stuff. PBK doesn't issue tracking numbers, so you may go nuts wondering when your stuff will come like I did.

AEO

never had to return anything.

duties can be added to any package with a declared value of over $20.
It's hit or miss, really.

rbart4506

Many orders from PBK...Never a problem...Taxes are hit and miss, but never have had any duty added on...

AEO

bike goods aren't exempt from duty.

What does get hit hard with duties are clothing.
So avoid buying clothing online.

bike stuff is like a duty of 10%, but clothing is something like 25%.

Jay Olson

Buying from the UK is better than buying from the US. The prices are almost always cheaper, and most UK merchants ship Royal Mail, while US merchants like to use Fedex or UPS. This means $5 plus tax on some shipments and nothing on many. If you get a package from the US with Fedex or UPS, you certainly paid more for shipping and will be very likely to pay a fortune in brokerage fees.

The main disadvantage with ordering from the UK is that Royal Mail can take forever and has no tracking. Also, forget about returning something. Sending a package to the UK is not cheap, and I am pretty sure you are on the hook for that unless the item is not what you ordered or is defective.

airosen

I've ordered from the UK a bunch of times, and I've always been slapped with duties. It's never a lot, but it's unpredictable. What irks me is how long the order takes once it arrives in Canada - I recently waited 4 weeks for a package that was sitting in a Canadian warehouse for most of that time.

AEO

if it's from pbk, wiggle or crc then it's usually shipped as airmail, which is normally within 7 days and it travels as xpresspost inside canada.
I think that might be bad luck or volcano ash delay.

Solorouleur

Are you sure there are duties on things labeled bike parts? Because when I called customs for my pedals, they were under bike parts and duty free...

You would think if they take the time to label them on the customs slip as bike parts, they would at least include duties if that was the case?

Bike shoes I know are supposed to be 18.5%

airosen

I think it was probably a combination of those two. Usually things are a bit more speedy from PBK.

coldfeet

Buying clothes from Voler is the way to go, if you get it on sale you can't beat the prices, and it's made in USA so no duties or taxes.

Smallguy

I've been comtemplating ordering some Sidi's but I know a guy who ordered sidi motorcycle boots a few years back and the duty fees were crazy expensive.. he still saved money but I it was not what he expected

apparently taxes or Canada on Italian made porducts are high

any had issues with Sidi in canada

ftp1020

I've ordered 3 times from Ribble in the last 3 months; a mix of clothing and bike parts. The first one was in a largish box and got dinged for PST & GST. The second was smaller, but still a box and got GST only. The third was the blue bag thing with the cardboard lining and got no PST or GST. Each was labelled "bike parts" but contained a mix of bottle cages, bibs, jerseys, minipump, jacket, computer, etc etc. All orders were between $80 - $150. 3 weeks to the GTA seems normal for me.

And why the online UK stores? $250 bibs from LaBicycletta Canada vs. $104 shipped from the UK, that's why. Most of the clothing was Giordana, made in Italy; maybe I just got lucky (3 times) on the clothing, but those $22-$44 shipping charges from online US stores put me off THEM in a hurry.

dwr1961

Wow... I'm glad that I live in the USA! This "hit or miss" thing on duties and taxes would drive me nuts. I guess that's one price to be paid for socialism.

God Bless America

jdon

Code for "Ignorance is Bliss"

electrik

The cbsa schedule for bicycle shoes is the same regardless of country of origin.. something like 20%

It is worth it for the sidi since you're saving full msrp here... I saw on one site $280 sidi going for $183.. 13% on $280 is less than 20% + 7% on $183

jdon

Numerous orders from various UK stores. Longest shipping has been 18 days, normal is 10-12 days. I separate clothing from parts. No duty on parts but that gets cloudy when clothes are in the mix.

Solorouleur

I just received my Sidi shoes from PBK a few days ago. When I called customs, they said that shoes have an 18.5% duty on them, but on the PBK invoice they were labeled as "Bike Parts" or something like that and I only had to pay taxes. Saved quite a bit of money, but even if I was hit with the duty, I would have still saved about $60 over buying them locally...

electrik

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-com...010-02-eng.pdf

Page 21 is the schedule for bicycle and parts... most parts are free - built wheels have a 6.5% tariff.

gregf83 

I've had 21 transactions (total approx $1500) with PBK over the past couple of years. I've been charged GST twice on a $250 set of wheels and something else I can't remember. Never charged duty on anything. Most (17 of 21) transactions were under $100.

There is no duty on bike parts. In BC bike parts were also exempt from PST so worst case you have to pay the 5% GST once in a while. Shipping is normally around 10 business days, sometimes less, sometimes more. Never had a problem with any item so no returns. As I recall they generally label just about everything (including clothes) as bike parts.

I would highly recommend PBK. I've used xxcycle as well and it was OK but not as good as PBK.

gregf83 

It looks like God doesn't bless all parts of America equally: wtf? Probikekit order got hit with Customs

Bone Machine

I ordered a saddle and pedals from Chain Reaction Cycles on May 11, 11:47PM EST. Shipping was free. Canada Post delivered it this afternoon. The items cost $314.38 CAD. Postman collected GST & PST plus $8.00 handling fee, but no duty.