I just recieved my new brakes (Shimano Ultegra) from Cambria bikes as shipped by them Sept 30.
It took 30 days to clear customs, and cost me a fee of $5 to collect $4.72 in taxes owing.
Make your orders big $ to cover the costs. So much for free trade.

Roger that thanks for the heads up.

Watch out with big orders. Its not a flat customs charge, its in relation to the value of the package.
I ordered my bike from the States and realized I was going to have to fork over more than 300 dollars in import duties to get it sent to my house in Toronto. So rather than face that, I got the bike sent to a shop in Niagara Falls NY, took the greyhound down and rode the bike back liesurely across the border. The bus ticket cost me 20 dollars, so I saved $280, and I got a nice outing out of it. We thought we might get trouble at the border because it happened to be Sept. 11th, but I got through no problem. No offense to anyone in Niagara Falls, NY, but man is that town a wasteland!

NAFTA really is a crock.

It's a good thing you weren't planning on crashing your bicycle into any national landmarks! PHEW!!!

I could see that being a hilarious video. Dress up in really stereotypical terrorist clothes and just film yourself crashing head on into a large office buidling. Bonus points if you get all your friends to do it too.

The sad part is that they would probably strip you of your rights and ship you off to Guantanamo!

If the parts / bike /any goods are made in USA, then they can be shipped without duties.

I have a friendly customs broker just across the border in maine and I have stuff shipped there, then I pick it up myself and declare it on the way back-usually the customs officer just waves me on through with old bicycle parts.

You can also have small parts shipped to yourself c/o general delivery in the post office across the border and go pick it up-they will hold for 30 days and will check for mail if you phone then and ask.

for you icitheact, that might be Point Robert, a nice place to visit.

if you don't mind-how much were the brakes? Here the LBS has a set for 150.00

I just had a Chrome bag shipped up to Saskatoon from SF. Despite chrome labelling it as worth only $50, i still had to pay $40 in customs to get it.

NAFTA is teh suxxors.

I've heard of the 'no customs if it's american made' thing, but i've always had to pay. What gives?

To get no duties on Made in USA stuff, The package/ box must be clearly labeled MADE IN USA on the outside, in bold, etc. If its not, then you are still going to get hit up for extra$$$$.

Heh... lucky you.

10 of us took the ferry from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles, WA and rode Hurricane Ridge (this was maybe 10 years ago). On the way back the minimally educated Canadian Customs agents started hassling us about whether or not we had new parts put on our bikes, etc. Moron... yeah the salt encrusting my helmet straps is just for effect...

Oh, in a twist of irony my wife is a now a customs agent.

myxbyx
All in the brakes cost $85cdn for last years model. Locally, this years model at Riders on Yates is $200 plus tax. Still a good deal. I'm just griping about having to pay a handling fee to charge me tax. Imagine if every store were to charge a $5 fee to collect taxes. There would be riots.

Probably some tea dumped in harbors and whatnot.

Thats it! I'm gonna grab a teabag and throw it into the harbor.

I'm gonna grab a 55 gallon drum of oil and dump it in the harbor.

I once objected to the $5.00 charge at the post office and they told me it was for handling. I said I thought that was what the stamps were for. They have no sense of humour.

the ultegras in the lbs are so old they say 600 on them

how veddy british of you old chap.

here we'd just toss an empty Tim Hortons cup in the harbour and a seal would eat it.

OK. So I just drove down to the harbour (note the added u) in my Volvo 850 and tossed my tea bag into the water. (She did not wail much). However I did not hear any cataclismic change. Maybe the sounds of listening to 'The Darkness' over my 12 speaker sterio coverered the fundamental shift in reality.

the u in harbour is noted (some of us can spell correctly).

My son made me a deal-he doesn't play "Darkness" in my truck and I don't make him listen to "Bad Religion."

You have to MAKE him listen to Bad Religion? That's a darn shame.

Ouch... that hurt. Deep. 'Specially if it's 'How Could Hell Be Any Worse.' It's certainly not 'Damaged,' but it defines later *NON-EMO* punk. As a side comment, I love the Violent Femmes, but all the little emo-kid bands are copping their ****! WTF is that?
Have you ever seen the bumper stickers that say 'cheer up emo-boy' ??? (yes, poor contextual grammar).

Hey emo-boy, stay depressed so I can bang your girl!


Those kids aren't punk!

...and they say alcohol kills brain cells...

I have good luck eith USPS to Canada, $5.00 and tax. Fedex paid the brokerage fees out of the shipping cost on a frame I bought, but stay clear of UPS, they charge what ever they want to for brokerage.