Importing to Canada

[Daktion]

I'm thinking of buying a sax from the States. I'm wondering if anyone knows how much it would cost to bring it into Canada? What taxes are added to it and are there any special charges that gets filtered in aswell?

Thanks

[rispoli]

Talking about Quebec (and everywhere else might be the same) the shipping agent will charge you GST and PST, plus a brokerage charge which varies a lot (Canadapost/USPS has the lowest, I think 8$, UPS the worst and that's why I avoid them like a pest...).

Overall it could be still cheaper for you to buy from the US what is available also in Canada. For some brands such as Yamaha and Selmer this always apply. For others no, for example Jupiter saxophones seem cheaper in Canada.

Depending on your purchase, it might be cheaper even to drive or fly to the US and save on shipping, taxes and brokerage charges. Of course it is your call to decide whether you want to be by the book and declare the new purchase to the customs or not...

[Daktion]

Thanks for the quick reply :)

I'm thinking of getting a Yamaha 82ZS. They don't ship it to Canada(Yamaha doesnt allow them) but I do have relatives that live in the states that can redirect the shipment to me. Thing is, I think Yamaha has a 5 year warranty but am wondering if I get a horn from the states and if i do need some work on it later, would yamaha canada honour that?

[rispoli]

They probably won't honor in Canada but will do it if you ship to the US warhouse (or wherever they will ask you to send it). Or perhaps you may simply say that you moved temporarily to Canada!
I purchased a YTS 62II sometime ago from Music123. Shipped to FL and then I carried it in person to Canada. Price here in Montreal: 3800 CAD$ plus 15% taxes, about 4200 CAD. Negotiated price on Music123: 2250 CAD. I wouldn't even be able to get a YTS-275 for that amount (now it's 2375$ + 15% tx).
Maybe Yamaha think Canadians have all money to spare...
I guess me and you have not!

Wish you good luck with the 82Z, I was very disappointed with the sound (not build) quality of the 62II and resold it in less than a month. I now own a B&S 2001 and a The Martin to which the 62II IMHO didn't even come close.

[Saxland]

I just had used two mouthpieces shipped from the States.
One was well packed in a thick padded envelope, with shredded paper, wraped in packing around the mouthpiece. That one was delivered straight to my mailbox. The other one was well packed in a small box, the customs forms filled out, imported into Canada. GST and PST and the $5.00 handeling fee charged by our governmnet post office, (it was opened and checked by them). Total $9.75 Cdn extra. And I had to go up to the post office to get it, and sign for it, so that is good for everyone) Oh yeah and pay the $9.75. Both mouthpieces cost the sender $6.00 USD global priority.

I bet you can locate a used yamaha you want in Canada if you wait. Take the $ saved and have it overhauled by someone you know and trust. I bet it will play better than factory direct.

[Sax Hut]

Just curious, I'm in the US, so if I buy a horn from someone in Canada, does a 4.9% (or some other) import duty apply? Or do the US and Canada have some sort of duty exemption agreement?

I purchased a cheap used tenor (CAD $325) a few years back and did not pay any extra duties or taxes on it. Perhaps there's some minimum amount involved here?

[GenericGuy]

Just curious, I'm in the US, so if I buy a horn from someone in Canada, does a 4.9% (or some other) import duty apply? Or do the US and Canada have some sort of duty exemption agreement?

I purchased a cheap used tenor (CAD $325) a few years back and did not pay any extra duties or taxes on it. Perhaps there's some minimum amount involved here?

I've shipped several $2000-4000 saxophones from Canada to buyer in the US and they have never been charged duty. I have always used Canada Post.

[Sax Hut]

Thanks.

I see many nice horns from up North. Only drawback then is my local card issuer, which hits me with a charge for currency exchange if the sale isn't in USD.

[Ari]

There is no duty for new or used saxophones shipped into Canada from the USA, BUT: the importer (the buyer) is responsible for Provincial Sales Tax and Goods and Services Tax - just as if the item were purchased in Canada. This cost amounts to about 15% of the value given in the customs declaration.
Furthermore there is a paperwork fee also called a "brokerage fee" charged by the carrier to take it across the border this fee is usually a flat $5 when USPS hands over to Canada Post but UPS and Fedex will charge anywhere between $20-$60 depending on their mood.
If the buyer wishes to decrease the tax paid they could ask the seller to declare the value of this item as lower than actuall value. The only person who could get in trouble for this is the importer (the buyer) also this may affect any insurance claims against damage etc.
The other annoying thing about importing to Canada is the wait time - no matter how efficient your carrier, if CCRA (customs) is backloged, your parcel can sit for weeks in their warehouse. Furthermore even when you purchase tracking with USPS the details may just end when the parcel reaches customs and then you are just waiting.

Despite all of this, the horn market is just way more diverse in the US and we Canadians will continue to import products.

Hope that info is helpful:)

[rispoli]

Furthermore there is a paperwork fee also called a "brokerage fee" charged by the carrier to take it across the border this fee is usually a flat $5 when USPS hands over to Canada Post but UPS and Fedex will charge anywhere between $20-$60 depending on their mood.



Unfortunately I have to correct this. In my last shipment a few months ago, out of a declared value of 1800$ US$, UPS charged me no less than 100$ brokerage charge. There is absolutely no explanation regarding how it is computed. So, I paid 300$ GST/PST, and that's ok because clearly explained how it is computed, plus this mysterious brokerage charge.

This brokerage charge is a big issue with UPS. You might notice that if you order from wwbw and choose UPS shipping, this turns out lower than USPS.
Why? Because they count on their "oversized" brokerage charge. The shipper might be happy, additional costs are all transferred to the recipient. The unaware recipient thinks to save money with lower shipping cost, the bad surprise comes after.

Please also note that is UPS is not "satisfied" with the declared value they will held the package in their warehouse for an indefinite period of time without informing you. That's what I discovered today, to my astonishment. That's a sort of retaliation if they believe the merchandise is worth more than declared.

So my advise is to avoid them like a pest.

[frasermanx]

UPS is to be avoided at all costs!! USPS is the way to go .. If the seller won't use USPS I will not buy from them.

I had one sax shipped to me wiht no problem .. just 15% pst and gst. If you bring the sax through customs they will probably only charge you GST especially if you live in Alberta or say you do !? (no prov. tax in alberta -- still?)

I instruct sellers not to send as a retail sale so the package goes right thruough ... and as "used music parts"

I have never paid any tax for small items like mouthpieces etc.

Fraser in Toronto

[rispoli]

UPS is to be avoided at all costs!! USPS is the way to go .. If the seller won't use USPS I will not buy from them.



That's what I will do also. And hope every Canadian will choose this strategy too.

[littlemanbighorn]

I just received my bass clarinet last night. I forgot to request USPS instead of UPS. On a ~$1400US horn ($1800 CAD) I ended up paying $353.54 in taxes and brokerage fees.

[Daktion]

Seriously UPS is possibly the worst carrier you can use to ship things to Canada. The brokerage rates they charge are insane. USPS does the same thing but their rates are so much better. I shipped a sax from the states and the fees usps hit me with (along with the tax) was about $5-$10. I once shipped a $50 package using UPS and the brokerage fees I had to pay on that was $20.

Remember that UPS commercial a couple years back? with the brown shirt avoiding tackles as he tries to get the package in on time? There's a reason.... those office workers are pissed at the brokerage rates.