buying lens from canada,need to pay custom duty?

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rob - 28 Jan 2005 21:15 GMT

the store will ship through xpresspost USA, do I need to pay duty and
how much? the len cost US$200.

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Mike - 29 Jan 2005 06:52 GMT

> the store will ship through xpresspost USA, do I need to pay duty and
> how much? the len cost US$200.

How about calling US Customs?

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Ivan - 29 Jan 2005 23:56 GMT

> the store will ship through xpresspost USA, do I need to pay duty and
> how much? the len cost US$200.

I've spoken to Customs to confirm what I gleaned off their website.
There is no longer duty on cameras, lenses, flashes or any accessories for
the same.
Basically ALL camera equipment is duty free. There are some specialty items
for medical and
scientific purposes that are not exempt. You will though have to pay GST
unless the item slips by customs. It often happens innocently. There is a
bottleneck at Canada Customs, and sometimes your purchase will spend weeks,
yes WEEKS tied up in customs. They won't necessarily open it, it just seems
they like to hold it. A flash cord that I ordered from the USA was shipped
promptly from the seller but it took five weeks to arrive.
NEVER let a seller ship via UPS, they gouge you with brokerage fees,
seriously. They charge you for what Canada Customs does for free (albeit
slowly).
Ivan

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James Robinson - 30 Jan 2005 00:57 GMT

> NEVER let a seller ship via UPS, they gouge you with brokerage fees,
> seriously.

They charge brokerage fees only for ground shipments. The fees are
included in the price of air shipments. When you add things up, the
cost is similar so you are better off shipping by air. Some stores will
only ship UPS, so knowing this is useful. Never let them ship UPS GROUND
to Canada, unless it is something really heavy.

> They charge you for what Canada Customs does for free (albeit slowly).

Canada Customs will often charge you a flat rate customs fee, when the
item is actually free. Further, even if you ship using the Post Office,
you will get charged a flat $5 for the service, so it isn't really free.

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The Wogster - 30 Jan 2005 02:20 GMT

>>NEVER let a seller ship via UPS, they gouge you with brokerage fees,
>>seriously.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> item is actually free. Further, even if you ship using the Post Office,
> you will get charged a flat $5 for the service, so it isn't really free.

Actually Canada Customs, like most countries customs is only interested
in collecting duties and taxes, to get things through customs quickly
and efficiently, the shipper needs to put all of the right paperwork on
the package, and it needs to fit within the parameters of what that item
would normally be size wise, and value wise.

For example a 200mm camera lens, in a 1 cubic foot box, that weighs
3lbs, and has a declared value of $150 would probably not get a second
look by a customs agent. Trust me, they see enough packages, that they
know many values, sizes and weights. A package that doesn't meet the
norms for what's declared that gets opened for inspection. Know what
else will red flag a package, declaring an item for $40 and insuring it
for $400.

W

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