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00codefinder
Nov 14th, 2007, 12:49 PM
Hi,

I'm looking at ordering a camcorder off B & H Photo which currently costs $391US. I will be having this shipped to Canada. To buy the same camera local would cost me 599CA + tax. Just wondering has anyone had any experiences with the duties and fees associated with there purchases.

On the check out, it gave me several options for shipping:

UPS Worldwide Expedited
UPS Worldwide Saver
FedEx Economy
FedEx Priority
International Priority Mail (USPS)
International Express Mail (USPS)

Heard people say its best to go with USPS, less fees. Anyone have any experiences with this company?

Thanks.
Jin-n-Juice
Nov 14th, 2007, 01:27 PM
Welcome to RFD. Other posts have stated that no brokerage on UPS items from B&H Photo, as they are shipped via air. You only pay PST & GST.
00codefinder
Nov 14th, 2007, 01:49 PM
Thanks for responding. So should I go with UPS Air or USPS?
hagbard
Nov 14th, 2007, 01:56 PM
Yes.
00codefinder
Nov 14th, 2007, 02:12 PM
Sorry to respond again....lol....

u said yes, which were u referring too?

1. UPS Worldwide Expedited
2. UPS Worldwide Saver

3. International Priority Mail (USPS)
4. International Express Mail (USPS)

thx in advance :)
Thrasher
Apr 27th, 2008, 10:42 AM
I'm interested in hearing the answer as well. I want to hear from people who ordered from B&H Photo before. Is there any Bond & COD fees when shipping UPS Expedited or just the GST? If you only end up paying the tax, then it is way better to order UPS instead of USPS, where you have to wait 2-3 weeks for delivery and pay $5-$8 in brokerage fees.

Thanks.
Gigi
Apr 27th, 2008, 11:03 AM
I've only ordered from B & H once, but I picked UPS Worldwide Saver because I needed the item ASAP and all the other options except for UPS Worldwide Expedited were more expensive (and sometimes slower) anyway. At the door, I was charged only applicable Ontario taxes. As long as you avoid ground shipping, you don't have to worry about brokerage fees. If you check the UPS site, you'll see that only UPS standard (i.e., ground) will require that you pay for customs clearance, which means brokerage fees for you.

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/shipping/index.html

Many people give blanket statements about UPS, saying to avoid them at all costs, etc. However, if you consider all the possible options an avoid ground shipments, you may end up saving money and getting your item faster. In my case, going USPS would have been slower and more expensive, and I would have also ended paying the extra $5 Canada Post fee.
bst
Apr 27th, 2008, 11:05 AM
If you use UPS Expedited or Worldwide saver, you only pay GST + PST. You will not get dinged for their outrageous brokerage fees because it's included with the service. Photography equipment are generally duty free.
adblink182
Apr 27th, 2008, 11:18 AM
so the taxes even for shipped items will just be the 13% here in Ont?
WorldIRC
Apr 27th, 2008, 12:35 PM
UPS Worldwide Express is faster, and in the end, cheaper (since brokerage is included in cost)
Rehan
Apr 27th, 2008, 12:41 PM
I'm interested in hearing the answer as well. I want to hear from people who ordered from B&H Photo before. Is there any Bond & COD fees when shipping UPS Expedited or just the GST? If you only end up paying the tax, then it is way better to order UPS instead of USPS, where you have to wait 2-3 weeks for delivery and pay $5-$8 in brokerage fees. With UPS Expedited you'll have to pay only GST and PST.

There was another thread on the topic here:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502692

UPS Worldwide Express is faster, and in the end, cheaper (since brokerage is included in cost) With UPS Worldwide Express (and also the cheaper UPS Expedited option), the customs clearance fees are included in the shipping charges but the GST and PST must still be paid by the recipient.
tyreman
Apr 27th, 2008, 01:17 PM
When I order equipment from B&H, specifically photographic items I have it shipped by United States Postal Service.

Its generally cheaper I think.

If it takes a bit longer I don't care.

I haven't paid any duties on photographic equipment either.

Just the taxes.

I pay those when I pick up the package.
tyreman
Apr 27th, 2008, 01:19 PM
so the taxes even for shipped items will just be the 13% here in Ont?


Thats what I have been paying.
selpats
Apr 27th, 2008, 02:14 PM
I use B&H Photo exclusively for purchasingall of my photographic equipment for the past four years so I know the process intimately. I bought a home theatre system from them just recently as well.

UPS Expedited is the least expensive way to go. You only pay GST+PST. It gets the packages to my door in 4 days normally.

UPS Express is much faster (processed in B&H faster as well) and you still pay GST+PST. It gets item to my door in two days normally, sometimes the next day!

Don't use USPS, it's more expensive, the tracking is horrible and it takes 5 days or more in my experience. Canada Post will also charge a $5-$8 processing fee as well as the GST+PST.

So in short, use UPS Expedited when you can wait a couple of extra days or if you are impatient like me just pay a little extra and go for UPS Express. Personally when I am spending a couple of thousand on a order I could really care less about the shipping cost. ;)
Moe Hunter
Apr 27th, 2008, 08:23 PM
Hi tyreman,
R U saying B&H Photo shipped your item via United States Post too an address in Canada. is this something new ?

I have always hoped one day B&H would start shipping to us Canadians via U.S. Post Air Mail thus avoiading all Tariffs, duty fees, import taxes and both taxes GST & PST.
R U Joshing ? i'm going to give em a call in the morning just to confirm.
Moe
Gigi
Apr 27th, 2008, 08:28 PM
Hi tyreman,
R U saying B&H Photo shipped your item via United States Post too an address in Canada. is this something new ?

I have always hoped one day B&H would start shipping to us Canadians via U.S. Post Air Mail thus avoiading all Tariffs, duty fees, import taxes and both taxes GST & PST.
R U Joshing ? i'm going to give em a call in the morning just to confirm.
Moe

The option to ship via USPS (United States Postal Service) already exists, but that does not mean you will be able to avoid taxes, etc. Taxes still apply, and you will also be subject to the $5-8 Canada Post fee. Duty does not apply to photographic equipment.
Rehan
Apr 27th, 2008, 08:51 PM
Duty does not apply to photographic equipment. Most photography equipment is exempt from duty, but not all of it is. http://www.photoprice.ca/article/duty-on-camera-equipment has a summary.
selpats
Apr 27th, 2008, 09:36 PM
Most photography equipment is exempt from duty, but not all of it is. http://www.photoprice.ca/article/duty-on-camera-equipment has a summary.

Oddly enough, the only thing I have been charged duty for with respect to photographic equipment was on a small Kata bag I purchased recently. This out of roughly $12-15K worth of equipment bought from the states.
ardant
Apr 28th, 2008, 12:12 AM
Oddly enough, the only thing I have been charged duty for with respect to photographic equipment was on a small Kata bag I purchased recently. This out of roughly $12-15K worth of equipment bought from the states.

Sadly, bags of most types (including camera bags) are subject to 7% duty (11% if made of leather).
Ebola
Apr 28th, 2008, 12:15 AM
Hi tyreman,
R U saying B&H Photo shipped your item via United States Post too an address in Canada. is this something new ?

I have always hoped one day B&H would start shipping to us Canadians via U.S. Post Air Mail thus avoiading all Tariffs, duty fees, import taxes and both taxes GST & PST.
R U Joshing ? i'm going to give em a call in the morning just to confirm.
Moe

Are you cooking rocks?

Just because it "USPS Air Mail" doesn't mean it's exempt from "tariffs, duty fees, import taxes and both GST & PST".

It's still subject to all of the above, if applicable, no matter who you ship with.