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Got a friend coming over from Michigan soon and they've asked if 8 want anything bringing over. Tempted by some Vorsprumg stuff but wondering if it's actually going to work out cheaper or not. Then started wondering how involved it is for Americans to buy from Canada.
Thinking about it in reverse, if this friend asked me to take over something from say, Germany, it could get quite involved depending on the price
So now, I'm just curious
Really easy aside from the cost of cross border shipping..
(Subject to change imminently with Trump's tarrifs)
Ijust realised I got the title wrong. I'm looking to buy from Canada and have it shipped to the states.
Is it like we used to be with the EU? You just pay and it ships? Or do you not pay tax in Canada to then have it applied by customs before you receive it in the states?
First question.. why would you want to? Not taking the mickey, just genuinely can count on the fingers of one hand things that can be bought in Canada and not in the USA (one of them being Sortilege which you have to really hunt for even in Canada). If it's about it being cheaper, it's not really worth the effort, after shipping, customs charges etc.
Longer answer: I'd say it's not hugely easy. Canada's remarkably backwards by US/ UK standards when it comes to online shopping; shopping online and then getting it shipped to the US is something most stores just haven't really thought of before.
Stuff made in Canada and cheaper there. Shop does free shipping to Canada and the US. It might work out cheaper, it might not. That's why I'm looking to see what hidden costs there might be. At the moment it's looking like it could be a 20% saving.
I believe that import duty on bike parts in the USA is 4.7% and you shouldn’t be charged Canadian tax at the time of purchase.
In my experience, if the shop ships with Canada post you are unlikely to get charged any sales tax in the USA. If they use a big courier service you will be charged all taxes and duties and the handling fee.
if you do get charged sales taxes, there will be the the federal tax and the state tax on top of the duty. These can vary depending on what you are buying. As you probably already know, the price on the website is the pre tax price, hence the 20% saving. However it is unlikely that the sales taxes in the USA will be 20%
shipping will probably take longer than you expect, so order with plenty of time to spare.
alternatively, see if you can get the parts you want from a shop in the USA.
If they are driving over, could they not unbox it, put a bit of dust on it, so it's 'used' and chuck it in the boot of the car with a bunch of other crap and just drive it over the border?
Thanks all. I'd already factored in the combined 13% get and provincial tax but even so, it's looking like it might not be worth the effort.
Surely the answer to your friends question is Twinkies.
Surely the answer to your friends question is Twinkies.
Available in Tesco
Available in Tesco
they aren’t as fresh as the ones in America.
they aren’t as fresh as the ones in America.
I don't think it matters if they are fresh, they probably dont even need a 'Use by date', looking at the ingredients.... good prepper/apocalypse food!
Ingredient List
From the Package
SUGAR, WATER, ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE OR REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, TALLOW, DEXTROSE, EGG, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: SOYBEAN OIL, CORN STARCH, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, HYDROGENATED TALLOW, WHEY, GLYCERIN, SALT, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, ENZYMES, SORBIC ACID AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (TO RETAIN FRESHNESS), COTTONSEED OIL, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CELLULOSE GUM, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, SOY LECITHIN, XANTHAN GUM, POLYSORBATE 60, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, YELLOW 5, RED 40.
they aren’t as fresh as the ones in America.
Does that make a difference?
I still fondly remember being in the office when everyone brought sweets in from their holidays. The only ones which lasted long enough for the cleaners to get bored and bin were the yankee treats.
Buying from vorsprung and youre not paying local BC sales tax (5+7), you would however pay whatever us sales tax is applicable (6%).
Shipping online within the US and I believe taxes are based on the state of destination, not the state of the retailer. Some variance here is a state that has warehouses in multiple states for example
I'm unsure vorsprungs origin (assume machined in Canada) in which case there may be no duty on the import but tax/broker fee applies.
One thing in your favour is the current US/CAD exchange rate, as the Canadian dollar is not very strong at the moment. So if your buddy in the US bought their item from Vorsprung, it should cost relatively less US dollars than at other times in the past. However, you'll (presumably) need to pay him, so it also depends on the £/US$ exchange rate and timing of the transactions is critical. Also factor in any foreign exchange fees your buddy may have to cough up
