Buying a guitar from Canada?

[peckhart]

For anyone that has purchased a guitar privately and had it shipped from Canada I would like to hear about your experience.
Did you get hit with any customs taxes/duties?
Is the declared value the same as what it is insured for with the shipping carrier or can those values be different?
What else should I know about or beware of?

 

[GOHOINC]

I have shipped to and bought from Canada a few times. Even did a trade with one of our MODs from the great north. I have used USPS and UPS to do this. Never had any issues until the trade, Canadian customs held up and tried charge taxes to receiver because I declared an insurance value. I wound up providing a letter stating the item was insured in case of damage but that it was a gift. I think that is the trick, making sure your documentation shows that the item is insured for damage but is a gift, not a purchased good. TFridgen can provide you some good input here...

 

[peckhart]

I have shipped to and bought from Canada a few times. Even did a trade with one of our MODs from the great north. I have used USPS and UPS to do this. Never had any issues until the trade, Canadian customs held up and tried charge taxes to receiver because I declared an insurance value. I wound up providing a letter stating the item was insured in case of damage but that it was a gift. I think that is the trick, making sure your documentation shows that the item is insured for damage but is a gift, not a purchased good. TFridgen can provide you some good input here...

So when you had purchased from Canada was it handled as a gift with an insurance value against damage? Or was there just no insurance value declared?

 

[messenger]

In Canada you can still be charged taxes for "gifts" if the declared value is over a certain amount (like $40 or something). That being said I've never paid taxes when the shipper used USPS and when using UPS or FedEx I've had to pay tax and brokerage and higher valued items. Not sure how it is for you guys in the south.

 

[GOHOINC]

I have shipped to and bought from Canada a few times. Even did a trade with one of our MODs from the great north. I have used USPS and UPS to do this. Never had any issues until the trade, Canadian customs held up and tried charge taxes to receiver because I declared an insurance value. I wound up providing a letter stating the item was insured in case of damage but that it was a gift. I think that is the trick, making sure your documentation shows that the item is insured for damage but is a gift, not a purchased good. TFridgen can provide you some good input here...

So when you had purchased from Canada was it handled as a gift with an insurance value against damage? Or was there just no insurance value declared?

To be honest I don't know for sure as I'm not the one who shipped from north side. That being said, we were dealing with some high dollar items so I cant imagine they would be shipped without insurance, I do remember one being specifically marked as a gift. They just showed up at my door with no issues and no taxes or payments due from me.

 

[cardinal]

I had an American guitar shipped to me from Canada via UPs and was charged $300 for some type of duty or brokerage fee. Seemed outrageous to me. I've had small stuff shipped via USPS and there where no issues. Not sure if UPS was the problem or if it was just because it was an expensive guitar.

 

[peckhart]

These mixed results are what make me nervous. The seller is saying he has shipped many items w/out any additional fees to the buyer. Its not that I don't believe him, but past results do not guarantee future outcome (or so the local law firm commercials state and it could apply here).
Should probably just hang on some more...trying to find an LP Axcess in Gun Metal Grey and didn't anticipate it would take this long.

 

[neilli]

I've shipped a ton of guitars from Canada to the US, and never had anybody charged taxes. UPS are cunts, and will charge brokerage (admin) fees based on the declared (insured) value of the item, so while the US government doesn't take any money, UPS figure they deserve their extra piece of the pie just for forwarding the paperwork the sender already filled out.

So, basically, don't use UPS. I've used DHL and Canada Post (USPS) and never had a single cent of charge to the purchaser.

when it comes to the paperwork, the one thing I do to smooth the way is always state clearly that it's a US made guitar, and I give the serial number too.

 

[nigelpkay]

I'm in Canada and shipped a few guitars to the US, all through Canada Post/USPS, no issues on the other end.
If it's a USA guitar nothing will happen, there's no duties, although I can't speak to the taxes part. I shipped a used Les Paul that was around $1500 and it sailed right through. Just make sure the seller sends via Canada Post and puts "Used guitar - MADE IN USA" on the customs label. Don't use other couriers.

Besides, if you really want this guitar, paying some taxes is no big deal, it sucks when it happens, but that's life. We get hit all the time with Canada Customs taxes on stuff coming in, sometimes it's random what they stop and what they let through, just something you have to factor in to your price. If its a rare item you can't easily get, who cares what the taxes are.

 

[Rayneman]

I bought a Jackson from a seller in Canada and the UPS guy wouldn't give me the guitar until I wrote him a check for $75. No choice and unexpected. I probably should have investigated before buying, especially considering the seller checked a box on a form that stated the recipient would cover the tax/duty/whatever.

I was a little mad and contacted the seller who claimed not to have any knowledge of this. He was an nice guy so I believed him.

 

[ReloadZZ]

Avoid UPS

 

[neilli]

especially considering the seller checked a box on a form that stated the recipient would cover the tax/duty/whatever.

I'd wager 99.999% of sellers would do this - if you shipped something you'd sold and there was a check box saying 'hey, you'll cover taxes and whatnot' would you check it?

 

[Rayneman]

especially considering the seller checked a box on a form that stated the recipient would cover the tax/duty/whatever.

I'd wager 99.999% of sellers would do this - if you shipped something you'd sold and there was a check box saying 'hey, you'll cover taxes and whatnot' would you check it?

Never really had the chance/option to do so. I'd like to think that if I knew this was going to happen that I'd make sure my buyer knew and agreed. That seems like the right thing to do. However, everyone should be aware of these things and I certainly was not at the time.

 

[glip22]

Yes. No different than importing from anywhere in the World. Make sure your seller includes a completed by you importer record form in the pouch as well as a Lacey act, and an invoice stating it is for a guitar. Lacey Act I think is for 2K+ but I ask for it anyway. Fedex will bill you for importer fess and duties again over 2K I think.. They forget sometimes. UPS will make you pay at delivery and charge more for brokerage. Fedex Priority is the best. Overnight from Europe Canada, etc and less than five days anywhere else. I delivered a guitar to Singapore to a member here flawlessly in three days. Each Country has a cost. Some are prohibitive. Canada is not. You can use USPS Global GSX also. They use Fedex Priority.