Buying a used head in the USA and bringing it back to Canada

[belmontbluekings]

So i found a Soldano SLO head i wanna buy in Seattle and I live in Vancouver Canada. My bass player is going down to seattle next weekend for 3 days and was going to bring it back for me on the last day. Im paying 2775 for it, any suggestions on what i need so he can bring it back across the border hassle free, and is there any way around spending more money at the border? Anyone with experience your comments would greatly help!

 

[D-Rock]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

 

[tfridgen]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Wrong.

We don't pay customs but we pay FULL taxes. I wouldn't say anything unless they ask, and if they do, tell him to say he had it with him the whole time so he could jam with his buddies in the states.

 

[Chris6870]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Wrong.

We don't pay customs but we pay FULL taxes. I wouldn't say anything unless they ask, and if they do, tell him to say he had it with him the whole time so he could jam with his buddies in the states.

IS it used or new? If its used,tell him to bring a guitar, cords ect. and just say he's a musician and it's part of his rig. If it's brand new,it may be hard to go with that story, I would just suck it up and pay.

 

[BYTOR]

Tell him to get some different stickers, age & scruff them up a little and stick them on the head. He can unscrew one side of a handle,remove a knob, to also help make it look somewhat damaged/used. Obviously he keeps anything he removes from the head.

Afterwards it's easy to undo all this and make it new again. I've lived in Canada & the Caribbean & almost never paid custom duties. Even when I had to it was never even close to the amount it should be. You just have to be creative!

I simply refused to pay 50-100% more for something I already paid for!

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Tell him to get some different stickers, age & scruff them up a little and stick them on the head. He can unscrew one side of a handle,remove a knob, to also help make it look somewhat damaged/used. Obviously he keeps anything he removes from the head.

Afterwards it's easy to undo all this and make it new again. I've lived in Canada & the Caribbean & almost never paid custom duties. Even when I had to it was never even close to the amount it should be. You just have to be creative!

I simply refused to pay 50-100% more for something I already paid for!

THIS, be creative. If it looks reasonably warn, throw some cables in etc. Do some research before hand and make sure soldano are considered as made in the USA. They'd be more interested in the "purchased in USA" though so they can tax you. I know a guy who buys all his tools in the states. Takes them out of box, sprinkles some saw dust on em, brings it back over. Maybe he declares 100$ worth of stuff he bought to deflect as well... all good ways.

 

[lettmusic]

I used to bring it across the border like others suggested. Just tell your bass player to say it's part of his rig, bring a guitar and a cord. Get rid of receipts.

 

[FourT6and2]

Don't ask don't tell. Just have him say it's his. And he brought it with him in the first place. No need to bring a guitar and such.

 

[MichaelG]

Don't ask don't tell. Just have him say it's his. And he brought it with him in the first place. No need to bring a guitar and such.

Risky..... they are expecting you to have declared valuable items at the border on your way down into the US in the first place.

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifcrc-rpcrc-eng.html#a9


Best advice is to play by the rules. Declare it on the way back up and pay the GST. Thanks to NAFTA you will not pay customs on american made goods.

 

[D-Rock]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Wrong.

We don't pay customs but we pay FULL taxes. I wouldn't say anything unless they ask, and if they do, tell him to say he had it with him the whole time so he could jam with his buddies in the states.

Wrong. (rude hey?)

Customs, taxes, whatever.

Don't lie to Customs.

 

[rlord1974]

Best advice is to play by the rules. Declare it on the way back up and pay the GST.

You pay HST on the value of imported goods in every province outside of Alberta (you lucky b@stard! )

 

[tfridgen]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Incredibly sorry good sir, your previous statement is not entirely correct. It was very gracious of you to try and help though

We don't pay customs but we pay FULL taxes. I wouldn't say anything unless they ask, and if they do, tell him to say he had it with him the whole time so he could jam with his buddies in the states.

Wrong. (rude hey?)

Customs, taxes, whatever.

Don't lie to Customs.

Fixed. Hope your feelings are better

 

[tfridgen]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Wrong.

We don't pay customs but we pay FULL taxes. I wouldn't say anything unless they ask, and if they do, tell him to say he had it with him the whole time so he could jam with his buddies in the states.

Wrong. (rude hey?)

Customs, taxes, whatever.

Don't lie to Customs.

...and are you saying that I'm wrong? Customs are completely different then taxes and you do, in fact, pay taxes on anything you bring across the border. FACT. Google it.

 

[rlord1974]

I concur. It is fact that you pay HST on the value of all declared goods being brought into Canada, regardless of the country the goods were manufactured in.

 

[skoora]

Tell him to get some different stickers, age & scruff them up a little and stick them on the head. He can unscrew one side of a handle,remove a knob, to also help make it look somewhat damaged/used. Obviously he keeps anything he removes from the head.

Afterwards it's easy to undo all this and make it new again. I've lived in Canada & the Caribbean & almost never paid custom duties. Even when I had to it was never even close to the amount it should be. You just have to be creative!

I simply refused to pay 50-100% more for something I already paid for!

This, he took it down to jam as his buddies hadn't heard one before. They can assume and insinuate but they can't prove shit. As long as you friend is confident he can stay nonchalant not get flustered go for it. I definitely would.

 

[rlord1974]

Tell him to get some different stickers, age & scruff them up a little and stick them on the head. He can unscrew one side of a handle,remove a knob, to also help make it look somewhat damaged/used. Obviously he keeps anything he removes from the head.

Afterwards it's easy to undo all this and make it new again. I've lived in Canada & the Caribbean & almost never paid custom duties. Even when I had to it was never even close to the amount it should be. You just have to be creative!

I simply refused to pay 50-100% more for something I already paid for!

This, he took it down to jam as his buddies hadn't heard one before. They can assume and insinuate but they can't prove shit. As long as you friend is confident he can stay nonchalant not get flustered go for it. I definitely would.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I believe Customs has the legal right to confiscate and hold any items like this until you can provide them with proof of ownership. It is highly unlikely they would do it, but it is possible.

 

[Stealthtastic]

So i found a Soldano SLO head i wanna buy in Seattle and I live in Vancouver Canada. My bass player is going down to seattle next weekend for 3 days and was going to bring it back for me on the last day. Im paying 2775 for it, any suggestions on what i need so he can bring it back across the border hassle free, and is there any way around spending more money at the border? Anyone with experience your comments would greatly help!

PM me, I live in Vancouver too haha

 

[Stealthtastic]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Incorrrrrrect. We still get railed haaaaaaard.

 

[tfridgen]

Well, Canadians don't pay tax on American made goods when bring it across the border. So make sure you can prove the amp is made in the USA.

Incorrrrrrect. .

Heeeey, take it easy.

RUUUUUUUDE!!!

 

[Shark Diver]

Tell him to get some different stickers, age & scruff them up a little and stick them on the head. He can unscrew one side of a handle,remove a knob, to also help make it look somewhat damaged/used. Obviously he keeps anything he removes from the head.

Afterwards it's easy to undo all this and make it new again. I've lived in Canada & the Caribbean & almost never paid custom duties. Even when I had to it was never even close to the amount it should be. You just have to be creative!

I simply refused to pay 50-100% more for something I already paid for!

This, he took it down to jam as his buddies hadn't heard one before. They can assume and insinuate but they can't prove shit. As long as you friend is confident he can stay nonchalant not get flustered go for it. I definitely would.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I believe Customs has the legal right to confiscate and hold any items like this until you can provide them with proof of ownership. It is highly unlikely they would do it, but it is possible.

Yeah, it would seem that since it isn't a Canadian product, and if you are saying you already owned it before this trip, you would be able to prove you had paid taxes on it before. If not, not sure why they would believe you?

Do they really go through your car though? Down here on our southern border you pretty much drive right through with a wave of the hand.