OT: shipping

[shadowfax]

Heya folks. I know this is off topic but i'm relatively new here and have spent most of my time in this and the rack gear forum... perhaps later i'll venture out a little more, but for now, i was hoping you'd all humor me

I'm in canada, and i want to order off of an american web-based company. (specifically bayview w/ the free mics; that's another reason i ask this here - i made my decision about where to buy based on a thread in this forum.)

Have any of you canadians lurking around (i know there are a few) ordered off of american companies? I've heard horror stories about shipments being stopped at the border and never reaching their intended destination, but surely this can't be the norm? How does it work? I called customs canada and they said that a shipment gets stopped, assessed duties and taxes and whatever based on it's value and the country in which it was made, then the shipping company is supposed to pay it on behalf of the intended recipient and charge you a brokerage fee (payable on delivery, i imagine?)

I also spoke to bayview who said they had no idea how it worked and that i should get in touch with customs canada.

Only partially reassured, I'd like to hear from someone who's gone through the experience. So, how about it? anyone have some words of wisdom for a poor newbie?

Thanks! you guys are always helpful.

 

[piper spice]

I try to order from within Canada if i can, but sometimes Mohammed has to go to the mountain.

<rant>
My number one rule is DO NOT DEAL WITH THEM IF THEY WILL ONLY USE UPS! Where Canada Post might charge $5-10 for brokerage (carrying it across the border), UPS will charge you minimum $35 on top of any duty &c. NEVER let them ship stuff across the border via UPS. They WILL f8ck you at the drive through.
</rant>

Microphones, btw, have a duty rate of ZERO!

Until recently, i opted for regular parcel post (insured of course) as being just fine, but the last two packages i've gotten from the USA have taken like a month to get here. I dunno what's up with that, because packages going South have been fine.

I've only ever actually had one package LOST on its way from the States, and that was my very first set of pipes. The maker eventually collected the insurance and i went down and collected the replacement set myself, and smuggled them back across.

It's not that big a deal if you keep your wits about you.

Be seeing you.

 

[shadowfax]

what of fed-ex? or US post? what have you had good experiences with? am i right about the brokerage, etc, being due on delivery?

 

[shadowfax]

and, while i've got your attention, are there any good canadian web-based music outlets?

 

[piper spice]

Yes, you pay brokerage/duty/tax on delivery. If it's coming by mail, you pay at the post office; if it's coming by courier, you pay the driver.

I'm generally happiest with US mail/Canada Post. Even though they seem slower than usual recently, i'm just a newbie hobbyist, so i'm never really in a hurry. Make sure things are insured, though. But mail is the cheapest and easiest for me anyway.

I've only dealt with Fedex once or twice, and i don't remember it being particularly painful, certainly not like UPS.

* * *

I don't know of any real "online superstores" in Canada (though i'd love to learn about them if they do exist...)

When i was shopping for soundcards, the prices at Kelly's Music & Computers (in Manitoba) blew my local Long & McQuade out of the water. They're at http://www.kellysmusic.ca/

Another outfit (though i haven't bought anything from them yet) is
Axe Music, at http://www.axemusic.com/

Be seeing you.

 

[Leeking]

I agree that u should buy within canada....

check out those on line prices and try to get your local dealer to match them as close as possible! its even easier if u're a regular customer.

I got some recording stuff when I was in Toronto..... got em from Cosmo-music, richmond hill.... great people and prices. Long&Mcquade was stiff on their price tags but some of their promotional stuffs were good deals as well.

What's more, as a visitor, I even got my sales tax rebate!