Customs to pay on a skimmer? [Archive] - Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board

View Full Version : Customs to pay on a skimmer?

lastlight

01-31-2006, 01:26 AM

Hello,

I've nevered ordered anything as large as a skimmer before online but I'm thinking of giving it a shot. The store is in the US.

This is what it says at checkout:

Federal Express (1 x 11lbs)

Anyone have a guess what the customs would be on this?

Dimensions are as follows (not package...)

Width: 5.5 inches
Height: 22.5 inches

Thanks for any and all help!

Brett

tbone

01-31-2006, 01:34 AM

how much did your skimmer cost?

if it's around 300-400 range i think the duty fees is around 60-80 thats for fed ex tho.

u should ask them to ship it with United states postal services. it's alot cheaper.
not sure how much tho

Ruth

01-31-2006, 01:35 AM

I have ordered lots of stuff from the US and as far as I know customs and taxes have nothing to do with how large an item is or how much it weighs - it is calculated on - among other things - the value of the item. If the skimmer is made in the US there should not be any duty on it but all Federal and Provincial taxes are payable. Depending on who the shipper is - and in your case it looks like it's Fedex - they charge a brokerage fee for clearing it through customs for you. There is another thread on the board about shipping and it might give you some good information. So it depends on where the skimmer is made, the value of the skimmer, and what shipper is used. My experience is to use USPS as the shipper to avoid the high brokerage fees once it gets here. Some people have the shipper place a lower declared value on the item to lower taxes etc. when it gets here. Myself I don't take that chance as if you are caught doing that you will lose the item, pay the taxes, and who knows what else. HTH

Delphinus

01-31-2006, 01:57 AM

I agree with everything Ruth just said.

Shipping company will make a big difference. UPS charges a flat rate of (I believe) $50 for brokerage. (It's been a while since I used UPS so it might have gone up.) When I ordered my last skimmer from the U.S. it came by Fedex and their brokerage fee was in excess of $70 or $80 (can't remember exactly anymore). Brokerage fees generally include the GST on the item, and whatever they charge for the customs paperwork and so on. USPS/Canada Post charges a flat rate of $5 for brokerage (maybe I'm wrong) but you'll still be nailed by the GST. The vendor will know nothing about these charges, these are all after the fact. I.e., above and beyond what they're charging you for box fees, shipping rates, and so on.

tbone

01-31-2006, 02:00 AM

ruth. i also thought that as well. if it was made in usa there shouldn't be any duty fees at all. but the shipper needs to supply all the info of where it was made as well. i wish i had the website. it was on some goverment website.

found some link.
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/b06-e.asp
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/shipinfo/clearance/canada.html
http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html (http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html)

lastlight

01-31-2006, 02:27 AM

This is the exact Skimmer...

http://www.asmskimmer.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29

it comes to $225 with the fedex shipping.

The local quote I have is $389 so basically I'm looking for a "go for it" from you guys. What to do?

Thanks!

Brett

Willow

01-31-2006, 02:29 AM

Ruth

01-31-2006, 02:33 AM

And don't forget the brokerage fee which could run you another $50 plus. And if it breaks or you have problems with it, although ASM is pretty good about online help, it's not the same as being able to go back to where you bought it from and have them help you.
It's still your decision but I have rarely found it to be very much cheaper to order online from the US - and I have to order and ship everything where I live. Just do your research and sharpen your pencil!

tbone

01-31-2006, 02:34 AM

lastlight

01-31-2006, 04:16 AM

Ocean Aquatics has the same skimmer (G1X) for $369.99. Based on the fact that there is a bit of security buying it here and shipping etc...it seems that $389 is a fair price. Thanks for the help reefers. I've heard this skimmer is plug and play and does an excellent job so that's why I've been bargain hunting for this one in particular.

EG-9

01-31-2006, 06:09 AM

you can try ocean aquarium,
the price almost same [$389]

lastlight

01-31-2006, 06:58 AM

that's actually where i'm buying from. i just wanted to poke around before i spent the cash. eric's building my tank and has been extremely helpful so far in planning my first tank.

Samw

01-31-2006, 07:14 AM

ruth. i also thought that as well. if it was made in usa there shouldn't be any duty fees at all. but the shipper needs to supply all the info of where it was made as well. i wish i had the website. it was on some goverment website.

Is this the one?

Importing Non-Commercial Goods by Mail

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4051/rc4051-e.html

Customs Tariff(Duty) Info

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/publications/tariff2005/01-99r3-e.pdf

rickjames

01-31-2006, 02:42 PM

ASM Skimmers are marked "made in the U.S.A." right on the box so you shouldn't have to pay duty. You will have to pay G.S.T. and P.S.T. though. I'm not sure about the 50$ brokerage fee, I think I paid 5$ when I ordered my ASM from the U.S, plus the taxes.

tbone

01-31-2006, 02:58 PM

i find that fedex or ups charge alot

samw thats the one.

dreef

01-31-2006, 03:27 PM

Either ups or fedex will charge a brokerage fee,ups being the most.I recently ordered a T5 light fixture from california.They used fedex for shipping but instead used ups for canada.I was prepared for the worst but for some reason they listed value at 100 american? The lights were 250 american and i should have been nailed for xtra fees.So, 100 converted to canadian,115, i payed just shy of 50 bucks total,no duties were added,just tax and brokerage fee.So in all, almost half of the declared value :( In the end i still was laughing as compared to canadian suppliers the price was great !!!

crusty1

01-31-2006, 05:02 PM

Last year I bought my ASM G3 from the US, among other things. My experience was that the duty and gst and the good price, was a fair bit better of a deal than shopping with the online retailers in Canada. This is where I bought mine. Using "RC" in the coupon code gives another 10% Discount
http://www.captivereefs.com