Canadians, how duty cost bringing wheels across border?

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james_robert
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:24 am

by james_robert

Hey to all you Canadians... I'm interested in buying some racing wheels from the states as a gift to myself using insurance money from when a car hit me on my bike and was wondering what sort of duty costs I might be looking at...
Thanks

c50jim
Posts: 1015
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:42 am
Location: Calgary

by c50jim

If you get them mailed, you'll pay a $5 processing fee plus GST. If they're shipped on something like UPS or Fedex, you'll pay a "brokerage" fee of $50-60 plus GST. Wheels may be too large to mail, so you may have to pay the higher fees. I've brought in a lot of stuff from the US and those are the fees I've usually paid for the last few years, particularly on things coming from the US. If the wheels are made in the US, such as Zipp, that's all customs can charge you because of the free trade agreement. On something non-US origin (e.g. Lightweight), they can charge more but no longer seem to do enough research to find the original manufacturing location.

by Weenie


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DocRay
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Posts: 3463
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:33 am
Location: Hamilton, Canada

by DocRay

There is no duty charged on wheels by the CDN government. Just GST and PST. It has nothing to do with free trade, wheels are not on the duty list from any country. We don't make wheels in Canada.

USPS charges $5 flat for brokerage, but UPS charges % of the value. Avoid UPS for anything if you can. When you work it all out, for new wheels, it's usually best to buy local.
Or, drive to US with a wheel-less bike, come back with wheels. But that's smuggling.

c50jim
Posts: 1015
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:42 am
Location: Calgary

by c50jim

Further to my earlier note, I just picked up a shipment from Excel Sports at the post office and they didn't even charge the $5 or GST. My son received some clothing last week and wasn't charged either. We'll see if we get a bill in the mail (I think I may have had that once previously).

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GonaSovereign
Posts: 550
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:34 pm
Location: New Zero Kanada 43° 40' 0" N, 79° 25' 0" W

by GonaSovereign

Buying race wheels? Carbon Sports North America is based in Ottawa, so now it's easier to justify a set...no brokerage fees!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



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Hyde
Posts: 1685
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:39 am
Location: Los Angeles=Hills, Smog

by Hyde

I recently sold some wheels to a guy in Canada. After quote from all the Big guys USPS ended up being about $100 cheaper to ship. FYI

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