Hidden Costs of Buying Gear in Europe???

[barb]

Hi to All,
I've noticed the potential for saving big bucks by buying gear in Europe.
Does anyone, especially Canadians (since I'm Canadian), have any experience in shipping something from Europe into Canada?
What are the extra charges?
Duties?
Taxes?
I'm thinking about buying from the UK and want to factor in the extra fees.
Thanks Barb

 

[DaveO]

... DiveInn.com, which posts their import duties to Canada at 7.5%, a number they got from the the "DG Trade European Commission Website" for use as a guideline. Overseas shipping is a consideration, as is the exchange rate that your credit card uses. Since the exchange rates flux up and down with the market, this number is difficult to peg in advance.

Hope it all comes together for you!

 

[canuckdiver]

from my experience, just remember that anything coming via courier, you are going to be adding a "brokerage" fee when it gets to your door.
with ups and purolator from the u.s., it works out to about 50$ you can add to the price.

 

[Welshman]

The supplier should be able to quote you the freight charge for which there may well be options - Simplyscuba will tell you this. As for import duties these are the liability of the importer so the forwarding agent/courier may present you with a bill for this - this happened when I imported some golf clubs direct from the US, so check out the rate before you order.

Regards

 

[clive francis]

if you know someone in the UK, you can get them to get them for you, damage the boxes, make the items a little dirty, nothing that can not be cleaned off then get them to send them to you, as they are not new you should not have to pay import tax, or not as much

 

[barb]

Thanks for the info. I called Canada Customs and oh, oh, oh, it's a sad and sorry day for justice!!!!
Even, I repeat EVEN if the item is a gift the duty is 19% of the value ofthe item if it is not made in Canada/USA. Add to that another 15% provincial tax.
I asked the customes guy how do they determine the value of an item. He saide if it's dive gear they call a local dive shop and ask them.
So, I thought I had found a good deal in the UK for an entry level drysuit but by the time I add all the extra costs maybe it's not such a good deal for me after all.
I'm sad and mad but now I know the hidden costs #*$%)#*$$$
:upset:

 

[nickjb]

You shouldn't need to pay VAT if you are exporting from the UK. That'll save you 17.5% on the shop price.

 

[barb]

So now that I know what chunk of flesh the government requires, does anyone know about brockerage fees?
Do you have to pay a brockerage fee even if an item comes as a gift? For example, my buddy in the UK wants to send me a used drysuit for christmas (what a nice guy, eh), do I still have to pay a brockerage fee? Does anyone know what that would cost? Is it another percentage of the value of the item? What does the brocker do anyway? Is there a way of avoiding this?

:boom:

 

[clive francis]

not too sure what the broker does exactl, but it is along the lines of getting it through customs (net getting taken) and sorting out import duties/taxes.

did the customs guy say you pay tax on secondhand gifts as well?

in the uk you can bring things in (tax free) if you can prove you have owned it for 6 months previous, my dad bought a cam corder in hong kong, by the time he came back he had been in hong knong over 6 months, zero tax...thank you very much!

 

[barb]

I did'nt think to ask Customs about 2nd hand items. I'm still wondering: do they open every package and look at the contents? I don't think so - they probably rely on the label describing the contents.
Anyway, I decided to go ahead and buy a 2nd hand drysuit from the UK and have it shipped to me.
I found still another hidden cost - PAYING for the item. The bank wants their pound of flesh also.
I thought I could save some time by doing a bank transfer into the sellers account. Oh ya, I can, for a fee $$$ $35.00 to transfer funds and then the seller has to pay also to get the money on his end.
I also found out that if I just write a cheque and mark GBP the bank will charge me $20.00 when they convert my cheque.
Those banks really want my money!!!!
The best and cheapest way turned out to be a bank draft $7.00 and I mailed it.
So now I have to wait a month to get my suit; and hope it fits and is as the picture/description indicates.
This has been quite the adventure/challenge. I've learned alot and thanks to all for your suggestions/input.
Barb