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For Canadians, Buying a lens from U.S

D

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
I'm about to buy a $300 lens from U.S.
From what I've heard, this camera lenses are supposed to be duty free
but I'm curious if that's true or not.

 
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Duty free does not mean tax free which also mean it is not brokerage free
Click to expand...

Huh? Can you explain more about that please?
Click to expand...

If I'm wrong, someone correct me.

Duty is like the "penalty" you pay for buying a product from another country. But because of NAFTA, many items are duty free provided they were manufactured in US or Mexico.

Taxes is just your GST/PST.

Brokerage is the fee you pay to the courier to do all the paper/customs work at the border for you. Brokerage can really hurt, so use something like FedEx Express where brokerage is included. For example, I ordered a $300 blender from the US and UPS charged something like $100 brokerage fees plus taxes.
 
one way around all duties/taxes is to have it shipped USPS as M4H mentioned, send as a gift and claim it as $40. Just sent an espresso machine and 2 home theatres that way....love NAFTA
 
Originally posted by: mrrman
one way around all duties/taxes is to have it shipped USPS as M4H mentioned, send as a gift and claim it as $40. Just sent an espresso machine and 2 home theatres that way....love NAFTA
Click to expand...

I'm buying from a retail shop(bhphotovideo). I'm sure they won't mark it as a gift.
 
no they wont..u r screwed that way. My find bought from BH and got nailed on taxes/duties. You should call the importation branch and ask them then
 
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: mrrman
one way around all duties/taxes is to have it shipped USPS as M4H mentioned, send as a gift and claim it as $40. Just sent an espresso machine and 2 home theatres that way....love NAFTA
Click to expand...

I'm buying from a retail shop(bhphotovideo). I'm sure they won't mark it as a gift.
Click to expand...
Get a nice ATOTer to buy it and send it over?
 
Damn....everytime I buy something, I realized how Canada sucks.
Anyway, I placed an order and the total amount was US$330.
I hope I won't deal with that insane GST/PST/Handling charge.

BTW, 'mrrman', could you please explain more about your friend's situation?
 
Yes, deadtrees, receiving items in Canada sucks.

I got charged 20 bucks to receive a free product sample the other day, since it was considered to be "imported".
 
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
For your Pentax? What lens? 🙂
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It is 35mm f2.0.
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Ah I thought so.
I go the S-M-C Takumar 35mm F/2.0 for $70 shipped on eBay. They usually go for $130 🙂
Optical quality will match your brand new plastic autofocus, except it's built 100x better 😉

Here's the one I got

Here's a non SMC, Super Takumar one, the quality is very close
Click to expand...

That is one sweet lens!
I just wanted to get AF lens since I plan to use 35mm F2.0 as a "body-cap" lens.
What other lenses do you have?
 
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
I'm about to buy a $300 lens from U.S.
From what I've heard, this camera lenses are supposed to be duty free
but I'm curious if that's true or not.
Click to expand...

Why not bypass the middle man and buy it from China? The lense isn't American made anyway. Might cost less.
 
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
For your Pentax? What lens? 🙂
Click to expand...

It is 35mm f2.0.
Click to expand...

Ah I thought so.
I go the S-M-C Takumar 35mm F/2.0 for $70 shipped on eBay. They usually go for $130 🙂
Optical quality will match your brand new plastic autofocus, except it's built 100x better 😉

Here's the one I got

Here's a non SMC, Super Takumar one, the quality is very close
Click to expand...

That is one sweet lens!
I just wanted to get AF lens since I plan to use 35mm F2.0 as a "body-cap" lens.
What other lenses do you have?
Click to expand...

I use my 50mm F/1.4 as a "body-cap" lens. It stays on there almost all the time. In fact, I have 3 of them 😛
I have the Pentax-M, the SMC Takumar, and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm F/1.4. I just had to try them all, yep even tried the Super Takumar, but I sold that one already.
eBay is great.
I also have the:
300mm F/4 S-M-C Takumar - $105
200mm F/4 S-M-C Takumar - $25
135mm F/3.5 M lens - $35
70-200mm F/3.5-5.6 Pentax-F - $30
50mm F/4 S-M-C Macro Takumar - $49
50mm F/2 M lens $10
35mm F/2 S-M-C Takumar - $70
18-55mm kit lens

Pic of le collection

Want one of my 50mm F/1.4s? 😀
 
Originally posted by: EatSpam
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
I'm about to buy a $300 lens from U.S.
From what I've heard, this camera lenses are supposed to be duty free
but I'm curious if that's true or not.
Click to expand...

Why not bypass the middle man and buy it from China? The lense isn't American made anyway. Might cost less.
Click to expand...

Made in Japan bro..
 
Customs with postal service is a total crapshoot. They may charge you.. might not. Coming from a business you are more likely to get nailed. Best way is a courier *IF* they have a deal for brokerage. If not, you'll get dinged something like $30-$50.. but thats not Canada Customs, thats the courier company bending you over a barrel for 5 seconds of work.

Best way is to deal with a company that deals with a courier that clears it as part of the contract with the shipping charges.. like Tiger Direct.ca (if there is someone who sells what you're looking for and ships that way.)
 
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