???ordering Parts From The Us???

Read my post "I'm breakin' down" in the Gear Forum...

Short version: You can't have it shipped via any courier and expect to get away without paying duty, they'll charge the full pop everytime + a brokerage fee.

I just ordered my pipe from www.kneedraggers.com so I'll let you know how it goes when I pick it up from Blaine.

I usually have motorcycle parts shipped to the "Letter Carrier" at Point Roberts (you can find the address and phone number on the web).

Basically I have the parts shipped there. The letter carrier charges a couple of dollars to hold the package. You drive down, pick it up, and then pay only GST+PST at the border. Oh yeah, they call you when the package arrives.

Granted, I haven't done this since 9-11 but the Point Roberts border should be no longer than 2-3 minutes to get across.

This way, I save on all the brokerage fees AND many web sites offer free ground shipping to anywhere in the continental US.

That's all,

And you could avoid paying GST and duty all together by putting it on your bike down there.

Basilla said:

I usually have motorcycle parts shipped to the "Letter Carrier" at Point Roberts (you can find the address and phone number on the web).

Basically I have the parts shipped there. The letter carrier charges a couple of dollars to hold the package. You drive down, pick it up, and then pay only GST+PST at the border. Oh yeah, they call you when the package arrives.

Granted, I haven't done this since 9-11 but the Point Roberts border should be no longer than 2-3 minutes to get across.

This way, I save on all the brokerage fees AND many web sites offer free ground shipping to anywhere in the continental US.

That's all,

Click to expand...

this method sounds pretty good... do u have to pay duty when coming back?? In the long run, are u fellas that are buying on the net saving considerably that much?!? n is it worth the trouble???

... btw Basilla, where can i find out more about the "letter carrier" at Point Roberts...??

You only pay duty if the item is on the Duty list, Canada customs can tell you if it is or not by calling them. You also do not pay duty on any item manufactured in the USA, just PST+GST. And you don't pay any duty on Helmets - I know I didn't when I brought mine across, just taxes.

get it sent to blaine so when you throw the stuff in your trunk on the way just say you were at bellis fair and save yourself taxes and duty

I just bought a new Arai helmet from www.helmetharbor.com. My total cost was $631. No duty or GST was charged. RMS has the same helmet for $980 + GST = $1048.

It pays to shop around. :cool

Update: The $980 price was from the RMS web site. In the store, they are asking $1048 + GST!

I did exactly the same thing that Starsky did with my helmet from Helmetharbor... RMS was selling it for $1049CDN plus taxes and I got it for about $625CDN all paid. Unfortuntetly Arai isn't selling any 2002 models online anymore.. only in the shops.

I have a friend who works at Customs (it comes in handy when she is working the booth when I am returning to Canada ) and there is NO duty on motorcycle parts. But you will be charged taxes.

Just lie, tell them you were down for a couple days and that the value of goods you are bringing across is under $200. They have no way of knowing how long you were actually down for. I do this ALL THE TIME! Heck, I will be going down tomorrow afternoon, I will get some gas, pick up my helmet and come back across. I will say I was down for a couple days studying, and am bringing my $200 plain white Arai back with me. It really is that simple--as long as you do not stutter and look guilty just because you are not a good liar.

Mmmmm...

Every time I cross the border the camera takes a picture of your license plate. I assume they put it in a database with the time and date and that it pops up when you come back across the border.

Even on my M/C they come out and take my plate number if the camera can't see it.

But hey, maybe I'm paranoid..

The license plate thing is not even a permanent picture. It just brings your plate onto the computer and it ONLY has information such as make, model, year and registered owner of the vehicle. That is it.

I would have refused it and make other arrangements. I bought my Arai last November for $300 US, and just brought it across this weekend. I said I spent the weekend there, and the value of the helmet was $200--the maximum allowed for a 2 day stay.

That is a LOT of money to be spending on nothing, IMHO.

As far as all your fees go Starsky, I paid about $80 for PST & GST at the border (I declared it).

The problem, and I'll state this again for everyone who didn't read my other post regarding shipping is that if you have a shipping company (ie. UPS, DHL, Fedex) bring it across boarders, they gouge you for brokerage fee of getting across the border + all the other regular fees... and most brokerage fees are $25ish. It's almost worth it if your too lazy to go down and pick it up / or if you have no where to ship it to across the border (which shouldn't be the case for those using the 'Letter Carrier' in Point Roberts.

FYI on the letter carrier..

I live 2 minutes from Point Roberts, and apparently (I have no first hand knowledge of this) the Canadian side has wisened up a bit and are doing far more random searches. It's also very hard to use the "I've been down here for a few days..." It's Point Roberts.. where ya gonna stay? and why!?

As far as I know, if you're caught trying to smuggle, not only could you face a fine, they might just impound (and confiscate) your vehicle! :eek

Jim.

I haven't heard of people getting they're vehicle impounded, generally you just have to pay the taxes on the stuff, worst case I've heard they just keep whatever your trying to 'smuggle' back. :tredmill

absolutdm said:

I haven't heard of people getting they're vehicle impounded, generally you just have to pay the taxes on the stuff, worst case I've heard they just keep whatever your trying to 'smuggle' back. :tredmill

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I'm not saying it happens often.. I do know of two guys that had their cars impounded.. but I also don't know what kind of history they had.

I'd assume that normally it's just a slap on the wrist..

Jim.

absolutdm said:

I haven't heard of people getting they're vehicle impounded, generally you just have to pay the taxes on the stuff, worst case I've heard they just keep whatever your trying to 'smuggle' back. :tredmill

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i've heard b4 that not only do vehicles get impounded n goods get taken away if u'r caught, but also, if they have reason to believe u'r hiding more stuff, they might strip down your vehicle. well, not to pieces, but take out seats n other compartments....

crap...i wanna buy a new lid n jacket over the net, but dunno if all the above is worth the trouble, yet paying all those GST's on GST for shipping to canada doesnt sound very appealing either!
damn taxes n brokerage fees!!!:firemad