Buying a Guitar From Canada

[eh6794-2.0]

I may purchase a guitar from Canada on Reverb. It is coming to the US, and was originally made in the US a few short years ago. I have no idea who the carrier will be.

The shipping estimate is about $220, but is that all I will have to pay? Is there a customs fee? Does it just ship right over?

This is new to me so I have NO idea what to expect

[ThatRhythmMan]

This depends greatly on what country it’s going to, where the guitar was made, and who the carrier is. Could you add those details?


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[eh6794-2.0]

This depends greatly on what country it’s going to, where the guitar was made, and who the carrier is. Could you add those details?


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I will add them back to my post. But: it's coming to the US. It was original made in the US 3 years ago. At this point, I have no idea who the carrier will be.

[ThatRhythmMan]

As long as the country of origin is marked as USA, there are no duties due then. I’ve had UPS ask for brokerage fees sometimes, sometimes not.


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[Jim Soloway]

Use the post office. Both Fedex and UPS are likely to charge you a brokerage fee even if there are no taxes or duty,

[eh6794-2.0]

Thank you, Jim and TheRhythmMan

[ewall]

As long as the country of origin is marked as USA, there are no duties due then. I’ve had UPS ask for brokerage fees sometimes, sometimes not.


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What are "brokerage fees"? And as long as we're on the subject, what about buying a US made guitar that is being sent from Japan? I've looked at a lot of guitars but the added fees mentioned just deter me from going down that road.

[ccroft]

Brokerage fees are supposedly to pay the shipper for filling out some forms. It's a money grab. They charge what they feel they can get away with.

That said, I had a $5.5K US guitar shipped from NY to Canada with UPS. The fee was $25 Canadian. UPS used to be a lot worse about this.

And Jim's right. The 2 that came up through US Postal and over to Canada Post had no brokerage. Probably works the same in reverse.

[Jim Soloway]

What are "brokerage fees"? And as long as we're on the subject, what about buying a US made guitar that is being sent from Japan? I've looked at a lot of guitars but the added fees mentioned just deter me from going down that road.

Every commercial item entering the country has to go through a determination of whether customs duty is applicable and if so how much it should be. Some things are obviously duty free but they still require some administrative effort. UPS and Fedex are notortious for charging fees of varying amounts for that administrative effort under the heading of customs brokerage services. it can sometimes be quite expensive. It can sometimes be zero. The post office is generally free of those charges.

[ccroft]

The shipper fills out the forms declaring what it is and what it's worth. It then comes to the border and customs determines if it there's any duty. What UPS does do is send an email telling you there's sales tax due, and they process that and pay the Government.

$25 seems OK. I remember when it was $50 for something like a camera bag worth $120. Seems like they're much less greedy now. Maybe the word got out that folks were avoiding UPS for international and they decided the party was over.

[Tal_175]

You may be charged a sales tax. Canada charges GST/HST on musical instruments shipped from US. It seems to me that the Reverb seller shouldn't charge you sales tax otherwise you might get taxed twice.

[ThatRhythmMan]

The shipper fills out the forms declaring what it is and what it's worth. It then comes to the border and customs determines if it there's any duty. What UPS does do is send an email telling you there's sales tax due, and they process that and pay the Government.

$25 seems OK. I remember when it was $50 for something like a camera bag worth $120. Seems like they're much less greedy now. Maybe the word got out that folks were avoiding UPS for international and they decided the party was over.

UPS hasn’t gotten any better. I brokered a Dusenberg from Germany for someone and had it shipped to me in the US. The UPS brokerage fees were triple what the customs fees were.


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[ThatRhythmMan]

You may be charged a sales tax. Canada charges GST/HST on musical instruments shipped from US. It seems to me that the Reverb seller shouldn't charge you sales tax so you don't get taxed twice.

Reverb may charge sales tax for your state of residence on an international purchase, I don’t know. That’s the only way sales tax would be charged though. Carriers do not collect sales tax for incoming items in the US as far as I know.

I agree with Jim for sure. Postal services are the way to go.


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[Tal_175]

Reverb may charge sales tax for your state of residence on an international purchase, I don’t know. That’s the only way sales tax would be charged though. Carriers do not collect sales tax for incoming items in the US as far as I know.

I agree with Jim for sure. Postal services are the way to go.


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I don't know about US customs but I got charged 14% sales tax after customs review recently during the shipment of a guitar from US. Canada post handled it. I payed the tax amount and a small handling fee to Canada Post.

[Jim Soloway]

I don't know about US customs but I got charged 14% sales tax after customs review recently during the shipment of a guitar from US. Canada post handled it. I payed the tax amount and a small handling fee to Canada Post.

That's basic Canadian policy. All imports are supposed to be taxed at the rate of the destination province. They'll sometimes let things through but like most things related to Canada Post, their reasons are completely unfathomable.