Any Canadians Ordering From the States?

Crackerjack1976 · 09-24-07, 06:50 PM

Hey there,

I was just wondering if there were any Canadians who have or are considering ordering a new plasma from the United States, because of the currency rate right now. I got a quote on a 50" Panasonic 1080i plasma for $3600 CAD, and I was checking online and found one for $2200 US. I am thinking about ordering it, but was wondering about the duty, taxes, and waranty issues. I live in BC, so I'd have to pay Provincial sales tax too.

Thanks
Trev

ComputerGuy · 09-24-07, 06:53 PM

You only pay the gst and pst, no duty on TVs. Welcome to the wonderful world of rip off Canada!

Jason.

milit · 09-24-07, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComputerGuy

You only pay the gst and pst, no duty on TVs. Welcome to the wonderful world of rip off Canada!

Jason.

ComputerGuy, Is this really so???? Are you saying that i can drive to Bufallo and pick up a 50 inch Panny and just pay the taxes? Can i do this with speakers too??? To make it even better, the store (if they are willing) can make the invoice out to reflect a lower price or mark it as a demo model or something. If this is true, I am soooo doing it.

Detox · 09-24-07, 09:22 PM

I too would be interested in anyone's experience here.

milit · 09-25-07, 04:03 PM

Called Canada Customs today and this is how it works:

There is no Duty on electronics provided the item is manufactured/assembled in the US, Canada or Mexico. Unfortunately we still have to pay the dreaded PST and GST, but that would be on a typically lesser sticker price than what we are used to up here in canada anyway. There is a 5% Duty tax on items manufactured outside of the Countries noted above. Depending on the Price and place of manufacture, there could be substantial savings especially if the store is nice enough to write up an invoice with a significantly lower price, or perhaps even list it as a demo unit. You also have a daily allowance so if you stay for a few days you might not have to pay anything at all. Either way, it is worth exploring especially while our dollar is par.

roar · 09-25-07, 04:28 PM

Look into your warranties folks before making your purchase... often purchasing outside of Canada will void you from making a warranty claim within Canada.

I made my purchase from the states for my projector with the knowledge that if it were to break down while still under warranty I would have to send it back to the states for repair, or else, I would have to be prepared to to pay for repair in Canada. It is one thing to ship a 15 pound projector back to the states for warranty work, it is another ball of wax to ship a big, heavy plasma back!

For the $1000 + taxes I saved on my projector I figured I could ship it back and forth to California a couple of times before I'm actually out any money.

ComputerGuy · 09-27-07, 09:59 PM

I bought a Panasonic Plasma made in Japan and paid no duty on Taxes.

They don't bother checking where it was made.

Jason.

arbitrage000 · 09-28-07, 12:03 AM

I buy all sorts of stuff from the US. But as is stated above, you won't have a Canadian warranty. This is the only downside.

k33p0u7 · 09-28-07, 09:16 AM

Also, I always wondered if electronics like a TV purchased in the United States are certified by CSA for use in Canada. If you purchase a plasma or LCD TV in the United States and bring it back to Canada and it causes a fire in your house will your insurance cover that if it doesn't have CSA approval....

Flash01 · 09-28-07, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k33p0u7

Also, I always wondered if electronics like a TV purchased in the United States are certified by CSA for use in Canada. If you purchase a plasma or LCD TV in the United States and bring it back to Canada and it causes a fire in your house will your insurance cover that if it doesn't have CSA approval....

CSA is used worldwide and regarded as one of the premier standards agency in the world. It has lost some ground to CE in the last years but still is something many companies will look to certify their products. I believe, after going through a few certifications that UL and CSA have a tight partnership and where one is recognized the other usually is too.

Back to the subject at hand, I too am scared by warranty issues but I guess it comes down to figuring if the warranty is worth a 40-50% premium (on some models).

Crackerjack1976 · 09-28-07, 02:36 PM

I've been searching the web for some stores in the US that will actaully ship to Cananda as well. Its seems that alot of stores won't ship to Cananda because of agreements with the manufacturers. I think that they want us to buy the more expensive models in Canada, so they void the warranty's of ones from the states and make it difficult for us to order, by not shipping to us.

Does anyone out there know of any online stores that have good deals and will ship to Canada?

Thanks
Trev

ComputerGuy · 09-28-07, 10:49 PM

If you know someone in the states, ship it to them, then go pick it up.

You will save a huge amount ordering over the internet, but then you won't have a warranty, so that is the chance you take.

Derelict77 · 10-05-07, 04:45 PM

I know this topic is a little dated, but it came up in a google search for me. The easiest way to get US electronics is through a shipping company. http://www.tsbshipping.com/services.htm
I have used those guys before and you can see their rates are very reasonable, a plasma would cost you under $15 to store and pick up. Hope that helps.

Carnivore · 10-09-07, 03:56 PM

I'm in a unique situation, I live in the U.S. and am driving back home to Canada, planning to "surprise" my Dad with a new plasma TV as a gift. Do I buy it here and bring it to Canada with me, or buy it there so he'll be able to help choose and not have to worry about about the warranty?

The closest cities to him are Moncton, NB and Amherst, NS and I don't know how the market is there. I know there's a Future Shop and Sears, maybe Costco, but I'm not sure what else. I don't mind paying a BIT of premium to buy it there but I need to know there will be some good choices available and that they don't cost twice as much as if I bought it here in the US. I'm specifically leaning towards the Panasonic TH-50PX77U or possibly its Costco equivalent. Can anyone around that area advise?

09-24-07, 06:50 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
Crackerjack1976 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Any Canadians Ordering From the States? Hey there, I was just wondering if there were any Canadians who have or are considering ordering a new plasma from the United States, because of the currency rate right now. I got a quote on a 50" Panasonic 1080i plasma for $3600 CAD, and I was checking online and found one for $2200 US. I am thinking about ordering it, but was wondering about the duty, taxes, and waranty issues. I live in BC, so I'd have to pay Provincial sales tax too. Thanks Trev

09-25-07, 04:03 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
milit Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario Posts: 330	Called Canada Customs today and this is how it works: There is no Duty on electronics provided the item is manufactured/assembled in the US, Canada or Mexico. Unfortunately we still have to pay the dreaded PST and GST, but that would be on a typically lesser sticker price than what we are used to up here in canada anyway. There is a 5% Duty tax on items manufactured outside of the Countries noted above. Depending on the Price and place of manufacture, there could be substantial savings especially if the store is nice enough to write up an invoice with a significantly lower price, or perhaps even list it as a demo unit. You also have a daily allowance so if you stay for a few days you might not have to pay anything at all. Either way, it is worth exploring especially while our dollar is par.

09-28-07, 10:49 PM	#12 \| Link
ComputerGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 70	Ship to Friend If you know someone in the states, ship it to them, then go pick it up. You will save a huge amount ordering over the internet, but then you won't have a warranty, so that is the chance you take.

09-24-07, 06:53 PM	#2 \| Link
ComputerGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 70	You only pay the gst and pst, no duty on TVs. Welcome to the wonderful world of rip off Canada! Jason.

09-24-07, 09:22 PM	#4 \| Link
Detox Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 150	I too would be interested in anyone's experience here.

09-25-07, 04:28 PM	#6 \| Link
roar Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Burlington, Ontario Posts: 495	Look into your warranties folks before making your purchase... often purchasing outside of Canada will void you from making a warranty claim within Canada. I made my purchase from the states for my projector with the knowledge that if it were to break down while still under warranty I would have to send it back to the states for repair, or else, I would have to be prepared to to pay for repair in Canada. It is one thing to ship a 15 pound projector back to the states for warranty work, it is another ball of wax to ship a big, heavy plasma back! For the $1000 + taxes I saved on my projector I figured I could ship it back and forth to California a couple of times before I'm actually out any money.

09-27-07, 09:59 PM	#7 \| Link
ComputerGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 70	I bought a Panasonic Plasma made in Japan and paid no duty on Taxes. They don't bother checking where it was made. Jason.

09-28-07, 12:03 AM	#8 \| Link
arbitrage000 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Whitehorse Posts: 761	I buy all sorts of stuff from the US. But as is stated above, you won't have a Canadian warranty. This is the only downside.

09-28-07, 09:16 AM	#9 \| Link
k33p0u7 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 91	Also, I always wondered if electronics like a TV purchased in the United States are certified by CSA for use in Canada. If you purchase a plasma or LCD TV in the United States and bring it back to Canada and it causes a fire in your house will your insurance cover that if it doesn't have CSA approval....

09-28-07, 02:36 PM	#11 \| Link
Crackerjack1976 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	I've been searching the web for some stores in the US that will actaully ship to Cananda as well. Its seems that alot of stores won't ship to Cananda because of agreements with the manufacturers. I think that they want us to buy the more expensive models in Canada, so they void the warranty's of ones from the states and make it difficult for us to order, by not shipping to us. Does anyone out there know of any online stores that have good deals and will ship to Canada? Thanks Trev

10-05-07, 04:45 PM	#13 \| Link
Derelict77 New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 6	I know this topic is a little dated, but it came up in a google search for me. The easiest way to get US electronics is through a shipping company. http://www.tsbshipping.com/services.htm I have used those guys before and you can see their rates are very reasonable, a plasma would cost you under $15 to store and pick up. Hope that helps.

10-09-07, 03:56 PM	#14 \| Link
Carnivore Shock Hazard Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 348	I'm in a unique situation, I live in the U.S. and am driving back home to Canada, planning to "surprise" my Dad with a new plasma TV as a gift. Do I buy it here and bring it to Canada with me, or buy it there so he'll be able to help choose and not have to worry about about the warranty? The closest cities to him are Moncton, NB and Amherst, NS and I don't know how the market is there. I know there's a Future Shop and Sears, maybe Costco, but I'm not sure what else. I don't mind paying a BIT of premium to buy it there but I need to know there will be some good choices available and that they don't cost twice as much as if I bought it here in the US. I'm specifically leaning towards the Panasonic TH-50PX77U or possibly its Costco equivalent. Can anyone around that area advise?