DMC shipping to canada fees

[Josh]

So if I am to order some parts from DMCMW, what fees am I to expect when they cross the border? The whole lot? (pst, gst, and duty)

[NightFlyer]

I thought NAFTA made it so that the US, Canada, and Mexico had free trade across borders, no? :confused0:

[pezzonovante88]

I don't know exactly, but it's not cheap. But it's still worth it!

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Didn't lordfly have a thread on this? I vaguely remember his tips as;

-making sure you state it's for a 30 year old car
-quote the exemption number
- make sure the order has I think the most 7 lines

He has some other tips. Hopefully he will pipe in.

[Jonathan]

Julee and I have been working on this for a little while now. I'll get some time to copy paste a decent summary of what we found and post it here.

What we were trying to do was basically help both vendors and customers in Canada as neither side likes not knowing details. DMC tries to find the best way to ship things over the border for us, and it boils down to cost primarily. The two major components of the cost are the shipping fee (usually included on yuor DMC invoice) and then what is owed in duties to the courier guy at your door. We have found you can find ways to make one a bit less but it seems to be at the expense of the other. If one goes down great, but if the other goes up and the total is more or less the same, it is still the same dollars coming out of your pocket when all is said and done.

In an nutshell, what you are going to end up paying is the sales tax on the items. For those of us in Ontario, this is 13% of what you guy. We call that HST here and is made up of 5% GST and 8% PST. UPS I see helps confuse things for us as they label everything GST, which isn't very accurate. As an example, if you buy $100 Canadian worth of parts (and maybe that came to $97 US dollars as an approximation), you are going to owe $13 Canadian in taxes. This is no surprise for any of us living here as you pay that on a new pair of jeans, a shovel, a couch or a car. That's just how we do things here.

The other fees I have found that make up the rest are related to the customs brokerage side of things. One big observation was that you get a big portion for free if you ship any other method but standard ground. This is the part I meant about the trade off of one goes up and the other goes down. Shipping expedited might be $50 for your box and ground might be $20 (just an example). But if you go ground, cause it looks cheaper, they apply these entry preparation charges and it is based on the value of your goods. If an order was $300 for example, you might see a $49.99 charge for this entry preparation. But ship it air and it is waived.

There are a couple other smaller ones like flat rate $10 paperwork type fees which to me isn't so bad and $4.25 for a COD fee if you don't have an account with them and your credit card number on file so you don't have to give it to the guy at the door.

The one I have not quite figured out is this tariff classification lines one. It says you get 5 line items included and then $4.50 per line after #5. You can see how this could get pricey if you bought 10 different sized nuts and bolts and it all got on it's own lines. I am trying to see what is okay to classify together. They are all car parts, so that is one angle. Or maybe there are different classes for engine parts, fasteners and hardware, rubber items, etc. This is the part that seems the least nailed down and I am fresh out of patience talking to their support people in India.

If we put the line item part aside for the moment, it is looking like the best way to go is ship cheap and heavy stuff ground and light expensive stuff air. Or even default to air most of the time I would say. If you have a big box of brake rotors, it might be better on the ground. A big box of window switches, i.e. light and pricey relatively, go air. Julee mentioned something interesting I had never heard of too. It is this dimensional weight idea. Take for example a tee panel. They are not crazy expensive, nor are they all that heavy. But boy do they need to go in a big box. Guess what UPS does? They assign it a weight based on the size of the box. And it is significantly more than the actual weight. Kind of like how it apparently would be extremely expesnive to ship a huge box of feathers. Not because they are heavy, but because they are dimensionally heavy.

Yes, clear as mud, right? I am working on a spreadsheet auto calculator and will post soon. I think the worst thing that can happen is where either side doesn't understand the situation and gets a surprise. The classic one is where the customer insists on shipping cheap because the upfront costs are low, but then gets a monster bill in the mail after the goods arrive. Then it turns into a rant and no one wins. This is the main reason I was trying to help us all figure it out.

[Josh]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am going to be placing a significant order soon but I do not know what costs to budget for. I tried my best to make sense of that Jon, but I'm still scratching my head. I would love to see the spreadsheet though.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I've found shipping over any boarder cost has gone up so much lately. Yesterday I shipped a diode to Canada that cost $6.55 and would have cost less than $2 last year.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

One time I ordered some parts from several vendors at a time. I just so happened to be vacationing in lake George around the same time, so I had my orders shipped to my hotel. I then crossed the border and saved all the fees. So if you re planning a huge order, and need a little vacation this is the way to go.

You would have to check, but I think if you stay 2 days your ok to bring back around $700 per person.

[valdez]

Here are some tips I've learned.

I find that when shipping US post/Canada post they aren't too concerned with duty/tariffs, they are cheaper as well in general.

Shipping UPS and FedEx nails me every time. Bought a used tail light once for $20. They tried to charge me $35 in duty on top of the shipping cost.

Only once was I asked to pay duty from Canada post and it was for a $200 item. Large or expensive orders might get more scrutiny thou.

Stuff manufactured in the US of Canada is duty free in general, but that won't apply to Delorean parts. Just writing made in the USA on the box is sometimes good enough for it to go thru.

I've never paid taxes on an order from the US, but understand that might be changing because of online businesses.


Another option is to have it delivered to a pick up service just across the border and drive to get it yourself. Then you have to deal with the Border guards. Install all you can before returning home or remove the packaging and claim they have been in the car for sometime you just never cleaned up before your trip and they won''t know the difference.

[Jonathan]

Here is the spreadsheet I have been working on. Please let me know if you see or know of any discrepancies.

The piece that seems to remain unclear is regarding the number of lines of classification. We know how much they cost, $4.50 each for every one more than the first five. What we don't 100% know yet, is what is okay to group together into the same classification.

We are getting car parts of course, so maybe it is all one classification? If we were getting some video games, a chair, and a bag of lawn fertilizer with it, sure, I could understand not being able to classify those together. Yet, within the car parts, we don't know what the criteria is at the moment. You would think that if you got 10 different sizes of nuts and bolts and washers, they could be classified together? Maybe all rubber o-rings and seals could be together? Or a glass or light bulbs classification? Or stainless items is it's own?

You can see that there are many different ways to interpret it. All of us want the same thing and that is just to understand things in advance and plan accordingly. When we know how UPS does things, we will share with everyone. At this point in time, I'm not convinced UPS knows themselves what they are doing (and this is the consistency part that is the most challenging).

19708

Note: I zipped the Excel file as the forum didn't let me attach the Excel file directly. Let me know if that still worked.

[LordFly]

Sorry, I'm a little late to the party. I think I did post something in a thread somewhere about my shipping experience. I also posted on the Ontario DeLorean Owners Club facebook page, which was easier for me to find, so here is a cut and paste of it:

Good evening ODOCers, I learned a valuable lesson this afternoon that I thought I should share for anyone ordering parts. UPS hit me up for $72 in "import charges" on a $400 order, so a rather significant amount. I had a talk with a VERY useful UPS rep. and here are her tips:

1) Ship air, or 2nd day air, it cuts out a large portion of the brokerage fee.
2) Keep it to 7 line items or less. They cover the first 7 for free, but after that it's something like $7 per line item! I had 13 :(
3) Specify the year of the vehicle the parts are for in addition to tariff code 9966.00.00.00 and there will be no tax charged.

I knew about the first one, and DMCMW knew about the tariff code (but maybe not about specifying year). If I'd been 3 for 3, I was told I would have only been charged $10!

Hope that helps, but if there are any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Good luck with the order!

[Dangermouse]

Is it possible to group the parts into line items called "repair kits".

You know, group injectors, plugs, filters, whatever, and call it a "tune-up kit". Brake and suspension components as a "brake repair kit".

[Jonathan]

Is it possible to group the parts into line items called "repair kits".

You know, group injectors, plugs, filters, whatever, and call it a "tune-up kit". Brake and suspension components as a "brake repair kit".

It definitely could be possible. I think right now we are just trying to learn what you can and can't do by speaking with UPS. There very well could be ways to manipulate the system, but we were trying to focus on what ways we can do things and make everyone happy, and keep it by the book. I know I got chastized for saying something like that a while back, but the fact that certain people make decisions on how to run their business by being ethical and legit is a big reason why I do business with those people. Call it karma, or whatever you want, but knowing the rules and sticking to them is a good way to go in my opinion. Most of us putting one order in here and there don't appreciate the consequences of getting caught or getting audited. We get to walk away and do something else. Vendors don't have this luxury. Get caught once and you just made your life very difficult for years to come.

I definitely know that's not what you meant by your suggestion, Dermot. I hope you know what I mean. It just gets old hearing stories or complaints of extra fees when their alternative was to try and cheat the system. Most of what we are after is consistency and knowing what the charges are in advance. The challenge I have found is many UPS folks don't what this classification business is all about either. So your explanation from one rep could tell you one thing, but if a different rep processes your paperwork and they interpret things another way, you could get a big surprise on your invoice. Again, learn what the rules are and plan accordingly. Seems everyone threw out their copy of the rulebook though!

I know the vendors I have been working with would love a definitive answer on this as much, or even more than we do.

[Steven]

Anytime I need parts shipped to Canada I always make sure that DMC ships USPS only. UPS and FexEx are the worst. There have been a few times when I bought over $300 worth of parts shipped USPS and never had to pay duty fees.

Another method I use is having parts shipped to a parcel service store in the US, drive there to pick em up (fill up on cheap gas) then bring them back myself across the border. I will get taxed HST crossing the border but no other crazy charges.

It's weird tho, it depends on the border guard. One time he asked me how much I'm bringing to Canada and this happened:

"How much are all your goods?"

"$450 sir."

"That's quite high for a day trip, have a nice day."

[valdez]

Anytime I need parts shipped to Canada I always make sure that DMC ships USPS only. UPS and FexEx are the worst. There have been a few times when I bought over $300 worth of parts shipped USPS and never had to pay duty fees.

Another method I use is having parts shipped to a parcel service store in the US, drive there to pick em up (fill up on cheap gas) then bring them back myself across the border. I will get taxed HST crossing the border but no other crazy charges.

It's weird tho, it depends on the border guard. One time he asked me how much I'm bringing to Canada and this happened:

"How much are all your goods?"

"$450 sir."

"That's quite high for a day trip, have a nice day."


Agreed x100 on the USPS vs FedEx and UPS.
Never drove across the border to pick up, but from what I heard that sounds right. There might be a total price limit on how much you can bring back without issue, but not sure what it is.

[sdg3205]

What you spend and pay duty on is totally up to the CBSA guards discretion. Sometimes they want duty on $150 in car parts, sometimes they don't care if you spend $750. I've got nexus and there is absolutely no consistency.

[LordFly]

I usually have great success with USPS, but they're not 100% either. I've been hit up with similar sized "import charges" with USPS. But on averages, FAR less often than with UPS or FedEx.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I usually have great success with USPS, but they're not 100% either. I've been hit up with similar sized "import charges" with USPS. But on averages, FAR less often than with UPS or FedEx.

USPS was a great price until this year for over the boarder shipping. Price shot up this year 2 to 3 times for first class mail. It still is cheaper than other shipping options so far.

[LordFly]

USPS was a great price until this year for over the boarder shipping. Price shot up this year 2 to 3 times for first class mail. It still is cheaper than other shipping options so far.

I believe we're referring to the additional fees charged on our end for crossing the board. Not the actual cost of the initial shipping.

[Josh]

Lots of great information in this thread. Thank you very much for the speadsheet Jon! This gives a little more confidence moving forward with future orders. Also In response to some, even tho I hate fees at the border, I am not interested in tricking them by not claiming items. Been there, done that. If they catch you your gonna wish you just claimed everything properly!

[John U]

USPS is the only way to go, unless you need the package tomorrow.
Just received a package valued at $140 from Special T Auto in Texas. took 8 days to get here and zero tax, zero duty, zero brokerage. For me, that has been the norm.

[micmak]

USPS is the only way to go, unless you need the package tomorrow.
Just received a package valued at $140 from Special T Auto in Texas. took 8 days to get here and zero tax, zero duty, zero brokerage. For me, that has been the norm.

Agreed. USPS is the best method but you need to plan in advance. If you need the parts immediately, then you have to suck it up and pay through the nose for a courier and all the brokerage injustice that goes with it. But if you are thinking of doing a little project on your car, then plan ahead and order your stuff USPS. It is longer and slower but a lot less expensive. It makes so much more sense.

......Mike......