Any Issues with importing Digital scanners ?

[Wreckmaster]

......with canada customs ? just curious to know as I want to have one shipped from the USA. I've never had a problem with trunk trackers.

 

[mikewazowski]

No, don't worry about it.

 

[SCPD]

What Mike said.

I ended up ordering a 396 about a month ago from Scannermaster and had it to my door within 3 days. Total cost with the taxes and exchange was around $740...beating Canadian prices by far.

 

[Jay911]

I have bought a 250D, 796D, and 396T and shipped all three to my home in Canada from retailers in the States. The only problem I ever had was the one or two agencies that refused to sell to me because I'm Canadian.

 

[Wreckmaster]

Ok thanks,I just ordered a new 396 and a pro96,and didn't want to get "that phone call" from the border. Jay,I have encountered that problem before,where they wanted to not sell to me,I haven't been in Canada very long,and I kinda' noticed the prices were very high in ontario for equipment,I just had my brother send me them from my home state of Fla.,,,fyi,I did find a guy in windsor or sarnia,while I was shopping, claiming he has the cheapest prices for the 396T in canada,$720+$15 shipping delivered,which isn't bad considering the exchange rate,gst at the border,and any possible PST.not to mention the spankin' UPS will lay on ya' if they deliver the pkg.

 

[amusement]

I'd like to step and ask...what is the best carrier to use to ship to Canada?
Here's what I know...

UPS is awful.
Fedex and United States Postal Service seem to be the best .

Any other carriers?

 

[Jay911]

I've used UPS before without problems. FedEx tends to hold packages at their distribution center for taxes/tarriffs without bothering to notify the receiver in any way. And I just shipped a package via USPS from my home in western Canada to LAX and back; took 6 days to get there, took over 20 to get back including 10 days' aging in Canada Post's "sortation center" once it entered the country.

 

[LordJ]

Usps

I try to get everything shipped USPS coming across the border. I use Global Express, it seems to take care of the duty/border fee problem. Never had a problem with it. I ALWAYS got screwed for duty/border fees when I used UPS, don't know why.

 

[amusement]

Does it help to mark the item as a gift?

 

[mikewazowski]

One of these days I'll write a FAQ on the subject of shipping.

First of all, I have never been charged duty on a scanner. I don't believe there is such a duty. If you are afraid of being charged duty, see if the seller will mark it as an "Amateur Radio". I've imported a lot of scanners in the past 25 years and not once have I been charged duty.

Handling and brokerage fees vary from courier to courier and there is no way out of them.

Canada Post is the cheapest for just under $10. The seller must be willing to ship USPS. Some will refuse to use USPS as they have to stand in long lines. Others will charge you a surcharge for their wait time at the post office.

Fedex and UPS charge varying amounts based on the value of the item. Some of the quicker options have brokerage charges built in. You can either pay for the faster option which includes brokerage charges or go for the slower service which will hit you with a brokerage charge later on. Either way, it will all cost the same in the end so you might as well go for the faster option and have your scanner a couple of days sooner.

All of the above will charge you GST and PST. There is no way around this.

By the time you are finished, you will have ended up paying brokerage, gst and pst.

 

[SCPD]

I'd like to step and ask...what is the best carrier to use to ship to Canada?
Here's what I know...

UPS is awful.
Fedex and United States Postal Service seem to be the best .

Any other carriers?

DHL tends to be quick and reasonable cost wise.

Postal always seems to move faster around holidays...sometimes only 4 days door to door.

I think people sometimes confuse the charges for brokerage & taxes vs duty. I've often used the UPS worldwide express option and it works out cheaper than paying the brokerage fees on arrival....A U.S. to Canada shipping FAQ would be a great idea Mike.

 

[amusement]

I second that...I would like to see a WIKI or a sticky thread for shipping to Aux Canada (sorry couldn't resist).

I am hoping there's no documents need to be in french. If so I'd be over at Bablefish transalating like a mad dog.

 

[duffer]

I have a question based on this. I am considering driving to the States, and buying a scanner there, then bringing it across myself, as I am pretty close to the border. Is there anyone that has done this, and what do you go through to get it across. Reason is, I can get it myself, and not trust a postal or courier service to deliver it. Is this a smart idea, or am I just setting myself up for a lot of hassles at the border?

 

[rhutch]

Depends how long you stay as you are allowed to bring a certain amount in depending on the length of the stay. But if you just drive over and come right back and declare it they would charge you GST and PST on the actuall cost of the product in CND dollars. The only bad thing is you will get charged sales tax in the state that you bought it in too. But if you order it and have it sent to you, you don't get nailed with the sales tax (but will have to pay shipping. *** Now if you don't declare it and just pretend that you took it with you you will get charged nothing but (that usually means that you will have to get rid of the packaging).***

*** I'm not advocating the last method as it is not legal***

 

[SCPD]

......with canada customs ? just curious to know as I want to have one shipped from the USA. I've never had a problem with trunk trackers.

I have only heard of one instance of customs having an issue with a digital scanner.
Make sure the sender does not state Digital radio scanner anywhere on the customs declaration form or on an invoice. I have imported many scanners into Canada no problems except on one as noted above.

Doug

 

[xlq771]

I bought a Pro-96 down in Buffalo back in January 2004. When I crossed the border I declared it to the Canada Customs agent at the booth, who then sent me over to the building to pay the duties. When I got out of my car to go into the building, an agent stuck their head out and told me thet I could go, that they were not going out in the cold (it was about -20, and blowing snow at the time). I got out of there fast.

 

[hypersight]

Hi Wheelchair.
How did Scannermaster ship your 396 to you? ie..UPS, or US Mail...?

What Mike said.

I ended up ordering a 396 about a month ago from Scannermaster and had it to my door within 3 days. Total cost with the taxes and exchange was around $740...beating Canadian prices by far.

 

[mikewazowski]

ScannerMaster prefers UPS. I believe they have a surcharge for using USPS.

 

[mikewazowski]

I have a question based on this. I am considering driving to the States, and buying a scanner there, then bringing it across myself, as I am pretty close to the border. Is there anyone that has done this, and what do you go through to get it across. Reason is, I can get it myself, and not trust a postal or courier service to deliver it. Is this a smart idea, or am I just setting myself up for a lot of hassles at the border?

No hassles at all. Tell the friendly Customs officer that you've spent $x on your visit and you've been away for so many minutes/hours/days. He/She will decide if it's worth their time to send you over to pay your taxes.

You are allowed to bring back so much duty free for so many days of stay but as I said before, you will not be charged duty. You will have to pay GST and PST.

What you end up saving is the shipping cost (if you pickup from the retailer) and the brokerage fees (approx. $8.50 if you use USPS).

 

[mciupa]

One of these days I'll write a FAQ on the subject of shipping.

Maybe next time you have insomnia :wink:

Seems like a hot topic which could benefit the members here (seeing as new Uniden models are being released quite frequently) . I know I would want to use it as a reference once my budget allows me to upgrade.