Importing WAR boards

[Beebe]

Used to, when we first ordered stuff from valemont a couple of years ago, or maybe when we did a large order for superpass stuff or something for use here in the USA, a few months later we got charged something for importing stuff. Like an import tax or something.

Does anyone know anything about this? Should I be worried I might receive a huge bill for all the WAR boards I've been buying?

Thanks,
Roger

[lonnie]

As far as I know the US does not charge anything for taxes or duty on equipment you guys buy. I believe that in the wake of 911 they now require full paperwork and most likely the charge you paid is for someone to prepare that entry documenation. We have always had to pay that plus all manner of taxes and we are just used to it.

[bobbyc]

I remember getting some envelope from fed-ex a week or 2 or 3 after I received my equipment... it wasn't a bill, just some paperwork...

[ninedd]

Hi. This is our experience on the WAR boards and other stuff we've been importing or exporting between Canada & USA...

Certainly there can be import duty (taxes) and when Custom's needs to process or clear the shipments, then someone has to pay for that paperwork. However, with the Free Trade agreement, products that are manufactured in Canada or in the USA are duty free. There still may be clearing fees, since someone still needs to check and clear the shipment, but there should be no duty taxes.

The best shipment methods are FedEx Air and Postal Service. FedEx includes their custom's clearing fees in their international shipping rates, so the shipping looks expensive, but you pay the clearing fees included in that shipping price. With Postal Service, they charge a VERY nominal fee - usually $5 to clear the shipment, so it's nothing to be scared about. :)

Where you can get surprised is a) on equipment not made in Canada or USA, and/or b) when shipping via something like UPS Ground.

What can happen then is that a) US Customs will charge in import duty on the goods (like they would have for an American importer) and b) UPS will charge you to process those documents and clear the shipment - so, in this sort of case, you can end up with surprise bills.

The long and short of it is when importing boards in to the USA from Valemount.com or from BuyWispGear.com, you should have no duty (since Gateworks in a USA company) and you should have little or no Customs clearing fees. Normally, the price you pay for shipping will be all you have to pay in total with no surprise fees.

[Beebe]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'll stop worrying about it now. :)

[ninedd]

I really should have added, YMMV. :) I don't want someone suing me when their local FedEx depot charges $5 extra for Canadian shipments or something that I don't know about. I should have laced the above with AFAIK's and IMHO's. :)

[tkerns]

I have not had to pay any extra on my shipments from VNC. However my last shipment was held by FedEx prior to going to customs. It seems there is a window, not sure if it's number of shipments or value of shipment, but I had to fax back a Homeland security form to FedEx. This form identified my company, address, contact info and Fed Tax ID. Once I faxed the form to FedEx my order went through customs and was delivered. I was told that now that the form is on file with FedEx, I should not experience further delays.

[sligbot]

We've just opened up a new warehouse in Canada and US to help with this issue as well. We've got a physical warehouse in Niagara Falls, NY and one in Hamilton, Ontario to help out folks on the central to eastern parts of Canada and the US. You can find us with Inet2000's company in the new Reseller's page of StarOS: Triple Play Tech.
Rich

[ninedd]

Hi. Just to update everyone - we have added more products to the online store, WarTennas Kits and Complete Kits. We also have QTY Discounts listed now, so prices are even more agressive. As well, we have locations centraly located in both Saskathewan Canada, and in North Dakota, USA, so we can ship products internationally with low costs and very little fuss. Give the online store a try, and send emails to info (at) BuyWispGear.com if you have any questions or suggestions.