Watch out for tariffs when ordering parts
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 660
Likes: 352
From: Colorado
Golly....Let's go back to Donald's administration where tariff's became his hallmark of Making America Great...in 2020 Canada imposed at $2.7B worth of tariff's in retaliation of imposing duties on our trading partners. This also happened through parts of Asia and Europe. I was in the high tech industry and we lost a considerable amount of business....when you throw a hammer at somebody, be prepared to have an anvil thrown back at you. But we got a lot of nice hats.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 926
From: Squamish, BC
UPS is brutal for their import fees and crappy service when importing into Canada. I will refuse to have anything shipped to me using UPS from another country; I'll find a way around it. Fed-Ex is pretty good and you can pay duties on the phone.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 11
Likes: 6
From: Ontario, Canada
I found this out a few years ago with UPS shipping into Canada. Have always tried to use USPS/Canada Post and don't see any extra charges. The problem is a lot of places use UPS in the States and I am sure get some deal from them. Trying to explain about cross border shipping is often lost on many businesses.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
Likes: 6,442
From: Honah Lee
I just want to share my experience and give a head up when ordering parts from the US . I ordered a pair of trigger hand levers from Lucky Speed Shop (they are made to order)
I paid 180 bucks CDN I then get notice to clear customs CBSA require another 62 CDN in tariff fees . I was thinking maybe a 10-15 dollar import fee but holy **** . If anyone can help explain how this works please let me know . I have not seen anyone in Canada who ,makes a similar design
I paid 180 bucks CDN I then get notice to clear customs CBSA require another 62 CDN in tariff fees . I was thinking maybe a 10-15 dollar import fee but holy **** . If anyone can help explain how this works please let me know . I have not seen anyone in Canada who ,makes a similar design
a check. It gets really complicated if it's parts.
Australia is totally insane. met a guy who later I was trying to ship a Duece fender rack to. Tariffs and shipping were three times what it was worth on eBay as a used part here. For years, I had two landlords living in Canada that I rented two winter places in MX. It was close to $9000. I always paid them in MX. It was hundreds of dollars to mail a check if I declared it. I could send them a Christmas card for a $1.25 or so. Best I can tell, coming the other way, this country doesn't do that.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 18, 2022 at 01:44 PM.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 19
Likes: 8
From: ON
yeah the brokerage fees in some cases have been ridiculous (I found DHL the worst when importing) to the point that I stopped buying from the US for a while. That being said I have no problem keeping it local if I can. I recently found out that while I was on the search of some hard to locate parts (during Covid) that some US Ebay sellers use the Global Shipping Program that sets the duty/tax price up front so at least you can see/compare pricing (including the fees) before you buy and nothing extra to pay when it arrives.
Tourer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 158
From: Alberta
I've learned over the last 20 years or so when getting bike parts shipped from the US or England, that you only want to use the Postal Service of either country. Sometimes you might get charged the standard 5 % GST, but more often than not then don't even charge that on bike parts. If the parts are over 25 yrs old, then their are no tariffs. Tariffs and taxes like GST or PST are different and usually you will only pay an actual tariff on an item from a country that Canada doesn't have a trade agreement with. Any of the courier companies, use brokerages and then seem to charge a flat $ 35. fee no matter what. So if the outfit I'm buying from won't ship via USPS, then I go to one that will. Just not worth the brokerage fees.
For the last 11 years I've lived within 60 miles of the US border so I often just us a US shipping address and then bring the item across the border myself. Most of the bike items I bring across are in the $ 200 range and I have yet to have to pay anything. It does help that a lot of the stuff is used. Tires are an interesting one. If it is a dunlop that is made in the US then there is no tariff. If it is a tire that isn't made in the US then there will be a tariff. Same goes for clothing etc.
For the last 11 years I've lived within 60 miles of the US border so I often just us a US shipping address and then bring the item across the border myself. Most of the bike items I bring across are in the $ 200 range and I have yet to have to pay anything. It does help that a lot of the stuff is used. Tires are an interesting one. If it is a dunlop that is made in the US then there is no tariff. If it is a tire that isn't made in the US then there will be a tariff. Same goes for clothing etc.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,015
Likes: 6,909
From: NC
I've ordered parts from Italy and had them sent to Florida. Sometimes I have to pay customs fees, other time not. I never could figure it out. One order was several thousand dollars, and it came straight to me. Another order was a couple hundred and cost me custom fees.
That was also back in 2000-2004.
That was also back in 2000-2004.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17,684
Likes: 6,062
From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
All about protectionism and we pay the price !!!!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,205
Well if it was up to me, you'd pay nothing. Mercantilism should have died with the people who coined the term. It is one of the most foolish ideas in the history of capitalism.
