Made in Canada conundrum


We all know that some of the very best audio equipment is made in Canada. Some of these legendary companies don't have service facilities in the USA, so if it breaks,like mine did, you send it back to Canada. I just experienced this: Promised about 2 weeks turn-around time, but we're going on 2 months and it's still at Customs in Canada, who are waiting to clear it, having charged me tax, duty, broker fees (FedEx) and a fourth charge for some technicality that I've forgotten. What do US purchasers feel about paying tax, duty and broker fees when they buy Canadian and then pay the same fees again to have the original repaired? Annoyed, like I am, or did you know that? And would you have bought Canadian if you knew this before-hand - like I didn't, because nobody told me. Should I have known this? Opinions, please. (I will keep the Manufacturer's name confidential while I wait for resolution)
springbok10

Showing 2 responses by stiltskin

My experience with shipping electronics across the U.S. border for factory upgrades or other for the most part has been completely hassle free there and back....

Shipping Canadian made electronics for repair or upgrade should be equally hassle free.

Key wording on Customs documents is {warranty repair}
Anything other then that you will be subject to extra charges and taxes.
Company's should know this when shipping your repaired / updated component to other countries.

As for the other, buying electronics ect.there is no other way around taxes and other fee's only if you have the seller low ball the actual price payed, or have it written up as warranty repair.....

Look at Fed Ex, UPS and other courier's including both Canadian and U.S. governments as pirates with these taxes and extra fee's, this including the trade between our countries the money involved is huge.
Extra tax revenue for the government and extra gravy for the couriers.

I strongly suggest when in dought call U.S. Customs or if your anywhere else in the World call your countries customs office and ask a few questions.

As for customs flagging your parcel for inspection this can and will delay delivery, also there are over zealous customs agents that will find fault with anything they can, because they can.

Both our countries are fighting a war also both our countries have other unrelated problems with import and exported illegal goods.

On a differant note.
Just like most countries there are regional difference's, bias, be it north and south or east and west of any given country ,one extreme example is north and south of Ireland.
French speaking Quebec has and will always be a thorn in the side of the rest of English speaking Canada.

Rodman we both live in great countries, don't let a media source form your opinion of another nation.
Polk, what a laugh I had reading your dribble...

This guy would be the perfect candidate for a Rick Mercer interview.
For those here that know who Rick Mercer is, just imagine.... Now that would be hilarious.

On a different note.
Springbok, two month's sitting in customs, I would be asking FedEx for answers maybe they screwed up, there's no way you should of payed any other cost's other then shipping.
U.S. and Canadian Customs are set up at these couriers facilities.The service you usually get from couriers is a few steps up from government postal workers.

Back in the mid 1980s through the 1990s I collected 1950's and earlier German table top radios, primarily Saba and Telefunken.
I bought direct from sources in Germany and the Netherlands.

I had maybe 5 radios out of dozens that I purchased in all those years opened for inspection by Canadian Customs.

Shipped by air then delivered to my door step usually took under 10 day's.
The radios that were flagged for inspection, all from the Netherlands BTW, this added 3 to 8 days to the overall time they took to reach me. Upon arrival a customs notice was included stating my parcel was opened for inspection.

Since then I have shipped components back to the U.S. for factory upgrades including purchases of dozens of other items from the U.S. and elsewhere that were delivered promptly with zero problems, most recent was a 40 pound Accuphase tuner from New Jersey.

I'm not suggesting this two month wait didn't happen to you, anything can happen, however it is extreme....