Importing Watches (Canada)

I live in Washington State and have friends and relatives in the Great White North. They tell us it's crazy taxes. I'm going to share your post with them.

Thanks

Cheers!

Any scheme for voiding taxes is unpatriotic and potentially criminal. I wonder how YouTube is allowing such content. 

I married a Canadian and live 3 hours from the border. I can tell when my in-laws are planning to visit because packages start arriving on my doorstep about three weeks in advance. They also do it because apparently Amazon.com has a better selection overall than Amazon.ca.

The brokerage charges seem to be hit or miss.

I've ordered inexpensive items in the past where the brokerage fees have effectively doubled the bottom line cost. My most recently imported item was a Zelos watch ($749 USD) which was shipped via DHL, and which attracted an import fee of $17.50 above and beyond the GST. I'm certainly not going to go through the hassle of self clearing to save <$20.

I think you're misunderstanding. The video is suggesting ways to not pay the brokerage fees charged by delivery companies like FedEx and UPS in Canada.

They charge based on decalred value, so even if you only have a single item, if it's worth $1000 they will charge you 5x more than a single item worth $100. Same paperwork, just different item.

The real scheme is from the delivery companies, this is not a way to avoid the taxes, it's how to avoid the private "convenience fee" no one asked for but gets automatically added unless you opt to do it yourself.

This is true 😭. Canadians live under the constant reminder Americans have better selection and overall more buying power thanks in part to your consumer market being about 10x the size of ours...oh and taxes...

But as someone who studied up north, I’m well aware of the benefits that have accrued to Canadian taxpayers. 

Now just bring back the Expos, the Nordiques, and Molson Brador, and I’ll defect.

This is 100% correct. Which is why the first advice given is "don't use UPS". FedEx has a similar charge they add, but I also have the same experience with DHL and their fees are much less. USPS similarly charges a low flat fee.

The problem is when you don't have the option. My recently bought Vaer had only one shipping option which was FedEx.

My friend in  Canada is planning a trip down to the US to collect an expensive ring purchase..

In addition to their horrendous brokerage fees, I've had TERRIBLE experiences with both FedEx and UPS, both for international deliveries and deliveries within Canada. If I ever have a choice, I'll choose DHL. It's really a shame when all options suck, and you need to choose the one that sucks the least. That should be DHL's motto - "We don't suck as much as the competition".

That's what the British said... (The tax part, not the YouTube part).

Get a Post Office box in (relatively) free Niagara Falls, and when you need something shipped just drive out of Justin Castro's socialist paradise and pick it up.

Cheers my man!  Will give the vid a watch when I’m home later

My general rule with watch acquisitions is to do it while travelling.  

Of course, I’m raped first by 39% income tax deduction at source, and then being on the hook for all the import taxes and duties.  And a crap exchange rate is another bonus.  So best we be comfy with pathetic loser status who can’t afford much without extreme saving compromises and success in dodging import handling fees  😑

My wife and I regularly debate moving near(ish) Toronto when we stop working, but then I am reminded of the nuances. I guess I will have to get all my toys before we ever make that move!

Yeah, but you have that great socialized medicine system. That's got to make you feel better about the 39% tax...

Do yourself a favor and just move to California. Same terrible policies, much better weather. 

In Aus, we also pay a 10% tax on 2nd hand watches imported over $1000aud value plus 3% custom/duties on top. 

Best thing to do, is to go to the country yourself. It’s often cheaper to buy the ticket and fly than pay the tax. 
 

Remove the watch from the box, wear it, and post the box back to yourself 😂 

Of course this probably isn’t legal and we don’t condone illegal activities 😂

Don't miss the place

Canada has a fairly high standard of living and a solid social network for the poor here. It costs what it costs because we can afford it. Our delivery companies need to eat too. 

This is an interesting point I had not considered. I'll check with my local insurance company, but I currently don't own anything so valuable I would insure it.

The delivery companies already charge a delivery fee. The paperwork fees are windfall profits for them. 

I am with others on here that prefer national courier service like Canada Post and USPS.

Worth it to double check in my opinion! In my case it extends to watches also covered under home or travel insurance, not necessarily only the more expensive ones with a specific policy or rider. 

There was a time I crossed over to Buffalo, NY and upon return, the CBSA border agent straight out asked me, randomly, "Did you buy anything while you were in the U.S.?... like a watch?" 😮

No sir, I did not 😇😂

Sorry about Canadia my guy. But I highly support avoiding Canadian taxes. I lived there on a work visa for sometime and dealt with it 1st hand at my company Express Employment. I'm just glad to be home now though. But maybe consider immigrating to Wisconsin, USA. They're pretty much diet Canada, just not as nice lol

I mostly agree with you. I think it becomes worthwhile for high value items or combined shipments though. On a $2000 shipment through UPS, I can save $120 by self-declaring. If I combine a few packages worth the same or more, I save even more. So at that point it may be worth my time. 

My last FedEx shipment cost $50 in shipping, + $80 in FedEx fees. I paid $150 in taxes, so FedEx made almost as much as the government. Some folks won't pay them simply out of principle. At the same time, I can see the convenience of using a FedEx or UPS, just not necessary for the vast majority of things IMO. So option #1 for me is still just to use someone else when I can.

Maybe we need to start an exchange program on WC haha. I'll send you some Timex if you send me some Baltic.

normal countries

lol, I'm sure this wasn't on purpose but it made me laugh. I wish I knew a "normal" country...

We pay taxes on imports based on the product type. Import Taxes are usually there to cover national cost burdens of importing or encourage buying local instead. Luxury goods get taxed a bit higher because if you can afford an expensive watch you can afford to pay a bit more tax 😉 Maybe it's the same with Seiko watches in Asia?

Now that I finally live just a 2-hour drive away from the American border, I would totally do that.  I am also holding off on purchasing (well, truthfully, a lot of watches, but one in particular) a watch with an alligator strap because ... darn those exotic animal products.  And I normally wouldn't be particular about this sort of thing, or even full on against it,  but the strap truly does make the watch, in this case.

Possibly. Luxury car tax here is 300%. Yeah you read that right.