Why it sucks to buy stuff in the US and ship to Canada

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Gideons

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Hey Guys, I bought recently a XM-18 and I love the knife, shipping was fast and the company was great. But you know what wasn't? The cost of shipping and tax. The cost of shipping the knife and the tax from the crossing the border cost me around $150... seems a little extreme. This is why I hate shipping to or from the US lol

-Gideons
 
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kiemtruong said:
How much did shipping cost ?
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I did get express international shipping, I think it was around $45 USD or $58.87 CAD. Then I'm not sure to call it a tax, or what exactly... But customs charged me/tax $90. Not sure why exactly customs tax cost me so much or how they decide the amount.
 
They decide the amount based on the value of the knife.

If the item seems underpriced they hit the web and look for online prices for a baseline.

The most I've ever been hit with was $70 on a $500 knife via FedEx.
 
Danke42 said:
They decide the amount based on the value of the knife.

If the item seems underpriced they hit the web and look for online prices for a baseline.

The most I've ever been hit with was $70 on a $500 knife via FedEx.
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Ah, makes sense. That also sucks. But it just seemed a little expensive... 1/3 of the knife value, or I pretty much could of bought a benchmade with the costs of shipping and customs fee. lol
 
Gideons said:
Hey Guys, I bought recently a XM-18 and I love the knife, shipping was fast and the company was great. But you know what wasn't? The cost of shipping and tax. The cost of shipping the knife and the tax from the crossing the border cost me around $150... seems a little extreme. This is why I hate shipping to or from the US lol

-Gideons
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Your hate is misplaced. It is not our fault your country does that to you.
 
I have purchased and sold knives across our border on several occasions. They were all previously owned, and so the customs contract reads "used" items, and the tax/customs fees have been minimal.
It is a shame that this situation exists.
 
I don't think he's saying he's mad at the US. He's saying he's mad at our customs. My advice to you is ask them to crank down the pivot as hard as they can, until the knife can barely open when you order a knife from the USA. This is because sometimes they will try to shake the blade out in order to deny the knife as a gravity knife. Sal Glesser one time wrote about how they tried to make the Para2 illegal in Canada. The government agents opened the blade past the detent then flicked the knife open and tried to claim it was a gravity knife. I have heard of them turning away flipper knives all together.

Maybe you can get the company you order from to mark the knives as used?

All around our customs officers are awful, I wouldn't trust them to be honest for a second.
 
Lapedog said:
I don't think he's saying he's mad at the US. He's saying he's mad at our customs. My advice to you is ask them to crank down the pivot as hard as they can, until the knife can barely open when you order a knife from the USA. This is because sometimes they will try to shake the blade out in order to deny the knife as a gravity knife. Sal Glesser one time wrote about how they tried to make the Para2 illegal in Canada. The government agents opened the blade past the detent then flicked the knife open and tried to claim it was a gravity knife. I have heard of them turning away flipper knives all together.

Maybe you can get the company you order from to mark the knives as used?

All around our customs officers are awful, I wouldn't trust them to be honest for a second.
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In the example he provided he is talking about Canadian Customs but in his explanation he says US and Canada. This has nothing to do with cranking down the pivot but it is a good idea anyway. I've bought several knives, new and used, from Canada and had zero customs issues. Maybe the sellers took care of that, who knows. It is well known that Canadian customs does their job in charging the proper amount for items coming in to individuals. IT is their policy. This is not a new thing and should not be a surprise.
 
Cranking down the pivot will have nothing to do with the proce you get charged. It will have everything to do with whether or not they will be able to shake the knife open, causing them to declare it a gravity knife and not allow it past customs. I can shake almost any folder open by holding the knife upside down and whipping my wrist in a semicircular motion downwards with a hard snap at the bottom of the circle.
 
I have shipped all over the world and Canada is the only country I have ever had problems with and that was with Canada customs.
 
Danke42 said:
They decide the amount based on the value of the knife.

If the item seems underpriced they hit the web and look for online prices for a baseline.

The most I've ever been hit with was $70 on a $500 knife via FedEx.
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CAN $185 on a US $625 knife for me (in Ontario)... Then CAN $89 on US $ 400...

Gaston
 
I know it's not feasible for everyone but I have all my USA purchases shipped to a receiver in the USA and pick them up myself periodically.
 
Lapedog said:
Cranking down the pivot will have nothing to do with the proce you get charged. It will have everything to do with whether or not they will be able to shake the knife open, causing them to declare it a gravity knife and not allow it past customs. I can shake almost any folder open by holding the knife upside down and whipping my wrist in a semicircular motion downwards with a hard snap at the bottom of the circle.
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That is exactly what I said. And I can do that too. That is why I tightened the pivot down when I have sold to Canadians.
 
cheaper than just buying from a canadian based retialer? asking cause i dont know what knives sell for up there.
 
You would pay The sales tax (PST/HST/GST/whatever) if you bought that knife from a Canadian retailer, so that's no different. If it came by USPS/Canada Post, there are no brokerage/handling fees: you're only out shipping, which was exhorbitant because you got the most expensive type.
 
in the past month alone ive had two seperate $60 customs duties on a $300 dollar knife but twice had $130 duty charged on a couple $500 knives!! customs duties is outright ridiculous and it really stinks cause most knives I want are located in the good ol U.S.A! most Ive been charged by customs was $350 for a $3000 busse custom shop gladius!! Just be thankful for the people that will ship to Canada n help us out in the first place, without em I wouldnt have any good knives!!
 
Mjr69 said:
I know it's not feasible for everyone but I have all my USA purchases shipped to a receiver in the USA and pick them up myself periodically.
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Are you referring to money saved on shipping?

When I bring knives up I pay full customs on them. Very expensive. Canadians pay duties on items over 20.00 while usa doesn't pay duties till 800.00 (usd).

Our limit has been set in stone since the 1980's.
 
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