Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

[No effects]

I'm looking into ordering gear from these guys and wondering what other Canadians' experience has been like, especially with regard to additional charges like exchange rate, delivery, handling fees, taxes, duty, etc. thanks

[No effects]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

bump

[Thames]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

Musicians Friend will declare the exact value of goods on the customs form.

Be prepare to pay usual sale taxes for your province, plus 5$ if shipped thru USPS/Canada Post. or twice the taxes amount if thru UPS/Fedex... believe me, these companies make a fortune out of custom clearances.

[Sly_D]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

I thought they did not ship to Canada... maybe they do now.

Like Thames says, taxes can't be avoided unless the seller prentend it's a gift (they rarely do).

Music-123 ships to Canada. They recommand to use UPS Worldwide shipping instead of Canadian standard ground and they're right. I once bought an amp from somewhere else for very low shipping costs, but I finally had to pay $50 of brokerage fees at the door.

So I'd say ask if shipping includes brokerage fees, otherwise, you're in for a surprise when the mailman adds $50 to the total (they can be pr!ck and say they don't know... that means there WILL be brokerage fees. If they told you, you wouldn't buy from them).

Brokerage fees depend on the value of the good. When I buy pickups or small parts from StewMac, there are no brokerage fees. But on high priced items, they can litterally waive off the bargain you think you'd get from buying in a US store.

I think that only the big courier companies like UPS and Fedex offer shipping with brokerage fees included. If the seller use USPS and Canada Post, brokerage fees are not included. I think anything under 100$ have no brokerage fees.

Hope this helps. Being brief is not my main quality

[Sly_D]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

And by the way, guitars normally ship from the US for anywhere between US $40 to US $55. If they ask you $100 (like GuitarTrader), just don't buy anything from them.

[Rstlessone]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

Try this place, they are a Canadian outfit, may cost less after all things are considered.

http://www.axemusic.com/

Hope they carry what you want.

[Sly_D]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

Thanks Rstlessone, I didn't know this one, I'll check it out.

[Lee Bob]

Re: Attn. Canadians: Ordering from Musician's Friend

I bought from axemusic.com and was very pleased. Cheap shipping and it got from Edmonton to London, Ont. in 2 days.