buying pups online for a Canadian???
- Thread starter smegolas
- Start date
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
Hi Smegolas
I live in Ontario and have bought a variety of guitar related stuff (including pups) from the US and the UK (used pups from the UK).
I would suggest contacting one of the SD dealers that post in this forum. I found Lew at lewsguitars.com to be very helpful and quick to respond to questions, etc. In all fairness, there are also many other dealers that post in this forum and you might want to look at their websites.
You might have to pay GST, although this seems to vary from my experience. If you buy used gear, you can ask the seller to declare the value (at the time of shipping) at a somewhat lower value to keep the taxes down. It is my understanding that you can't ask/expect a dealer to do this with new gear as it is not legal and they risk the loss of being a distributor. Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Customs seems to be hit and miss...not sure why...and I'm not sure of what they will charge. I only had to pay a customs brokerage firm once...and they sent the invoice weeks after I received the item. I was not aware that they would be sending it, and was not told the amount until I got the invoice.
Using USPS ground for shipping seems to be reasonable from a cost perspective.
Hopefully other Canadians will be able to provide more information from their experience.
Good luck on your pups.
Dave
Hi Smegolas
I live in Ontario and have bought a variety of guitar related stuff (including pups) from the US and the UK (used pups from the UK).
I would suggest contacting one of the SD dealers that post in this forum. I found Lew at lewsguitars.com to be very helpful and quick to respond to questions, etc. In all fairness, there are also many other dealers that post in this forum and you might want to look at their websites.
You might have to pay GST, although this seems to vary from my experience. If you buy used gear, you can ask the seller to declare the value (at the time of shipping) at a somewhat lower value to keep the taxes down. It is my understanding that you can't ask/expect a dealer to do this with new gear as it is not legal and they risk the loss of being a distributor. Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Customs seems to be hit and miss...not sure why...and I'm not sure of what they will charge. I only had to pay a customs brokerage firm once...and they sent the invoice weeks after I received the item. I was not aware that they would be sending it, and was not told the amount until I got the invoice.
Using USPS ground for shipping seems to be reasonable from a cost perspective.
Hopefully other Canadians will be able to provide more information from their experience.
Good luck on your pups.
Dave
FenderFan79
Member
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
I'll always ask the seller to ship with USPS if possible, you may pay taxes and duty, but at least there's no B.S brokerage fees. I'm thinking you'd get the best deal shopping with one of the guys here...actually, martinsixstringcustoms ships to Canada for free, if I recall correctly! If you buy from music123 or musician's friend, you'll probably be paying something like 20 dollars U.S for shipping.
I'll always ask the seller to ship with USPS if possible, you may pay taxes and duty, but at least there's no B.S brokerage fees. I'm thinking you'd get the best deal shopping with one of the guys here...actually, martinsixstringcustoms ships to Canada for free, if I recall correctly! If you buy from music123 or musician's friend, you'll probably be paying something like 20 dollars U.S for shipping.
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
Agree with FenderFan79
I'd certainly stay with the folks in this forum, they really know SD pickups and they have excellent prices...compared to what I've seen here in Canada.
Our CDN dollar is in fairly good shape (for now) and this helps a bit also.
Agree with FenderFan79
I'd certainly stay with the folks in this forum, they really know SD pickups and they have excellent prices...compared to what I've seen here in Canada.
Our CDN dollar is in fairly good shape (for now) and this helps a bit also.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
Lewguitar
Wymoreguitars
and MartinsixstringCustoms
All are members of this forum and come highly recommended.
your best bets, US or foreign, aresmegolas said:
Lewguitar
Wymoreguitars
and MartinsixstringCustoms
All are members of this forum and come highly recommended.
Never had issues with Lew, haven´t used the others
Pickup + Shipping + your VAT + a bit of pocket change for brokerage.
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
As others have said, the guys who post here are always a safe bet (Lew, Martinsixstrings, etc..).
I've had great experiences with john at Blackrosecustoms too.
As it's been said, just ask for shipping via USPS... duty taxes are what they are supposed to be without extra fees...
As others have said, the guys who post here are always a safe bet (Lew, Martinsixstrings, etc..).
I've had great experiences with john at Blackrosecustoms too.
As it's been said, just ask for shipping via USPS... duty taxes are what they are supposed to be without extra fees...
mind_transplant
New member
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
I've only really had Dimarzios shipped from the US, but have also bought a lot of studio gear from there. USPS is the cheapest option, usually all you have to pay is GST and a $5 handling fee. UPS is by far the worst, the shipping cost is usually reasonable but their brokerage fees to Canada are ridiculous :cussing: if USPS isn't an option I'd use Fedex.
I've only really had Dimarzios shipped from the US, but have also bought a lot of studio gear from there. USPS is the cheapest option, usually all you have to pay is GST and a $5 handling fee. UPS is by far the worst, the shipping cost is usually reasonable but their brokerage fees to Canada are ridiculous :cussing: if USPS isn't an option I'd use Fedex.
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
Yeah, UPS is the WORST... Avoid shpping with UPS -- they'll ding you with BS brokerage fees up the wazoo! - been burned by them a few times.
USPS is the best choice for shipping and in my experience if the item is small enough or of it is used, you won't get charged any tax or duty (most of the time, although not always -- no guarantees though).
it's best to "be prepared" to pay the tax/duty -- so when you don't have to, it's a pleasant surprise
Yeah, UPS is the WORST... Avoid shpping with UPS -- they'll ding you with BS brokerage fees up the wazoo! - been burned by them a few times.
USPS is the best choice for shipping and in my experience if the item is small enough or of it is used, you won't get charged any tax or duty (most of the time, although not always -- no guarantees though).
it's best to "be prepared" to pay the tax/duty -- so when you don't have to, it's a pleasant surprise
Last edited:
dressed2kill
Member
Re: buying pups online for a Canadian???
Think there is a place called lamusic online, i got some Sd pups from them a couple months ago.
Like mentioned here use USPS if you ship cross border, UPS as well as FEDEX are ridiculous for brokerage fees.
Try some of the members of the board I am sure they can help you out shipping wise, I know some online stores only ship with one service and like to stick to them, which could mean a bigger than expected fee when your good arrive.
Think there is a place called lamusic online, i got some Sd pups from them a couple months ago.
Like mentioned here use USPS if you ship cross border, UPS as well as FEDEX are ridiculous for brokerage fees.
Try some of the members of the board I am sure they can help you out shipping wise, I know some online stores only ship with one service and like to stick to them, which could mean a bigger than expected fee when your good arrive.
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