Best way to ship and pay for watch from USA to Canada

[strider-g3]

Looking to buy a watch from a seller in California. He checks out on the forums who's who section and I'm wondering what the best way to do the transaction is for people in Canada that want to buy a watch across the border and avoid the taxes.. I mean i doubt they can tax me if its a private sale? and the watch is used.. i cant possibly get taxed, or can i? when it comes to taxing... The ontario government will tax the world tax for being used too many times -_- or maybe it just feels this way with the 13% tax we have to pay on EVERYTHING.. from gasoline to buying A USED CAR PRIVATELY. anyways i know border services differ from Ontario's tax laws but they still apply 13% im sure on retail goods. would this apply?

thanks in advance.

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

If the seller agrees to not declare the contents and the true value to customs then you wont pay any tax.
You take the risk then if the package is lost or stolen then you are out the money, because you cannot insure it.
The only way you can insure the package without declaring the value on the package is if its insured with parcelpro

[crowncollection]

Yes tax will apply

[roach7]

Originally Posted by anderl712000

If the seller agrees to not declare the contents and the true value to customs then you wont pay any tax.
You take the risk then if the package is lost or stolen then you are out the money, because you cannot insure it.
The only way you can insure the package without declaring the value on the package is if its insured with parcelpro

Please explain how that works with ParcelPro

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

I have a parcelpro account, when I ship from Canada to US I ship without declaring the contents or value on the package, this is how Parcelpro wants it shipped, it is still fully insured because they know what is in the box and value, and this way there is no danger of the watch being confiscated.
I dont know how it works when shipping from US to Canada, there are no restrictions, so I assume Parcelpro would require you to declare the contents and value for customs? I dont know this for sure, you would have to ask parcelpro.
Still, the seller has to agree to ship the watch without declaring value or contents so the buyer gets out of paying taxes or duty, many will not do this (for obvious reasons)

[roach7]

Interesting... Every time I ship with ParcelPro from the USA to international it always warns me that the declared value must match the insured value. I guess ParcelPro has different policies outside the USA...

[roach7]

This is Parcel Pro's warning:

Valuation Discrepancy / Non-transit Delay
Please note that our system has identified a discrepancy between the value declared for insurance and customs. Any delay that is a direct result of concealment from customs of the content of the package and/or inaccurate or under-declaration of value is not part of the normal course of transit and coverage will be terminated as it is excluded under our insurance policy. Please note that acts of concealment or under-declaration for customs purposes may result in fines or seizure of your package. Parcel Pro is not responsible for the payment of these fines or coverage in the event of seizure.

By proceeding with the shipment, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the above terms and are hereby in agreement with the stated coverage conditions..

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

That Must only be for shipments from US to rest of the world.
Remember too that only ROLEX being shipped INTO the US are affected, any other brands are OK

[springer]

My advice - pay the tax and be done with it.

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by roach7

Interesting... Every time I ship with ParcelPro from the USA to international it always warns me that the declared value must match the insured value. I guess ParcelPro has different policies outside the USA...

That is correct!

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by springer

My advice - pay the tax and be done with it.

Best advice right here. Don't lie and pay the tax......

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

I guess its different from a canadian point of view, we are already taxed up to our eyeballs compared to the US.
As the OP stated, we even pay tax (13%) on used cars sold PRIVATELY! and the list goes on.....
We certainly do not support illegal activities here, everyone can do whatever they want.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by anderl712000

I guess its different from a canadian point of view, we are already taxed up to our eyeballs compared to the US.
As the OP stated, we even pay tax (13%) on used cars sold PRIVATELY! and the list goes on.....
We certainly do not support illegal activities here, everyone can do whatever they want.

The same happens down here, except you are supposed to file a use tax return on anything bought out of state. So all the people buying on TRF that live in states that have a sales tax, are technically supposed to still pay the tax.

FYI, I am dual Canadian and US citizen so I know of what you mean about Canada. Unfortunately for me I am now in NYC, which is actually worse than many parts of Canada.

[Maxtor]

Also duty. That is another 6% on top of the 13%.

Finally, the current exchange rate is worst it has been in 3 years... so anything coming from the US costs 10% more in Canadian $.

[brandrea]

It's not worth the risk.

I've looked at buying in the US and once you add the currency exchange, tax, duty ( which is 5% on Rolex) I find I actually get better prices from my local AD. No offence to the fine sellers here on trf

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Us canucks get shafted with everything
Everything is cheaper in the US, cars,car parts, tires, electronics, you name it

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by anderl712000

Us canucks get shafted with everything
Everything is cheaper in the US, cars,car parts, tires, electronics, you name it

It's all relative.

You gotta pay to play, so just look for the best deal you can get, whether it be buying from the US, overseas, or locally

[Alcan]

"I mean i doubt they can tax me if its a private sale? and the watch is used.. i cant possibly get taxed, or can i? "


Yep.

I've purchased a number of Rolex watches from the U.S. The fees are 5% import duty based on the appraised value of the item (a realistic seller's invoice will do) on any item not originating in Canada, USA, or Mexico (NAFTA), plus applicable PST/GST, plus $5 processing fee.

The 20% Canadian import luxury tax was abolished in April 2007.

Be advised that if you acquire a non-Canadian Rolex through "creative" means, as in smuggling it in and not paying the applicable duty and taxes, said watch will probably NOT be insured by any Canadian insurance company who require you to provide proof that the product was "legally obtained". Legally obtained includes proof that all applicable import fees were paid.

[owen5150]

Originally Posted by springer

My advice - pay the tax and be done with it.

Agreed 100%. I've brought about a dozen watches into Canada from the US. Playing by the rules is always the best route.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by Alcan

"I mean i doubt they can tax me if its a private sale? and the watch is used.. i cant possibly get taxed, or can i? "


Yep.

I've purchased a number of Rolex watches from the U.S. The fees are 5% import duty based on the appraised value of the item (a realistic seller's invoice will do) on any item not originating in Canada, USA, or Mexico (NAFTA), plus applicable PST/GST, plus $5 processing fee.

The 20% Canadian import luxury tax was abolished in April 2007.

Be advised that if you acquire a non-Canadian Rolex through "creative" means, as in smuggling it in and not paying the applicable duty and taxes, said watch will probably NOT be insured by any Canadian insurance company who require you to provide proof that the product was "legally obtained". Legally obtained includes proof that all applicable import fees were paid.

This is interesting. What if you have owned a watch that was given to you by your father and you have owned it for 20 years........and now you have determined that it is a DRSD and it is worth $25,000 and you want to insure it. Nobody is going to have this sort of proof in this situation. Would you still be able to insure it in Canada??

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Originally Posted by Jason71

This is interesting. What if you have owned a watch that was given to you by your father and you have owned it for 20 years........and now you have determined that it is a DRSD and it is worth $25,000 and you want to insure it. Nobody is going to have this sort of proof in this situation. Would you still be able to insure it in Canada??

My insurance company does not even ask where my watches came from, they couldnt care less, as a matter of fact, they ask me how much i would like to insure each model for. All they do want is an appraisal (always higher than real value) This is state farm btw.

[Megatron]

Canadian here. Unless it's some obscure brand, it makes much more sense to buy it here rather than the U.S. Especially because of the weak Canadian dollar. Also, if you're in Ontario and say you want to buy from an AD in BC, you can always call them and ask if they will ship to you. Some will say no but most will be happy to oblige.

Also, haggle. Most ADs here offer discounts.

I bought something from AB and avoided the Ontario sales tax. So if you can find someone there, that's even better. Keep in mind that Ontario ADs offer really great deals despite the sales tax.

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Originally Posted by Megatron

Canadian here. Unless it's some obscure brand, it makes much more sense to buy it here rather than the U.S. Especially because of the weak Canadian dollar. Also, if you're in Ontario and say you want to buy from an AD in BC, you can always call them and ask if they will ship to you. Some will say no but most will be happy to oblige.

Also, haggle. Most ADs here offer discounts.

I bought something from AB and avoided the Ontario sales tax. So if you can find someone there, that's even better. Keep in mind that Ontario ADs offer really great deals despite the sales tax.

Very good suggestions here!