Canadian Buyers please read
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#1. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
fielden photo Registered since 26th Dec 2005Wed 05-Dec-07 02:20 PMI agree. I've never felt right about it either.
I guess that makes 4 cents.
Jay
To take photographs means to recognize both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye and one's heart on the same axis.
~H. C. Bresson
Visit my Nikonians gallery -
#2. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
This is targeted at me since I bought your 60mm from you. All you had to say was no your weren't comfortable with under valueing it and that would have been perfectly fine.
I could start a HUGE debate about this but I won't. I guess some people have values that cater to governments getting a cut out of a USED cmaera lens...to each there own.
As for asking for better price and shipping...I'm guessing you haven't bought or sold online before? It's what people do....again, you could have said no.
Lastly, if you haven't shipped the lens, feel free to refund my payment and relist it if this whole transaction has given you this much grief. I've had MANY transactions from USA buyers on here, FM, and ebay. I'm yet to find one who isnt accomodating on the customs aspect of the sale.
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#3. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 2
Just to add to this...maybe you guys down south dont realize just how much we get gouged on used items at the border.
Lets just say I bought a used item for $300...a US copy of a nikon lens for example.
Canada customs will charge me #1 - $8 in "handling". This is unavoidable.
#2 - They will charge a FULL SALES TAX of 14% on this USED USA LENS. Thats $42 in tax on a used item from another country. Its insane.
So on a $300 purchase, it tacks on $50 in tax/fees.
And lastly, a strong dollar has nothing to do with getting better deals from the USA. An example, a CDN seller sold this exact lens just recently for the same price shipping included to USA OR Canada....same price.
The point Im trying to make is that if I or any other CDN seller make a request to lower the value for customs and you arent "comfortable" with it, just say so!! 99% of the time its not a deal breaker, just a request!!
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#4. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 3
Hey all,
Another Canadian here...
Suggestion, ask US seller if there willing to send USPS rather than UPS... it's cheaper.
Check for a bit more
http://www.photoprice.ca/article/tax-duty-brokerage-demystified
(and as for the "I guess it's 4 cents.... thats 3.97 cents Canadian hahahah :9 )
As for the asking for the value to be changed, I typically don't bother to ask, also remember, if it breaks the shipping company won't refund what you PAID but only the value, and it wold not be fair to ask the seller if it was the shippers fault (sending in a plastic bag or something, well... then the shipper would be at fault, and have to have been a Canon shooter.... so your not likely to have needed it anyway - kidding)
My 2 cents
As a Canadian buyer, if you want to make an offer on an item do so... as a seller expect some haggleing just feel free to say no.
Don't ask for someone to lie on the forms they fill out, if they want to offer then they will.
thanks.
Anthony
D70s and not enough lenses!
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#8. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 4
fielden photo Registered since 26th Dec 2005Wed 05-Dec-07 04:55 PM
(and as for the "I guess it's 4 cents.... thats 3.97 cents
Canadian hahahah :9 )
That made me laugh.
Jay
To take photographs means to recognize both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye and one's heart on the same axis.
~H. C. Bresson
Visit my Nikonians gallery
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#5. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 3
woollybugger Registered since 24th Aug 2006Wed 05-Dec-07 03:51 PMMatt:
I didn't name anyone and meant this to a broader audience.
I just don't like lying on customs forms and I find being asked to do so rather unethical.
Whether your taxes are out of line or not does not make asking me to help you evade them any more palatable.
I'm Done.
Pfeif
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#6. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 3
Being that I am in Canada and just Very Recently bought from a fellow USA Nikonian... I share this:
Purchased a used item, had it shipped UPS ground declared at full value of purchase.
1st off I used Paypal and wasn't given a fair rate of exchange.
( I e-mailed Paypal and was given a lame excuse how they don't get prefered rates. ) So not only did they take the sellers 3% they took a few points of me too.
Next it lands at the boarder, $58 of taxes ( this is knew ) THEN U.P.S charged $45 for customs clearance paperwork by their "in house" brokers ?? ( No more UPS for me, USPS doesn't charge that much !)
Soooo... this item now cost me $100+ more than if I were South of the Boarder !!
The lower Declared Value for customs helps save a bit of money but the buyer is at a loss for if it goes missing, the seller is already paid and the buyer only get's that lower value.
I understand why Canadian buyers try to save that $$ bit extra but at the same time it's a risk they take if it get's damaged or lost.
No matter what the dollar value is at, it is a better deal in the USA for 90% of the transactions I've come across.
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#7. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 6
Yep.. UPS = $45 "brokarage" (depending on the item value).... USPS $5.00 (any one item)
BIG SAVINGS.
Don't forget guys that the Canadian prices are comming down on new stuff here, I would expect soon the used prices at Henrys and Vistek etc... to follow suit.
As for used, the US pool is much better, we can easily figure out what the landed cost is (USPS anyway, UPS has a listing but I can't find it now for there fee structure as it relates to brokerage.)
I've looked and bought, some are not worth the extra for shipping/tax but some very much are.
Add shipping + tax (Ontario 14%) +$5 (USPS) - do you still want the item?
Or can you get it in Canada for the same?
Anthony
D70s and not enough lenses!
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#28. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 6
I, for one, don't mind either valuing something as a gift or for a reduced, but reasonable amount. Without turning this into a political discussion, our governments, both here in the US and in Canada, take far too much of our money for what we get in return.
Look it at from the other direction. As a US Citizen, I can bring in about $1000 in goods duty free from another country. I have no problem helping someone out with the highway robbery known as customs duties...not to mention the outrageous "brokerage" fees.
Call it dishonest, or whatever, but that's my stance on it, and I doubt it will ever change. Maybe once they stop funneling billions of dollars a year into pork projects my mentality will change, but until then, I say screw 'em.
There's my .02 USD.
Bart
>Being that I am in Canada and just Very Recently bought from
>a fellow USA Nikonian... I share this:
>
>Purchased a used item, had it shipped UPS ground declared at
>full value of purchase.
>
>1st off I used Paypal and wasn't given a fair rate of
>exchange.
> I e-mailed Paypal and was given a lame excuse how they
>don't get prefered rates. ) So not only did they take the
>sellers 3% they took a few points of me too.
>
>Next it lands at the boarder, $58 of taxes ( this is knew )
>THEN U.P.S charged $45 for customs clearance paperwork by
>their "in house" brokers ?? ( No more UPS for me, USPS
>doesn't charge that much !)
>
>Soooo... this item now cost me $100+ more than if I were
>South of the Boarder !!
>
>The lower Declared Value for customs helps save a bit of
>money but the buyer is at a loss for if it goes missing, the
>seller is already paid and the buyer only get's that lower
>value.
>
>I understand why Canadian buyers try to save that $$ bit
>extra but at the same time it's a risk they take if it get's
>damaged or lost.
>
>No matter what the dollar value is at, it is a better deal
>in the USA for 90% of the transactions I've come across.
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#9. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
#10. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
The general tone of the OP is that people try and get too much of a "steal"(dickering on price and in this case including falsification of customs forms). When this happens, a reply like "not unless your a registered charity" is in order or a simple "no" should suffice. As a seller i find this very annoying but it comes with the territory.
As i Canadian myself, I would like to declare that we are not the only people who try and drive too hard a bargain. I have had this problem with selling items to Europe where they ask for a deal and to declare it as a "warranty repair" item to avoid VAT. Typically, when people ask for special favours in terms of Luxury shipping and what not, expect to pay a higher price for that(nothing is free). Keep in mind that any seller can elect to auction off the item if a secondary market price is not offered.
#12. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
>finding some bargains in the US, please don't ask us to lie
>on customs papers about the value of goods we send to
>Canada.
>
>I don't mind selling stuff to Canada but I am a bit put off
>when buyers dicker on price and want higher cost Express
>USPS shipping for no more cost and then want me to lie to
>customs about the value.
Yo Pfeif,
thank you for the provocative thread.
as a seller, you must expect that someone will perhaps offer you less than your asking price. It is from this basis a seller hopes to conclude a sale. And I am inclined to think the buyer should also have something to say about how his precious new item will be shipped and insured, as long as he is willing to pay any extra. This could simply have to do with the UPS store being around the corner from the buyer. So far this seems reasonable in negotiating a sale. In other words, expect to have potential buyers "dicker".
While it is, i am afraid, rather common for sellers to understate an item's value, or claim a gift, for the purpose of minimizing international duties, it is the seller's prerogative to understand and establish his own ethical standards. It is the seller's own responsibility to himself avoid financial dealings with those whose ethics appear to him substandard. Just as in choosing to avoid dealing with scalpers, whose massive pre-orders create an initial shortage, causing perhaps less scrupulous buyers to agree to defrauding the manufacturer regarding warranty.
As for cross-border sales, I have bought a number of near-mint used cameras/lenses from Canadian sellers--ALL most excellent and fair transactions. On at least one of those I was later billed by Purolator for brokering the tariff (which seemed high to me at the time, though I cannot remember the exact amount). I know not why this did not occur on all but a couple transactions, just want to mention possible hidden costs to buying across borders.
Perhaps another of our members has more explicit data concerning US/Canada duties.
best, andy
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves.
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves
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#13. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 12
Its not a matter of duties, its a matter of integrity. Duties and taxes are a reality. I pay them, as do my US counterparts. I have been ordering things from around the world when the Cdn dollar was at its weakest, but the items I bought had enough value to me that I paid the price to buy them. I knew that I would likely be assessed with ridiculous duties (especially if shipped by UPS), but that is my cost to bear. I don't expect the seller to offset the fair selling price for this and I don't expect him/her to lie about the transaction cost to try to cheat the taxman. Nor will I do the same for items that I sell. Come on, we're big people - you know what tax implications will be assessed. Either the item is worth the TOTAL cost or its not. Met some really nice folks here on the website. Its not a Canada vs US sale issue. Its an integrity issue and everyone I have me so far here has nothing to be questioned in that regard. This thread is a bit insulting - time to grow up. Us Canadians enjoy alot of benefits from our tax system (when was the last time you were denied a doctor's visit at no cost!?!) Sorry, but it doesn't come free. And don't expect the folks at Nikonians to fund it. This is a sale posting - as infuriating as it is, the post doesn't belong here.
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#14. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 12
You Canadians pay more taxes than those of us in the US in large part because you get things like your medical care paid for by your government. To ask those of us south of the border to help you avoid or underpay taxes while you take services that are tax-funded is a curious bit of ethics to me. Most of us in the States spend many thousand dollars per year per person for medical coverage and some people here cannot get medical insurance at any price. Thus, we are permitted to buy Nikon gear and numerous other things cheaply and supposedly it all comes out even. Either country's system makes some sense, but to have it both ways is to ask too much. Add in the strongest Loonie in 30 years (up from US$0.62 in 2002) and I wonder why some people north of the border have the audacity to whine about Canadian customs duty on a luxury item like a Nikon camera lens.
I will continue to offer items for sale to Canada, but I'll put a note in my listings that goods shipped to Canada will, as usual, be declared at sales value net of boxing and shipping costs.
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#15. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 14
jbear Registered since 22nd May 2003Wed 05-Dec-07 10:09 PMI can't help but wonder how many of the stone throwers are doing so from the safety of their glass houses. You don't like it...don't do it. I suppose that you folks don't drive 60 in a 55 zone? Use the office copier for personal use? Write off things on your taxes that you shouldn't? Oh...someone is going to say that that's different. How arbitrarily people decide which infractions of law offend them. BTW...statements like "You Canadians..." are disrepectful and provocative. Is that how "you Americans" behave? How non-Nikonian; I'm embarassed to see this type of retoric on this site. To the Canadiens out there, please don't think that those folks speak for all Americans.
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#16. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 15
jbear: I think you've hit the nail on the head. I appreciate you being able to see both points of view. I for one do not think the comments above are representative of all Americans....just a select few who seems to have some sort of bound of jealousy for "Us Canadians..."
Cheers to you
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#22. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 14
For the record, I said, "You Canadians pay more taxes than those of us in the US..." Has political correctess entirely taken over? Is English grammar in Canada different than south of the border? Is this statement any different than, "You Canadians have more snow in the winter than we do."? Does the second statement in quotes offend as well?
It's quite different to commit an infraction of the law than to entice someone to engage in a conspiracy to do so. That's the legal difference in asking a seller to understate the value of a sold item vs. your driving over the speed limit. The penalty is substantially different as well.
If there is a standard of behavior for Nikonians, I suggest that not asking each other to engage in a conspiracy--however minor--should be part of it.
Rant all you want and call me whatever names you desire. I am done with this nearly nonsense discussion, although I have learned one thing from it: I won't ship anything I sell to Canada from here on. "US 50 states + DC only."
#17. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
In the end just be fair and upfront on what you will and will not do and be professional and courteous.
Last I have served along side many Canadian units and even spent some time on the HMCS Terra Nova(I do believe she is now decommissioned) and have the greatest respect for you all. We may differ on a great many subjects and the health-care issue has nothing to do with this site or photography so lets keep on point and try to respect each others differences. Again lets stay friendly!
Jim
Share, Learn and Inspire
www.nikonians.org
I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy
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#18. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 17
Lex Registered since 01st Jul 2006Thu 06-Dec-07 09:36 AMFirst, I am not going to get involved in any bickering. I'll state some facts as an experienced worldwide shipper.
1. Canada is among the most particular countries in terms of what is or is not allowed, or has been the last 6 years I have shipped there.
2. To Canada, if an item above $600.00 is shipped, AND insured, it must go Global Priority Mail, standard airmail only applies to packages below a insured 600.00 value (US$) FACT.
3. As a seller, it is impossible for me to insure at one value, and then declare at another value. Think about it. If i've declared a value, then the insured value MUST be equal to that value or less to be recoverable in the event of a lost package. How can you justify a higher insured value than declared value? You just can't. So, if someone wants lower declared value, at the least, they have to agree to lower insured value. Whether a seller would do this, of course is at their discretion.
4. What duties, are or are not paid from a Canadian is out of US seller's control. So, please, understand, we don't know, we don't really care. If it's to much for you, then you should buy in your native country.
5. It is a fact, Avoid UPS or Fed Ex shipping internationally if at all possible. they do charge a fee to walk package across boarder. US Postal has a reciprical agreement with Canadian Post, and other countries mail systems to handle Customs duties included in rate.
6. What shipping options are available at US Postal varies by country. There are also package size limitations. Insurance to a few countries is either unavailable, or must be insured and shipped as Global Express.
7. Concluding, discrepancies such as these are why some people choose not to get involved with international shipments. In a way, I can't blame them. I do to a point, because I am used to shipping internationally more. I've shipped to Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, England, Australia, Japan, Singapore and many more.
The most interesting shipment I ever made was a guitar to South Africa. It started out as a favor for someone I knew. It ended up as a problem, and an all day event to get it shipped. Initially, I priced shipping @ US Postal, but due to it's size,it would not ship. So, I went to UPS, they wanted $600.00 to ship a fairly inexpensive guitar. It wound up, I had to ship it US Postal, with a catch. I had to disassemble the guitar, and ship in 2 boxes, custom fabricating the boxes for the neck and pickup, and the body. What a job this was. I know there must be other freight companies that ship to these other parts of the world easier, or I would hope...
Doug
D3s, D3x, D700, fine glassware (Nikkor and Zeiss), Think Tank bag freak. Singh-Ray, Heliopan, B&W are filters of choice. SB-900 X 2, SU-800 commander.
Studio lighting PCB einstein X 3, AB400, beauty dish, octabox, Apollo, Sekonic L358.
Visit my Nikonians gallery.-
#19. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 18
ShelleyA Registered since 20th Jun 2007Thu 06-Dec-07 10:49 AMAll I will say is, Thank you jbear,and jim. You have re-affirmed my feelings for the big white elephant.. um sorry, I mean our neighbours down south
I buy a lot of stuff from the US (from stores and private buyers) and I have never had a complaint.
D200, F4S, 80-200 AFS, 50mm 1.2 AI, 50mm 1.8D 35mm f2 AIS, 105mm f2.5 AIS, 35-70mm f2.8D, 85mm 1.8D 17-35 2.8, 135mm f2 AI,
"Someone save me from NAS!!!"
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#35. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 17
>spent some time on the HMCS Terra Nova
Yo James,
that's the name of my boat! I kept the same name from the previous owner.
best, andy
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves.
Attachment#1 (jpg file)
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves
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#20. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 35
Captain Rich Registered since 25th May 2006Thu 06-Dec-07 04:50 PMYo Andrew (my sons name also - not Yo, just Andrew)
What kind of boat is that? Looks pretty cool. Katrina took me out of the sailing business, but I still appreciate looking at pretty boats.
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#23. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 20
yo_andrew Registered since 25th Jan 2006Thu 06-Dec-07 06:45 PM>What kind of boat is that? Looks pretty cool. Katrina took
>me out of the sailing business, but I still appreciate
>looking at pretty boats.
Yo Rich,
sorry about everyone's loss..
My boat is a fiberglass series-production Freya 39. The original Freya won the Sydney-Hobart Race three years in a row, back in the sixties. It IS pretty cool 'cause it's pointy at both ends.
Terra Nova had been the term found on early charts to designate unexplored land (literally, new land).
best, andy
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves.
"THERE'S MORE TO OPTICS THAN MEETS THE EYE"
Not till we have lost the world do we begin to find ourselves
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#21. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
I am really impressed by all those complaining about making the request.....
It's as if:
nobody ever haggeled....
nobody tried to (dare I say) negotiate a better price....
Only pay wholesale - never retail.....
nobody ever tried to get a lower price let's say when buying a car..
Never offered to pay someone cash to save a few bucks...
And everyone always pay's their income tax as they should and all their deductions are above board...
I laugh - the same people carrying on are likely the same people who complained when the Nikon D300 was selling at SUGGESTED RETAIL at top stores....Boy, talk about a ripoff! Imagine paying suggested retail!
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#24. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 21
Photograffiti Nikonian since 03rd Apr 2006Thu 06-Dec-07 07:12 PMI've both bought and sold from Canadian residents - with each transaction going flawlessly (much better than with a couple transactions I've had with Americans). I've also had several transactions globally, elsewhere. I've twice been asked to change the value for such tax purposes. The first time, I agreed; the second time I refused.
After my first transaction, I felt guilty. I'd helped someone cheat their government out of tax dollars. This might not seem to be a big deal, but what I was basically doing was assisting in defrauding the government. Yes, I know...it wasn't my government. And I'm not such a prude that I don't realize that it happens every day. I'm as guilty of the minor legal infractions (mentioned above) as anyone else. But I would never ask someone to help me break the law. If I choose to do so, it's at my own risk, and I'm fully aware of the consequences. To ask someone to do so, is to ask them to become a partner in my crime. THAT is why I simply pay the shipping/customs/VAT or whatever it's called to receive my item.
I'm not condemning anyone for doing so. Money is hard enough to make, and even harder to part with. Furthermore, I certainly don't discourage haggling over price. It's simply a part of business negotiations. However, I believe that asking someone to abet in the crime of circumventing legally established tariffs (for lack of a better term) isn't right. Don't misunderstand...taxes are the reason that the US is an independent country (Remember: "No taxation without representation"?) But I'm in the photography-as-a-serious- hobby business. Not in the smuggling business.
I'm sure that others feel differently, and they have every right to do so. This isn't a Canada v. US post - as I have the utmost respect for my (or our) northern neighbors. This is just my opinion, and you're welcome to yours.
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#25. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 24
ShelleyA Registered since 20th Jun 2007Thu 06-Dec-07 11:37 PMFor the most part, I don't mind paying the tariffs that my country imposes, and I'm a relatively honest person, no more and no less than the 'average' person out there. What really gets my goat is when they charge me tariff's plus 'handling fees' when they take it upon themselves to open my packages.
But,that is a personal beef that isn't appropriate in the 'want to buy' section of this forum. Then again, IMO, this entire topic isn't appropriate for this section, or this forum for that matter.
If there are certain things that you would rather not do when selling an item, you should either:
A) post it in your advertisement
B) have it out with the person you have an issue with via PM (i.e., not post an entire thread about it)
C) only sell to people within your own borders (go jingoism!- sorry, couldn't help myself) or,
D) don't sell at all, because no matter what you do, you are going to get a buyer who will ask you to do something that will irritate the ##### out of you or offend your sensibilities. Don't shoot the messenger, but that's life.
Just the two cents (of a Canadian who gets irritated at constantly reading for sale posts with 'will only ship to the lower 48' but is old enough to understand that people are within their rights to stipulate their sales conditions).
(or 1.97 cents Canadian )
D200, F4S, 80-200 AFS, 50mm 1.2 AI, 50mm 1.8D 35mm f2 AIS, 105mm f2.5 AIS, 35-70mm f2.8D, 85mm 1.8D 17-35 2.8, 135mm f2 AI,
"Someone save me from NAS!!!"-
#26. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 25
Nikon32250 Nikonian since 16th Mar 2004Fri 07-Dec-07 12:34 AMI have sold several items to Canadians and never had a problem. Most times the buyer has asked me to lower the value on the Customs Form. What I may consider is to lower it somewhat but not enough that someone would question a 300mm f/2.8 lens with a declared value of $100.00. If it is fairly cheap I wouldn't lose any sleep by complying with the buyer's request.
If it is more expensive and going to be insured then I make sure that the buyer understands that if the item arrives broken then they are only going to be able to file a claim for the declared value. Every time the buyer has asked me to fully insure.
After reading all these posts I'll probably be a little more judicious in deciding how to value sold items. Now if both sides of the border will vote for the Fair Tax then we wouldn't be having this discussion.
p.s. Maybe I need to invoke my 5th Amendment Rights here. Or to quote the great Sgt. Schultz, "I know nothiiiiing!"
Graham
Living near Jacksonville Beach, FL. "I like photographers, you don't ask questions." Ronald Reagan to White House Press Photogs
http://www.ancientcityphotography.com/>
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
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#27. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
#29. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
"Many Americans buy over the Internet to avoid local sales tax"
If you check the tax laws of your state, it is VERY LIKELY that you are REQUIRED to pay sales tax on EVERYTHING you purchase, whether from out of state or not. If you do buy something from out of state, the vendor is not required to collect the sales tax because the buyers state can't legally force them to do so (although some states are joining together now to overcome this). The buyer is responsible for filling out a sales tax form to report the purchase and pay the sales tax owed. How many Americans actually conform to this law? Hah - practically none. At least no one that I know.
The word "avoid" is correct. It is technically tax avoidance and not legal to not pay the sales tax.
Voluntary not paying sales tax is really no different than that Canadian buyer trying to avoid paying those import fees.
There will eventually come a time that not having to pay sales tax on out of state purchases will no longer be possible. Sales tax will be charged and the states involved in the transaction will have some arrangement as to how it is reported and collected.
So buy all of that gear now.
Luis Gonzalez
Everlasting Photography, Inc.
Luis Gonzalez
#30. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
We all pay taxes directly or indirectly, and we should
perhaps question some of those taxes, as citizens
of either the USA or Canada.
It is a part of our economic structure. We may well
not like paying taxes/duties/handling fees however
if any of us wish to be a part of society, we pay.
As to higher or lower declared values
Residents of the USA or Canada, postal mail the
goods. Yes, courier companies will suck you in on
the value and customs brokerage fees on goods,
that's what they're in business
to do, make money, and they'll do it any way they can.
I have purchased lenses from non-Nikonians in the past, best example three years ago was a lense valued at US$450.00, shipped United Parcel;
By the time it was all over, another CDN$220.00 had been spent.
Ironically I could have purchased a similar lense here in Canada
for about C$800.00 IF it was available, and it wasn't. Nikon Canada was out of stock and the glass had been discontinued.
You pay your price for your goods and go from there.
#31. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 0
Who wants to volunteer first to pay the NY rate......maybe the person who started this thread in the first place - I think not!
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#32. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 31
woollybugger Registered since 24th Aug 2006Sat 08-Dec-07 03:01 AMI started this and it has taken on a life of it's own.
I only wished that persons having something shipped to another country not ask me (they can ask you or anybody else if you like) to lie about the value on US customs forms.
I know, I can just say no. lesson learned.
The rest of this has become most entertaining.
As far as state sales tax goes, we pay it in our own states and it is only collected by companies that have businesses in our state. Dell computer, for example, operates service facilities in all states and collects sales tax for all states.
B&H does not and sales to out of state that are not over-the-counter are tax exempt. I am not breaking my states laws by buy out of state on the internet or over the phone. Some states have enacted laws that are otherwise but mine has not. No harm no foul.
What you pay or I pay for taxes, health care, escort services or anything else has nothing to do with whether someone lies on a US customs form about the price of a piece of Nikon gear bought on this board.
Ben Franklin said it -
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Mark Pfeifer
In ND only a few hours from Manitoba and just as cold . . .
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#33. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 32
How "bout....
No taxation without representation? Boy, am I glad George W represents us sooooo well!
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#34. "RE: Canadian Buyers please read" | In response to Reply # 32
ShelleyA Registered since 20th Jun 2007Sat 08-Dec-07 01:12 PM>I started this and it has taken on a life of it's own.
>
>I only wished that persons having something shipped to
>another country not ask me (they can ask you or anybody else
>if you like) to lie about the value on US customs forms.
>
>I know, I can just say no. lesson learned.
I certainly hope so.
Your opening post certainly sounded like more than just a wish, to me at least. But, whatever.
You Yanks should just ship all your gear to us Canucks for free; we will happily pay whatever taxes our govenment imposes at that point! Health care and free lenses!?! woo hoo!
Any of you Yanks got a 200 mm f2 you want to ship gratis to a nice Canuck? You'll not only be helping Revenue Canada, but you will also be helping a Canuck who hasn't got $4,000 to drop on a lens!
I'm just joking. Sort of.
JayG, your last two posts made me laugh. One may not be able to circumvent death, but one can certainly (try to) avoid paying taxes.
D200, F4S, 80-200 AFS, 50mm 1.2 AI, 50mm 1.8D 35mm f2 AIS, 105mm f2.5 AIS, 35-70mm f2.8D, 85mm 1.8D 17-35 2.8, 135mm f2 AI,
"Someone save me from NAS!!!"
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G
I don't mind selling stuff to Canada but I am a bit put off when buyers dicker on price and want higher cost Express USPS shipping for no more cost and then want me to lie to customs about the value.
If you want to see more "US Sales only" this will certainly make it happen.
My 2 cents American
Pfeif