ATV parts

[rf2]

Brokerage fee's aren't always that bad if you weigh the choice/expense of traveling to pick up your parts vs just having them delivered to your door.

http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shi...clearance.html

Notice I said "brokerage fees etc." The fees you quoted don't include duties or taxes. I find that when I go to pick something up in the U.S., they never ask me the country of origin of the goods (so I avoid duties), and often, I won't have to pay taxes even though I declared the item at the border. I've heard and seen horror stories where people have ordered items from the U.S., had them delivered to their doors and the extra shipping + duty + brokerage + tax was practically greater than the value of the goods.

That being said, it doesn't always make sense to go pick something up in the U.S. instead of having it shipped directly to your door. However, in this case, both the OP and I live close to the border, and in my experience, the difference in price of automotive/ATV parts between Canada and the U.S. makes it worthwhile to do what I described. If I am able to order parts ahead of time for a repair, I almost always do it this way for big ticket items. If you combine several items into one trip across the border, you will save money.

[last5oh_302]

Notice I said "brokerage fees etc." The fees you quoted don't include duties or taxes. I find that when I go to pick something up in the U.S., they never ask me the country of origin of the goods (so I avoid duties), and often, I won't have to pay taxes even though I declared the item at the border. I've heard and seen horror stories where people have ordered items from the U.S., had them delivered to their doors and the extra shipping + duty + brokerage + tax was practically greater than the value of the goods.

That being said, it doesn't always make sense to go pick something up in the U.S. instead of having it shipped directly to your door. However, in this case, both the OP and I live close to the border, and in my experience, the difference in price of automotive/ATV parts between Canada and the U.S. makes it worthwhile to do what I described. If I am able to order parts ahead of time for a repair, I almost always do it this way for big ticket items. If you combine several items into one trip across the border, you will save money.

Yes it definitely depends on the scenario (amount of items, trip across border, etc, I've done it all too) but regardless you still have to pay taxes and duties unless you're not claiming the items when you come back (although like you said you can luck out from time to time and not pay anything, usually on small ticket items). BTW there shouldn't be any duties on auto/atv parts etc as far as I'm aware. I've never paid duties on those types of items. Also, whatever you paid for shipping is taxable as well, even though it was shipped within the states.

All that being said, I agree. Don't buy a 20 buck item and have it shipped by UPS. Use USPS in that case and you won't get nailed for brokerage fee's and on smaller ticket items you'll usually get away with taxes and duties as well.

[MikePal]

but regardless you still have to pay taxes and duties unless you're not claiming the items when you come back. BTW there shouldn't be any duties on auto/atv parts etc as far as I'm aware. I've never paid duties on those types of items. Also, whatever you paid for shipping is taxable as well, even though it was shipped within the states.

Even when you claim them, unless your over $200 they rarely call you in anymore. My past few visits (bi-weekly) I have been waived thru.

Also, they ask you to include the cost of shipping in your $total verbal declaration, but they have said and don't normally charge HST on the US shipping costs you incurred. However, I was also told that there are some scammers out there that try to claim the cost of the item was only $5 but s/h was $40...they will get taxed on the whole amount if they see thru that scam.

"It's like hitting the jackpot" when you come back with a full tank of gas that saved you $10 and with $150 in goods and you don't have to pay the $20 HST on...!!!

[greatwhite]

We have found the same well for a hundred or less. I was just waved through. I asked them once and he said the paper work isn't worth the time. A friend of mine who works in Cornwall goes over and picks a 12 pack and they just wave him trough as well.

Even when claim them, unless your over $200 the rarely call you in anymore. My past few visits (bi-weekly) I have been waived thru.

Also, they ask you to include the cost of shipping in your total verbal declaration, but they have said and don't normally charge HST on the US shipping costs you incurred. However I was also told that there are some scammers out there that try to claim the cost of the item was only $5 but s/h was $40...they will get taxed on the whole amount if they see thru that scam.

"It's like hitting the jackpot" when you come back with a full tank of gas that saved you $10 and with $150 in goods and you don't have to pay the $20 HST on...!!!

[greatwhite]

Seeing as I have a few peoples attention. I don't suppose any of you have an old ATV helmet that might fit a 10 year old child. I got one for me and one for my older son just need to find one for the youngest something cheap since he will probably out grow it in 2 years or less, maybe 20 bucks. Anyone in the Ottawa region?

[last5oh_302]

Even when you claim them, unless your over $200 they rarely call you in anymore. My past few visits (bi-weekly) I have been waived thru.

Also, they ask you to include the cost of shipping in your $total verbal declaration, but they have said and don't normally charge HST on the US shipping costs you incurred. However, I was also told that there are some scammers out there that try to claim the cost of the item was only $5 but s/h was $40...they will get taxed on the whole amount if they see thru that scam.

"It's like hitting the jackpot" when you come back with a full tank of gas that saved you $10 and with $150 in goods and you don't have to pay the $20 HST on...!!!

It all depends on who you get at the booth, and sometimes which border you're crossing. Sometimes they'll nail you for everything. Last time I paid $200 for shipping (freight) on wheels and tires for my truck from Texas to Tonawanda NY. That 200 was to be included although the guy softened up and let me off. I didn't even think he was correct on that but I looked it up when I got home and sure as shootin....

[last5oh_302]

Seeing as I have a few peoples attention. I don't suppose any of you have an old ATV helmet that might fit a 10 year old child. I got one for me and one for my older son just need to find one for the youngest something cheap since he will probably out grow it in 2 years or less, maybe 20 bucks. Anyone in the Ottawa region?

You can usually find cheap helmets at Royal Distributing for around 30-50 bucks.

[MikePal]

old ATV helmet that might fit a 10 year old child.

I suppose you know that you should never wear an old used helmut. The have a limited life and it's recommended that you change them if they were ever dropped etc.

Just saying...if it was my kid...it would be Brand Spanking new. Cheaper in the long run

[greatwhite]

Yeah maybe a new one for him. But my 30 year old helmet should be good for me eh.

I suppose you know that you should never wear an old used helmut. The have a limited life and it's recommended that you change them if they were ever dropped etc.

Just saying...if it was my kid...it would be Brand Spanking new. Cheaper in the long run

[Utah]

Stick with eBay GW....have it shipped to a UPS Store (Massena/Ogdensburg) and pick it up there for $5....you'll never find parts as cheap as you can down south. I've kept 2 Big Reds and a multitude of other equipment working for years buying off eBay.

X2.. I bough an 07 sportsman atv a few years back. It was a theft recovery from insurance company. Frame, tires, half the motor and winch was all that was there.

Thought it would be a fun winter project. Through Polaris, all parts in Canada would be over 5g. I knew going into it I would use eBay, get enough parts at a time to test compression, spark and keep going if it looked good. Found a atv recycler in Colorado that charged me about $600 for every piece I needed shipped to my PO box in ABay. I gave him my list and he packaged it all up. Lots of places in states say they can make a lot more $$$ on parting out a perfectly good bike on eBay than the bind is worth, and it makes them easy to deal with