Just curious if any of the initial group were from Canada and if so, how the long the wait was for it to ship/pass customs, etc and what customs billed on the unit?

Thanks,

obi

Still, waiting on the notice it shipped. Billed yesterday. Although I'm not having the unit shipped to Canada, picking it up in the USA and handling the importation myself. I did speak to Customs and they told me it was duty free, only applicable taxes. Another Outlaw forum memeber Jeff Mackwood, has put together a tips and tricks of importing Outlaw and other goods into Canada "memo"

Placed order on tthe 8th, shipping started on the 12th and I recieved it on the 19th, so faily quickly.

Sorry customs bill was for $280 can

Butch,

What did you purchase that had $280 customs on it? Not just the 990 I hope!

I hate to say it but good old UPS took me to the cleaners only the 990 on this order.

Well I will have to see what my LFM1 comes in at.. Maybe Outlaw needs to look at a different carrier. Someone else told me UPS sucks coming into Canada.

Based on what I've been told (by an unlucky Canadian who bought something from me on eBay), Canadians receiving something from the US want to avoid UPS at ALL COSTS. Apparently, they consistently tack on punitive handling charges.

UPS fee was just under $80can the rest was taxes and duty

There is a form you can fill out with Fed-Ex that will make the brokerage fees on a 990 about $30. This is information from a non competing company that does a lot of shipments to Canada:

Canadian customs in their attempt to simplify shipping for their commercial customers, has made it much more difficult for individuals. Canadian customs requires that the broker who is clearing the package, also has a Power of Attorney from the customer. This means, that if you have not used FedEx before, then you will need to fill out a Power of Attorney form with them before getting your package.

Canada keeps a database of customers and their brokers. If you have selected another broker to clear your packages in a previous shipment, then that information remains in the database and FedEx will have that broker clear the freight for you. The external broker will then charge you an additional brokerage fee. This can add up, so setting up Fed-Ex with a Power of Attorney with ensure a flat rate.

If you have FedEx set up as your broker, then FedEx charges about 3% of the value of the shipment, or about $7.50 minimum. Fedex costs about as much as Air Mail to ship and is cheaper to when shipping multiple packages. To set FedEx up as your broker, call Shannon Howard and FedEx Canada: 800-563-1120.

We recommend shipping by Mail to Canada, if you are ordering items that will weight less than 66 pounds and fit into a single package. The maximum size limit is 60" in length and 108" in length plus girth. The maximum insurance is $675 USD per package. The Mail service will brokerage the package at no extra charge. Air Mail takes about one week and surface mail about two weeks and they are about the same price. FedEx is about the same price as Air Mail as long as you have FedEx as your broker. UPS ground is cheaper for larger orders, but they charge more for brokerage.

For Canada single package service:
----------------------------------
Air Mail - Offers the best deal. Brokerage included. Only about 23% more than surface.
Surface Mail - Brokerage included. Two to three weeks delivery (more time for breakage).
FedEx - Fast service. Same price as Air Mail as long as FedEx is your broker.

For Canada multiple package service:
------------------------------------
UPS Ground - Best deal for multiple packages, but a separate brokerage fee and disbursement fee is charged.

Brokerage Fee Canadian Dollars:
0-40 $6.70
40-100 $18.45
100-200 $27.45
200-350 $35.55
350-500 $39.90
500-750 $45.30
750-1000 $50.70
1000-1250 $56.10
1250-1600 $59.55
1600-5000 $62.75

Disbursement Fee Canadian Dollars:
$4.50 minimum or 2.5%

FedEx - Good deal for fast service. Brokerage included as long as FedEx is your broker. A separate disbursement fee is charged, FedEx charges about 3% of the value of the shipment, or about $7.50 minimum

Mail - worst choice, each box goes separately and not as a single shipment. The price adds up quickly.

The problem is that, unless they've changed their ways, Outlaw only ships via UPS Ground.

The solution would be for Outlaw to establish a Canadian distribution and repair facility. But that's not likely.

Of course you could also PM me your email address to receive a copy of my "Border Tips" document.

Jeff Mackwood

Hey Jeff,

I PMed you mine, could you please send it my way? thanks.

Just sent.

For the info of anyone who PMs me: I am sometimes not logged on for several days at a time. So in some cases it could take a while for me to respond - or sometimes it's fast like today. But rest assured that I do respond to all of them. (I think Border Tips has gone out to close to 50 Canadian Outlaws by now.)

Jeff Mackwood

I had mine shipped to a friend in the USA. With a 48 hour exemption. My cost was 170.22 for the taxes. The 990 is duty free under 8518.50. Customs agent was excellent, was more worried I was going to use it to play rap music. A waste of good electronics in his opinion .. lol.

FYI, for Canadians interested on purchasing the 990 and wondering how much it will cost: $1647.45 CDN, total imported cost for me.

Hmm, I wonder if I got dinged on duty. My GST/Brokerage/Duty was $165 CDN. Any way to claim that back if you did?

I ordered my 990 today and was a little upset when I heard that Outlaw only uses UPS. It's going to raise the cost of the 990 much higher then I had hoped.

I normally stay clear of UPS just because of this.

On the plus side however, everything I have ever had shipped to me from the US, has made it in with no problems when UPS is looking after it. I can't say the same for FedEx or even the postal service. So I guess you pay a price for getting stuff cleared in a timely fashion...........Although that price is way to high!

I have had hundreds and hundreds of shipments come from the US to my Canadian address by USPS and have never ever had a problem with any of them. Plus Canada Post charges a flat $5.00 brokerage fee (for high enough value items).

I have never ever had a problem-free shipment that has come via UPS. It is always a nightmare. Screwed-up shipments. Brokerage fees that leave you feeling assaulted. Very inconvenient arrangements for missed deliveries (compared to other courier companies). Billing and finance departments that make the term "customer viscious" sound like a compliment. I do not understand why an excellent company like Outlaw continues to associate with the exact opposite. I avoid them at all cost.

Jeff Mackwood

Trikos, was was your break down on the 990 coming in - curious as they came in with in a day of each other....

Mine: GST $176.66, Brokerage $71.80, Brokerage GST $5.03 - total value for duty was $1261.84 Dated May 31, 2005.

No updates on the 770 on UPS' site since May 24th - set for delivery on May 30th???? Talked to them - there apparently was another scan today in Minniapolis... bets on how banged up the box/unit is if it ever arrives?

See also my post in the Tips and Tricks forum.

UPS is amongst the worst shippers to use for cross border shipping (I have used them numerous times for car parts, and rarely trouble free) and I have no idea why Outlaw still uses them for Canadian orders?

I'm seeing more and more US retailers use http://www.borderfree.com which is run by CanadaPost to cater to US merchants for exactly that reason. The price quotes up front are final costs delivered to your door including shipping, duty, taxes, and brokerage. No surprises what so ever...

Does anyone from Outlaw read these posts?
ROb

Formica,
I live in Western Canada and have had nothing but grief as well with UPS. I'm seriously considering the 990 and have a few friends interested as well, but having been burned before with total shipping costs equaling a considerable percentage of the purchase we haven't pulled the trigger on any purchases as of yet. Hopefully Outlaw reads this and responds to improve their shipping procedure. I for one would then have no hesitation to make this purchase if shipping charges were reasonable.

Borderfree looks nice, I normall send usps Global Express.

Which uses purolator here as soon as it gets to canada, in canada, brokerage fees are cheaper ~ 20bucks cnd , and they are Fast, and tracked.

With any electronics I normally reccomend express or expitied shipping, this is because when i was younger i worked for shipping companies, and all ground shipments are hand 'bombed' out of the truck.
With express Their is much less 'manhandling'.

So with delicate electronics, go Air if you can.

It is not much more then ground when you consider the Brokerage fees that ups charges.
~30-40 more for expidiate after brokerages fees.

All of this info is very nice to know but the fact that Outlaw will only ship UPS makes it all pointless. I've called Outlaw CS and there does not seem to be anyway to ship to Canada other then UPS and they are not looking at changing this. Based on previous experience with other similarily priced electronics the 990 will cost Canadians in the $1700 range delivered to door. This is very frustrating and will make this purchase a very tough diecision.

My shipping cost was US $50 = CAD $60. Your cost will likely be different.

990 cost of US $1100 was converted as $1280 using an exchange rate of 0.85. Assessed GST+PST was $180.

Subtotal is $1520.

UPS will ding you another $90 brokerage if you can't avoid it.

OTOH the new minority government promised an immediate 1% drop in GST, saving you $12 if they fulfill their promise.

If you live in Alberta you will save the PST of $90 --- but likely not be able to get around the UPS brokerage.

This more or less brings you even with those in Vancouver who have to pay the PST, but who have a good chance to save on the UPS brokerage!

IMHO you'll have to be pretty sure about the purchase before going ahead since the GST+PST paid over and above the shipping cost is likely not refundable even if you wish to return the unit.

Thanks quietdragon, I decided to order it anyways and just suck up the costs as part of my decision when comparing it to the alternatives. The best deal I could get on the Rotel 1068 was still considerably more and everything else still $1000 higher. If I lived in the states it would have been a very easy purchase, I'm just hoping I won't need to return it. Based on what I've read here there doesn't seem to be a significant amount of defective units so I'm optomistic.

Yes, I went to have a look at the Rotel 1068 unit too. I found a demo 1066 locally and the dealer was asking about $1800 before taxes. I went to audition a new Rotel 1068 and the dealer was asking $2200 before taxes. The reviews I've read haven't indicated that the 1068 was a hands down superior buy to the 990. Even with shipping (and UPS brokerage if I couldn't avoid it) the 990 comes out cheaper!

I also found a demo Anthem unit, but the cost was significantly more.

If the unit is defective, I think it might be possible to avoid the GST+PST on the repaired unit with the right paperwork (you've already imported the unit once).

Accordingly to the warranty information (and a previous post), Outlaw should pay the shipping cost including UPS brokerage to return the repaired unit to you.