How much...?!!

"How Much?!!!" - The rhetorical question (what if were no rhetorical questions?), often squealed indignantly in this household when unexpected costs reveal themselves.

In the past month or so, we've had several (most welcome) enquires regarding EWA amplifiers from Canada and North America here at ABCaudio towers. My question; how much does it cost the end user to purchase something like an amplifier from the UK and inport it for for personal use?

I assume that there is a basic customs handling charges linked with some kind of duty or tax to be paid by the purchaser, if it's anything like here?

For example, the EWA Claymore integrated costs £1300 in old money (GBP). Assuming we bill a further £40 or so for subsidised shipping, what sort of total costs would a Canadian or US client end up paying?
 
"How Much?!!!" - The rhetorical question (what if were no rhetorical questions?), often squealed indignantly in this household when unexpected costs reveal themselves.

In the past month or so, we've had several (most welcome) enquires regarding EWA amplifiers from Canada and North America here at ABCaudio towers. My question; how much does it cost the end user to purchase something like an amplifier from the UK and inport it for for personal use?

I assume that there is a basic customs handling charges linked with some kind of duty or tax to be paid by the purchaser, if it's anything like here?

For example, the EWA Claymore integrated costs £1300 in old money (GBP). Assuming we bill a further £40 or so for subsidised shipping, what sort of total costs would a Canadian or US client end up paying?

Depends on the state as i understand it, Sales taxes in the United States - Wikipedia tge shipping companies also often charge admin fees on top of that.
 
Thank you, both.

So about $550 over UK list price. Approximately +20%. I'll take that as a ballpark figure for amps and cables, I think.

I was trying to get my head around how this works, it seems Canada has a federal GST (5%) while the UK has a VAT (20%) system, but then there are localised taxes on top. It costs us +25-30% to bring purchases into the UK.

I wonder if clients would feel better cared for if we used a clearing house and just charged a set amount to cover it all and deliver purchases to the door, rather than paying website/UK price and then getting hit when the package arrives.

This all started so simply, as just a hobby dealing with local interest!
 
Thank you, both.

So about $550 over UK list price. Approximately +20%. I'll take that as a ballpark figure for amps and cables, I think.

I was trying to get my head around how this works, it seems Canada has a federal GST (5%) while the UK has a VAT (20%) system, but then there are localised taxes on top. It costs us +25-30% to bring purchases into the UK.

I wonder if clients would feel better cared for if we used a clearing house and just charged a set amount to cover it all and deliver purchases to the door, rather than paying website/UK price and then getting hit when the package arrives.

This all started so simply, as just a hobby dealing with local interest!
Effectively, in most parts of Canada, the buyer will pay 13-15% tax on any purchase. Whether imported or bought from a local dealer. The duty is 5%.
 
I don't seem to recall paying anything additional other than GST when my Audiomods arrived, so I'm not sure about duty. Duty and taxes aren't the same thing. (Do we pay tax on duty ?) In this Province there's no provincial tax, although there probably should be, since we've had such sketchy leadership.
 
I don't seem to recall paying anything additional other than GST when my Audiomods arrived, so I'm not sure about duty. Duty and taxes aren't the same thing. (Do we pay tax on duty ?) In this Province there's no provincial tax, although there probably should be, since we've had such sketchy leadership.
The CRA is supposed to collect duty on it when it comes in. But that can be kinda hit and miss too. Stuff like that should come on duty free only from the US or Mexico. If made there.

And don't complain! We get sketchy leadership AND high taxes.
 
When I purchased one I don't remember having to pay any import duties... but that was a while back. If there were any, it was minimal.
 
A lot depends on how ambitious the particular officer is, when he or she processes the transaction. When one's goods cross the border, either by courier, or in one's own possession, there are two principal cost liabilities. One is duty. This is based on the nature of the goods, and country of origin. I have only ever paid duty on alcohol, coming into Canada, on myriad trips, over a span of nearly 50 years.

The other is sales tax, called HST. It is a harmonized tax, consisting of the 5% Federal sales tax and 8% Provincial sales tax, for Ontario, for a total of 13%, here. The rate varies by province. I have been waved through, by a customs officer, after having declared multiple thousands of dollars of stereo gear, highly visible, stacked inside the passenger cabin of my small car. Mine was his last entering vehicle, as he had lowered the bar, behind me, to close his lane, for shift change. On another occasion, I had a single record album, which carried a price tag of $14USD. That converted to $20CAD, and the 13% rate means that the sales tax is $2.60. The officer sent me in, to pay the tax. His colleague, inside, had a conniption fit, even complaining loudly to his supervisor. I waited patiently, eventually paying my $2.60, much to the amusement of several other officers at the counter, at the antics of their colleague. They almost never attempt to collect less than $50 in sales tax, at the border, as it is not cost-effective. Almost never.

If you ship from a Canadian location, to another Canadian location, you will have to collect the appropriate sales tax, and remit it to the authorities.
 
When I purchased one I don't remember having to pay any import duties... but that was a while back. If there were any, it was minimal.
In the US, sales tax is a states' right. The U.S. federal government has no authority to collect a federal sales tax, and they haven't yet entered into an agreement with individual states to collect and remit, on the states' behalf. Woe to the elected representatives who change that. In Canada, there is a federal sasles tax, which they can collect on all goods moving into Canada. The Feds entered into an agreement with the provinces to collect, and remit the provincial portion to each province.
 
Thanks gents, for opening my eyes to something I had no clue about. Another thing I had no clue about...

It seems that, should I use a custom clearing house, the relevant taxes can be added by me, the seller/exporter, at checkout. Might prove to be quite a wallop... Expect a few abandoned carts!

Then it seems I forward the taxes in advance of delivery, directly to the Canadian customs people, and the package is waved through.

Probably a more professional way to go about things, I think?
 
Many services can handle this for you. You might want to consult one for professional advice. I'm sure there is more to this situation, and likely also workarounds. My wife buys yarn from a US company that uses a mailer service to perform task you describe.
 
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