Replies

1. 
   giraffelt | Sep 18, 2009 04:05am | #1

   when I saw your post I immediately rushed to the website to order the #7 but with $100.00 in shipping and handling to Canada I didn't go through with the order.

   LT

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Sep 18, 2009 07:38am | #2

   LT, it breaks my heart when I repeatedly hear how you folks get beat up by the government for charges on tools,  and my folks are from Argentia, Fox harbour and St. Johns N'fld. All the best, Paddy

1. 
   giraffelt | Sep 18, 2009 04:29pm | #3

   Paddy,

   the $100 is before the taxes that my partners in government would levy, it was just the transportation and shipping and handling. and then of course there is the foreign exchange, and while the CAD has strengthened against the green back its still not at par.

   I am in Ontario but have been to Newfoundland on a few occassions. Four years ago my wife and I spent our summer vacation travelling around the island. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenario and in particular the hospitality. Watching and hearing an iceberg calf in Twillingate Hrbr is something I will always remember.

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Sep 18, 2009 07:24pm | #4

   That's exactly the process I was about to go through. Thanks for saving me the time! Customs can be a real pain too!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   giraffelt | Sep 18, 2009 09:53pm | #5

   I don't understand why some suppliers in the US charge so much for shipping and handling while others are much more reasonable. This isn't the first time I abandoned an on-line order when I saw the total cost.

   LT

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Sep 19, 2009 02:23am | #6

   Woodcraft (among other companies) works with Canada Post in a program called BorderFree, which comes up with a total for shipping and customs. It wasn't exactly cheap, the couple times I've ordered, but it sure beats the surprise I got ordering $40 of stuff from Garrett Wade. The shipping and customs charges (mostly customs) were about $50. Yuck. Not Garrett Wade's fault, but that surprise has been enough to make me look elsewhere.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   Jimurock | Sep 19, 2009 03:39am | #7

   Seems to be a bit of a crapshoot.  Of the 5 or 6 shipments I've had recently from TWW -- US mail -- one had a $5 customs fee and the usual GST, the others had no charge other than postage.  Similar story with The Best Things.  If the company doesn't cooperate with Canada Post there seems to be a better chance of no taxes/duties.  I cancelled orders from Woodcraft and especially from companies that use courier services because the extra charges made the purchase unattractive.

   Jim

2. 
   giraffelt | Sep 19, 2009 03:50pm | #8

   Jim and Chris,
   my understanding is that if US Postal service / Canada post service is used then its a flat $5.00 brokerage fee but the receiver still needs to pay GST and any duties if applicable. If a courier is used some companies will cross ship meaning they ship bulk orders to Canada and handle brokerage fees in total without charging individual customers; the orders are then sent individually from within Canada.
   My experience like yours has been sometimes I have to pay taxes and sometimes I don't.I ordered once from Garrett Wade and putting aside the high shipping costs the customer service was so bad I have never and will never order from them again. I ordered something on Thursday directly from Lie-Nielsen on-line for the first time (in the past I used to buy from Rob Cosman) so it will be interesting see what that experience is like. so far I am not to impressed because they haven't supplied a tracking number (but then maybe they haven't shipped it yet)

3. 
   Jimurock | Sep 19, 2009 04:36pm | #9

   You're right about the theory, but in practice more often than not parcels sent by US Mail make it through untouched, even if they contain stuff not made in the US -- in my case Ashley Iles chisels, German shellac, etc.  I expect that Customs don't have enough staff able (or willing) to examine every package, so they just hit a percentage of them.  LN says that orders sent by courier will have taxes deducted by them, but that you will be responsible at the door for orders sent by US Mail.  I don't try to avoid taxes, but I'm grateful if I don't have to pay them on something that isn't sold in Canada, and doesn't deprive a Canadian of a living.  Mailmen hate collecting taxes at the door: it's extra work and carrying cash makes them vulnerable.

   Jim

4. 
   boilerbay | Sep 19, 2009 05:32pm | #10

   I think the Canadian companies have their heads more oriented to getting our dollar than the US does for theirs.
   I order occasionally from Canada and sometime I get bit like the Canadians do when ordering from here but some companies do manage to have work arounds. We order our prescription dog flea meds from a Canadian Company at 50% US price, but they send it from either Australia or New Zealand at almost no cost, compared to direct from Canada and we get it in about 4 days.
   I think for most US companies trying to woo Canadian orders, where there's a will, there's a way.
   As to Garrett Wade... less said the better.BB

3. 
   smoothplane2 | Sep 21, 2009 08:16am | #11

   I live about 40 minutes north of Ogdensburg NY. and whenever I order from a US supplier I have the item shipped to The UPS store in Ogdensburg. When the item arrives, I drive down and pick the item up, pay my GST at the border and come home.

   I ordered  a Clifton #7 from Woodworkers Supply, total including UPS shipping to Ogdensburg...$ 318.94 USD.

   You may be able to do something similar if you are close to a border point.

   Cheers.  

1. 
   giraffelt | Sep 22, 2009 12:42am | #12

   I hadn't thought about having things ship to a UPS Store. It still leaves me with a long drive to the border and back but I might consider it in the future. thanks for the tip

2. 
   h12721 | Sep 27, 2009 07:41pm | #13

   How is the craftsmanship on the Clifton?
   Hm

1. 
   mcecala | Sep 29, 2009 03:58pm | #14

   I ordered the Clifton #7 several years ago when it was on sale. Since then I have bought all LN. This week I just ordered a Hock blade and chip breaker.The plane needed some work when I got it, and I have given up on the thinner blade and worthless 2 piece chip breaker.