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03-21-2011, 10:18 AM
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#1 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: mars
Posts: 1,041
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| Q: declaring my alien bees.
hey all...
lets say if I were to purchase $3,000 worth of products from alien bees shipped to TSB shipping, when I declare my purchase at the border, how much tax do you think will they charge?
or is there a way for me to order from alienbees without getting hit with ridiculous amount of charges (UPS)?
thanks
Last edited by Kasino; 03-21-2011 at 10:39 AM.
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03-21-2011, 10:54 AM
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#2 | | Got MOD?
Join Date: May 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 7,918
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They'll charge you HST when you bring it across the border from TSB. AFAIK there's no duty on camera equipment. Do not use UPS.
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03-21-2011, 10:56 AM
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#3 | | Banned (ABWS)
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond
Posts: 5,138
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LOL saw this under "new posts" so I didn't see it as photography terms, but when I first read it I thought you were trying to smuggle in an invasive species Posted via RS Mobile | |
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03-21-2011, 11:09 AM
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#4 | | 14 dolla balla aint got nothing on me!
Join Date: May 2006 Location: richmond
Posts: 1,072
Thanked 357 Times in 126 Posts
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funny, i thought of the same thing  | |
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03-21-2011, 11:10 AM
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#5 | | F**K YOUR HEAD
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: vancouver
Posts: 8,718
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One thing you might be able to get with alien bees that I have done with previous online purchases from other sites to REDUCE taxes is ask for a fake invoice with lower prices printed.
I'm not sure what the difference in rules for camera equipment of personal use and business use are, but I'm guessing personal you might be taxed less? but maybe business you can write off. but that might be worth looking into
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03-21-2011, 11:31 AM
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#6 | | I am grateful grapefruit
Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 4,094
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I wouldn't chance having a lower price printed - because insurance will be on the declared value of the items. God-forbid anything happens - if they get lost, get damaged, even if TSB loses it - you won't get the full value of the items back.
and ya, it's only HST - which is a decent amount on $3000 though.
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03-21-2011, 11:42 AM
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#7 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: mars
Posts: 1,041
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thanks for all the info! I can live with just HST, any other BS charges, i will have to think twice.
ill go ahead and make the purchase! | |
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03-21-2011, 11:59 AM
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#8 | | F**K YOUR HEAD
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: vancouver
Posts: 8,718
Thanked 8,153 Times in 1,251 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by gars  I wouldn't chance having a lower price printed - because insurance will be on the declared value of the items. God-forbid anything happens - if they get lost, get damaged, even if TSB loses it - you won't get the full value of the items back.
and ya, it's only HST - which is a decent amount on $3000 though. | What I have done is had the fake invoice e-mailed to me and that's what I'd show to the border, the insurance etc. would still be with the original invoice. Obviously this is fraud and it's illegal but depends if the risk is worth it for you.
Another thing I have also done previously is order separately and declare only one of your invoices. I did this last week when I got a catback/downpipe and basically crossed the border as if they were one item. You might be able to do this with a camera and a "kit" lens etc.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm a really shady person, I'm just cheap and generally respect the law  | |
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03-21-2011, 01:28 PM
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#9 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: burnaby
Posts: 2,279
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What I want to know, is how on earth you are going to spend $3000 on alien bees?
Its some of the most affordable stuff out there, how much are your ordering that you can rack up that large of a total? totally jealous though  | |
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03-21-2011, 03:28 PM
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#10 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Rmd, BC
Posts: 9,951
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No duty, but HST. "Cameras, lenses and flashes"
This is in the same chart that I have for my Nexus materials.
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03-21-2011, 09:47 PM
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#11 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Surrey
Posts: 805
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"Rice Cooker"
LOL
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03-21-2011, 10:18 PM
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#12 | | I *heart* Revscene.net very Muchie
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shanghai
Posts: 3,561
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by ilvtofu What I have done is had the fake invoice e-mailed to me and that's what I'd show to the border, the insurance etc. would still be with the original invoice. Obviously this is fraud and it's illegal but depends if the risk is worth it for you.
Another thing I have also done previously is order separately and declare only one of your invoices. I did this last week when I got a catback/downpipe and basically crossed the border as if they were one item. You might be able to do this with a camera and a "kit" lens etc.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm a really shady person, I'm just cheap and generally respect the law | this is risky. I picked up some car parts for my friend out of the country, he gave me a 'fake' receipt to reduce the tax of which I was aware, but the border agent searched online for the "real price" and I got fined and a record... =/
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03-21-2011, 10:59 PM
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#13 | | VLS Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 16,351
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You can buy a decent Profoto two head monohead kit for $3000.
__________________
2007 Volvo V50
Taken by ex: 2005 Toyota Prius.
R.I.P. 1997 Lexus ES300. 
R.I.P. 1989 Acura Legend Coupe LS.
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03-22-2011, 11:26 AM
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#14 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: vancouver, BC
Posts: 108
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it's not worth it imo, all they have to do is go on google and they'll find out really fast that you are lying
from what I hear, once you get a record, the guys may end up stopping u and inspecting your car everytime
car stuff is worse than photo stuff though
I've seen people cross the border in ricers and they end up getting pulled over and their cars get torn up as the border ppl think they might have installed something on it and tried to bring it over without paying taxes/duties
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03-22-2011, 07:51 PM
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#15 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: mars
Posts: 1,041
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
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77Civic1200: I'm ordering not only for myself but for a buddy too. we came out to a total of 6 AB strobes so thats already almost $2,000...plus a couple of soft boxes and other accessories, thats easily $3000 
I'll probably wont ask for a fake invoice as paying HST is not too big of a deal for me....im trying to avoid extra costs but also trying to keep it as legit as possible.
forgot to ask, on their website they asked for "Shipped to you via:"
since im shipping it to TSPshipping, Should I put it as "Ground residential" or "Ground commercial"?
Thanks for the help !
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03-24-2011, 11:21 AM
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#16 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 149
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I'm thinking you might want to give TSB a call just to make sure:
360.945.0740
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03-27-2011, 05:11 PM
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#17 | | Banned (ABWS)
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 113
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
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Ship those ABs to a US address near border.. bring ur frd n a model (girl frd) and your camera. Pick up Abs, do a shoot on the model with ABs, test them as well. Drive back Van with the ABs. If officer ask, show them the pics. No tax at all!
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03-27-2011, 06:02 PM
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#18 | | VLS Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 16,351
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by milkmilk101 Ship those ABs to a US address near border.. bring ur frd n a model (girl frd) and your camera. Pick up Abs, do a shoot on the model with ABs, test them as well. Drive back Van with the ABs. If officer ask, show them the pics. No tax at all! | LoL, that's even worse! They won't let you into the USA in the first place if you do that!
__________________
2007 Volvo V50
Taken by ex: 2005 Toyota Prius.
R.I.P. 1997 Lexus ES300.
R.I.P. 1989 Acura Legend Coupe LS.
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