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Buying a Camera in the United States (Nikon D3200)
Ehlun
05-19-2012, 08:42 PM
I'm thinking of going down to Bellingham to pickup the Nikon D3200 on Tuesday. I'm wondering if anybody knows how taxing works?
As far as I could find on Google, the camera is exempt from duties because it is exempt under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
But I assume when I come back, I'll have to pay HST? What's the Washington sales tax?
Think it would fly if I don't declare it?
Any info would be appreciated!
yot065
05-19-2012, 08:43 PM
i believe washington sales take is 6.5%? never bought a camera in states though :okay:
:badpokerface:
not declaring? not sure if srs
Ehlun
05-19-2012, 09:15 PM
i believe washington sales take is 6.5%? never bought a camera in states though :okay:
So I would have to pay 18.5% in total taxes then? 12% HST and the 6.5%?
fliptuner
05-19-2012, 09:23 PM
As far as I could find on Google, the camera is exempt from duties because it is exempt under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
But I assume when I come back, I'll have to pay HST? What's the Washington sales tax?
Think it would fly if I don't declare it?
Any info would be appreciated!
It's exempt from duty if it's made in NA. I thought they were made in Japan, Thailand or China?
You should know the repercussions of not declaring it so it's up to you.
Gumby
05-19-2012, 09:31 PM
So I would have to pay 18.5% in total taxes then? 12% HST and the 6.5%?
You don't add the two taxes together.
Canada Customs (assuming you declare it and they don't give you a break) will charge HST on the price you paid.
So if the camera = $x, you could end up paying 1.12(1.065x), or 1.1928x.
i.e. 19.28% tax.
m3thods
05-19-2012, 09:42 PM
You don't add the two taxes together.
Canada Customs (assuming you declare it and they don't give you a break) will charge HST on the price you paid.
So if the camera = $x, you could end up paying 1.12(1.065x), or 1.1928x.
i.e. 19.28% tax.
^This.
You're better off buying from adorama/bhphoto and shipping to Blaine/Pt. Roberts if you must buy in the US. You avoid the "first" us tax by doing so.
NAFTA only applies (like already stated) to items built in NA. As these cameras are usually made overseas, you don't apply.
From my experience, cameras (especially consumer dslrs like the d3200) are the same if not more expensive to get in the stores down south. You're probably better off saving the time and effort and buying locally.
Ehlun
05-19-2012, 09:59 PM
^This.
You're better off buying from adorama/bhphoto and shipping to Blaine/Pt. Roberts if you must buy in the US. You avoid the "first" us tax by doing so.
NAFTA only applies (like already stated) to items built in NA. As these cameras are usually made overseas, you don't apply.
From my experience, cameras (especially consumer dslrs like the d3200) are the same if not more expensive to get in the stores down south. You're probably better off saving the time and effort and buying locally.
Thanks everybody for the comments so far.
I just don't feel comfortable using Point Roberts for an item that's ~$700.
Wouldn't the duties have been charged when the camera was imported into the United States in the first place, thus exempt when moving from the US to Canada?
They're selling the camera for $699 down in the States (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+D3200+24.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+with+18-55mm+Zoom+Lens+-+Black/4826999.p?id=1218542603974&skuId=4826999&st=nikon%20d3200&cp=1&lp=1) and Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/nikon-nikon-d3200-24-2mp-dslr-camera-with-af-s-dx-18-55mm-vr-stabilized-lens-kit-black-d3200-black/10173221.aspx?path=61afb2155a18b991038e608107cca8f 0en02) has it listed at $749.
BrRsn
05-19-2012, 10:02 PM
Thanks everybody for the comments so far.
I just don't feel comfortable using Point Roberts for an item that's ~$700.
Wouldn't the duties have been charged when the camera was imported into the United States in the first place, thus exempt when moving from the US to Canada?
They're selling the camera for $699 down in the States (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+D3200+24.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+with+18-55mm+Zoom+Lens+-+Black/4826999.p?id=1218542603974&skuId=4826999&st=nikon%20d3200&cp=1&lp=1) and Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/nikon-nikon-d3200-24-2mp-dslr-camera-with-af-s-dx-18-55mm-vr-stabilized-lens-kit-black-d3200-black/10173221.aspx?path=61afb2155a18b991038e608107cca8f 0en02) has it listed at $749.
You'd drive all the way to the states to save less than $50 after tax? :suspicious:
Not to mention cost of gas, wasting your own time, possibly being harassed by customs and having to pay duties
Thanks everybody for the comments so far.
I just don't feel comfortable using Point Roberts for an item that's ~$700.
Wouldn't the duties have been charged when the camera was imported into the United States in the first place, thus exempt when moving from the US to Canada?
They're selling the camera for $699 down in the States (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+D3200+24.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+with+18-55mm+Zoom+Lens+-+Black/4826999.p?id=1218542603974&skuId=4826999&st=nikon%20d3200&cp=1&lp=1) and Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/nikon-nikon-d3200-24-2mp-dslr-camera-with-af-s-dx-18-55mm-vr-stabilized-lens-kit-black-d3200-black/10173221.aspx?path=61afb2155a18b991038e608107cca8f 0en02) has it listed at $749.
Other people spend thousands of dollars on car parts and get it shipped to Pt.Roberts so I'm pretty sure you'll be fine.. tbh if I was in your shoes, I wouldn't go out of my way just to buy the camera down south. Not declaring your shit and getting caught is going to rip you a new asshole in the slowest and painful way you can imagine and you'll be flagged. Not worth it.
vafanculo
05-19-2012, 10:15 PM
Just buy it at FS. For $50 dollars in savings, its not worth the drive. What if you have to get the camera replaced? Or you change your mind a week later and want a refund or uprade to a better model? Then you gotta go down south again.
Alatar
05-19-2012, 10:19 PM
photoprice.ca: Cross-Border Tax, Duty, and Brokerage Fees Demystified (http://www.photoprice.ca/article/tax-duty-brokerage-demystified)
Get the camera here if that's the price difference. Easier to deal with the warranty, etc. if you ever have problems. And that's not a significant savings to warrant the drive/hassle.
RCubed
05-19-2012, 10:27 PM
Nikon D3200 Black w/ AF-S 18-55mm VR Digital SLR Camera 30717 - Vistek Canada Product Detail (http://www.vistek.ca/store/DigitalSLRs/262564/nikon-d3200-black-w-afs-1855mm-vr.aspx)
$719 at vistek. Free shipping in Canada.
ImportPsycho
05-19-2012, 11:41 PM
doesn't Nikon Canada offer 2 year warranty vs USA only 1 year?
Boostslut
05-19-2012, 11:45 PM
Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR Kit (Black) - Canada and Cross-Border Price Comparison - photoprice.ca (http://www.photoprice.ca/product/03897/Nikon-D3200-with-18-55mm-VR-Kit-Black-price.html)
Gives you all your options, shipped to you. US, across Canada, and local.
Ronin
05-19-2012, 11:47 PM
I've had way more expensive camera parts come in through Point Roberts. It's fine.
I don't get people with these threads.
Use your own common sense.
Be your own boss and think of a way to bring it across without declaring it.
It's not hard.
+1 to what Dhillon says as well :rukidding:
Senna4ever
05-19-2012, 11:59 PM
One thing you should be aware of is Nikon's warranty is not applicable in Canada. If something goes wrong, Nikon Canada won't even look at the camera even if it's a warranty repair and you offer to pay for repairs.
spideyv2
05-20-2012, 12:34 AM
I had my t3i shipped to point roberts, everything was fine
drunkrussian
05-20-2012, 08:12 AM
by the way taxes in washington (and maybe for all usa) are on a county by county basis. so one washington town will have a different rate than another one
Matlock
05-20-2012, 09:46 AM
Once in a while I'll go on a trip to Portland for a couple of nights with my friends just to get the 0% tax and check out the town. 0% tax and $400 exemption + vacation? Not bad.
lowside67
05-20-2012, 10:05 AM
They're selling the camera for $699 down in the States (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+D3200+24.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+with+18-55mm+Zoom+Lens+-+Black/4826999.p?id=1218542603974&skuId=4826999&st=nikon%20d3200&cp=1&lp=1) and Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/nikon-nikon-d3200-24-2mp-dslr-camera-with-af-s-dx-18-55mm-vr-stabilized-lens-kit-black-d3200-black/10173221.aspx?path=61afb2155a18b991038e608107cca8f 0en02) has it listed at $749.
http://shesawake.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/facepalm.jpg
ARE YOU SRS? You are going through the effort of gathering information online, posting on Revscene, driving to the US, worrying about whether or not to declare it at the border, and voiding the warranty on the camera for 50 fucking dollars?!? Words can't even describe how ridiculous this is...
Mark
Senna4ever
05-20-2012, 10:38 AM
^^^ That's a hilarious photo.
falcon
05-20-2012, 11:11 AM
Bring an old memory card loaded up with photos. Throw it in the camera, take some photos in Birch Bay and come back. If they ask, you were out for the day taking pictures.
mickz
05-20-2012, 12:17 PM
It's exempt from duty if it's made in NA. I thought they were made in Japan, Thailand or China?
You should know the repercussions of not declaring it so it's up to you.
Cameras and lenses imported from the US into Canada are duty free regardless of where it is manufactured. You might still get charged the HST though.
So the the OP's question. You will pay the price of the camera + whatever tax rate in the county you are in + potentially 12% HST when you cross the border.
IMO it's not worth your while to save $50 and buy a camera through this route but I'll leave that up to the OP to decide.
parm104
05-20-2012, 03:51 PM
doesn't Nikon Canada offer 2 year warranty vs USA only 1 year?
Not to mention that the warranty is only valid in that country. Nikon USA warranties cannot be applied to redeemed anywhere else other than USA.
ruthless
05-20-2012, 03:58 PM
I'm thinking of going down to Bellingham to pickup the Nikon D3200 on Tuesday. I'm wondering if anybody knows how taxing works?
As far as I could find on Google, the camera is exempt from duties because it is exempt under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
But I assume when I come back, I'll have to pay HST? What's the Washington sales tax?
Think it would fly if I don't declare it?
Any info would be appreciated!
:suspicious: What's your name or license plate#??? ;) :fullofwin:
But yeah what everyone above said is correct...you will get charged the HST(12%) on top of what you paid for it(including tax)...
In regards to duty you MAY get charged, some items automatically get charged duty, while others the BSO has to change some things in the computer for the duty to apply....
but always declare, if you don't and they find out(they will find out), your camera can get seized, you will have to pay a fine, spend a few hours sitting in the office lobby, and will be flagged to get
sent in everytime you cross the border...not worth it imo
iEatClams
05-21-2012, 12:01 PM
Revscene, where 80% of members are cheap fuckers.
static
05-21-2012, 01:06 PM
I wish I had as much time to waste as you do for $50 dollars.
Sunfighter
05-21-2012, 09:15 PM
For the sake of $50... I'd buy locally....
a) if the unit proves to be defective in the first few weeks you will be able to drive a few blocks rather than spend hours going back to the US
b) Nikon Canada will have NOTHING to do with your product if it is from the US...
You wouldn't pay $50 for the benefits above? Plus... if you buy locally (FS/BB) you still get price protection...
godwin
05-25-2012, 02:00 AM
This might be a way better buy
[Elect] D5100 body only 499$ at Adencamera - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/d5100-body-only-499-adencamera-1180581/)
iam_dan
05-25-2012, 02:05 PM
^ I was just about to post that!
Bestbuy has a decent deal on the D5100 + 18-55mm VR Lens Kit for $779.99, too.
add the Bestbuy camera coupon onto that:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/capture-great-savings.aspx
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