OT: New Hasselblad from Canada ship to US: Customs Duties Yes/No? How much?

[dnk512]

I wish to buy a NEW Hasselblad kit (body, lens, back) from canada and I am in the US. Would I have to pay customs duties? If so, how much?

The info I found on the pnet site claims NO. This site has comments about canadians buying from the US. The seller tells me that there is no duties on 35mm only and medium format is up to the officer at customs. A web search claims that only a canadian-made camera will be free.

Do you have any personal knowledge and/or experience?

--dimitri

P.S. I just asked this in pnet, too, I need to know tonight....

 

[bmattock]

I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice. Here is the information you seek:

http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm

Go to chapter 92

http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/0602c90.pdf

Go to page 7/35

Read the information you find there. It would appear duty is 20%.

NAFTA, which would make your item duty-free, applies, as I understand it, to products OF Canada - is the camera made in Canada? I ask because I do not know where it might be manufacturered.

With that in mind, it can be said that not everyone has their package stopped by US Customs and duty charged. In fact, many who have never paid duty are convinced that there is not such thing. Use your own judgement.

Some will insist that there is no such thing as personal import duty in the USA. There is. Just because it is not always collected, it exists. Here is your proof if you have eyes and can read.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dnk512]

Thank you Bill!

 

[waileong]

Check Harrys Pro Shop, they are in Canada and sell stuff to US customers quite regularly, there's a page of advice there.

Frankly, I think tax is not the consideration, the high Canadian dollar is.

 

[dnk512]

Yes, I have seen Harrys page, and this is why I initiated the contact for the sale. But, upon advice of the seller and some web searching and Bill's reference above (which did not come up on any google-search I did in the past -- why?), I decided to not go through with it :-(