Quoted from machine.slave

well... not when your receipt says you only paid $650 for a "parts machine"  

You guys must all have horseshoes up your butts, not worth the few bucks you can save if you get stopped.

As the last customs agent told me, they are well aware of what is "collectible now" and pay close attention to these commodities when they flow across the border.

If you declared a lower value I can see why they might have singled it out for inspection. They actually do internet searches to see the average value of pins now.

Quoted from sinpin

That sounds like a pain in the a** and many potential problems with everyone pointing fingers at everyone else.  However - Canadian Customs also charges me an inspection fee for this service!!!  Could be $100 or more.
.

$100 isn't too bad. considering that american customs, if they feel inclined to take apart your car isn't under any obligation to put it back together--even they were wrong and found nothing!

I'm confused ( it doesn't take much ).  Is the machine on Canadian soil ?  How was it allowed to pass through the border the first time ?  Didn't customs already have their shot ?

Quoted from mrniceguy

I'm confused ( it doesn't take much ).  Is the machine on Canadian soil ?  How was it allowed to pass through the border the first time ?  Didn't customs already have their shot ?

He just bought it from the US.

Quoted from Azatotht

And your shipping company will charge you as well for the extra work

I found out a little more information.  FIRST of all, my shipping company tells me this is a "package" inspection only.  This means the item should not be opened but only inspected from the outside.  They want to make sure that what I wrote on the paperwork matches what the item is.  I still have my questions and concerns about this. I told the shipping company that because I have not taken delivery any damage I will inspect when I pick up and I will pin 100% on them.  She said I still have the right to inspect when I pick up.

Key point - the box should not be open, it should not be taken off of the pallet and it should not be played  

Second point - the shipping company has told me that customs charges them and they only charge me what the actual charge is from customs.  They say that they DO NOT add any additional charges.  Again I have my doubts on this but I will make sure I see the charge receipt from customs to verify I am only paying their fee.

Last point - I already paid GST of 5% plus $100 broker fee when the item entered Canada.  There was no duty applied because I wrote on the item that it is manufactured in USA.  This is where I think the inspection is coming in.  They want to make sure I am not importing JAPAN or CHINESE electronics (valued at $3500) which would be subject to tons and tons of duty.  Hopefully when they see the box showing "MADE IN USA" they will be happy and leave it the %$&* alone!

My machine should be back at the warehouse ready for me to pickup tomorrow or Friday at the latest...

Quoted from HP5P

You guys must all have horseshoes up your butts, not worth the few bucks you can save if you get stopped.

As the last customs agent told me, they are well aware of what is "collectible now" and pay close attention to these commodities when they flow across the border.

If you declared a lower value I can see why they might have singled it out for inspection. They actually do internet searches to see the average value of pins now.

They're more than welcome to look up the value, doesn't bother me.. it's the chance you take when importing from the US.  Generally though, I take the extra time to pull boards and yank wires before I get to the border.. thus, a "parts machine"    

"I'm sorry, sir.. I'd love to set it up for you but frankly, I don't know how."

Works like a charm  

Quoted from takochef

$100 isn't too bad. considering that american customs, if they feel inclined to take apart your car isn't under any obligation to put it back together--even they were wrong and found nothing!

I think the same is true in Canada.

Quoted from mrniceguy

I'm confused ( it doesn't take much ).  Is the machine on Canadian soil ?  How was it allowed to pass through the border the first time ?  Didn't customs already have their shot ?

When items go through the border with a shipping company, only the paperwork is filed.  Duty and taxes are paid based on what the paperwork says.  When the item arrives in Canada it is held "in bond" by the shipping company pending release by customs.  If customs agrees to just accept everything as it is on the paperwork (having never seen the item) then the item is released.  If they want to inspect the item - this is what happens.

Had I drove down to the USA I could have brought the paperwork and the item across myself.  At that point they have the same option - accept what I tell them or inspect.  If they inspect, they look at the item right there and let me go or not.  MUCH MUCH easier.  I am now wishing I had made the 8 hour drive down to the USA and back.  Oh well...  we will see what happens.

Quoted from machine.slave

They're more than welcome to look up the value, doesn't bother me.. it's the chance you take when importing from the US.  Generally though, I take the extra time to pull boards and yank wires before I get to the border.. thus, a "parts machine"    

"I'm sorry, sir.. I'd love to set it up for you but frankly, I don't know how."

Works like a charm  

I guess border agents don't read MAACA?  

Quoted from sinpin

I am now wishing I had made the 8 hour drive down to the USA and back.  Oh well...  we will see what happens.

Yea and I'm sure if you made the 16 hour drive for there and back and they just waived you through you would have wish you shipped it   

Yep, held in bond and kept in a bonded warehouse. The random inspection aspect wasn't something I was aware of but it makes sense. What's to keep someone from filling a machine up with a bunch of undeclared items.

I just drive to the U.S. and pick machines up. Even when I shipped Forward Air there was an extra $60 charge to pick up from their warehouse in T.O. beyond all other cross border charges, brokerage, premium for the extra distance etc. that I wasn't going to be dinged with with any of the U.S. warehouses. It all starts to add up and for what the drive takes plus the advantages of personal handling it just makes sense to go south with being this close to the border for me.

I think I would take customs delay over a 16 hour drive.  I've done a drive to 10-11 hour drive from Calgary to Regina and back for a pin and I wouldn't want to do it again unless it was extremely special.