Shipping Floor Standing Speakers to the US from Canada


I have a pair of floor standing speakers for sale ~($7250 CAD - 110 lbs each). I have an offer to purchase from the US. Shipping is not so bad as you have to ship via Freight and the ground services are pretty good, as long as you really package well. Double boxed and padded all to heck. The issue comes up with customs clearance.

US Customs calls this a commercial shipment because it is over $2000. A number of customs brokers and I have looked at the duties and under the US Universal Tariff Codes for 2021 (8518.22) the Loudspeakers look to be duty free. You would think life was easy, ...no way. Each broker comes up with a list of fees, bonds, extra insurance and on and on that costs $100's of dollars, not just $50. Even with no duty.

Has anyone done this process before and come up with an economic way of clearing US customs? I have tried UPS and FEDEX regarding these issues.

wbrownaudio

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

op,

It’s a shame they won’t handle it.

Twice I had $1,100. TT's shipped by sellers from Canada, no excessive charges.

I had a $1,000. tonearm shipped by seller from Russia, no excessive fees.

...............................................

my direct deal with UPS was lesser size/weight/value, no fees or duty.

I visited my mother’s childhood home. She is 98.

Her child size croquet set was still in the basement, 88 years after she moved out. Croquet is ’big’ in our family, and I wanted the next and following generations to play with her set.

Current owner gave it to me, simply dropped it off local UPS. UPS called me with price, I agreed, we got a few games in before it got too cold.

............................................

Here she is, just honored by the Navy on Tuesday, Pearl Harbor Day. She worked breaking the Japanese Codes during WWII.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3yvLHyZGqM&t=795s

Forget the broker, You, or the Buyer, can deal directly with your local UPS store. Canada UPS will coordinate with USA UPS.

Drop by with photo, dimensions, weight, value, insurance amount. They will give you a price to package them for you and ship them, they being responsible for damage prevention.

They can give the price to the buyer who can pay UPS directly, his credit card, then any seller’s fee, taxes, are reduced or transferred to buyer.

Once arranged, take condition photos, include set of photos , simply drop off with the UPS people.

I just did it successfully.