Buying M-A from Germany into Canada

[James6714]

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Hi everyone,

I have decided to buy a film camera to supplement my M10-D, going for a M-A instead of MP, further to challenge myself on the photographic journey.

Having said that, in Canada, the dealers are not well stock for film cameras, which I totally understand the business model, since in the past I have bought lenses from Leica Berlin store, I visited their web site and found that they have both silver and black in stock, and I am thinking to proceed with the checkout

I want to ask members in this forum in particularly Canadian members,  when it comes to paying duty and taxes, is the courier company invoice me ?  I just want to understand the process.  Any insight information is welcome.

Thanks,

James,

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[Sailronin]

I'm in the US but wanted to say that when I purchase cameras or lenses from Japan, the duty is calculated by the seller and added to the invoice. I never see anything from US Customs as it's been paid. If you're buying from a company not a private seller I would think the same would be true for items shipped to Canada.

[James6714]

Leica Berlin had confirmed to me they only charge the product (without VAT) and the shipping cost, the duty/taxes are handled by me.  Is that mean the shipping company will email me to pay for the duty/taxes way before the shipment arrives OR pay upon receive the camera?

[250swb]

I don't think they'll hand the camera over without you paying Government taxes owing beforehand. In the UK you get an email or letter saying 'pay up or else', or something similar. 

[jaapv]

Normally the shipping service (UPS or whoever) will do the import procedure and charge you the taxes, duty and handling fee.

[28framelines]

A quick Google search shows this: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html

living in Canada myself… I’d say wait for one to pop up at one of the Canadian dealers. That’s some expensive import fees.

[James6714]

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@jaapv, that is what I thought, thanks for sharing.  Next decision is "to be silver or not to be silver", that is the question I have to make.  Already have a m10-d, so I know what is like to have black chrome.  I had a m8 silver chrome long time ago, wasn't impress with it.  Search my soul........ for the answer 😔

[James6714]

Thanks Al Brown.

28framelines, I will think about it, in Vancouver, leica dealers don't carry it on their site, Toronto dealers they do but you have to wait and costs are higher (they have to make a living).  Thanks.

[Knipsknecht]

Maybe you could ask Leica Berlin with which company they will send a camera to Canada (probably DHL). Then you could ask DHL Canada (or any other courier company) about customs and taxes. Then you can decide if you want to buy in Europe or if it’s worth waiting for a reasonable offer from a dealer in Canada.

By the way, wouldn’t it be an alternative to import the camera from the US? I don’t know what kind of import-export arrangements Canada and the USA have (does NAFTA still exist?), but I would assume that it might be easier than buying in Europe.

[James6714]

@Knipsknecht, I believe US charges you the local tax, unlike in Germany I don't pay for VAT.  US members of this forum can chip in with comments if I am wrong.

[RayD28]

I bought an MP from the Netherlands and it came to me VAT free, but I had to pay FedEx for:

*  Acting as a customs agent.

* US tariff tax.

All in was about $30.  The worst part was the paperwork.  

I wondered about the tariff tax because an MP is a film camera, BUT it has an electronic sensor.  

[James6714]

I had contacted Berlin store for the shipping company name, in turn will contact their Canadian office for more details, thanks all for your inputs.

[28framelines]

6 hours ago, James6714 said:

Thanks Al Brown.

28framelines, I will think about it, in Vancouver, leica dealers don't carry it on their site, Toronto dealers they do but you have to wait and costs are higher (they have to make a living).  Thanks.

I’m in Vancouver as well. I ordered from Camtec in Montreal; I had to wait a couple months, but I also saved on the PST since I bought out of province.

[Danner]

I've bought a number of cameras from Japan, shipped DHL, and never paid any import duties.  The package simply gets delivered to my door.

Edited November 25, 2021 by Danner