Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Picaroon · 10-15-2009, 06:25 PM

Just wanted to warn anyone ordering from Leon Paul to Canada that they could have a big surprise when the mailman drops off their package.

I ordered $828 worth of Leon Paul merchandice from LeonPaulUSA (ships directly from Leon Paul UK) and when the package was delivered, the mailman wanted $435 for GST, PST, and Duty. If I had known I would be paying an additional 53% to ship to Canada I would never have done it.

Be warned!

crquack · 10-15-2009, 08:36 PM

What exactly did you buy?

These guys carry a lot of LP stuff:

http://www.fencingcanada.ca/cgi-bin/...=2862021.27391

You will still pay GST at least but last time I looked no sales tax in Alberta.

xhao · 10-15-2009, 10:48 PM

Canada is really hit and miss for duty. I've been charged for duty only once when ordering from LPUSA to Canada. I've heard from someone who works in CP that Canadian customs don't check all the packages and have a tendency to go for the bigger ones although I don't know how accurate that is.

XanderHal · 10-16-2009, 10:53 AM

When I ordered my mask from LP USA, Canada customs mistakenly calculated the duty using British Pounds because the country of origin was the UK, but the value was stated in USD. I had to fill out a form to get a refund for the excess charge.

slow_learner · 10-16-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picaroon

I ordered $828 worth of Leon Paul merchandice from LeonPaulUSA (ships directly from Leon Paul UK) and when the package was delivered, the mailman wanted $435 for GST, PST, and Duty. If I had known I would be paying an additional 53% to ship to Canada I would never have done it.

It's just like Xanderhal said. Customs took your 828 USD and turned it into Pounds. Then they did their calcs.

LP used to put stickers on the box stating in big red letters that the goods were billed in USD. But no one at Canada Border Services can read big red print...

They definitely go for the big packages, seemingly both in size and value. When I order small parts from LP or a US vendor, the envelope goes through unmolested.

glowstix · 10-16-2009, 11:26 AM

hmm...i was never charged anything extra when ordering from LP USA even though they go through LP UK. what i was quoted on at the LP USA site was what i always end up paying.

as someone else suggested, you could also go through fencing canada as they do carry LP stuff mostly. if you're in calgary you could go directly to their house and pick stuff out yourself.

Fencergrl · 10-16-2009, 01:25 PM

I receive shipments from all over via Canada Post. Customs makes mistakes from time to time (I've had it happen once in 7 years, not in my favour). There's a handy form on the back of your customs paperwork. Fill it out and have them sort it out.

You just happen to be one of the "lucky" ones. I suggest you also buy a lottery ticket.

As others have mentioned, consider Fencing Canada, Janet & Jim are easy to deal with and you're likely to have whatever you need the next day from Calgary to Vancouver.

Fencergrl · 10-16-2009, 01:31 PM

BTW... for those who don't know. They are also one of the few dealers in North America who sell Favero parts. So there's no reason to go without little clips etc... on your reels!
http://www.fencingcanada.ca/pricelis..._equipment.htm

LeonPaulUSA · 10-16-2009, 07:30 PM

I'm really sorry that you were victimized by Canadian Customs. I was told this past weekend that regardless of how we label the package, packages coming in to Canada from England are valued in pounds sterling.

Try appealing your valuation and see if they'll give you a refund. $435 seems unreasonably high.

Canadian residents who wish to appeal the valuation of their assessment may call 800-461-9999 and then press "o" . A representative will give a breakdown of fees charged and can assist with the appeals process, if necessary.

Again, I'm sorry that you had to pay so much, but please understand that we have no control over Canadian Customs. I strongly encourage you to contact your political representative to express your outrage over these fees, especially since there is little or no fencing equipment manufactured in Canada.

If I can be of further help email me at sales@leonpaulusa.com.

Bill

Fencergrl · 10-16-2009, 08:06 PM

Calculation errors are fairly easy to clear up. It's pretty obvious that this is what happened as typically there's little to no duty when things are shipped from LP UK... and I've had some pretty sizable orders.

Picaroon · 10-16-2009, 09:03 PM

I just want everyone to know that I don't blame Leon Paul, especially Leon Paul USA where I ordered the products. Bill was very helpfull and friendly on the phone during the ordering process and it was a pleasure to deal with him. However, as FencerGrl and others have suggested, Canadians are probably better off ordering from the Canadian reseller to avoid the *risk* of having to pay full duty on their order, which is 18%.

Yes, looking at the packing label Leon Paul UK (or someone) put the value down on the label as $1200 instead of $800, so I can try to get part of my money back but its still a healthy sum.

In my case ordering from the Leon Paul contact in Canada (fencingcanada) this time wasn't an option since they didn't stock the FIE products we needed, and weighing the odds, I figured it would be quicker to order directly from Leon Paul particularly since I needed lettering done.

Just sharing my experience since previous posts on this same subject led me to believe that there was only a very slim chance of being charged duty, and that it would only be a pittance of they did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonPaulUSA

I'm really sorry that you were victimized by Canadian Customs. I was told this past weekend that regardless of how we label the package, packages coming in to Canada from England are valued in pounds sterling.

Try appealing your valuation and see if they'll give you a refund. $435 seems unreasonably high.

Canadian residents who wish to appeal the valuation of their assessment may call 800-461-9999 and then press "o" . A representative will give a breakdown of fees charged and can assist with the appeals process, if necessary.

Again, I'm sorry that you had to pay so much, but please understand that we have no control over Canadian Customs. I strongly encourage you to contact your political representative to express your outrage over these fees, especially since there is little or no fencing equipment manufactured in Canada.

If I can be of further help email me at sales@leonpaulusa.com.

Bill

Fencergrl · 10-16-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picaroon

Just sharing my experience since previous posts on this same subject led me to believe that there was only a very slim chance of being charged duty, and that it would only be a pittance of they did.

Having to pay high duties & having them make a calculation error has not been my experience (or I think most people's). The first 6 months of 2009 I spent $3867.36 in fencing equipment & $47.48 in duties.

Just sort it out.

Picaroon · 10-16-2009, 10:22 PM

You spent $3867 ordering directly from LeonPaulUSA in 2009? If thats true, why were you telling everyone to order locally from fencingcanada for Leon Paul Supplies if you dont use them yourself?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. That I'm the only person in the history of ordering from Leon Paul who has been charged with high duties? Or maybe I'm making all this up because I have nothing better to do?

If someone on this forum mentioned that they had to pay $400 on an $800 order I would have thought twice about ordering overseas and gone elsewhere. Even the delivery man was shocked. So I decided to use some of my valuable time to share my experience with other people.

Anyway, thanks for your resplies. I've used fencing canada in the past and will always use them in the future

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Having to pay high duties & having them make a calculation error has not been my experience (or I think most people's). The first 6 months of 2009 I spent $3867.36 in fencing equipment & $47.48 in duties.

Just sort it out.

Fencergrl · 10-17-2009, 12:58 AM

Alright... let me post my post again & I'll try and type slowly so you understand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

I receive shipments from all over via Canada Post.

Specifically, this means I receive shipments from many places in the world for one of my two business and I have only experienced one issue with customs in 7 years. yeah... I don't own major corporations, but I do ship and receive enough to now the ins & outs and do my own customs clearing if need be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Having to pay high duties & having them make a calculation error has not been my experience (or I think most people's). The first 6 months of 2009 I spent $3867.36 in fencing equipment & $47.48 in duties.

Where do I say in the above quotation that I buy it all from Leon Paul??? I have bought fencing gear from a number of sources. If you haven't noticed, there are very few suppliers in Canada, so... maybe... just perhaps... they were shipped from another country?

As for Fencing Canada... they are great to deal with. It just happened that I didn't order from them in first 6 months (and just received an order from them this month). Neither was my big spending bonanza over the summer months included in those figures...

My point is... Customs made a mistake. So what? What is there to "warn others about" that people in uniforms working in Federal offices will sometimes make clerical errors?? Geez... if this is your worse experience with men in uniforms... Fer Christ sakes quit being so....ughhh! CANADIAN!

Purple Fencer · 10-17-2009, 01:39 AM

Fencergrl....how did customs go when you ordered from me that one time? As I recall, you had the gear delivered to a PO box across the border in teh US and drove it back.

erooMynohtnA · 10-17-2009, 03:43 AM

I had problems with LP stuff getting charged duties in the US. My club ordered something like 3-4 thousand dollars worth of stuff. When it arrived they held it at the post office and wanted like $160 in customs (or something) for it, despite the box having some sort of sticker all over it that declared it excempt.

LeonPaulUSA · 10-17-2009, 11:03 AM

Picaroon, please fax me a copy of the paperwork that declares the value of your order at $1,200 (fax 404-325-7266). I need to find out what went wrong.

Orders under $1200 coming in to the USA should be completely exempt from duty, but now and then it happens anyway.

Thanks,

Bill

Fencergrl · 10-17-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

Fencergrl....how did customs go when you ordered from me that one time? As I recall, you had the gear delivered to a PO box across the border in teh US and drove it back.

I just declared it, paid my taxes (no duty) and carried on. If it was a small enough order, they would have waved me through but 30 weapons... err pieces of sporting equipment no problem.

If this was something other than an idiot gripping about and error and "warning others" of it. I would take the time to look through my records and see what HS code I used. Different items can fall under different codes. The trick is finding a code that suits the item and allows you to pay either less tax or duty.

From my recollection (and others) when stuff arrives from Canada Post, LP shipped it under a code that only tax was due & not duty. However the OP pissed me off to the point that I'm not going to go through any extra efforts for him.

Wetmelon · 10-17-2009, 04:31 PM

What about for me? I'm about to order a bunch ($600+ USD) of stuff for fencing, and I need to know if I'm going to pay a fortune in duties if I buy from LP like I do from F.net (shipping)

The customs guys here in ON aren't as lax as the ones out West, I don't think xD

Fencergrl · 10-17-2009, 09:20 PM

How much customs you pay has little to do with the agent & how lax they are. It depends on how it is claimed on the customs declaration. This is done by the shipper (if it's shipped). So the description or code used will make a huge difference as to how much taxation and/or duty you pay.

If you are clearing it through customs yourself you either:

a) Provide a receipt/ invoice to the customs agent & they pick a code based on the description if it's a personal use or

b) You have to choose the code and fill out the paperwork if it's commercial.

Commercial clients always have to fill out the paperwork and wait for it to be processed. Items that are for personal use is much simpler & faster if you are bringing them across the border yourself. If it's under a certain amount (and this is where the discretion of the agent comes in), they will wave you through. I've had some let me bring as much as $350 of goods across and others sent me inside when I declared half that amount. Typically, you can always get waved through with less than $100 of goods.

If you get sent inside the line-ups are usually short and you're in & out in no time. Commercial clients wait a minimum of 1.5 hours (unless you have perishables) but typically it's 3-4 hours or longer. I've had times where I've had to come back the next day because they never got around to my little stack of paperwork... and if you make a mistake, you're back at the end of the line. This is why most companies have customs brokers. They find the least expensive customs codes for you and they deal with the agents. No standing around a waiting room hoping that the police will arrest a coked-up truck driver just to ease the tedium.