purchasing a guitar in the USA (I'm in Canada)

[sylnau]

Canadian ILFer... did you ever purchased a guitar in the USA?

How does it work to delcare it at the customs border? Does this require the CITES paperworks? Which fees you had to pay (only taxes)?

Any problem crossing the border with a new guitar?


Thanks!!

Edit: typo

[multi_s]

how much does the guitar cost? mabe you don't have to pay any fees, it depends on the value/how long you stayed in the usa etc.

[sylnau]

They would ship it to the USPS store near the border.
Cost around 1567 USD.

Else to ship it to me would requier 4-8 weeks wait for the CITES paperworks.

[multi_s]

hmm ya i think the max exemption/allowance is 800 CAD so you are way out of that range unfortunately.

maybe just buy one from godin instead? (:

[Seance]

What used to be is now going to change on July 1st since electronics that use steel and anything made out of wood
importing out of the US is likely to get tariffs imposed on it in response to the tariffs imposed by Trump on steel and
aluminum imports coming out of Canada.

So... if it has to wait "4-8 weeks", then your purchase might fall right in the middle of that thicket.

[JTurbide]

I did last year but the company shipped it in Florida (girlfriend's parents winter house) and they brought it back for me, probably didn't declare it... so yeah I guess that doesn't help at all.

I order lots of things from the US and you would most likely pay taxes, probably around 15% ? (I never did but my girlfriend yes...not sure why actually..)

If you mean declaring it while crossing the border (bringing it back to Canada yourself) I'm not sure how it works when you exceed the maximum amount but you can always say you don't have anything but maybe don't do it if you crossed to the US the same day or the day before

You could also bring someone with you and I think you would be clear since it's $800 per person (if my memory is good)
You just say you bought a guitar for around $1500 and you should be fine. (If you have a girlfriend you say she paid for half of it as a gift..)

[sylnau]

What used to be is now going to change on July 1st since electronics that use steel and anything made out of wood
importing out of the US is likely to get tariffs imposed on it in response to the tariffs imposed by Trump on steel and
aluminum imports coming out of Canada.

So... if it has to wait "4-8 weeks", then your purchase might fall right in the middle of that thicket.

That is bad news... even for our fuzz boxes.

[sylnau]

Anybody knows if the CITES paperwork (for rosewood) are required at the customs border (or if they are required only when shipped through a carrier like USPS an UPS).

[Chankgeez]

You should ask that question at a local guitar shop. They might have the answer.

[sylnau]

Just found the answer:

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/cites-permits


"You must have all necessary permits BEFORE you transport, import or export a listed wildlife species, or an item containing a part/derivative of a listed wildlife species."

[Chankgeez]

I think it'd take you just as long to get the permits as the seller. So, you'll have to wait either way.

[Benn Roe]

I've never had anyone at the border search my vehicle, or even really take an interest in what's in my car. If you're driving a car, rather than a van or work-truck, and you put the guitar in the boot and just say "no" when they ask if you have anything to declare I doubt you'll have issues. Obviously, you'll be breaking the law, and maybe my experiences aren't typical, but that's what I would do. Mind you, my trips were INTO Canada, not out of it, but the US to Canada border crossing also always seems wayyyy more relaxed than the Canada to US crossing. Also, note that I haven't been to Canada since Trump's immigrant agenda went into effect, so I have no idea if that's affected anything.

[JTurbide]

Yeah I have that same experience, never been searched or anything... I just say I bought a bit of clothing and that's all ... but as I said they know when you entered the US so if you come back the same day or the day after you might seem a little more suspect

[Olin]

Hey, I went through all this last December. I got an EGC shipped to Buffalo, picked it up and drove back across into ON. I got really worked up about having to pay import taxes and explain myself in general and did a ton of reading, finding no recent, useful information, was prepared to spend hundreds on the import fees and taxes if needs be, but thought I'd try just playing a bit dumb (having an obviously non-Canadian passport helps).

I got back to the Canadian border, the border guard asked what I was doing in the states, told him I was just having a day out, he asked if I bought anything, I showed him some American snacks I got, he rolled his eyes, had a cursory look into the car before handing my me passport back and ushering me through.

I really wouldn't overthink it too much or get too worried, just pick it up, take all the wrapping off, if they ask why it's in your car say "I left it in there after my last band practice" and carry on with your life without paying a penny. The exemption laws are all time dependent and none of them apply if you're just chipping over to pick something up, you have to be there a few days for them to be applicable. If that's all a bit amoral for you and you'd really prefer to do things "properly" then I guess that's your choice and you'll probably go somewhere better than I when we all die.

[D.o.S.]

Fun fact: I bought a cab from a dude in Canada (as in he came across the border with it, sold it, and drove back, since the midpoint between us was somewhere in the states) and he got grilled massively when he came back, pulled into a room with border patrol and everything. They called me and got all huffy about what we had just done.