Rigol DS1052E shipping to Canada (Toronto) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 08:03:42 am
content: Hi all,Just a quick question regarding Rigol's website and shipping to Canada (Toronto). I am wondering if anyone can chime in for the best way to go about buying this scope. I have heard a lot about buying from China thru DealExcel/DealExtreme but I am hesitant in doing so. There is a pretty legit seller in New Jersey that is offering "Free Shipping" to Canada, but I don't know what to expect for customs.The ebay seller (Aidetek) is selling for $399 USD and it comes withtwoprobes, which is nice.http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Rigol-Oscilloscope-50MHz-DS1052E-1G-SG-1M-USA-warranty-/300430036070?pt=BI_Electrical_Equipment_Tools&hash=item45f3068c66#shIdOn the other hand, the Rigol site is selling for $329 USD - $30 USD (promotional quiz) = $299 USD but it looks like there is only one probe. Won't give me the option to buy another probe and it says a flat shipping rate of $15 with GoogleCheckout. The toll-free line doesn't work...http://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000e/ds1052e/Thoughts?***UPDATE***Ordered through Aidetek (eBay) for $399 CAD and received scope in 4 days via DHL (free shipping w/ $21.50 brokerage/customs fee) from Hong Kong to Toronto.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 09:36:34 am
content: You could try Saelig and ask what the shipping to Canada would be. They have the DS1102E for $399. My understanding is that customs is always going to sting you on import to Canada unless you can find a Canadian distributor. Or find a friend in the US to take delivery, then drive over the border to collect it.

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 09:50:43 am
content: Thanks for the reply Ian! Pretty sweet deal, and not too far away. I'm wondering if anyone can ballpark what customs might throw at me.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 10:01:39 am
content: You should be able to look up the expected import duty from a government web site, and you can calculate the HST directly. Then expect to pay a bunch on top of that in customs brokerage fees collected by UPS or whoever does the import. From everything I've read, it ain't pretty.

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 10:13:38 am
content: Yikes...

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 12:00:24 pm
content: Quote from: jp1390 on January 03, 2012, 08:03:42 amI am pretty sure you will get two 150MHz probes, but the rigolna does only mention one probe. You could check.Doing a search on a site like Aliexpress gives an idea of the going price of the DS1052E. Looks like it starts at about US$266 + postage.Richard

author: The_Penguin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 07:22:40 pm
content: Quote from: jp1390 on January 03, 2012, 08:03:42 amI'm considering a Rigol soon myself. I did some digging, and there's a Canadian reseller (ACA Tmetrix with supposedly offices in Mississauga, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver)I emailed for a quote. The quote was $400.00 for the DS1102E and $90.00 shipping. $90.00!!!Saelig quoted:FedEx International Priority: $64.66FedEx International Economy: $54.93FedEx International Ground: $28.44Once again it's cheaper shopping cross-border.Re: duty, I've been purchasing a lot lately from the U.S. and haven't been hit with any charges. I did get a package from Hong Kong via DHL and they wanted $18.00 for (I think) GST on a $300.00 item.Just be careful with Fedex and especially UPS. The cheaper methods often come with an obscene "brokerage fee"

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 07:47:06 pm
content: I believe that oscilloscopes are exempt from duty. If you can get them to ship USPS you will pay PST/GST + about $8 handling/brokerage. Don't agree to UPS whatever you do...

author: Yael
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 08:40:58 pm
content: UPS Will rape you in brokerage fees. Get it shipped USPS, last time I had something come up from the States I paid a $7 brokerage fee and provincial sales tax. Its not that horrible.

author: rz2k
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 09:00:19 pm
content: Quoteagreed, even here in Russia UPS do absolutely same thing, thats kinda company style.

author: Yael
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2012, 11:44:41 pm
content: Quote from: rz2k on January 03, 2012, 09:00:19 pmLast time I made the mistake of taking UPS they tried to hit me with a $70 brokerage fee for a $3 part. I just refused to take delivery.

author: keiby.zhou
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 01:21:29 am
content: Quote from: Yael on January 03, 2012, 11:44:41 pm$70 brokerage fee for $3 part? I thought import tax only applies to goods with a value greater than $20... isnt it?

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 01:26:33 am
content: Brokerage fees are not tax, they are a "handling" fee for shepherding the item through customs. In other words, another profit center for UPS.

author: keiby.zhou
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 01:31:47 am
content: lol.. cant believe they still charge for stuff that does not require tax report at all...does Canada Post do that as well?I have a lot of $3 packages on the way shipped from HK(from separate sellers on Ebay, they used HK post or something like that on their end I think)

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 02:04:16 am
content: Quote from: keiby.zhou on January 04, 2012, 01:31:47 amFor small items going through Canada Post I have never paid fees or taxes or duties.

author: keiby.zhou
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 02:44:06 am
content: good to hear thatI have 15+ separate packages on the way

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 05:08:55 am
content: Thank you for all the replies!So, putting the pieces together... Order from the States and make sure it's shipped by USPS?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 06:43:25 am
content: Quote from: jp1390 on January 04, 2012, 05:08:55 amSounds good to me. The poor dying USPS needs something to keep it afloat. Competing with the likes of UPS and FedEx seems like the perfect strategy.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 12:34:48 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on January 04, 2012, 06:43:25 amAmen to that!I have over the years been sent quite some stuff via USPS to the Netherlands. Typically about as fast a Fedex or Oops (eh, UPS :-) when you count the fact that they try to deliver 2 times during daytime (won't work in most cases, $DAYJOB is in the way) and then you have to pickup you shipment in some odd part of the country. USPS shipments are delivered by my local friendly postman/lady. And if I am not at home I can pick them up after a 500m walk in our local post office depot, until 8pm.And we haven't mentioned the cost yet...

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 02:41:24 pm
content: Quote from: wkb on January 04, 2012, 12:34:48 pmThey are roughly equivalent for larger packages like a scope not including fees. For small packages its the mail system hands down. Its really the fees and the postal convenience like you say that makes USPS to Canada a winner.

author: 12AX7
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 03:35:19 pm
content: Quote from: jp1390 on January 04, 2012, 05:08:55 amYou may be required to pay the GST/HST on the declared value converted to CDN dollars. In addition, depending on the type of postal service (worldwide priority express mail, standard or whatever) you may be required to pay a $5 or $8 handling fee as well.So if I were to buy that $400 USD scope from the States and get it shipped here in Quebec I would get charged ($406 CAD * 5% GST) + ($406 CAD * 9.5% QST) + ($5 or $8), approx $60.(The QST calculation is a bit more involved but that's beyond the point).This is nothing compared to what UPS/FedEx charges.Also the parcel may be stalled a few days while its being processed by customs. This is nothing to worry about. If you're lucky it'll just sail by without getting spotted and you'll wind up owing nothing. But my recent experience seems to indicate this is now more the exception than the norm.Get a tracking number from USPS and track it on usps.com, when the parcel arrives in Canada you can continue tracking it on canadapost.ca.

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 04:21:16 pm
content: Quote from: 12AX7 on January 04, 2012, 03:35:19 pmThanks!

author: The_Penguin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 04:58:24 pm
content: Quote from: jp1390 on January 04, 2012, 05:08:55 amSince you're in Toronto, you might check with ACA TMetrix just in case they actually have stock in Miss.As far as Fedex/UPS go, it's the standard ground service what carries the ridiculous brokerage fee.Higher classes of service like International Priority etc don't have that. I routinely get shipments from Monoprice, Digikey without problem. But when in doubt USPS is he way to go.

author: The_Penguin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 06:07:31 pm
content: Just got a box from Sparkfun shipped via Fedex international priority.Paid GST, and a $10.00 "ROD" fee.

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2012, 04:50:37 am
content: Quote from: The_Penguin on January 04, 2012, 04:58:24 pmI'll give that a try and report back.Thanks!

author: markedagain
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 18, 2012, 03:59:01 pm
content: worst case scenario there is a store right after the border in the states that allows youi to shipp items straight there then you drive and pick it up , so its a 2 hour drive, i did this a few times with dell machines i bought and worked out pretty good. let me know if you want the name of the company i have to look it up

author: Kilroy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2012, 03:35:06 pm
content: For me, buying from the USA and shipping to Canada using USPS (and *only* USPS) has literally been cheaper than crossing the street and buying from in country sellers.Sad, I know...but true.And yeah....don't *ever* use UPS, or their ilk, to bring anything into Canada or you will have to endure several embarrassing moments writhing in your own froth at the feet of the grim faced delivery chap when he presents you with the brokerage fee.

author: Shocked
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 02, 2012, 07:09:05 pm
content: Hey jp1390, did you purchase and oscilliscope from the US and if so, how did it go?The reason I am asking is that I live in Canada as well and I am trying to purchase items to setup my home lab and I am encountering the same issues as you. The shipping on the Mastech power supply I want from the USA is $80 (wow) and I'm looking to get a Rigol scope as well but have never purchased from Saelig either.I just orderd a fluke 187 off ebay from the US shipped USPS so we will see how that goes.I too am wary of UPS from the US, I got hit with the $50 import fee for replacement CD media from microsoft with a declared value of a few dollars. I have had good luck with USPS from the USA but the thing I dont like is that their online tracking service for items to Canada is quite poor.

author: The_Penguin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2012, 07:59:59 pm
content: Quote from: Shocked on February 02, 2012, 07:09:05 pmWhat part of Canada? I purchased a cheap Chinese supply on Ebay from Ontario and shipping to Alberta was reasonable.Here's a similar one in BC $109 shipped ebay item 310355978301

author: Shocked
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 02, 2012, 08:27:00 pm
content: Quote from: The_Penguin on February 02, 2012, 07:59:59 pmI'm in Sask.Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at this auction. Was this the same seller as you used?

author: The_Penguin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2012, 07:10:06 pm
content: Different seller, different brand name, but I'd bet it's exactly the same supply.

author: jp1390
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2012, 04:11:22 am
content: I recently purchased a Rigol DS1052E from Aidetek (on eBay: aidetech_us). Great seller to deal with and responded to messages very quickly. The scope was shipped here (Toronto) via DHL from Hong Kong and arrived in four days with free shipping and only a $21.50 brokerage/customs fee.

author: mctaylor
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 11:06:37 pm
content: Quote from: The_Penguin on January 04, 2012, 04:58:24 pmFor Canadian major cities, check Electro-sonicwww.e-sonic.com, and Active,www.active123.com. I tend to use them for heavier or bulky components (i.e. transformers & cases) and tools. There are other suppliers, but I don't have any experience with them. I also don't know of any reasonable surplus test equipment dealers.Digikey and Mouser ship with an arrangement that they handle (or contract) the brokerage service themselves, rather than leave it to the courier's own to go through customs, which does two things, it's gets processed faster (on my desk in under 24 hours of ordering to Eastern Ontario), and they build in the brokerage fees into the price as far as I can tell. With them, I always use FedEx, though I use to use USPS for small Mouser orders. I think that's their defaults shipping values are $8 and $20 flat rate if I remember correctly.There are some small/home business importers in Vancouver and Toronto areas that sell Chinese products on eBay with reasonable prices as well. I pick up two low-end "lab power supplies" from a seller in BC.Canada Post, which handles USPS (US Postal Service) and Post from other countries charges $8 handling fee I believe it is, and the current exemption value is for parcels is anything under $75 or $80 value I believe nowadays. It might be as high as $100, as I've had very few parcels arrive with HST/GST owing. Normally you won't encounter any duty based on my own experience. Though I did have one shipment containing electric motors (hobby / robotics size) arrive with a NAFTA declaration or statement.So, for smaller parcels / packages I typically use USPS or other Postal Service (airmail is fast from HK, China, Western Europe). Another limit (beside size and weight restrictions) is insurance for values over $100 may not be available for international post from all countries.For larger or bulky items like a fair bit of test gear, power transformers, electric motors, using a courier (in my personal order of preference): Purolator (very little availability in US), FexEx (more expensive but fair and good service), DHL (cheap-ish but not as good as FedEx, avail in much of US), and just avoid UPS -- I've had nearly 50% loss / major delaye with UPSdomesticparcels and their handling fees are nearly random.

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 12:00:06 am
content: Quote from: mctaylor on May 24, 2012, 11:06:37 pmI would just like to clear up the Canada Post issue a bit.Theofficialexemption on *any* package arriving from outside Canada is "less than $20" as in $19.99 Canadian *actual* value, unless it is a gift (and the package must contain proof such as a "happy birthday note" or some such if it is opened and inspected) in which case the limit is $60 Canadian. Note that Customs Canada officers can open the package and assess a value other than the declared value on the outside of the box if they feel it's not the true value. The customs officers will also remove and destroy anything they deem to be hazardous and not permitted for mailing, such as products containing alcohol or other flamable liquids etc. (I can no longer order aftershave/colognes from outside Canada through the mail system as Customs just removes and destroys it in order to save me from such dangerous goods.....<sigh>)Taxes and or duties are assessed by Customs Canada, not Canada Post. When shipments arrive from outside Canada, they must be routed through Customs Canada for inspection... Customs Canada officers decide which items to tax and which not to... Often, they will cull what appears to be high value items and release the rest for delivery, other times they appear to nitpick their way through the pile and ding almost everything.The $8 collection fee is charged by Customs Canada, but paid to Canada Post to cover CPCs expense of collecting the money, doing the paperwork etc.Will your $25 item in the mail get dinged? Most of the time it won't, but it CAN HAPPEN... I suspect it relates to work loads.RegardsChristian

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 06:24:16 am
content: Quote from: kaptain_zero on May 25, 2012, 12:00:06 ameither that, or the customs officers all smell great now

author: mctaylor
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 31, 2012, 12:21:53 am
content: Quote from: kaptain_zero on May 25, 2012, 12:00:06 amRef:Postal Imports Remission Order, Memorandum D8-2-2 (1998) as of 30 May 2012. There is also an equally boring Memorandum D8-2-16 entitled, "Courier Imports Remission Order" for the perversely curious or not yet confused enough.Yup, I screwed up. Perhaps I mis-remembered and confused it with the 2012 personaltravelexemption limits that are being raised as ofJune 1st, 2012.And the obsessive of even the most obvious in me feels compelled to point out that "Customs Canada" is now "Canada Border Services Agency" (after being lumped with Canadian Revenue Agency for sometime).QuoteYup, been there, done that. Andsomefeel free to be careless and damage goods with sheer stupidity and impunity.QuoteDuh. I didn't mean to imply or suggest otherwise. Though as the consumer normally doesn't have to deal with CBSA themselves unless there is a problem, it appears as Canada Post is the interface for process, or broker.QuoteI thought it was charged and collected by Canada Post, so I stand corrected. Again.QuoteHonestly I haven't had a parcel under $100 charged in a number of years, even well marked commercial parcels (multiple manifests, bill of lading, etc.). It has been so consistent, that I honestly thought it had changed.Maybe your seized colognes can double as a thank-you gift from me.

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2012, 01:18:12 am
content: Yeah, I know it is now called "Canada Border Services Agency", but a "Customs Officer" sort of rolls off the tongue a little better.I wonder if I'm the only one who remembers waaaay back when packages that came through the mail and were taxed or charged duty, would arrive at your door with a small envelope attached with the bill inside and it was hoped that the recipient would be honest enough to remit the money owed? I guess they were having problems collecting.....<sigh>.Another thing I remember and still sort of miss is when the customs officers of days gone by, would roll stamp a package with the following "Cleared Customs Canada".Oh well... thankfully I hear that they are cutting back staffing at the "CBSA" which hopefully means they'll have less time to make out forms on low value packages... I just don't understand why they don't just raise the limit, but then that would sort of be telling us to shop outside our borders instead of paying huge markups locally and then paying huge taxes on top of that!RegardsChristian