Buying a guitar from Canada

Andromeda · #1 01-27-2022, 03:55 PM

I have found a guitar on reverb that I may want to purchase. The guitar is in Canada and I live in Upstate New York. Will I have to pay any import fees or taxes? Cuz if I do then I'm not going to get it okay so

Dash_Starkiller · #2 01-27-2022, 04:01 PM

I tried once to buy a 70s Ibanez concord from a Canadian pawn shop. I live in Georgia (the state). After weeks and it not arriving it was determined it got “lost” at customs. Now this was many years ago and I had to deal with PayPal for a refund. This was through eBay. Now I don’t know if you would have a problem but I won’t buy a guitar from outside the states. That’s just my experience.

xzy · #3 01-27-2022, 04:46 PM

Since the border has reopened I frequently cross into Canada visiting friends. Canadians are generally very honest and respectful. I would not hesitate buying a guitar from our northern neighbors.

Have you found a guitar on Reverb that you may want to purchase, or that you do want to purchase. There is a difference.

If the former, I suggest find something similar in the States. The latter...yes, you might pay import fees....but if you like the guitar don't be afraid !

Oh, it's not an absolute, but if someone posts, and it sounds like they didn't get out of high school, not many would probably take them seriously....Cuz well you know it's like street lingo so

A.Wilder1 · #4 01-27-2022, 06:18 PM

Chances are yes you will!

If you can post the guitar that would help.

pvfederico · #5 01-27-2022, 06:32 PM

If you live close enough, go pick it up. Drive it back to the USA, and don't say anything about it at the border. I am 100% sure that you will pay no import duty in that case.

P.S. I live in Mexico, and buy guitars in the USA. The duty is substantial in Mexico, and you have to prepay it (and pay a freight forwarder) before customs will clear it. Sometimes that can take some time.

Andromeda · #6 01-27-2022, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvfederico

If you live close enough, go pick it up. Drive it back to the USA, and don't say anything about it at the border. I am 100% sure that you will pay no import duty in that case.

P.S. I live in Mexico, and buy guitars in the USA. The duty is substantial in Mexico, and you have to prepay it (and pay a freight forwarder) before customs will clear it. Sometimes that can take some time.

Unfortunately I'm disabled and cannot drive so I cannot make the trip.

TBman · #7 01-27-2022, 06:45 PM

I bought my Furch from Brickhouse Guitars in CA. If there were any fees I paid it was included in the price. I'll have to look at the invoice.

llew · #8 01-27-2022, 07:02 PM

Like Barry I bought a Boucher from Roger at Brickhouse and I didn't pay any additional fee.

Tony Burns · #9 01-27-2022, 08:18 PM

why take a chance - maybe it will go fine maybe it wont -
Id wait and buy it from the US locally - the way things are at the present time -
Id want to play before i pay and bring it home with you -

.

Slimt · #10 01-27-2022, 08:56 PM

Buying a guitar from Canada and shipping to the US is easy. I dont ever recall there being fees. Usps or ups. 2 weeks shipping by ground. In a 46” tall box a guitar shipping box. Cost usually 150cdn to ship.

SheiLaLa · #11 01-27-2022, 09:00 PM

I bought my 1962is Yamaha Dynamic from a pawn shop in British Colombia last month (maybe two or three months ago?). I live in Arizona. I paid no duty on the purchase.

Norsepicker · #12 01-28-2022, 06:04 AM

It depends on the dealer and the wood. If you need a CITES permit it can delay it. If you can get the same guitar in the US, it's much easier. If it's a special instrument it's easier to let the shop selling you the instrument take care of it. I had a very good experience with 12th fret in Toronto.

AZ715 · #13 01-28-2022, 07:44 AM

I don't believe you have to worry about this at all, but I understand why you would.

I purchased a guitar from a luthier in British Columbia a few months ago. I worried, just as you are. How quickly would it pass through customs? Would there be duty fees charged?

No import duty was charged, and the guitar passed from the Canadian postal service to the US postal service, through customs, in one day. It took three total days to receive the guitar from BC.

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from Canada, but that is always said with a caveat...it's always possible for an unexpected something to go wrong. But, the same is true for shipping within the US.

Good luck!

RP · #14 01-28-2022, 07:58 AM

The OP doesn't say where the guitar was made. Doesn't it make a difference if it was made in the US???

A.Wilder1 · #15 01-28-2022, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RP

The OP doesn't say where the guitar was made. Doesn't it make a difference if it was made in the US???

Absolutely. You pay taxes unless it has already been paid (e.g., no tax on a US made guitar returning to the US).

We can’t really help without knowing the guitar. Also that will help determine the woods it’s built of too.