Question for those who have picked up a pin stateside

[staydown]

as I am reading the government website, there is no duty just taxes on pinball machines manufactured in the USA... am I correct?

 

[luch]

yes 13% on converted Canadian funds

 

[staydown]

yes 13% on converted Canadian funds

Thank you

 

[Completist]

You will need some sort of documentation on what you "paid". Handwritten note on the back of a cocktail napkin works. I just get the seller to write name, who they sold to on which day for how much blah blah and a contact number. I've imported 4 pins (that i drove across border) and have had no issues and sellers have never been contacted to my knowledge. Then again i've never come across claiming i paid some ridiculous low price either lol

 

[staydown]

I'll generate a bill of sale prior to going over for the seller to sign, he is selling in Canadian funds so I am not using the governments rate percentage conversion. Will also have my phone for the government to see all the communications if required.
Just wanted to make sure it was just the taxes and not buried into a duty plus taxes situation.

 

[Completist]

That'll be perfect then. Took me longer to park to go in and pay the tax then then talking to the agents. They really don't scrutinize it at all. Enjoy the road trip!

 

[Dr.Dude]

It's a crap-shoot. 9 times out of 10 they'll spend more time asking you things like "people still play pinball?" and "they still make these things?", but on occasion you'll get a hard-case who will not believe that such a fancy-looking piece of HW can cost less than $10K, and contact the seller (or at least threaten to). Just be forthright and polite, and have your documentation to hand and you should be good.

 

[staydown]

1658 km road trip and the machine is home safe and sound. 13% taxes at the border and lots of questions about pinball and requests to come play it by border people but overall very happy with the entire experience (it's good when you have a honest seller).

 

[Aunt Agnes]

Excellent! Hope you enjoy it. I picked up my Star Wars in the US too, even with the tax at the border managed to save a nice little amount.

 

[maken]

But you guys are missing out on all of the hot deals at Player One!

 

[TopTierArcade]

This is great info. I have heard it before, but now with a successful pick-up, it gives me confidence to pick-up a game in the USA. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the pick-up!

 

[Rascal]

Is there anyone that has had a pin shipped from the US? There are a few on pinside I have wanted, but it seems like a crap-shoot dealing with customs and US shipping and then Canadian shipping, not to mention hoping you have an honest seller in the States to send money.

 

[nics135]

for the new star wars where dd you order it from in the states and about how much did you save?

 

[pinballjah]

If you stay over 48 hours, you save the 13% on the first $800 CDN. Basically a free night in a hotel. I have bought two machines in the US. Sellers usually don't care what they write down as the selling price. Customs may ask if you bought it on Craigslist, etc. If you did, they may look up the ad to check the asking price. They don't normally ask the name of the machine purchased.

 

[Aunt Agnes]

I ordered it from one of the main distributors down there. Not sure what exactly you could get it for here, but I am certain you are saving a bunch over getting it up here. Just worked out well for me since I was already making a trip down there so I don't consider the trip cost as a factor.