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Old 11-26-2010, 04:55 PM   #12
borisb
Edge User
 
enTourage uses Fedex, which is not the cheapest courier, but generally has solid service.

US companies typically charge $20-$30 "shipping *and* handling" (due to the commercial invoice and export procedures). The customs broker often adds $10-$20 handling. Then, for many parts of Canada, there's a 13% tax applied. So, $20+$20+$5 = $45 - not far from the $52 quoted by aidren (note that $52 might be for the 1-3 day express service (aidren doesn't say) rather than slower 3-7 day service). Remember that in my experience I don't pay customs or tax, so the "$45" would be paid to enTourage and I'd pay nothing more.

Likewise, the original shipments of the $499 enTourage eDGe had a $100 1-3 day shipping charge to Canada, and I paid nothing COD. For $499, the tax would be $65, the brokerage fee $10-$20, which leaves $15-$25 shipping.

So, add everything up you have to pay end-to-end if it were all broken down separately and then see if the all-in-one shipping charge isn't that bad.

Furthermore, if something ships in a box, the shipping cost usually doesn't care if it's a $20 ink cartridge or a $500 tablet since the box it ships in is about the same size and not oversized/overweight. If the company can ship it in an envelope (such as the ink cartridge, or replacement pens), then the shipping cost can be reduced dramatically, although you'll still pay the brokerage fees and taxes based on the value of the contents, not the size/weight.

Going with USPS or UPS, for example, might be cheaper at the checkout, but you'll pay brokerage fees and tax at the door.

Last edited by borisb; 11-26-2010 at 04:58 PM.