Order Snapstream Combo from Canada ?

[cjob68]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone else has ordered the "Haupauge TV Tuner Card & Beyond TV 3" from Canada and if you had to pay duty ? ( I know it can be alot sometimes ) Or do you have any tips on how to order it to save money ?

Thanks
Jason

[Fonceur]

I did have to pay duty when I bought the combo (sent through UPS)...

[rgs]

It's not the duty that kills you. It's the UPS brokerage charges. Very high. Don't recommend it unless you can get Snapstream to sent by mail, which avoids the brokerage charges. Cost me about $60 in duty, taxes and brokerage charges.

[eggman51]

I concur .. cost was ridiculous. I think it mighta ben cheaper to buy PVR locally and download BTV, but it was close... a lot mroe than anticipated.

If you can .. consider getting it sent to a US address and picking it up. (I live close to the border and woulda done this had I known).

eggman

[dfccomp]

I got mine from NCIX.com for $205 CDN. They are good to order from. Also a note about packages sent via any big courier coming to Canada... THEY ARE RIPPING US OFF!. There are no duty charges, it is the brokerage charge that kills us. They charge a huge amount to just handle the package (starting at $35.00 Canadian and goes up). Then the GST/PST is tacked for good measure. If you can always get your packages sent via the postal service, they do not charge a brokerage fee.

[eggman51]

I also agree that NCIX is good, I buy a lot of stuff there (usually pick it up in person).

AND that Snapstream should offer postal service fulfillment into Canada (or internationally).

What I did was set up a US address through a mailbox service in the US. I used to do this for my business, and decided to do it again for HTPC and other needs. I was jolted into doing this by the price of ths snapstream stuff coming across the border.

I live about 35 minutes from the border, so round trip - which I can stop in and visit my parents on the way - is about 90 minutes. Makes sense when you are payng $120 CDN in shipping and brokerage fees.

[digidad]

I bought the IR-200L from Snapstream for $25. When it arrived in Canada, I had to pay $23 in brokerage fees.

Yikes!

[sbender]

I just ordered the combo yesturday, and after reading this post I contacted snapstream to see if they would send it by mail instead of UPS. They said it would take longer to get here, but were willing to do it. I told them I wasn't in a hurry and would prefer saving $60 in fees. It shipped last night

Shawn Bender

[eggman51]

great!

Would be good fi Snapstream offered that option on the webstore.

eggman

[rgs]

Actually it will probably get to you much faster. They ship UPS ground. I followed the meanderings of my package. Took 10 days from Snapstream just to reach New York. And then an additional 4 or 5 days to get to Canada. I doubt the postal system will be that slow.

[peter12]

I guess I should have read this post before ordering from Texas
I paid a $45 brokerage fee to UPS plus Taxes for shipping to BC

peter12