Buying used clubs from the States - EBAY

I'm curious to hear other people's experiences importing used clubs from the US. There are some pretty good deals to be found on sites like Ebay but I know from my experience that on top of the exchange rate you get dinged with brokers fees, GST and PST when you get them shipped across the border.

I bought a barely used set of callaways from callawaypreowned.com ended up paying several hundred $$ more by the time they arrived at my door (still a great deal though).

Next time I thinking of doing one of 2 things:

1) arrange to get them shipped to a golf course pro shop in up-state NY and drive down to pick up the new sitck(s) and also play a round at the course.

2) have them shipped "hold for pickup" at a UPS or Fedex depot in NY and again head down to play a round.

Anyone else experiences to share or other ideas?

I have only tried once and it was enough for me. Bought titleists off ebay, by the time they got in my door, i had paid 20.00 for shipping, Duty and C.O.D. was crazy, i dont remember what it was , but it was upwards of $80 or $100. Not a good experience, i have stuff from states shipped to my buddies place in massena now, and go pick it up. Right now it helps a bit too, because i can get a cheap tank of gas over there . ;) :P

:director

I have bought (and sold) many clubs through Ebay and learned a few lessons along the way:

1) You always need to factor in shipping charges BEFORE bidding. If prices to Canada are not listed, ask for a quote from the seller. A single club should be between US$15-20 unless it is being shipped by Express courier. Anything more than that and I don't bid. This makes buying single irons/wedges more expensive than local retailers, but there are still good deals on Ebay for woods/drivers and sets, even after shipping.

2) You also need to factor in GST/PST when the shipment is delivered, although that is payable in Canadian dollars.

3) If you can arrange to ship it to a location in the US and pick it up personally, then you'll probably avoid brokerage and taxes (You are supposed to declare this at the border, but who ever does?) If you can't, then the cheapest method of shipment is always the US Postal Service. I try to specify shipment by USPS whenever possible.

4) Avoid using UPS Standard service. They charge outrageous brokerage/COD charges, even though there is no duty on golf clubs. I have paid over CDN$25 brokerage for a $20 club. USPS/Canada Post charges CDN$5. Some couriers waive brokerages fees for Express shipments, though.

5) If you are buying from a private seller, you could ask them to indicate that this is a gift (there is no GST/PST or duty for gifts). The golf shops/retailers won't do this, because it isn't legal - but neither is bringing them in from upstate New York without declaring them at the border.

A few months ago I bought 2 almost identical items for my palm pilot on eBay. The purchase price of each item was somehere around US$40-50. The first was delivered by US Post and the second by a courier. The actual shipping charges for each item were roughly the same.

The US Post item got here very fast and all I had to do was pick it up at the post office - no tax, no brokerage.:thumbsup :D


The second item was shipped via courier and got here in about the same time as the US Post item did but I got stuck with exhorbitant brokerage fees which were something like CDN$30.!:crying :reallymad

From now on I will be using US Post!:yipee

I ordered a set of TaylorMade irons from the states.
It took 2 weeks to get here and all I had to pay was GST/PST.
(No duty or brokerage fee.) Oops, OK there was a $5.00 handling
charge from CCRA.

Anyway, the folks who sold me the clubs used United States
Postal Service. I agree with an earlier writer that using them
is much better than a courier company.

With exchange, shipping and GST/PST, I figured I came out at least $100 ahead and I got exactly what I wanted...

Can't wait until spring!

El tigre's advice is bang on - particularly in regards to shipping through the post office. USPS/Canada Post charges only $5 brokerage fees and very seldom have I been dinged for customs fees when shipping through the mail.

Just bought 2 Cleveland wedges on e-Bay. I bought them in separate transactions from the same seller so was able to combine them both into the same shipment and had them sent via US Post for $12US. I had to pay GST/PST and $5CDN to CCRA but no brokerage fees. Shipping time was a bit longer at 3 weeks though. If you get the right deal you can definitely save money. I have been looking for these wedges for awhile now and couldn't find any good deals locally.

It's simple, don't pay the brokerage fees.:shakehead

You were never told or offered which company to use, so why should you pay. I know a lot of people who purchase many items on e-Bay and they never pay the fees.

I just bought a new Adams GT 363 driver off ebay the other week. The guy I bought it off sent it USPS and all I had to pay was GST/PST and the $5 handling fee. It took a week to get here. I got an awesome deal: paid $195 Canadian with tax for a club that would be probably around $350-400 Canadian with tax bought at a store here.

Quote:

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It's simple, don't pay the brokerage fees.

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How does that work?

If the UPS courier is standing outside your door with your merchandise and he says, "you owe me $40", are you going to say, "I'm not paying it", and he's going to say, "OK", and hand you the parcel??? hmmmm, ..... without a shotgun in your hand, I think you might be a tad optimistic there.