Ordering from Amazon.com
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
I've done it and it works well with a few words of caution.
Often the item on Amazon.com is not sold by Amazon.com. Amazon takes some ownership in ensuring the transaction goes well, but it is not Amazon.
There can be duties, and if they ship UPS, there will likely be a stiff brokerage fee. Best shipping to Canada from the US for low cost is USPS, but they have linits. I have found Fedex to be better than UPS as well.
You won't qualify for free shipping, that is US only.
Often the item on Amazon.com is not sold by Amazon.com. Amazon takes some ownership in ensuring the transaction goes well, but it is not Amazon.
There can be duties, and if they ship UPS, there will likely be a stiff brokerage fee. Best shipping to Canada from the US for low cost is USPS, but they have linits. I have found Fedex to be better than UPS as well.
You won't qualify for free shipping, that is US only.
I have ordered from Amazon.ca - no problems.
But I have been unable to order from Amazon.com because I am in the Great White North.
But I have been unable to order from Amazon.com because I am in the Great White North.
Yes, good question. I'm thinking to pay with credit card as I have never used paypal.
I order from Amazon US all the time, but only books or CDs. Couldn't be easier, and there are no duties involved. Nor does Amazon use UPS (with its high brokerage fees, as already noted above by ejunkie) for books or CDs. If you buy used books or CDs from an Amazon US affiliate, however, they often won't ship to Canada. But this will be clearly stated.
I've never had any issues with using a credit card.
Amazon.ca is a worthy sibling outfit: shipping costs are, I believe, a bit less, but selection is of course more limited. But if you are just buying a current book or CD, might as well keep your money in Canada.
I've never had any issues with using a credit card.
Amazon.ca is a worthy sibling outfit: shipping costs are, I believe, a bit less, but selection is of course more limited. But if you are just buying a current book or CD, might as well keep your money in Canada.
Amazon.ca is the Canadian site. If you order books from there you pay sales tax, but on orders over a certain amount ($25-39) you get free shipping. If the book is in their U.S. warehouse they can order it and ship it to you once it gets up here, which saves money as the shipping to Canada on the U.S. site Amazon.com is not free. Another trick is if you want to buy books published in the UK that come out a year or more before they are published over here, you can buy from the amazon.co.uk site which is based in England. I bought a book published in the UK a couple of months before, and received it (1 week via airmail) and read it, and it was then published in the U.S. a year after I finished reading it as a U.S. edition.
Rule of thumb (in Canada) to save money on shipping is try to get the item on the ca site first, then if no luck expand to look at the US and UK sites.
Rule of thumb (in Canada) to save money on shipping is try to get the item on the ca site first, then if no luck expand to look at the US and UK sites.
I use Amazon regularly for CDs and books for about 10 years. With .ca you don't pay import tax. With .com and .uk you will pay import tax upon delivery to your home. Some items available on .com are not available to Canadian customers, like mp3 songs, but there is no problem with books and CDs. I pay with CC and never had a problem or security breach (but, again, my computer is as secure as Fort Knox).
up until a few years ago, it was better to use the .com (US) site because the prices were much lower and duties were not applied. Nowadays, though, UPS and other shippers seem to be finding ways to apply duty + their handling fees (for looking up to see what duty rate applies) and thus, you pay more- and in some cases alot more.
an example. I recently bought an electronic dog collar from cabelas.com. It was the same collar I bought 3 years ago. back then, no duty, just regular shipping. this month, 7% duty applied and a $65 "handling fee" for UPS looking up the 'appropriate duty rate'...
However, the collar is Made in USA and thus should be duty-free under current NAFTA rules... So, I am appealing it, but I don't think I'll be able to resolve the $65 UPS fee. shaking my head at this one!
anyways, if you can- look at the prices on amazon.ca first. especially if you can get free shipping.
an example. I recently bought an electronic dog collar from cabelas.com. It was the same collar I bought 3 years ago. back then, no duty, just regular shipping. this month, 7% duty applied and a $65 "handling fee" for UPS looking up the 'appropriate duty rate'...
However, the collar is Made in USA and thus should be duty-free under current NAFTA rules... So, I am appealing it, but I don't think I'll be able to resolve the $65 UPS fee. shaking my head at this one!
anyways, if you can- look at the prices on amazon.ca first. especially if you can get free shipping.
Ihave ordered about 5 dvd's and had used my credit card, plus had them in less than 2 weeks, delivered by parcel post and no problem with customs etc
I use Amazon.ca all the time without problem. In fact, I find it to be a great service with prices always cheaper than Chapters or other book stores and the free shipping is delivered usually within 2 days (assuming it's in stock).
