Shipping printer kit in US and bringing across the boarder... suggestions & advice

[Richard Eagle]

Hello all..

I just about have my finances in order to purchase a Rostock MAX V2 kit.

Now looking at the shipping costs to Canada.. (WOW).. but shipping to Point Roberts is like 1/3rd the price..

Then I have to bring it across the boarder..

I talked to a boarder agent in YVR about 3D printer stuff ...

First he looked at me like I was gonna start printing pistols & other weapons... no.. and then proceeded to tell me that they were in the process of putting in legislation / rules about 3D printers..

And so I am asking...

1) Has anybody else heard about restrictions with bringing 3D printers / kits across the boarder..

2) Has anybody got some advice about the best way to proceed..??

                  (I know there are some places that will hold the package for you (minimal price).. but going across the boarder.. is the printer considered a toy, electronics,..???

If anybody who has done something similar can post their experience and advice..

That would be great..

Thanks.

Richard (nervous about the glove) Eagle

[John Biehler]

There is no restrictions about importing 3D printers or parts. It's not like you're going to print up a gun while in the border lineup. But the whole gun thing is another story for another thread.

I usually downplay the fact that it's parts for a 3D printer for the reasons you stated...any time I have to explain something technical to the border guards, I just get blank stares back. I'd just state what the parts are, not what they are necessarily for. They only seem to care if you're importing stuff for commercial purposes lately...I assume this is for hobby purposes.

No matter what, you're going to be paying some kind of import fee whether you ship it to Point Roberts or your house due to the value of the kit. If you don't want to deal with the border interrogation, just spend the extra money to get it shipped to your home and you'll likely just pay GST & PST on the order. 

You'll pay for gas, time and the handling fee to send it to the US anyway...I usually weigh the costs involved to decide where I'm going to ship. 

I use 247parcel.com since they are open 24/7 (basically keypad coded, unattended lockers) and have locations in Blaine, Lynden and Sumas.

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[Tiago Santos]

 At one point, I would ship almost everything to Point Roberts - maybe 1 or 2 packages a week. I'd drive down every 2 or 3 weeks to pick a bunch of stuff up. It's worth it if you're really ordering a LOT of things at once, but after a while, the waiting in line really got old.. It seemed to get a lot worse about 2 or 3 years ago, I assume since the Canadian dollar was higher and people were buying a lot more stuff from the US.

Still, for something like a 3D printer where the shipping costs really add up, I'd say it's worth the hassle of driving down. The border guys are not as bad as they seem, the "aggressive" interrogation tactics are meant to scare people into fessing up :) Don't try to hide stuff and - well, you'll have nothing to hide! Answer honestly and truthfully to their questions. You should have seen their blank stares when I'd cross the border with a bunch of motors and CNC related stuff - "wait, you do this.. as a hobby?.."

Shipping directly to Canada will usually also mean some sort of brokerage fee - if it's shipped via UPS or FedEx. Those can often be high enough to justify the trip across the border. You could also consider shipping it to Blaine instead of Point Roberts and use the trip as an excuse to go shopping in Bellingham - I love Trader Joes! :D

[Rob Hall]

There are places just south of sumas as well if you would rather that I have done it lots for car parts and so on so much stuff is free shipping in the us but super pricey to ship here

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[Stefan Mohr]

I just went through this yesterday. I ordered a Printrbot Simple through Amazon and shipped it to the Letterlock Kinek point in Sumas. I saved about $100 on the shipping and import fees versus shipping it to my home.

My experience:

* Bring a paper invoice (I printed my Amazon receipt) to show the Customs officer

* "What is it?" "A 3d printer kit" "So, a printer?" (her expression said "look, nerd, just tell me what to write on this form so you can go pay the cashier"). The officer at the drive-up booth gave me a yellow slip to take inside.

* Pulled over to the scary inspection area and headed inside with my slip, Amazon receipt, and packing slip from the parcel.

* The wall of officers just pointed me to the cashier desk around the corner

* "What is it?" "A 3d printer kit" "Ok" (translation: "whatever that means")

* I paid 12% tax, got my receipt, and was free to go

Make sure you add up how much you're actually saving. By the time I spent money on gas, 2 tolls for the Port Mann, and the parcel pickup fee, it steadily chipped away at my miraculous savings (but was still worth it).

[Richard Raynault]

Just claim it as a printer and the cost. They will collect GST from you and send you on your way. If you make it to "confusing: they will hound you with questions!!!

On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 6:36:05 PM UTC-7, Richard Eagle wrote: