NOTE: In no way is this post meant to cast any negative light upon the sellers mentioned. It is simply a recounting of my past experiences with purchasing similar models from different sources and the cost differences involved. I deal with both vendors regularly and both have been excellent in product and service. I shall continue to patronize both, but for different needs.
Yesterday, my Flightline P-38 arrived from MotionRC. Today, my Freewing 90mm "high speed" F-16 arrived. I now have all the documentation to do a cost comparison. Because this post is meant more for Canadian buyers, I will use CAN$$ only, but for others a conversion of 1.32 can be used to get a good estimate of US$$. Both boxes were similarly sized. Not sure about weight. Both purchases done via PayPal.
1. P-38 .... shipped via UPS from MotionRC (delivery in 1 week)
Retail price ......................... $504.00
Shipping ............................. $114.00
Brokerage charged by UPS ...... $55.50
Tax ...................................... $23.00
Total .................................. $696.50
2. F-16 ...... shipped via Parcel post from RC Castle (delivery in 2 weeks) (Additional note: RC Castle lists everything on their website in CAN$$ and hence no international currency exchange fee of 2% is levied by the credit card company.)
Retail price ...................................... $713.54
Shipping .......................................... $105.71
Brokerage charged by Canada Post .......... $9.95
Tax .................................................. ... $7.26
Total ................................................ $836.46
Of note are the figures in red. Why such a dramatic difference? US sellers are bound by law to declare the actual retail price of the goods, whereas, sellers in China typically declare a "value for customs purposes" and this amount is usually a fraction of what the selling price was.
P-38 declared value ............................ $460.00 CAN.
F-16 declared value ............................ $145.00 CAN.
Brokerage fees are generally charged on the basis of declared value, however, it is well known that UPS brokerage fees is disproportionately high (in this case, twice as much on a declared value basis). Same can be said of FedEx. Purolator charges much less (if they broker it) and is in line with Canada Post since they are a subsidiary of CP, but not all cities in the US is served by Purolator.
Although I will continue to buy from MotionRC (and other US vendors), great care will be taken to ensure that mostly items that can be sent by USPS will be bought. Sure, there will be times when a US vendor has a product that is a "must have and must have now" (like this P-38) where I'll pay the extra costs involved.
Of further note: this was one of the very few times that Canada Post actually brokered the shipment. 95% of the time they will just rubber stamp it and let it go without fees or taxes. I have received planes worth hundreds of dollars that bypassed brokerage. Back in the day when MotionRC sent planes by USPS, this was indeed the case. However, they seem to only use UPS now, which is really too bad. It's interesting that USPS will deliver an over-sized parcel but won't ship one.
So, fellow Canucks, there you have it. Buy wisely.
Yesterday, my Flightline P-38 arrived from MotionRC. Today, my Freewing 90mm "high speed" F-16 arrived. I now have all the documentation to do a cost comparison. Because this post is meant more for Canadian buyers, I will use CAN$$ only, but for others a conversion of 1.32 can be used to get a good estimate of US$$. Both boxes were similarly sized. Not sure about weight. Both purchases done via PayPal.
1. P-38 .... shipped via UPS from MotionRC (delivery in 1 week)
Retail price ......................... $504.00
Shipping ............................. $114.00
Brokerage charged by UPS ...... $55.50
Tax ...................................... $23.00
Total .................................. $696.50
2. F-16 ...... shipped via Parcel post from RC Castle (delivery in 2 weeks) (Additional note: RC Castle lists everything on their website in CAN$$ and hence no international currency exchange fee of 2% is levied by the credit card company.)
Retail price ...................................... $713.54
Shipping .......................................... $105.71
Brokerage charged by Canada Post .......... $9.95
Tax .................................................. ... $7.26
Total ................................................ $836.46
Of note are the figures in red. Why such a dramatic difference? US sellers are bound by law to declare the actual retail price of the goods, whereas, sellers in China typically declare a "value for customs purposes" and this amount is usually a fraction of what the selling price was.
P-38 declared value ............................ $460.00 CAN.
F-16 declared value ............................ $145.00 CAN.
Brokerage fees are generally charged on the basis of declared value, however, it is well known that UPS brokerage fees is disproportionately high (in this case, twice as much on a declared value basis). Same can be said of FedEx. Purolator charges much less (if they broker it) and is in line with Canada Post since they are a subsidiary of CP, but not all cities in the US is served by Purolator.
Although I will continue to buy from MotionRC (and other US vendors), great care will be taken to ensure that mostly items that can be sent by USPS will be bought. Sure, there will be times when a US vendor has a product that is a "must have and must have now" (like this P-38) where I'll pay the extra costs involved.
Of further note: this was one of the very few times that Canada Post actually brokered the shipment. 95% of the time they will just rubber stamp it and let it go without fees or taxes. I have received planes worth hundreds of dollars that bypassed brokerage. Back in the day when MotionRC sent planes by USPS, this was indeed the case. However, they seem to only use UPS now, which is really too bad. It's interesting that USPS will deliver an over-sized parcel but won't ship one.
So, fellow Canucks, there you have it. Buy wisely.
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