Why do Canadians have to pay so much for lights?

[bigcozy]

I keep seeing Canadians asking folks to order lights for them. Why are they paying more up there? Is there a tarriff barrier or something? Didn't NAFTA do away with some of this?

I feel your pain guys, that would really tick me off to pay the prices you guys are apparently having to pay.

 

[moraino]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bigcozy:
I keep seeing Canadians asking folks to order lights for them. Why are they paying more up there? Is there a tarriff barrier or something? Didn't NAFTA do away with some of this?

I feel your pain guys, that would really tick me off to pay the prices you guys are apparently having to pay.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've got charge $32 Canadian for custom brockerage for shipping 2 little LS bulbes. The second shippment for some reason, I wasn't charged. Weird. I don't know what that $32 is for?

 

[bigcozy]

I have sent a backpack to Canada twice and it was sent back to me twice. I confirmed the address both times. Not sure why that happened either.

 

[John G.]

Things that get sent by courier always cost more than things sent through regular post. Courier companies tack on a freight charge, customs brokerage fees and a fee for COD if you don't arrange for prepayment ahead of time. This costs a minimum of about $22 US on top of the fees you get charged initially for sending out the package just for receipt of anything over $13.

Regular ground post however gets charged a $3 handling fee and 14-15% of the package's value. NAFTA eleminated the complicated custom schemes that were in place before for the simplified GST, which is our national tax and provincial taxes.

So if you're ever shipping stuff up here to us Canadians with our cabins, outhouses and GOLD MEDAL WINNING HOCKEY TEAM do us a favour and declare the package to be a gift, the value to be less than it's true value and ship via US postal service... even if it means going to the post office and waiting in line.

 

[Coop57]

Everything in Canada cost more because the Canadian government will not let the free market work. Socialism is ineffective and expensive.

 

[radellaf]

Might be worth it all when you need a doctor or hospital. Even minor stuff is thousands of dollars here, sometimes even after insurance (which not everyone can afford).
<shrug> I don't know which is "better", but both are far from perfect.