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Date:         Tue, 13 Aug 2002 21:40:06 -0700
Reply-To:     David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject:      Re: NAFTA SHAFTA
Comments: To: Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <3D570206.6569C669@sympatico.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Not sure who the supplier was, but it isn't important. $8.75 for postal service is pretty good. EVERYTHING in Canada is subject to the 7% GST tax - you are lucky you didn't have to pay provincial sales tax. The packages that I get from the post office all have a $5 CAD brokerage fee from Canada Customs. So, basically you got charged a price to get it shipped, paid some GST and a small brokerage service. Just count your lucky stars that it didn't go UPS or else you would be getting a second mortgage to afford their fees. Fed-Ex has recently changed their UPS like policies to be more like the post office - brokerage fees are about $5 at this point for me!

Just another point about NAFTA - if you are buying a GERMAN made car part from the USA it is subject to duty (6.5%). It is only parts MADE in Canada / USA / Mexico that are exempt from import tariffs.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc. 4356 Quesnel Hixon Road Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions - Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation - European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Lawrence Johnson Sent: August 11, 2002 5:32 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: NAFTA SHAFTA

A minor RANT and a warning to fellow Canadians about the pitfalls of buying from our southern brothers and sisters. Or how I learned to love the NAFTA AGREEMENT.

I bought Vanagon parts from a famous Vanagon parts supplier in the U.S. of A. for a total of $16.90. The famous supplier charged me $8.75 for S&H (packed in a box with "DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE" label still on the side). Canada Customs charged me $2.23 in sales taxes. Canada Post charged me $3.15 for the favor of shipping it to Customs. All $ is US Bucks. For a grand total of $31.03. That is a 83½ % markup over cost thanks to our fearless leaders who carved out NAFTA - Free Trade my ASS.

But I'd pay anything to keep Fritz happily rolling down the road. Larry


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