Which Province?
So having started this thread 50 posts ago, I just put my unopened Smart Things hub up for sale and if it sells will take a risk and order a Hubitat. It's just too much of an upgrade to pass up!
Our house extension is nearly finished (over 6 months late...) so actually need it now.
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I have done this already for a fellow canuck. I pulled it out of the packaging and stuffed it into a padded USPS envelope and sent it registered mail. End user wasn't charged a dime for import.
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New Brunswick
That's a "Down East" tax 
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Lol! All I can think of is Donald Trump's rant on Candians scuffing up new running shoes and bringing them over to Canada.
!!! LOL what's funny is the taxes go to the Canada when travelling back over. It never affected the US at all! If anything it made them a sale.
Anyways, lol. This just reminded me of his speech/rant on Canada.
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Incorrect. CanadaPost charges a $9.95 handling fee for customs clearance: https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGcustoms-e.asp#1382717
This used to be $5, but went up in the last two-three years.
I have seen it waived if CBSA doesn't want any monies, but the moment there's a GST/HST/PST/Duty charge, CanadaPost wants their money for sure.
If it is a "gift" from a friend/relative, valued (declared, and reasonably believable) at less than CA$60, then it is duty/tax free. It doesn't have to be "used" -- it just can't come from a business. If you need it to appear cheaper, then "used" helps.
Bought mine a few months ago and did not get hit with any brokerage fees, I just paid the price for the unit itself and shipping.
I frequently ship from US Amazon and pay very little crossing the border other than a bit of Canadian taxes and maybe duty. I steadfastly avoid anything resembling a courier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc) when crossing the border because they charge $30+ just to cross the border even when the package is otherwise duty-free and tax-free. And that is on top of charging the shipper a similar fee for "world wide delivery."
Another option is to packages shipped to the border if you're close enough to go and pick it Up. When I was in Vancouver, that meant to Blaine Washington where "Hagens of Blaine" would accept it and hold it till I could make it over on the weekend. Depending on the random orientation of stars, you often don't pay duty or taxes bringing your packages across the border; Hagens only charges something like $3.00 USD for its part in the transaction.
Now, I live in Victoria and I generally use Seawings Express to receive in Blaine and bring it to the Victoria Airport for about $20 USD, and I clear customs myself in the Airport Terminal in about 10 minutes -- mostly without any additional charges. That's faster than either line or the border interview at the Blaine Crossing, and still cheaper than any Courier. Oh, and I've never missed getting to the Airport, but couriers always take time to track down and get my parcels.
US Amazon gets interesting because its always cheaper in the US (even after conversions), and I frequently get free shipping other than my broker's $20 to cross the water. In Canada, I use Prime for faster, pre-paid shipping, but its still often more than $20 more expensive. For example, my recent Hubitat Elevation was about $75 USD ($96 CAD) + $10 CAD taxes; Canadian Amazon says its about $185 CAD + taxes on the larger amount.
"Amerifriends" are good, but there are businesses that grease the border crossings, too. I've known many people with an American PO Box (which is cheap, but not always easy to get) or General Deliver to a Post Office. Not all businesses like them, but no where near a majority -- and oddly enough, it usually those same courier companies involved. I know one vendor that refuses to ship to my US drop-point because they use UPS who don't like dropping there.
Ted
I stand corrected... Thanks.
I guess I never looked at the actual breakdown and assumed it was all Taxes/Duty... Just knew that USPS/CP was the cheapest option... after having some sticker shock with UPS in particular.
Quebec (canada) here.
USPS/CP is the most satisfactory solution for me:
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From China IAliexpress, etc): 99.9% of products are delivered without extra fees if you don't use DHL/UPS/etc. Fast shipping for small items (15 days Aliexpress Standard Shipping or EMS e-packet): no extra fees.
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From Ebay (USA),
for small items: USPS, no fees
for big items, there is a unavoidable extra fees for delivery and taxes, all managed by Pitney-Bowes. Never had an extra and I received very very big/heavy packages without troubles (except comments from the postman
) -
From Amazon. Sometimes Amazon Canada is better, sometimes not. The prices are not oblgatory related (change). Sometimes Amazon Canada won't charges taxes, sometimes 2 taxes (Qc), sometimes just only one.
Hubitat: ordered 2 hubs, always received through USPS/CP without extra fees
Smartesthouse: ordered 3x: CP delivery, no extra fees
In General: small packages from USA, though USPS: no extra fees (except if you're picked randomly by customs)
UPS (even ground) from USA: avoid at any cost
DHL: always extra fees, but less than UPS
Fedex: if you're obliged by the seller...
Managed to sell my SmartThings hub today, so going to take a chance and order Hubitat on Black Friday (guessing some deals!). Fingers crossed on no fees or duty.
It's this community that sold me on Hubitat even more than the tech, so thanks to all!
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I bought one!!!!!
Got a price alert that Hubitat had dropped to $112 on amazon.ca this morning so jumped. It was sold by Hubitat directly, and seems I bought the only one (price is back to $181 from third party now).
Kudos and thanks to to Hubitat for making them available here. Now you just need to send lots more!
Ordered mine on Nov 10th. Just arrived at 'delivering post office' this morning, but no idea if that means it will be out for delivery today, or just received somewhere locally. Would be nice if they provided a bit more locational details while in transit (It showed as departed from Toronto - 2 hours drive away from me 5 days ago)... Its been 11 days now, but who's counting. I still feel like a kid waiting for Santa to show up... lol. Hoping it shows up today - but not until I'm done work, or else today will be a write-off... 
I'll update once I receive to see what I'm charged in terms of taxes/duty - which I'm completely expecting since it was sent to Customs for clearance 4 days ago.
Here's the USPS tracking:
[ Tracking History ]
November 21, 2019, 7:14 am
Arrival at Post Office
CANADA
Your item has arrived at the delivering post office in CANADA at 7:14 am on November 21, 2019.
November 19, 2019, 5:09 pm
Arrived at Facility
CANADA
November 18, 2019, 7:19 pm
Processed Through Facility
CANADA
November 18, 2019, 9:19 am
Customs Clearance
CANADA
November 16, 2019, 2:20 am
Departed
TORONTO, CANADA
November 15, 2019, 8:10 pm
Departed
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
November 14, 2019, 11:33 pm
Departed
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
November 14, 2019, 7:22 pm
Arrived
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
November 14, 2019, 2:49 pm
Processed Through Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
November 14, 2019, 2:16 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
November 14, 2019, 2:16 pm
Arrived at Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
November 14, 2019
In Transit to Next Facility
November 13, 2019, 11:58 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
PHOENIX AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX
November 12, 2019, 4:17 pm
Departed Post Office
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
November 12, 2019, 3:56 pm
USPS picked up item
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
November 12, 2019, 3:01 pm
Acceptance
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
November 10, 2019, 8:40 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
Clearly there's some price volatility on Amazon.ca's site. Now even higher than $181.
Received my HE just now. Mailman left it at the door - no duty/tax notification with it, so assume there isn't any.
Now the hard part begins - leaving it in the box until I finish working for the day... 
Mines out for delivery too
PS Brianna at Inovelli has promised some BF deals for Canadians on Facebook, I guess through Amazon.ca.
Delivery to Ontario, $13.83 taxes and $36.84 UPS brokerage fee.
I ordered my HE about 3 weeks ago direct from hubitat.com. Selected USPS at shipping. Arrived in 7 days without any duty or brokerage required.
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Ordered mine Nov 30th when it was on sale for $89 (should have waited 3 weeks) shipped via USPS. Received Dec 20th with no duty or taxes. $110 CDN all in. Haven't started playing with it yet.
