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pilot4pay
Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Louisville, KY
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 Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:01 am Post subject: 640 Resurgance! and US Customs |
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I just got back from Zenair in Canada, picking up my wings kit.
just as I was about to pull out, Matthiew Heinz tapped on my window and offered a quick look around.
He showed me 2 640 fuselages, and wings for quick build kits in progress. He said that in Europe, there is growing interest in the 640. This is good news, as that is motivation for the company to pay attention to continued support and development of the design. Took some quick pics, but had to skedaddle, as I had a long drive ahead.
The real problems occurred when trying to come back across the border. What no one tells you is that while you may save the crating and shipping charges by picking up at the factory, US customs will give you a hard time. Any materials/parts you bring with a combined value of more than $2500, requires that you hire a customs broker, have commercial paperwork, and documentation to certify Canadian origin of all parts down to the nuts and bolts, in spite of the so-called free trade agreement.
Also, you cannot just drive through the normal customs lines, you will have to go through the commercial trucking gates.
After nearly 2 hours of waiting and answering stupid questions, I got sent over the the commercial gates, and finally encountered an agent with common sense, and no ego that needed to prove how powerful the badge and gun are, he explained what the issues were (who knew?, unless you have ESP), and said it was obvious I was a private individual, not a commercial venture, so he would cut me a brake. He said that they could have sent me back into Canada, and worse.
I don't know what customs brokers charge, but it would have been nice for Zenair to give me a heads up. They ship across the border all the time, and could have mentioned the potential problems, as I had informed them when I placed the order that I was going to pick them up myself. Live and learn.
Final note, if you get the new CAD drawings, included is a new updated construction CD.
| | - The Matronics Zenith640-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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_________________
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078
"Just think how stupid the average person is,
and then realize that half of them are even stupider!"
--George Carlin |
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carlossa52(at)gmail.com
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:58 am Post subject: 640 Resurgance! and US Customs |
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Craig, my experience with custom brokers is limited to what I am charged the few times the sender insists on using UPS for shipping.
In this case, the charges amount to one arm and a leg, sometimes both legs. It can add 50% to 80% of the original merchandise cost.
Note that this in the opposite sense you described (i.e., US to Canada).
There might be easier and cheaper ways for you to bring the kit home, perhaps it's a matter of investigating ahead of time.
Cheers
Carlos
CH601-HD, plans
Montreal, Canada
2009/11/3 pilot4pay <pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net (pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net)>
[quote] --> Zenith640-List message posted by: "pilot4pay" <pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net (pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net)>
I just got back from Zenair in Canada, picking up my wings kit.
..
I don't know what customs brokers charge, but it would have been nice for Zenair to give me a heads up. They ship across the border all the time, and could have mentioned the potential problems, as I had informed them when I placed the order that I was going to pick them up myself. Live and learn.
Final note, if you get the new CAD drawings, included is a new updated construction CD.
--------
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078
[b]
| | - The Matronics Zenith640-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith640-List |
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doug_geese(at)fwmetals.co
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: 640 Resurgance! and US Customs |
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I had the same experience with customs while picking up my wing kit. On the fuselage I had a private shipper arranged by Zenith deliver it. This was essentially an older gentleman with a truck and trailer. He backed it right into my garage, unloaded and was gone. I think it was about $350 for shipping (1000 mile roundtrip). Much easier!
Doug
From: owner-zenith640-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith640-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Carlos Sa
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 10:45 AM
To: zenith640-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: 640 Resurgance! and US Customs
Craig, my experience with custom brokers is limited to what I am charged the few times the sender insists on using UPS for shipping.
In this case, the charges amount to one arm and a leg, sometimes both legs. It can add 50% to 80% of the original merchandise cost.
Note that this in the opposite sense you described (i.e., US to Canada).
There might be easier and cheaper ways for you to bring the kit home, perhaps it's a matter of investigating ahead of time.
Cheers
Carlos
CH601-HD, plans
Montreal, Canada
2009/11/3 pilot4pay <pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net (pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net)>
--> Zenith640-List message posted by: "pilot4pay" <pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net (pilot4profit(at)sbcglobal.net)>
I just got back from Zenair in Canada, picking up my wings kit.
..
I don't know what customs brokers charge, but it would have been nice for Zenair to give me a heads up. They ship across the border all the time, and could have mentioned the potential problems, as I had informed them when I placed the order that I was going to pick them up myself. Live and learn.
Final note, if you get the new CAD drawings, included is a new updated construction CD.
--------
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078
| Quote: | | [b]www.aeroelectric.comwww.buildersbooks.com |
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| | - The Matronics Zenith640-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith640-List |
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