URGENT! Need help from CANADIAN buyers (directly from sideshow).
Aight people, I would like to know if you ever have been charged extra money when your statue arrived at your doorstep when you ordered it from sideshow, especially an expensive piece like this one.
Thing is this. I bought a Joker PF EX on eBay from someone in the U.S. a while ago, I paid 600$ total for it. But when it arrived here, the ****ers charged me an extra 180$ of import bull**** and what not even tho I already paid a 50$ shipping price to the eBay guy.
So right now i'm wondering if I should order it from my LCS to save on such fees but here's the catch. If I want the EX, which I do, then I have to pay extra because for some reason, sideshow charge retailers extra money for exclusive editions.
If I buy it from my LCS, it could cost me up to 900$ CAN.
So the deal is this. Either I order it at my LCS and pay maybe 40-60$ more but have the option of opening multiple piece and pick the best one (because im sure there will be defects and what not like most of SS statues nowadays), and if there is a problem with the piece and needs returning/replacement the LCS will take care of it for me, or I order it myself from sideshow and risk having to pay 200$ when it arrives at my door but having only 1 option to choose from and hassle if I need a return/replacement/etc..
So what do you canucks think ? I have till monday before my LCS places the order to make my decision.
(Same problem with the Hellboy PF :/)
Ok, here is the straight goods:
1. Do not EVER allow a seller out of the US to ship you anything using UPS Ground or FedEx Ground...you will get nailed with huge brokerage fees. In fact, avoid UPS altogether.
2. USPS/Canada Post is hit or miss. Sometimes you get charged, sometimes you don't, depends which service the seller used.
3. You should insist that the seller use FedEx Economy (same service Sideshow uses). You will pay more up front, but the brokerage costs are included in the shipping cost. Using this method will save you money in the long run.
4. Create a FedEx account and have the seller reference your account number when they ship it (Sideshow will do this for you if you give them your FedEx account number). Doing this allows FedEx to charge all import fees to your credit card (assigned to your FedEx account) automatically. This means no delays at customs, no charges due upon delivery (because they will automatically get billed to your credit card), AND FedEx will waive a $10 fee (for paying your import charges and collecting from you later)...it's only $10, but hey, every little bit of savings helps.
5. I reiterate, do NOT EVER use UPS Ground (or UPS in general) or FedEx Ground.
If you follow the above, you will only have to pay the GST (and PST/HST if you have one...I think Quebec has a 10% PST, don't they??) on the converted Canadian dollar cost for the item.
Other extra hidden costs include the currency conversion fee charged by your credit card company/bank.
If you want the EX, buy from Sideshow. You get the rewards points (basically like getting the GST back), and if there was something wrong with your piece, you'll have a better chance of getting a replacement.