Buying at .81 Exchange Rate and importing to US

[GerriJ]

Originally Posted by sturski

I sent a personal check for an amount that was $500 less than the balance due and let the exchange rate do whatever it wanted. I was just looking to get it close enough that I could settle up via credit card.

Worked just fine, though the pony express from Colorado to BC took 3 weeks.

When we sold our trailer I requested the American buyer send me a cashiers check for a deposit. He went to his bank, had a check made out to me and asked the bank to mail it. The bank e-mailed me a copy of the check so that I knew it existed. After 15 days no check yet. Called the buyer who called the bank. The check had been returned because the bank didn't pay enough postage. I got the check three days later. "What can go wrong will go wrong"

[mk1549]

Originally Posted by GerriJ

When we sold our trailer I requested the American buyer send me a cashiers check for a deposit. He went to his bank, had a check made out to me and asked the bank to mail it. The bank e-mailed me a copy of the check so that I knew it existed. After 15 days no check yet. Called the buyer who called the bank. The check had been returned because the bank didn't pay enough postage. I got the check three days later. "What can go wrong will go wrong"

That almost happened to me....
I sent a check to ETI and just by chance my mail lady saw that I had written Canada on the envelope and that I had placed a forever stamp for postage. She knocked on my door informing me those stamps won't work for international mail. I thought a stamp was a stamp but now I know its not lol Bless her heart.

[mk1549]

Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy

Needless bureaucracy is in more places than we would care to admit. So I assume that you did not get your license plate and will have to pull the trailer home without one. Loren

I called DMV here in Alabama aka Dept of Revenue and no tag or license without inspecting the trailer. But they said I will have 20 days to get it from there to here I asked about a temp tag and she said that was only good for 20 days so why bother.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by mk1549

That almost happened to me....
I sent a check to ETI and just by chance my mail lady saw that I had written Canada on the envelope and that I had placed a forever stamp for postage. She knocked on my door informing me those stamps won't work for international mail. I thought a stamp was a stamp but now I know its not lol Bless her heart.

A Forever stamp will work -- if you use enough of them. The first class postage to Canada from here is around $1.15 per letter. I put three Forever stamps on the envelope and voila! It arrived.

[mk1549]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

A Forever stamp will work -- if you use enough of them. The first class postage to Canada from here is around $1.15 per letter. I put three Forever stamps on the envelope and voila! It arrived.

That's the same here. I had $1.35 worth of forever stamps and when I took it to the post office they confirmed what she said that the stamps have to show a denomination but that's ok I scraped the forever stamps off (oh yes I did) and sent it on its merry way.
Then after all that, Crystal from ETI tells me since mail for them goes to New York it will take about 10 days for it to arrive.
Just like you were saying about the DMV it was frustrating but now its done.
Marion

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by mk1549

That's the same here. I had $1.35 worth of forever stamps and when I took it to the post office they confirmed what she said that the stamps have to show a denomination but that's ok I scraped the forever stamps off (oh yes I did) and sent it on its merry way.
Then after all that, Crystal from ETI tells me since mail for them goes to New York it will take about 10 days for it to arrive.
Just like you were saying about the DMV it was frustrating but now its done.
Marion

That's very strange. The stamps don't have to show a denomination to work because I've done it - several times.

I got this from the Postal Service itself:

"Customers can use Forever Stamps for international mail, but since all international prices are higher than domestic prices, customers will need to attach additional postage. The value of the Forever Stamp is the domestic First-Class Mail letter price in effect on the day of use."

I think someone at the Post Office needs to re-read the book.

[dbawden]

After digging a little deeper on bringing a trailer into the US permanently, I found the following.

The critical line: "The trailer must be imported by a * Registered Importer (RI) or by someone who has a contract with an RI, unless they have a U.S. certification label stating the trailer meets U.S. vehicle safety standards."

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-into-the-u.s.

It appears if I purchased a car or trailer I am compelled to use a qualified broker.

Any dissent?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by dbawden

After digging a little deeper on bringing a trailer into the US permanently, I found the following.

The critical line: "The trailer must be imported by a * Registered Importer (RI) or by someone who has a contract with an RI, unless they have a U.S. certification label stating the trailer meets U.S. vehicle safety standards."

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-into-the-u.s.

It appears if I purchased a car or trailer I am compelled to use a qualified broker.

Any dissent?

Reace and Tammy have this down to a science. Just let them do their thing. They will generate all the necessary paperwork showing the brokerage/registered importer documents. We received the following documents:

- Bill of Sale showing USD and CAD amounts
- DHS Entry Summary
- ETI Certificate of Origin
- HS-7 Import Declaration
- Imported ID Input Record
- US Customs Invoice

That satisfies the requirement. Honestly, the nominal fee for having ETI export the trailer to the US is a no brainer. You get oriented at ETI, head to Sumas, they export, and meet you on the US side. Hitch up and go. Nothing could be easier.

[GerriJ]

Originally Posted by dbawden

After digging a little deeper on bringing a trailer into the US permanently, I found the following.

The critical line: "The trailer must be imported by a * Registered Importer (RI) or by someone who has a contract with an RI, unless they have a U.S. certification label stating the trailer meets U.S. vehicle safety standards."

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-into-the-u.s.

It appears if I purchased a car or trailer I am compelled to use a qualified broker.

Any dissent?

With regard to the label stating the trailer meets US Vehicle safety standards Escape trailers have this label. N56 label on the 5.0 it is located on the drivers side near the front of the trailer. It has your vin number on it. The bottom line of the label states that the trailer meets all US safety requirements. I am no expert but for Escape trailers what you have written would suggest you do not require a broker.

[Loren & Cathy]

I suppose I could do our taxes myself, but the $275.00 that I pay our accountant is more than worth it to me. The same for ETI handling the export situation. Loren

[gbaglo]

Especially since ETI will get it done right.
It's not really worth doing something yourself, that has a steep learning curve.

[JStelly]

We used FedEx to send a cashier's check to ETI. While it cost $42.00 it was a bit cheaper than wire and arrived the next day. ETI deposited it the same day and we got a great exchange rate. I mailed it on a Monday morning ETI received it on Tuesday and by Wednesday I received our adjusted build sheet. The traceability and speed of FedEx was worth it.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

It's not really worth doing something yourself, that has a steep learning curve.

... and that you'll only do once. I agree, for this do-it-yourself it doesn't seem worthwhile. Now, if one were regularly importing trailers, that might be another matter.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

... and that you'll only do once. I agree, for this do-it-yourself it doesn't seem worthwhile. Now, if one were regularly importing trailers, that might be another matter.

Makes sense to me. Murphy's Law always seems to kick in on a foreign transaction as well. Better to have it hassle free.

[GerriJ]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Especially since ETI will get it done right.
It's not really worth doing something yourself, that has a steep learning curve.

If you are buying or selling used you are kind of stuck doing it yourself. Fortunately for me I will be getting a tutorial from Tammy next Friday.
Mark

[Escape While You Can]

Originally Posted by JStelly

We used FedEx to send a cashier's check to ETI. While it cost $42.00 it was a bit cheaper than wire and arrived the next day. ETI deposited it the same day and we got a great exchange rate. I mailed it on a Monday morning ETI received it on Tuesday and by Wednesday I received our adjusted build sheet. The traceability and speed of FedEx was worth it.

Had no idea this method was available. Thanks

[mk1549]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

That's very strange. The stamps don't have to show a denomination to work because I've done it - several times.

I got this from the Postal Service itself:

"Customers can use Forever Stamps for international mail, but since all international prices are higher than domestic prices, customers will need to attach additional postage. The value of the Forever Stamp is the domestic First-Class Mail letter price in effect on the day of use."

I think someone at the Post Office needs to re-read the book.

I'm sure you are right I bet if I had gone to a different post office I would have been told a different story.

[batcat]

Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy

I suppose I could do our taxes myself, but the $275.00 that I pay our accountant is more than worth it to me. The same for ETI handling the export situation. Loren

As a practicing CPA, I second that!

[rbryan4]

FYI all, ETI received our check today for the remaining balance. The conversion rate was 1 USD = 1.2327 CAD.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

FYI all, ETI received our check today for the remaining balance. The conversion rate was 1 USD = 1.2327 CAD.

Methinks you should bring that 0.2327 in saving with you to Osoyoos, and put it into a liquor and poutine fund for all to enjoy.