Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Just want to share my general frustration - I have sourced a few animals that I would like to add to my collection that happen to be in the States, unfortunately due to extremely high shipping costs it makes it horribly expensive to be able to bring in anything. The Ball Python market here in Canada is doing well, but it would just be nice to be able to go to the source to get specific lines or morphs. Just this week I received shipping quotes anywhere from $500 to $1500. :(
I'd even be willing to cross drive to the states to pick up certain snakes, but I am not sure of the legalities to bring them back over the border.
Can anyone offer any alternatives or have shipped across the border successfully for a decent price. Thoughts/Suggestions
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Hi,
Ball pythons are cites 2 listed so you need both export and import paperwork.
You will also probably have to pay import duty at the border.
dr del
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
the smaller market up here and the huge costs in importing from the U.S. is exactly why animals here are so much more exspensive. trust me i feel your pain. it sucks when you see prices of animals an hour south of here and there 1/2 what they cost here and there is nothing you can do about it.
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dr del
Hi,
Ball pythons are cites 2 listed so you need both export and import paperwork.
You will also probably have to pay import duty at the border.
dr del
Thanks Del - I wll do some more research with regards to the paperwork involved. Most breeders I talked to said I should just wait until I have some buddies that also want to import and all do it together...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
seang89
I've briefly looked into getting animals from the states. Its very long and costly process from what I've gathered. Maybe someone with more experience will chime in on exactly what has to be done and what type of costs your looking at.
IMO It seems Canada is more of a sellers market, the US is more of a buyers markets.
Some animals in Canada, you can get for half the price in the states. But that doesn't make it cheap to bring them here.
Agreed. Canadian prices can be very high compared to the US, but that is to be expected. The US market is huge compared to ours here. Many morphs that are readily available in the US are still considered to be 'hard-to-find' items here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sugarbone
As far as I can tell it's not really worth it unless you're invested in importing very expensive and specific animals, or a lot of them - to the point where $1000 shipping and import duties is only a dent. I feel your pain, I find exactly what I want for great prices up and down American breeders' sites, the Canadian ones are much harder to find.
Very True - If I were spending big money I doubt that the $1000 dollar shipping would bother me as much and could be absorbed in the deal. I was originally looking for simple recessives - Axanthics, Clowns, Pieds, Albino and a POG. I find them here and there, but do not have anywhere near the same options as the states.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
llovelace
We have a couple members here that are located in Canada that breed. Look up Bruce Whitehead.
Thanks! I will look him up! :D
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jason_ladouceur
the smaller market up here and the huge costs in importing from the U.S. is exactly why animals here are so much more exspensive. trust me i feel your pain. it sucks when you see prices of animals an hour south of here and there 1/2 what they cost here and there is nothing you can do about it.
Yessir! :(
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
decensored
Look Up Omega Pythons - The guys who owns the company is Chris. Tell him Chris (the guy who bought his old rack) told you about him. He's VERY reasonable and really nice. I recommend him to everyone.
http://www.omegapythons.com/
Just send him an email and tell him what your looking for. I was looking to get an Axanthic and he didn't have any so he set me up with one of his contacts who did and I got an amazing deal.
Cheers!
Thanks Chris - I have heard good things about Omega, was actually having a conversation with another breeder about them just this past week. I have a couple of things lined up at the moment so I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
I would also highly recommend urban reptile. all the animals I have gotten from them are top notch, second to none and they are great to deal with.
:gj:
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jason_ladouceur
I would also highly recommend urban reptile. all the animals I have gotten from them are top notch, second to none and they are great to deal with.
:gj:
I actually spoke with Craig yesterday - Looking forward to dealing with them. :D
Re: Shipping between USA and Canada - Can you afford it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alexandra V
It seriously sucks. I've been looking at all the animals that are soooo much cheaper in the States and I simply cannot get them. If I lived in the States, the hobby would be a lot more affordable for me it seems because everything is coming out of the US so I'd save on shipping and save on the actual animals... :/ *sigh*
Some of the prices and expos in New England have had me debating doing a road trip down there and smuggling a snake or two back with me :P :rolleyes: of course I'd never really do that. I don't have the guts for it.
Let me know when you go! ;)
Road tripping to a Reptile Expo would be fun. You'd get a vacation and some new snakes all in one. I wonder what the import taxes would cost to bring something across the border by car?
