We often get calls from Canadian RVers looking for a specific part. Let me explain the dynamics and background then provide a few solutions.
We do not carry parts that are sourced through the Canadian RV parts distributors primarily because they have a restrictive policy limiting the sale of RV parts to dealers which have a physical “bricks and mortar” location. Since our whole premise when we started our online business , 10 years ago, was to provide access to RV parts online so that the mobile RVer could get parts wherever they were located whether they were near a dealer or not. We also were aware of the great disparity between the Canadian parts price and the US one. This was especially apparent when the 60 to 70 cent dollar (compared to the US dollar) was accounted for. Of course there is cross border shipping expenses and brokerage fees and occasionally duty however even accounting for these expenses the differential was excessive. We also know that the US market is diverse geographically whereas the Canadian population is spread in a ribbon 200 miles (320 km) north of the US-Canadian Border. That does create extra cost servicing that ribbon rather than as in the US servicing from central locations. However many other industries deal with the same issues, and their pricing is much closer to the actual cost differential.
We elected to carry parts where we could add value to the process and deal with the supplier directly, often shipping to the end user from the manufacturer to further reduce the cost. We utilize fair pricing models, provide personal advice an recommendations and rarely are we the lowest cost seller. As a result our business has blossomed to include not only Canadian but also US based customers. There is no border on knowledgeable advice and fair pricing.
Fast forward to the incoming parts call. Canadian RV dealers carry a subset of the popular RV parts sold in the USA. With blossoming internet access, many RVers check the internet before their local RV dealer. It is not unusual to for us to receive a call where a Canadian RVer has been referred to us by one of the large US RV online dealers, or even by some of the manufacturers. Since we do not have access to those parts or possibly because those parts are not carried by the local RV dealer and cannot be imported by their distributor, the RVer is seeking the part from non-conventional sources, thus the call to our firm.
There are a couple of wrinkles in the process that Canadian RVer’s find very difficult to understand. They called have located the part or product and discover the US dealer cannot ship to Canada. There are two typical reasons for that. 1) The time and effort to process the abundant additional paperwork required to export the product is not recovered at the price point they are selling at. The bottom line: they lose money. 2) Some of their distributors have policies that prevent them from selling outside of the USA, to protect the other distributors. 3) Even if they could cross those other issues their credit card processing facilities require the billing address for the credit card to have a ZIP code (i.e. a US address).
The options the Canadian RVer has are these:
A) Order and Buy the part from the Canadian Dealer, pick it up from them and pay the price.
B) Order the part from a US Dealer, have it shipped to a destination at a nearby border crossing point, drive to that location and pick it up, and bring it back across the border declaring it when returning. The shipping destination may be a US friend’s home, however most frequently it is a Kinkos (a FedEx subsidiary) or a UPS store. These border stores are very familiar with this process and they will charge a fee to handle the package however it allows you to give a US shipping address to eliminate the cross border shipping charges and the resulting paperwork. The credit card payment issue will require you to obtain a Canadian bank’s US Bank draft payable to the RV dealer for the exact amount. You will need to mail (or courier) the Draft to the dealer. We suggest faxing a copy or scanning and emailing a copy to them so that they can see that the order can be processed and shipped when payment is received.
C) The third alternative is to pick up the part or product when you are in the USA.
In all cases you will be required to declare it when crossing the border back into Canada and pay any duty or taxes assessed. Of course if the trip was planned to allow sufficient time out of the country you may use your personal exemptions depending upon how long you were out of the country.
