Pre-order in Canada: here's a link

Do you know if it is shipped from within Canada? (ie, do we have to deal with customs?)

And what are the UPS shipping charges?

Thanks!

For Canadian customers, you don't have to worry about customs.  Product will be shipped to US and then shipped to Canada.  Usually it's a $12 shipping fee, all inclusive and product is shipped UPS next day from our US warehouse.

Maggie,

   Thanks for the update. I have already received and order confirmation, however the shipping date is 10 May 2012!

The 30 day back order time is around 30 March, not May.

    What is the reality for someone that ordered today from Newark Canada?

Since it is shipping to US first and not drop shipping to you from UK, it will take around 3-4 weeks shipping to US and then clearing US customs.  Dates are estimates to include all of that.  I hope that helps.

Maggie,

     So what you are saying is that from the time a RPi is made in China at the factory, it gets shipped to the UK, then to the US, then to Canada.  And at each step in this process, it'll will take some time to travel the leg as well as to go through customs.  So there is no process to get them from China to the US or Canada without the UK middle step?

     And I would hope that there is some methodology in place to ensure that orders in Canada/US get filled properly and that shipments arriving in UK on the way to North America aren't hijacked for European markets.

     Sorry to be pushy but I am still severely disappointed with how the launch went and how those customers outside the UK and EU were left out and it appearing that the Foundation/Farnell(Newark)/RS all seem to be saying "oh well, too bad".

     I guess that if I was to order another one in 6 months I would only need to wait a few days for the time it took get from the US to Canada, as the RPi would already be stocked by Newark, right?

Hi Maggie,

Thanks for clarifying.

Unfortunately Canadian customers DO have customs charges to deal with, if it's coming from the US.

A shipment from the US to Canada is subject to customs (for products over $20 CAD), for which UPS will charge $7 clearing plus a $10 bond fee, in addition to the regular shipping charges. Add that to the $12 shipping charge = $29.

UPS is really cleaning up here, nearly getting as much as the whole product is worth! I wish there was a postal option for shipping.

The Canada part of the customs charges are actually the cheapest part of the process (and for a business those taxes can be claimed back).

Cheers,

-Nico

Nico,

     I have to agree with you on this.  I've had so many products shipped by UPS where the vendor thought they were doing me a favour and I ended up paying more in UPS fees and GST than the item was worth.  I think that Newark can believe that there won't be any duties, but they can't control that UPS will charge a Canadian recipient a few bucks to collect the $4 in tax on the item.

     I've seen other posts where US customers complained that they were going to be charged $20 to get direct UK to customer shipping by Royal Mail.  At this point this would be a deal for Canadian customers as it would likely avoid any additional UPS fees and would likely get here much sooner than waiting for trans-shipment from the US.

Maggie,

    Can we get the originally planned $20 direct mail shipping?

Kevin

OK, there is what I know to be true when I am on the phone with a customer, and then there is what you may be seeing when you place the order on the website.

I am feeling rather cautious about making any blanket statements at this point.   I would defer to Nicole Larson on these questions.

I know when Canadian customers call in, there is a pre-pay option where the $12 covers EVERYTHING.  This is an arrangement we have with UPS.  I don't normally handle Canada, so a web expert would help on this as well.

I think whatever shipping method your order is presently at, it would be best to stay put as to keep your que.

I know Nicole is looking into some of these questions for you and wants to make sure her answers are accurate.  She is monitoring posts and we are very eager to answer questions and give everybody the best possible customer experience.

Thank you so much for your interest!  I love to see such an active community!

Hi Maggie,

I think the $12 would then cover the $7 clearing fee. I've been shipped things this way several times, but when UPS says "everything" they don't mention the fine print, which includes the $10 bond fee.

Here is the rate sheet for UPS customs clearance into Canada.

http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

Note the bit about "Bond Fees" saying "minimum $10". That's even if import tax is only a dollar. By the time most people learn this, UPS is holding their package hostage, so it's an easy sneaky way for UPS to double their income.

Last time I did check with them to see if I could prepay the import taxes to avoid the bond fee, but they (UPS) said that was not possible.

So in reality shipping with UPS will cost $22. (plus 12% HST goes to the government).

It's too bad the Raspberry Pi team didn't get it down to $19.95, as then it would be customs exempt!

Cheers,

-Nico

Maggie says they have an arrangement with UPS to prepay:

"I know when Canadian customers call in, there is a pre-pay option where the $12 covers EVERYTHING.  This is an arrangement we have with UPS.  I don't normally handle Canada, so a web expert would help on this as well."

It is possible that UPS doesn't accept prepayment from an individual but does by prearrangement with a large company.

UPS says there is no Bond fee with a prepayment.

"When funds are not provided in advance by the customer, and UPS must post a bond to allow UPS shipments to be released in advance of payment to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a fee of 2.7 percent (minimum $6.00 on Worldwide Standard;"

Hi Guys - hope I can clear up any outstanding questions regarding the $20 Farnell Direct shipping fee that our Newark element14 customers were charged.  Check out this document for the official statement, but in summary it was a mistake on our end. Any Newark element14 customer charged this $20 Farnell Direct ship fee will receive an email when the charge has been overturned. 

Thanks for your questions and so sorry for all the confusion!  We're trying as best we can to keep up with questions

Nicole, element14 Community Manager

Hi Guys - hope I can clear up any outstanding questions regarding the $20 Farnell Direct shipping fee that our Newark element14 customers were charged.  Check out this document for the official statement, but in summary it was a mistake on our end. Any Newark element14 customer charged this $20 Farnell Direct ship fee will receive an email when the charge has been overturned. 

Thanks for your questions and so sorry for all the confusion!  We're trying as best we can to keep up with questions

Nicole, element14 Community Manager