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    Can Canadians buy Thinkpad from California Computer Center?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by lesterlin, Sep 13, 2007.

  1. lesterlin

    lesterlin Newbie

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    Hi all,

    I live in Canada. We all know that Thinkpad is much more expensive in Canada than in U.S. So I try to buy my Thinkpad from U.S. online store. Just now, I registered the California Computer Center and found there is no shipping fee for ground shipping to Canada, no tax neither. I cannot believe it. Can Canadians buy Thinkpad from California Computer Center?

    Thank you!
     
  2. j0rdy

    j0rdy Notebook Consultant

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    Erm, you DO know that they Will Charge you Tax once it reaches Canada, don't you?

    I live in Ontario, bought a Toshiba from Costco.com (Costco US) - mostly because of Costco's computer return policy (3 months USA, 6 months Canada); had to pay $140 or so for GST upon arrival in Canada, also I insured it for $1400 USD when shipping.

    - Jordan

    P.S. Costco items can be returned at *ANY* Costco warehouse worldwide.
     
  3. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    yes they'll charge you tax for items shipped across the border but since they dont ship to Canada its moot.
    If they did it would still be worth it because of the frequent sales going on on the US site. Over in Canada, its bad enough that the thinkpads are horribly overpriced, they hardly have discounts. They might have a free ram upgrade promo or something similar but it still doesnt compare to US prices...not by a long shot.

    Best you can do is find someone to order it for you ( the CC must have a US billing address) and have them send it to you or pick it up yourself.

    ps: During the recent Labor Day sale my calculations showed that even with the GST+PST tax on a US ordered T61p Thinkpad it still came up to $800 (tax included) cheaper than a similar system bought in Canada
     
  4. mercer240

    mercer240 Notebook Guru

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    If you live within driving distance of the US, you can go to the US (say Buffalo NY), open a mailbox at a shipping store and then send your computer there. Then pick up your computer and drive it home.

    Theoretically you are still be liable for the Canadian taxes, so your conscience would have to be comfortable with tax evasion.
     
  5. Yorgi

    Yorgi Notebook Geek

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    You could try to "sneak" it across to avoid the tax but if they catch you the fine is usually the price you paid for the item plus the tax.

    Personally I think the risk is not worth the $150 you would save by not declaring it.

    If you want to order from the US just open an account over the phone at the nearest USP Store in Niagara Falls, ship it there then drive down and get it. Pay the $150 tax and you will still be far ahead.

    You have to be careful about warranty though. From what I've read only models available in Canada can be serviced here. You will have to ship back to the US for warranty work if you buy a US-only model.
     
  6. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    Only problem with that is if your CC doesnt have a US billing address it will be rejected...you can try tho...
     
  7. onexeyed

    onexeyed Notebook Consultant

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    Would an American Express credit card work?
     
  8. Yorgi

    Yorgi Notebook Geek

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    You can use American Express if you must, I hear that it is always accepted. Or keep trying until you get a rep that does not bring up the Canadian card as an issue. Several people have ordered using Canadian cards while others have been refused.
     
  9. gridtalker

    gridtalker Notebook Virtuoso

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    Won't customs charge you?