Sweetgrass Montana Run

[btimbit]

Calgary to Edmonton is 3/4's of a tank for me

[cidley69]

Spikers, you plan on making this run again anytime soon?

[spikerS]

No plans in the immediate future. however if enogh people needed a run, and it was worth my while (as in I don't have pay anyone's duties or border storage fees) I could be convinced to go again.

[Str1der]

So, let me get this straight, did someone not give you enough to cover the storage and duty costs at the time they were incurred? Or did they altogether not cover the costs at all? In the first instance, that's a bit lame. However, in the second instance that is altogether unacceptable and those assholes should be publicly shamed.

Perhaps a better approach would be to do a quick duty determination based on provided receipts. For example, on an item worth $100, an extra $40 should be provided to cover GST, Duty, and storage. On top of this, and depending on the number of participants, an extra amount should be offered to cover your expenses and incidentals.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by Str1der

Perhaps a better approach would be to do a quick duty determination based on provided receipts. For example, on an item worth $100, an extra $40 should be provided to cover GST, Duty, and storage. On top of this, and depending on the number of participants, an extra amount should be offered to cover your expenses and incidentals.

He's trying to avoid being labelled as an importer. Earning an official profit from doing the run would lead to that. That's why gas money is "voluntary".

I'm pretty sure I gave some gas money to you for my tires last summer... if I didn't let me know and I'll buy you a few beers spikers, lol.

[Str1der]

Right, and the balance of the suggested GST, Duty, and storage funds would be rounded and refunded.

[spikerS]

no, the first trip was a complete success! Zero issues at all. In fact, people gave us too much money in some cases, and like you tick-tok, you got cash back.

The most extreme case from the last trip was this:

This person gave me $15 to cover the fees that MSO charges to receive the boxes, Duty from customs, to chip in for gas, and to chip in for buying Baygirl and I lunch as thanks for doing the run.

Their price breakdown was this:
MSO storage fees were $13.00
GST / Duty was something like $9.00
and each person's share for Gas and Lunch was something like $30-$35.

so before even factoring in gas and lunch, I was already paying for the privileged of being the importer, and travelling for free.

I was pretty clear in both threads that I would not be demanding a certain price, and that everything was a "tip" for being a nice guy or whatever, because if I accept money for doing this, I am considered a commercial importer, and then I have to pay all sorts of fees that I can not afford. So what I did was provide links to cost estimators for duty and gst, reminded people about MSO fees and gas and that we would be stopping for lunch. I actually thought I was pretty clear. And we said this many times to everyone.

We like doing these trips, gets us out and about, seeing new things, stopping at different places, whatever. Our cash is usually pretty tight, so doing these trips for people allows us to get out and stuff, while helping others out. pretty fair trade I thought.

The above example was the most extreme one from the last trip. But on the whole, we were short about $60-70 from the break even point. Not a lot, I know, but enough that it stings a little, when we have more important things that we can put that money towards.

[gpomp]

Post their usernames, spikers.

I just did a run on Monday but I only do it for myself and personal friends to avoid BS like that.

[spikerS]

not really interested in naming names. It isn't going to get me anywhere.

Legally, I can't ask for money, so, it makes no sense. And I have no interest in creating any drama for anyone, or myself.

[btimbit]

If you ask for a description of the item and get an amount of money that doesn't seem like it's enough, I know you can't simply ask for more, but could you not return it and say you can't help that person?

As for the run I was planning on making myself, it'll probably be postponed to the new year now.

[thinmyster]

I am going to have a few things shipped in the new year. I believe I was one of the guys in the first run. Spikers if you are heading down again let me know

[cidley69]

Does $100 to pick up 4 tires sound legit?

The tires total about $500 USD.

[spikerS]

Originally posted by cidley69
Does $100 to pick up 4 tires sound legit?

The tires total about $500 USD.

That is really up to you to decide.

Remember the small boxes are $4 each at MSO. Tires come in sets of 2. I think 2 tires are about $10-12 fee per pack. so for a set of 4 tires, figure on $20-25 for the MSO fees.

Tires will also have a $4 per tire enviro levy placed on them at the border, IN ADDITION to the GST and Duties.

also, GST and duty is based off of CDN, not USD.

Then, remember it is a 700km round trip, so for most people, that's about 1.5 tanks of fuel.

Figure on spending 2 hours at MSO. they always seem to be busy there, and they are not very quick.

Also, clearing customs and such takes awhile too.

Also, tires take up a lot of space in a vehicle too, so factor that in too.

so, since this is not for me, I can recommend a fair price, and I would break it down like this.

Tires (500usd is $532.22 CAD)

MSO fees : $25
GST: $26.61
Tire Levy: $16
Duty: $65.73 (non NAFTA, if they are NAFTA it is like $27)

add in say $30 for gas, and another $10-15 for lunch, and for a set of 4 tires, you can be as high as $180 as a worst case scenario. Of course this is an estimation on everything, there are quite a few variables that can change this.

[cidley69]

Thanks for that break down, appreciated.

Not trying to be a tight ass. but once these little things start adding up, what was once a good deal turns into nothing better than average.

what ever happened to free trade??!!!

north america is practically one big market, why we get so raped on costs up here?

[adamc]

I need to make a tire run down there soon too, we should all just jump in one truck and go get our tires together. Split gas, fuck the lunch sharing costs, and drive back.

[cidley69]

is TireRack your go to source for tires in US?

[spikerS]

Originally posted by cidley69
Thanks for that break down, appreciated.

Not trying to be a tight ass. but once these little things start adding up, what was once a good deal turns into nothing better than average.

what ever happened to free trade??!!!

north america is practically one big market, why we get so raped on costs up here?

like I said, it is worst case scenario. Better to be told the extreme, and then be surprised when it works out cheaper.

do your research, and decide how much your time is worth.

[bart]

i'm going jan 28, $5 is my service charge per package, same rules as OP

[Joe-G]

Anyone else planning to make a trip to the border?

[K3RMiTdot]

im contemplating if nobody is going soon