Canadian members - your experiences ordering parts from the US or abroad
 

Hi all!

I'm a resident of Toronto Canada, ready to start modding my Z. I'm looking for feedback and experiences (good and bad) from Canadians who have ordered cosmetic or performance parts from the US or anywhere else, ex Lip/body kits or intake and exhaust systems. All of you experiences shared would be greatly appreciated!

Carlito


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I've ordered parts through a number of the U.S.-based suppliers/sponsors listed in the suppliers section … Z Speed Performance, Concept Z Performance, Z1 Motorsports. Always received great service from very knowledgable folks. Never any problems with shipping or customs clearance. The suppliers have always provided tracking numbers so you know exactly when and where the parts are. Shipping has sometimes been very quick … arrival within 2-3 days. Follow-up from the suppliers to confirm receipt, etc. also has been very good. Shipping can be expensive depending on weight. When ordering brake rotors or other heavy parts, I sometimes look for local dealers or perhaps Vancouver-based suppliers. Drivers Edge in Vancouver is also a good supplier of performance parts. I suspect you could source heavy items from a a local shop or from Montreal. Anyway, my experience has been good. Good luck with the mods!

Just remembered that I've also ordered parts through Stillen and SPL in the U.S. Again, never any problems.

One recommendation: If you're in the market for an aftermarket clutch … or just general advice on the Z … Joe at Z Speed Performance is great to work with. Really knowledgable and always quick to respond. He also carries an under the engine aluminum shroud that replaces the OEM plastic unit … and makes oil and filter changes much easier since he designed in an access port so that you do not need to remove the 18 or so screws/fasteners that hold the plastic piece in place. He deserves some kind of award for this!

i'm new to modding my car as well and would like to hear others experience.

I do have one suggestion, checkout Whitehead Performance, they are in TO and have pricing on their website for some parts, if nothing else it will give you a comparison in Canadian dollars. They carry Ark, KW and Stillen on there website. I haven't ordered from them yet, only had the car a short while, but I use to have them service my Honda back in the 90's and they were good guys then.

As far as shipping UPS and Fedex, charge brokerage fees, so that adds extra cost to what you buy. If possible ship with USPS, as they do not charge brokerage fees.

If you ship with the first two, and the brokerage fee is high (it's percentage of the total value), you can self declare. Inform the shipper prior to delivery that you wil self declare, they wil send you the documents and then you go to the nearest Canada Customs office (usually at the airport), pay your duty and taxes. Once those are paid, you let the shipper know and they wil deliver.

If the duty is $10, then it is probably not worth the hustle and the gas to drive to Customs. If it is $200, then it is worth it.

Another tip is to get parts that are US made, then they are covered by NAFTA and no duty is required. Ask you parts source to provide NAFTA documentation.

+1 for USPS, I try and do this for anything I get from the US, shipping is usually cheaper and they seem to let taxes and duties go without collecting them most of the time.

I hadn't thought about the NAFTA rules, does that mean a Fast Intentions exhaust would come to Canada Duty free?

I know of some folks here in Calgary who also use a shipping warehouse just across the border in Montana. The warehouse provides you with a U.S. mailing address ... and for a modest fee you can arrange to ship directly from the U.S. supplier to the warehouse ... and then travel across the border to pick up the goods whenever convenient. The shipping costs can be quite a bit cheaper this way. I suspect there must be similar warehouses in Niagara that you could contact and make the necessary arrangements ... especially if you're looking for a U.S.-made exhaust or other bulky/heavier items.

I calculated the amount of time and gas and fees it would take to do this. Unless you are ordering a bunch of expensive items at once, it is not worth it. At best you come out even.

You bet. Ask Tony to fill out the paperwork and you'll save a couple of hundred. I did.

I agree. The trip from Calgary to Montana can eat time and gas. However, depending on where the OP lives in Toronto, it may be a relatively short hop over to the border at Niagara.

Got my wheel package from Japan via the USA. My advice...don't use UPS!

I almost lost my whole package and had to pay those crooks an outrageous bunch of fees.

Sometimes there is no choice but to use UPS, most of the time it is under the shippers control and out of the buyers control. Could have saved the brokerage fees.

I always seem to get ding'd an extra $10-$40 when it gets delivered to Canada. Ragardless of if it comes from UPS, FedEx etc. Brokerage/duty fee's etc.

I haven't had any issues other than the ludicrous fees.

Hands down OZ Motorsports is the best place to buy anything. They can get you anything you want at a fraction. Ask for Roberto. Tell him you're part of the gta 370z club. Any name brands.including JDM from Japan he can get. He's located in brampton.
Enjoy your modifying:tiphat:

Hi Luciano,
Do you have a Phone # OZ Motorspots? I am looking for an ARK Grip Exhaust and the wondering what their pricing would be ? I have seen Whiteheads and pricing in US with CAD dollar low, not sure it is worth it...
The NAFTA suggestion was great. I was not aware of that one.

Man, I can't even say UPS without grinding my teeth and dreaming of firebombing brown trucks. I will call the company directly and tell them contract or no contract with UPS, they either use a different courier (preferably USPS) or my business will be going elsewhere. A lot of the time the shipping price they quote to send to Canada is absurdly high too, because they don't bother to measure and weigh it and then get a real quote instead of a flat rate package.

Canada Post for all their faults has amazing prices when shipping TO the USA and no paperwork required. You would think that if someone on the other side of the border walked your parcel into a USPS office and asked for the cheapest method of getting it to you it would be like $15 and no duties or anything.

Despite all that, we get bent over so hard up here (as prices haven't been adjusted since the dollar was .60 cents USD) that it is almost never if ever cheaper to buy in Canada.

9054870586.
Ask for Roberto. Tell him Lee with the 370z referred you.... He'll treat u good.:tup:
They get everything!! U can even talk them down;)
He's a great guy and tries extremely hard to please his customers. He even does custom Halos :stirthepot:

Ups destroyed my last sale to a forum member and refused to replace due to an error their "newbie" did:shakes head:
Im not very pleased

+100 on UPS - their brokerage fees are criminal. :icon23:

I buy a lot of things in the US and car parts are almost always worth the effort. A couple of years ago, I needed a mass air flow sensor for my Maxima which I eventually got from Courtesy Nissan in Texas for less than $90. The local Canadian dealer price was $700 - it's the same bloody part made in the same bloody factory!

I have no idea why there is such a difference in price between our two countries but that is just wrong.

Fortunately, I travel down south a few times a year so with some planning, I can buy there and bring back as part of the border exemption. UPS also have a stores just across the border that will hold shipments. For most of us who live near close enough, it's just a quick drive down to bring stuff across the border. :driving: - just make sure to declare everything.

Ahh yes, courtesy parts. Best place for any Canadian that owns a nissan to get anything OEM


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I bought my illuminated rocker plates from Courtesy Parts. Dealer here wanted $300 and wouldn't/couldn't budge on that price. CP was USD$150. Shipped UPS but was still cheaper than dealer. I avoid UPS like the plague unless it's the only way to ship from a supplier who then must have the part way cheaper than a competitor that will ship by my choice of shipper. USPS or FedEx is the way to go.

Luciano13 is part owner of OZ Motorsports :stirthepot: jk :happydance:

USPS if you can when shipping straight to Canada

Otherwise, I have a US address right across the border. Look up "Kinect" if you can, they are all over.

You pay $5 to pick up packages ($10 for large things like wheels, engine etc)

Then I bring it across the border. I have a system:

My system is I'll usually pick up about 4-5 things but declare 2, so I always save. As long as you're declaring something they don't look to search you more. I've also had sellers make me a lower invoice (or make my own) lol.

Upstate NY border is 35 mins from my house.

For example, I paid $3500 for a used Cup Suspension for my Z. Fees on that would have easily been over $350. I also bought rotors for my Subaru, and some clothing. I declared the rotors an da shirt, I paid $50 at the border. Boom. :D

:icon18::roflpuke2: i wish!!! That guy has massive hook ups

Not sure I would want to post that on the internet.

Meh. To be honest, when I cross with the Z, Border guards start chatting me up about the car and then just be like "go ahead" so I love going in the Z....plus they figure I have no storage space anyways lol.

Its a rush everytime you cross hahaha.

Thanks for the tip Luciano. I'll call him today.

I actually got a quote from zshop and the cost to ship from JP to Mississauga is $375.00US (3-4 Months Special Order from Japan) + 3% PayPal Fee. Man that's a tough pill to swallow.

Hopefully OZ has some better news.

Wait a minute, they are not asking you to pay the 3% PayPal fee are they?

OZ Motorsports prices are for GTA local pick up. Not too sure about delivery.......

Oh man, this guy is amazing! he is giving me a great deal on SPL rear camber kit I don't think anyone can beat his price, I asked around.

edit: nvm, I was wrong.

Ordered every single part from the states and picked them up from a Kinek place. Never had a problem with the borders. Just be honest and if you're lucky, they let you go. It's always a savings considering no brokerages fees, no duties but just federal tax. It's even better when going with a friend that ordered parts too. Makes it that much more worth going.

OMG!! It has risen!

Read my experience !
 

What I did !

I ordered parts, not for my Z yet but for a motorcycle conversion which is the same principle as If you were ordering car parts, parts are parts.
I opened an account at the UPS store in Lewiston,NY, it's free.
You pay only by the weight when you pick up your stuff and they will tell you in advance how much it cost, It's fairly cheap like >70lbs = $20.00 charge and there smaller fees for less weight. You get a number when you register and you use it on your mailing address. You get the stuff deliver there and when it's in, they will email you or call but it's always good to call them too. You drive there it's not too far, you pick up your stuff in Lewiston go through customs and declare the amount and the stuff you bought and all you pay is the tax of 13%. Print your invoices to proove what you bought so you won't have any problems, be honest. When I went, I just told the custom agent what he wanted to hear and he didn't even ask for my invoice but I was ready, the key is to be honest and short, that is my experience and it was smooth. There's a lot of other places too around where you can get a US address for that kind of stuff, it's all on the internet, your choice, hope it helps, I didn't read the other replies, cheers ! :tiphat:

I'm opening an account today! I need to get me some rims!


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Funny how we use UPS stores to avoid their brokerage fees. They're brown because they Fu ck everyone up the As s. Something to be said about gas/fees/tolls. sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. IMO the amount must be of some significant value to make the trip. BTW make sure you have all the paperwork to support your "declared value"...makes it a lot easier to proceed in the event of investigations

Ordered parts from Stillen. No issues! Mainly get them through Whitehead Performance in Toronto.

Just checked their website and their prices are not good at all :icon14:

I'm not sure your assessment of Whitehead's prices is accurate.

g3 intake Whitehead $630CAN free pick up, from Z1 + shipping +exchange + brokerage approx $700CAN
Ark grip exhaust $1687CAN free pick up, from Ark +shipping +exchange +brokerage approx $2000

Sure If you say so, I'm not gonna argue but you haven't looked around for better prices.