I see nothing .... I hear nothing.... I know nothing........ bbaahahahahaa
Canadian Import Advice Help - Tax was 200%!
- Thread starter 00fil00
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Fellow Canadian here—and also pretty new to smoking. I’m saving time by copying and pasting a reply I posted a couple days ago re: a similar experience I had last month.
I ordered 3x100g tins of Rattray’s from Germany last month for $126 CAD. Import charges were an additional $235–for a total of $361 for 300g.
(Not quite the 200% you were dinged, but close!)
I was moderately consoled when I realised this was still less in total than I would have paid to purchase it from a local tobacconist.
Also, I’ve heard it’s a good idea for Canadians to place separate orders for tobacco products on the one hand, and pipes (and other equipment) on the other. Otherwise you run the risk (so I’m told) of getting charged tobacco duty on the pipes as well!
Not sure if this is a fact, but I’m playing it safe and heeding the warning just in case.
Since the OPs original beef, there is a new, albeit radical, option that has arisen: get your local grassroots "51st State!" movement going! If you are not prepared for that kind of, um.. work?, then as it's been alluded to in a few recent posts, I'll suggest moving south. I really can't see any other relief for the dedicated pipe smoker, can you!? 
I guess that depends which Province you live, probably BC by the sounds of it. Ontario they are around 50$ a tin in store last time I checked a year ago.
I just got recently got two 50g tins imported 58$ tax for both all in, good tins too Sutliff Cake and Gawith. That works out to a hair over 2X what you’d pay in the states, I’m fine with that, best I’ve had recently.
There’s other options too read back these pages, a reassessment back to customs always comes in cheaper, and ordering from Natives.
Yes definitely separate pipes and tobacco and smaller orders of tobacco.
I’m in Manitoba—where prices are similar to BC. I didn’t realize how much better it was in Ontario.
I’ll try getting a reassessment. Guess there’s nothing to lose.
When you suggest smaller tobacco orders, how small do you recommend?
Bingo, nothing to lose except time, about a month, but if you have a cellar that shouldn’t be too bad. Keep the postal receipts too to track your packages.
I’m thinking 4 50 grams tins, 6 max or the same weight, but seems some slip more by. oh just read your post and that’s what you did, thought it was higher. It’ certainly getting hard to dodge the bullet these days.
BC Canada price update: As a lot of you know, I and many others now buy tobacco from CigarChief Mohawk reserve in Ontario, who are tax exempt and allowed to ship to any place in Canada, unlike other outlets where only intra-provincial shipping is allowed.
Over the past two weeks, CigarChief has been swamped and most of their stock has been purchased. I've been part of this mad rush, obtaining 1 bag of Smoker's Pride Cherry Cavendish for the usual $70 bucks, three tins of Bengal Slices for $59.95 each, and a couple of packs of Borkum Riff Dark for $32.00, plus an assortment of my favourite cheap stogies. This, as all you Canucks know, is the best we can do plus the usual $41 for courier shipping or $26 bucks for uninsured snail mail.
I checked out of curiosity last night, and they've almost been completely drained of product. What is interesting though, is two restocked itens. A tin of Carter Hall (14 oz) has increased from $102 and change to $!96.26, and a tin of Prince Albert has gone from $102 and change to $196.26.
All Smokers' Pride 12 ounce bags are gone, and their price was $70 bucks a bag. When stocked and the new taxes added, they'll be selling for roughly $134 plus change. Lovely, eh?
I'll leave all political comment aside except for saying that the Western Canada Concept is returning in force in BC outside of Vancouver and the Island, as well. Those guys are pretty pink, unlike the rest of BC.
Over the past two weeks, CigarChief has been swamped and most of their stock has been purchased. I've been part of this mad rush, obtaining 1 bag of Smoker's Pride Cherry Cavendish for the usual $70 bucks, three tins of Bengal Slices for $59.95 each, and a couple of packs of Borkum Riff Dark for $32.00, plus an assortment of my favourite cheap stogies. This, as all you Canucks know, is the best we can do plus the usual $41 for courier shipping or $26 bucks for uninsured snail mail.
I checked out of curiosity last night, and they've almost been completely drained of product. What is interesting though, is two restocked itens. A tin of Carter Hall (14 oz) has increased from $102 and change to $!96.26, and a tin of Prince Albert has gone from $102 and change to $196.26.
All Smokers' Pride 12 ounce bags are gone, and their price was $70 bucks a bag. When stocked and the new taxes added, they'll be selling for roughly $134 plus change. Lovely, eh?
I'll leave all political comment aside except for saying that the Western Canada Concept is returning in force in BC outside of Vancouver and the Island, as well. Those guys are pretty pink, unlike the rest of BC.
Last edited:
Yep, I placed an order with Tobacco Chief a couple weeks ago. They were so busy packing orders, it took them over a week to get mine in the mail.
Their stock was already pretty depleted when I made the order—and I noticed it’s gone down considerably since.
Thanks for the kind invitationSince the OPs original beef, there is a new, albeit radical, option that has arisen: get your local grassroots "51st State!" movement going! If you are not prepared for that kind of, um.. work?, then as it's been alluded to in a few recent posts, I'll suggest moving south. I really can't see any other relief for the dedicated pipe smoker, can you!?
I love my American neighbours, but I’m far too patriotic to give up my Canadian identity—or to forswear allegiance to the king.
(It would take a lot more than ridiculous tobacco taxes to bring me to that place)!
Until such time as we get our US/Canada trade issues sorted out, I’ll just have to bear the brunt of ordering from across the waters.
I’m planning to take the suggestion of some previous posters—and ask for customs reassessment, and an explanation of how they are calculating duty for these orders.
Hopefully this will offset the costs a little bit!
As a Canadian, I ascribe the loyalty most appear to have to a government that treats them like crap to a form of Stockholm syndrome. I have a lot of admiration for our American brothers who are far more willing to stand up for their rights. They don't always win, but they don't go down without a fight.
I share your admiration for our Southern neighbours, and your fair critique of what all too often passes for Canadian patriotism, fealty to Crown, etc.
That said, I'd much sooner see us take courage from our brothers' example--shake off our lethargy and stand up for a change--than simply allow ourselves to be absorbed.
That said, I'd much sooner see us take courage from our brothers' example--shake off our lethargy and stand up for a change--than simply allow ourselves to be absorbed.
“First Nations” descendants. They have a fair bit of autonomy because their ancestors walked to Canada from Asia 15k years ago.
No, it would be Humanitarian Aid.Would this be considered importing?
Just wanted to say yes to all above,but as an Australian.
Yup . . . partially. They have veto power on anything that has been declared their land. I'm not really up on this but there are others on forum that might be more helpful in filling you in. I have several very good native friends, Carriers. They're a very Catholic group, as are the Mohawks, and that's the basis of our friendship, as I am as well. They are also under National, not Provincial, jursidiction. I understand the situation is different in the US but I really don't know much about either country's policies.
Oh yeah . . . . the Western Canada Concept party was not fringe . . . . they gained much support in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northern and Central BC because of the Trans-Atlantic (Pacific?) pipeline going through native land and Ottawa nixed it, much to the chagrin of oil rich Alberta. Or something like that. As I said, I'm not much up on social science stuff so I hope someone who is will chime in.
Last edited:
You've about nailed what is going on. And you've wrappted it up in the two paragraphs I copied from your post.
"I was moderately consoled when I realised this was still less in total than I would have paid to purchase it from a local tobacconist."
"Also, I’ve heard it’s a good idea for Canadians to place separate orders for tobacco products on the one hand, and pipes (and other equipment) on the other. Otherwise you run the risk (so I’m told) of getting charged tobacco duty on the pipes as well!" (Gord's Comment: THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY)
My suggestion is to buy from cigarchief.com in Ontario; they are a fine native run mail order tobacconist on reserve, have a product selection suitable for pensioners like me, students, and those of modest income; buy a bag of Smoker's Pride Vanillla or Cherry Cavendish ($75 Canadian for a 14 oz bag, and it's good stuff both for starters and seasoned alike), get yourself a couple or three corn cob pipes to rotate (I'd suggest buying them from your local tobacconist to keep them in business) and go from there. Most online have no experience with what we Canadians face (and Australians, and others - they're in the same boat) either in tobacco prices /andor government issues
I had a very similar (almost identical in fact - charged tobacco taxes for a pipe as well) and eventually swallowed it and gave up. My time is worth more than the time it would take to deal with our incompetent bureauocracy. (never could spel that werd). Period.
Best of luck and don't quit the hobby after the initial dose of reality. You'll find a way.
PS - I still do buy from US Sources, and hope you will, too) - but very selectively and only for specialty tobaccos. If you order a pipe, make sure you order it separately or you will be nailed. Once you're on the data base of the government in Canada (our postal service is national) I guarantee you will have every package of yours scanned. If you do buy certain tobaccos from the US, and I hope you do because our selection is not great, you'll at least know in advance what will be the price to pay the piper.
Last edited: