Buying tobacco from another country, into Canada

[twiggy]

Having just realized the price of tobacco here is very expensive, I am thinking of maybe buying tobacco in bulk from the states, once I find a blend I like, because I think even after shipping, customs, and dutys, it should be much cheaper, than buying domestically, especially after November when "plain packaging" comes in causing another price increase.
I'm just unsure if it's legal/permitted to do so, I hope you can and you just have shipping, customs charges, and maybe duties to pay.
Can anyone weigh in on this idea?

 

[canadianpuffer]

Yes legal to buy. Taxes vary from province to province. There is no amount that is tax exempt through mail. Get the Canada Post app so you know how much duty is owed before it comes to your door. Biggest piece of advice is don’t refuse shipment due to taxes. Retailers will stop shipping to us like P&C did. Expect roughly $20 per tin duty. If you are assessed less then consider it a win.

 

[twiggy]

Does the size of the tin matter, or only that it's a tin?

 

[canadianpuffer]

Duty is per weight. Peck broke down the exact taxation rate in a thread a year or so ago. Easiest thing is to order 8 ounces (8 1oz sample sizes of different blends to try) and see how much duty you get. It’s about 4 tins so expect somewhere around $80.

 

[twiggy]

I assume P&C stands for pipepsandcigars.com, correct?

 

[canadianpuffer]

Yes. They no longer ship here

 

[twiggy]

That's a major bummer.
I guess a good rule of thumb is, have whatever it costs, as well as shipping, and it's duty in your budget.

 

[mikethompson]

Smokingpipes.com still ships to Canada.
I've used them a few times to bulk up the cellar.

 

[sasquatch]

smokingpipes.com, tobaccopipes.com, and 4noggins.com will all ship to canada. Don't order 900 tins because it will cost you a zillion dollars to import it. But keep the orders reasonable, 2 or 3 tins, and if you get hit for the taxes it sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

 

[bbownes]

I’m from Edmonton Alberta area.

I hear you can order no more then200g or taxes may be added. To chicken to find out.

Been spending my times visit tobacconists all around trying to find the old and aged.

$45-60 a tin is rough though

 

[olkofri]

bbownes, no you can't do that, unless you've been out of the country for more than 48 hours and are mailing stuff you bought outside the country; then and only then are you eligible for duty exemptions: Tobacco from abroad.

 

[danimalia]

Dumb American question: Do they include the weight of the tins in assessing the duty, or will they just count the weight of the tobacco in the tin?

 

[ben88]

weight of the tobacco

 

[mikethompson]

$45-60 a tin is rough though

Exactly why I don't buy tins in Canada. Even though I smoke very very infrequently, its too expensive. Keeping online orders to a few tins makes more sense to me. I've had US members send a few tins my way too with no issues.

 

[nhhiggy]

3 tins arrived today, ordered 10 days ago from 4N no duty chalk that up in the win column.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Anyone in Victoria? Or near Whistler? I might have some tobacco to share.

 

[nhhiggy]

I’m a 1 hour ferry ride from Victoria and a 2 hour drive from whistler

 

[nhhiggy]

I’m smoking my first bowl full of Cult Blood Red Moon. Quite enjoying it also got a tin of moontrance and autumn evening. Guess you could say I’m into aros