Buying wheels from US to Canada- does it work out cheaper?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON
2010 Merc C250
Buying wheels from US to Canada- does it work out cheaper?
I'm thinking of ordering a winter wheel & tire set for my 2010 C250 4matic
Thinking of going with 227/45r17s onto 17 inch rims on all four corners (and not staggering)
Does it work out cheaper to order from a site like Tire rack and have it delivered or just to buy local (like Canadian tire), taking taxes into account?
I'd appreciate advice from the Canadians on here.
Thinking of going with 227/45r17s onto 17 inch rims on all four corners (and not staggering)
Does it work out cheaper to order from a site like Tire rack and have it delivered or just to buy local (like Canadian tire), taking taxes into account?
I'd appreciate advice from the Canadians on here.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: nowhere
2010 C300, 2013 C63 AMG
I'm thinking of ordering a winter wheel & tire set for my 2010 C250 4matic
Thinking of going with 227/45r17s onto 17 inch rims on all four corners (and not staggering)
Does it work out cheaper to order from a site like Tire rack and have it delivered or just to buy local (like Canadian tire), taking taxes into account?
I'd appreciate advice from the Canadians on here.
Thinking of going with 227/45r17s onto 17 inch rims on all four corners (and not staggering)
Does it work out cheaper to order from a site like Tire rack and have it delivered or just to buy local (like Canadian tire), taking taxes into account?
I'd appreciate advice from the Canadians on here.
Free bump I guess?
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
2009 C300 4matic Sport
Most memebers from my other car club site are located either in Toronto or close to the Buffalo border, they would purchase their parts/tires through places like Summit, tirerack and have them ship to the UPS Store or their own P.O. box they've set-up in Buffalo or any border town on the otherside. They would drive down and pick up. They mostly use a P.O. box service like http://www.cbiusa.com/, which is actually in Niagara Falls, NY.
From what they've said, there's still some savings even if you include ... approx. 3-4% for exchange rate through your bank (and extra if you pay with a CDN dollar credit card which has a 2.5% FX premium) and shipping (assuming you don't have to pay brokerage).
The disadvantage is obviously the time and cost of gas to drive down.
From what they've said, there's still some savings even if you include ... approx. 3-4% for exchange rate through your bank (and extra if you pay with a CDN dollar credit card which has a 2.5% FX premium) and shipping (assuming you don't have to pay brokerage).
The disadvantage is obviously the time and cost of gas to drive down.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
2010 C350 4M
Tirerack will give you a full quote including all shipping, brokerage, GST etc for your tires. Then just add the cost of mounting at a local shop.
In the past I've found this to be way cheaper than buying locally, but you just need to shop around.
In the past I've found this to be way cheaper than buying locally, but you just need to shop around.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
2010 C350 4M
Just did a quote on both tirerack and kaltire...used michelin x-ice xi3 for comparison.
Tirerack (had to add cost for mounting locally ~$110): $1,022
Kaltire (includes all GST, valve stems etc): $1,053
so really not much difference...
Tirerack (had to add cost for mounting locally ~$110): $1,022
Kaltire (includes all GST, valve stems etc): $1,053
so really not much difference...
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
2009 C300 4matic Sport
Here's a one year old article from our Canadian newspaper doing the exact comparison for a purchase made in Ontario. It notes the savings can be had if you establish a mailbox in the US. However, as tmsiegle had shown, it also shows not much savings if you have your cross-border purchase delivered directly to your Canadian address. Besides installation cost; if installed at home, add HST as well as a $5.69 per tire disposal fee (Ontario Tire Stewardship).
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle4104145/
Retailer delivery vs. cross-border pickup
Breakdown of the cost of buying identical wheels and tires in Canada versus having them shipped close to the border on the U.S. side and driving to pick them up. (Assumes loonie at par.)
Delivery from Canadian online retailer Wheels at $184.99 each = $739.96 Tires at $189.99 each = $759.96 Mounting and balancing = $49.99 Shipping = $116.48 Tax = $216.63 Total = $1,883.02
Delivery from U.S. online retailer Wheels at $163 each = $652 Tires at $155 each = $620 Shipping to Canada = $279.91 Taxes = $183.03 Duty = $82.52 Provincial Tire Fee = $23.36 Brokerage Fee = $30 Total = $1,870.82
Cross-border pickup from U.S. online retailer Wheels at $163 each = $652 Tires at $155 each = $620 Shipping = $108.55 Holding fee = $40 Taxes at border = $179.47 Fuel for trip = $30 Total = $1,630.02
Savings = $253 or 13.4 per cent versus delivery via Canadian online retailer. Note: If the loonie appreciates versus the U.S. dollar, your savings would increase.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle4104145/
Retailer delivery vs. cross-border pickup
Breakdown of the cost of buying identical wheels and tires in Canada versus having them shipped close to the border on the U.S. side and driving to pick them up. (Assumes loonie at par.)
Delivery from Canadian online retailer Wheels at $184.99 each = $739.96 Tires at $189.99 each = $759.96 Mounting and balancing = $49.99 Shipping = $116.48 Tax = $216.63 Total = $1,883.02
Delivery from U.S. online retailer Wheels at $163 each = $652 Tires at $155 each = $620 Shipping to Canada = $279.91 Taxes = $183.03 Duty = $82.52 Provincial Tire Fee = $23.36 Brokerage Fee = $30 Total = $1,870.82
Cross-border pickup from U.S. online retailer Wheels at $163 each = $652 Tires at $155 each = $620 Shipping = $108.55 Holding fee = $40 Taxes at border = $179.47 Fuel for trip = $30 Total = $1,630.02
Savings = $253 or 13.4 per cent versus delivery via Canadian online retailer. Note: If the loonie appreciates versus the U.S. dollar, your savings would increase.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 811
From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
I am in Toronto. I recently bought a set of OZ Formula HLT 18" (for winter use) from my local wheel shop which in turn they ordered it directly from Tire rack.
Comparing what it actually cost me vs if I bought them myself online from Tire Rack and shipped to me in Toronto, I was surprised I saved $ by buying from my local shop. The amount of saving was about $300 Cdn (net after US $ conversion).
Today, I ordered the winter tires from the same shop who gave me a price which is $350 Cdn (net after US $ conversion) cheaper than ordering from Tire Rack directly myself.
So, the story of my experience is if I were to order from Tire Rack and go and pick up the set in Buffalo, then the total price would be the same as I bought the set from my local shop. There will be no saving, actually cost much more ($650 total) if Tire Rack would have sent the set directly to my home address.
For me, I would have bought from my local shop anyway to maintain my warranty for both tires & wheels. If I were to buy from Tire Rack and experience any issues with both, then it would be a real major pain to figure out how the heck am I to file a warranty claim.
Comparing what it actually cost me vs if I bought them myself online from Tire Rack and shipped to me in Toronto, I was surprised I saved $ by buying from my local shop. The amount of saving was about $300 Cdn (net after US $ conversion).
Today, I ordered the winter tires from the same shop who gave me a price which is $350 Cdn (net after US $ conversion) cheaper than ordering from Tire Rack directly myself.
So, the story of my experience is if I were to order from Tire Rack and go and pick up the set in Buffalo, then the total price would be the same as I bought the set from my local shop. There will be no saving, actually cost much more ($650 total) if Tire Rack would have sent the set directly to my home address.
For me, I would have bought from my local shop anyway to maintain my warranty for both tires & wheels. If I were to buy from Tire Rack and experience any issues with both, then it would be a real major pain to figure out how the heck am I to file a warranty claim.
Last edited by bobblehead; Sep 13, 2013 at 08:26 PM.
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Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 13,059
Likes: 50
From: Glendale, CA
2018 C63S
hey guys
My name is Paul im the local rep for Need 4 Speed on the Forum.
We have a lot of customers who purchase winter sets that live in Canada.
Depending on the wheel and also on the vendor you can get a smocking amazing deal and also save in the process
what kind of wheel and tire combination do you want to use for the winters up in Canada.
My name is Paul im the local rep for Need 4 Speed on the Forum.
We have a lot of customers who purchase winter sets that live in Canada.
Depending on the wheel and also on the vendor you can get a smocking amazing deal and also save in the process
what kind of wheel and tire combination do you want to use for the winters up in Canada.
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Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: GTA (Toronto)
2008 c230
You can get a great deal on stuff if you ship to a Buffalo address and cross the boarder to pick them up. Wheels are a hit and miss. Also depends if you can get them across the boarder without dealing with customs charges. Drive down on a **** set of wheels and have them installed at a shop down there. No more customs charges
