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Smart Shopper Importing Canadian Vehicles to the U.S.
391 messages, Last post on Dec 07, 2008 at 6:29 AM
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Wouldn't you feel that Nissan (or GM, or whoever) was burning you pretty badly? I sure would. I'd start complaining to Nissan that I was losing business, because Canadian dealers got their cars cheaper than I did. Some solution would have to be worked out, or I'd be out of business. The solution that the automakers seem to have worked out is to discourage consumers from taking cars across the border, by voiding the warranty. Not exactly inspiring, but if I were a dealer in a border city, I'd prefer that to going out of business. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) First I used to play guitar and could spend a couple grand on a guitar. Lets say hypothetically I see the same guitar priced lower in Canada. Should I not buy it because music stores in Detroit will go out of business? Also why do so many Canadians work in Michigan? Because they can exchange their US pay check and exchange it for more Canadian currency than if they worked in Canada. So should we close the borders because its taking away jobs from qualified US citizens?? So why cant US citizens take advantage of the lower value of the Canadian dollar by purchasing cars? disclaimer:Im not anti-Canadian by the way |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Can somebody explain why breaking the rules is acceptable? Rich |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) The easiest solution would be to annex Canada.Oreilly would never stand for this. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) If you don't like the rules move or get them changed....whining and cheating the system isnt a way to run a railroad. I have to laugh at everyone jumping on the free trade bandwagon...These people are the same ones who fought it tooth and nail..but if it benefits them its great..haha. oh to live in a "me only" world. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) I think there's a whole lotta assumin' goin' on and not a whole lotta knowin'. And I'm with Rich here; cheating the system for your own personal gain doesn't make it right. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Each entity in this scenario is trying to look out for its own interests. The automaker splits its market, charging two different prices, in order to make more money. This creates an opportunity for you to buy a car in Canada, which would save you money. Your taking advantage of this opportunity would cost your local dealer some potential business, so he complains to the automaker, because he wants to make money selling cars. The automaker then creates policies (e.g. voiding warranties), because it values the relationship with the dealer. (The dealer buys cars from the automaker, which makes the automaker some money. Not to mention that the automaker wants to maintain the split market.) Thus capitalism, or each entity acting in its own interest, prevents you from buying a car more cheaply. BTW, if you find a cheaper guitar in Canada, go buy it! Like I said, I'm all for capitalism. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) You needed a letter from Nissan (which Nissan was then willing to provide) stating that the car met US emissions and safety standards. While I don't have every detail at my fingertips, in outline the main "rules" are these: By law: Canadian law entitles US citizens to refunds of certain taxes, provided the proper forms are filled out and proof of citizenship is provided. US law requires you to pay duties when importing a car from Canada. State law (NY) requires you to pay sales tax on the new car you just bought in Canada. Thus, our governments do not have a law preventing this importation process. Currently, all automakers require their Canadian dealers (by contract) NOT to sell to US citizens. (Nissan was the last exception.) This is an agreement between the dealer and automaker. Further, the warranty, which is a contract between the buyer and the automaker, is written so as to be void if the car is imported into the US. So, strictly speaking, _importation_ of the car does not violate a rule, it's just something most buyers wouldn't do. Currently if you buy a brand-new Canadian car and bring it into the US, either you deceived the dealer, or the dealer failed to exercise proper diligence as required by his contract with the automaker. In fact, there's a step in the tax refund process where you need to show the dealer your passport, if I recall correctly. Thus, the violation of terms of the contract occurs in the _purchase_. So, currently the only way to import without a dealer conspiring to violate the terms of his contract with the automaker is to import used Canadian cars. Of course there is also the odometer kilometer/miles problem as Terry explained. The present setup makes it more trouble than it's worth, for me. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Would my purchase of a Maxima in Canada (see #28) have violated a rule? (As I posted earlier, it would if I did it now, but that's not the question.) In "Buying in Canada", the archived discussion, you mentioned (in post #88) that "I also have about half a dozen canadian units with washed indiana titles here on my lot. I'm not going to miss out of the gravy train but I also would not buy one myself." Have you violated any rules by buying and reselling these cars?
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