The Canadian dollar is now worth aprox. 4% more than the American dollar but the prices for many Canadian goods are up to 40% more. The price differential on a Brute Force 650i is as much as $4,000. so there is a growing trend to got to the States to buy quads. The manufacturers are fighting this trend by not honoring warranties of bikes that come across the border ----- and many ATV dealerships (and other types of retail outlets) are feeling the pinch.

I calculate aprox. $ 500. would be the cost to go to the states, pick up a machine and bring it back --- gas, food, lodging, etc.. So the question is if a value could be put on a warranty what would that value be? How often do folks access the warranty?

Secondly what are some of the biggest, best value and best service (the initial prep would have to be top notch because no factory trained mechanic would touch it once it came across the border) dealers in the Maine New Hampshire area?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I live in a Canadian (Sault Ont) border town and do not shop in Canada much, even before our dollars was high there were deals. A Friend bought a New 400 Suzuki Eiger off a dealer on Ebay for $6500 Total after shipping and duty. They wanted $7400 + taxes = $8500 here. The warranty was only 6 months long so its over before you know it ,and if your warranty is worth more than $2000-$4000 CASH than you bought one hell off a lemon.

You have to watch now,Honda and Can AM US dealers were told not to sell to Canadians or they can lose there franchise. The why around this is to buy there used trade ins and you savings are greater again. I bought 3 Used ATV and never had enough trouble with them to care about a warranty.

BTW The 400 Eigher was shipped from Wisconsin to a Michigan warehouse the allows you to use there address as a shipping destination for a fee of $3.50! So you can pay to get them shipped close to your nearest border.

Anorther U.S deal I know of,was a person in our fishing group bought a New 680 Rincon with winch for $500 less than my friend bought his New 500 Foreman without a winch in Canada.

 

From what I am hearing the diference should be aprox. 10 % (we have more govt. services (debate the value of that another time) in Cdn. and therefore more tax). The dollar is up about 4 % so anywhere between 5 and 10 percent and I would not have a problem. Buy in Canada and save the hassle. But the huge markups are a pain in the paduddy. I would like to know the rationale. From what I can see it is just the big manufacturers ripping off their Cdn. dealers and end users .......

A couple of years ago a friend of mine bought a Husky chain saw from the States. Even after exchange, duty and shipping he was forty perecent to the good. Go figure ---- a Sweedish saw, shipped to the States and then reshipped to Canada and a big saving. Later I tried to get a saw from the same mail order house and was told they cannot ship Husky's across the border because of too much pressure from Cdn. dealers.......

I guess a lot of folks will have to get a shipping address / storehouse access close to the border and pick up large purchases as needed. Bye Bye Cdn. dealerships, etc. It just does not make sense ........

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>From what I am hearing the diference should be aprox. 10 % (we have more govt. services (debate the value of that another time) in Cdn. and therefore more tax). The dollar is up about 4 % so anywhere between 5 and 10 percent and I would not have a problem. Buy in Canada and save the hassle. But the huge markups are a pain in the paduddy. I would like to know the rationale. From what I can see it is just the big manufacturers ripping off their Cdn. dealers and end users ....... </end quote></div>

Here a example of your savings ,the Canadian dollar is worth more but it goes farther than that. A 420 Honda Rancher retails for $5300 in the states and $7800 in Canada before taxes! A US dealer will not change US taxes to a Canadian Buyer. the Canadian Border only asks for a $300 fee to get the ATV into Canada.

Canadian Tire charges $70 for a safety (Mechanical) than you go to your provincial licensing department and pay the provincial tax and get your ownership paper.

People where saving on ATVs when our dollar was worth 0.85 US let alone $1.05!
Anyone who tells you there is not much of a savings shopping for ANYTHING PERIOD in the states does not know what there talking about.

 

TLC

What are the exact requyirements at the border?

Say I cut the deal, load the bike in the trailer and head for home. At the border what paperwork do you need?

Once at home I understand or think I can work through the procedure --- official inspection and registration. But what hoops have to be navigated to actually get it across the border? If that is not a big hassle it is a non brainer.

I have heard that some dealers close to the border will have all the paperwork "in place" for you.....

 

Here its a $300 processing fee they call it. Call Canada Customs to make sure at your border. This is what I was told from the people who bought ATVs in Sault Michigan and bought them to Sault Ontario.