70" Sharp from USA?

[2K6TSX]

So I'm looking into a 70" sharp and just looking for some advice. In the midst of my research I stumbled on a link to the tv at $2899 in NY (USA) vs $4199 here. I've got a way to transport the tv and I'm estimating total cost of transportation at $100-$120 for gas. This makes it seem like I can save $1200 or so in exchange for investing 3-5 hours of my time driving there and back. I'm not too concerned about duties as I'd be paying a higher sales tax here anyhow. Does anyone know of any issues that would sway you from going through with this such as warranty issues/any other compatibility issue (I can't think of any).

Also debating between the 240hz model vs the 120 hz. Overall cost difference should be $300-500 at a maximum. I'm wondering if/when the difference will be noticed and how significant it would be? Does anyone have any experience with these differences? I've got a pretty new Sony LED that's 120hz and I'm very satisfied but that tv is a little over a year old and I don't want to buy something that's outdated as this is a long term investment. For the sharp, if the difference is negligible then I'll probably skip on the 240hz as there are other places I can utilize the funds (I'll be getting a home theatre system as well). Based on everything I've read, the technology to take advantage of the 240 hz is not yet used and the difference is very hard to notice. Thoughts?

If anyone has any relevant suggestions or recommendations please feel free to post up.

Thanks in advance for any help

[buriboi]

I'm DEFINITELY not an expert so take this with a grain of salt.

But, for what it's worth, I believe you must still pay the full HST at the border, regardless of what state sales taxes you pay...I know that's the case for a car purchase/import (which I have done), and believe it's also the case for you.

Additionally, you may have to pay duty on top of the HST, depending on where the t.v. was made:


"Your goods qualify for the U.S. duty-free rate under NAFTA if the following applies:
•the goods are for your personal use; and
•the goods are marked as made in the United States, Canada or Mexico, or
•the goods are not marked or labelled to indicate that they were made anywhere other than in the United States, Canada or Mexico"

Your questions about duty can probably be answered here:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.html#s3

For warranty questions, your best bet is to contact Sharp USA *and* Sharp Canada to determine your eligibility. It varies company by company and I would definitely confirm this with written correspondance from Sharp before proceeding.

Good luck and keep us posted!



So I'm looking into a 70" sharp and just looking for some advice. In the midst of my research I stumbled on a link to the tv at $2899 in NY (USA) vs $4199 here. I've got a way to transport the tv and I'm estimating total cost of transportation at $100-$120 for gas. This makes it seem like I can save $1200 or so in exchange for investing 3-5 hours of my time driving there and back. I'm not too concerned about duties as I'd be paying a higher sales tax here anyhow. Does anyone know of any issues that would sway you from going through with this such as warranty issues/any other compatibility issue (I can't think of any).

Also debating between the 240hz model vs the 120 hz. Overall cost difference should be $300-500 at a maximum. I'm wondering if/when the difference will be noticed and how significant it would be? Does anyone have any experience with these differences? I've got a pretty new Sony LED that's 120hz and I'm very satisfied but that tv is a little over a year old and I don't want to buy something that's outdated as this is a long term investment. For the sharp, if the difference is negligible then I'll probably skip on the 240hz as there are other places I can utilize the funds (I'll be getting a home theatre system as well). Based on everything I've read, the technology to take advantage of the 240 hz is not yet used and the difference is very hard to notice. Thoughts?

If anyone has any relevant suggestions or recommendations please feel free to post up.

Thanks in advance for any help

[Unclebeuford]

that Canadian price seems high to me for the 70" version. Where are you looking?

[2K6TSX]

Thanks for the responses.

To be honest, duty isn't too much of a concern for me as it's always worked out in the past. It generally is quite close to the 13% i'd be paying here anyhow.

-I did contact Sharp Canada and USA and both confirmed that the warranties are not valid cross-border. Again, I've never heard of anyone having an issue with an LED tv and if it's really a huge issue, I'd just have to deal with transporting it back cross-border. It's only a 1 year warranty and chances of something going wrong in that time period is extremely slim.

-The prices that I quoted are from bestbuy.com and bestbuy.ca. The units were on sale a few days ago but if I go through with this I'm quite sure there will be room for negotiation as I may actually be getting two units (my buddy will be getting the same, if not the 80"). If you know of any other deals, please post up.

Thanks for all the help thus far. Just want to clarify that there are no compatibility issues and now to determine whether it's worth going for the 240 over the 120.

[Unclebeuford]

I thought I saw the 70" Sharps at Costco. I know their website doesnt reflect what they have in the stores, not even a little...

[buriboi]

What I meant is that I think you will be paying: #1. HST at border AND #2. Separate Duty. (not to mention any state stax). Unless I'm mistaken, which is also quite common :)





Thanks for the responses.

To be honest, duty isn't too much of a concern for me as it's always worked out in the past. It generally is quite close to the 13% i'd be paying here anyhow.

-I did contact Sharp Canada and USA and both confirmed that the warranties are not valid cross-border. Again, I've never heard of anyone having an issue with an LED tv and if it's really a huge issue, I'd just have to deal with transporting it back cross-border. It's only a 1 year warranty and chances of something going wrong in that time period is extremely slim.

-The prices that I quoted are from bestbuy.com and bestbuy.ca. The units were on sale a few days ago but if I go through with this I'm quite sure there will be room for negotiation as I may actually be getting two units (my buddy will be getting the same, if not the 80"). If you know of any other deals, please post up.

Thanks for all the help thus far. Just want to clarify that there are no compatibility issues and now to determine whether it's worth going for the 240 over the 120.

[Ebeniz]

You will be paying:
$2899 for the TV
50? For lunch while you are there
8%? For the state tax
4%? For Canadian Duty
13% for HST
$150 for gas
________________
= about $3830

Also... you get no warranty. Is it worth it?

BTW the 70" sharp 120MHZ is $2999 at Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/sharp-sharp-aquos-70-1080p-120hz-led-hdtv-lc70le640u-lc70le640u/10197023.aspx?path=74c01d133039964ce40f1af5c392f76 1en02)

[Bharatv]

I am in the same boat, Thinking of buying Sharp 70 " LED, advertised in Walmart and Target for $2198.00, against $2999.00 Future shop. Do I have to pay State Tax, in is there anyway can be avoided.
Please Help.

[Ebeniz]

I am in the same boat, Thinking of buying Sharp 70 " LED, advertised in Walmart and Target for $2198.00, against $2999.00 Future shop. Do I have to pay State Tax, in is there anyway can be avoided.
Please Help.

It's 2799.99 at futurshop

[techfox]

I am in the same boat, Thinking of buying Sharp 70 " LED, advertised in Walmart and Target for $2198.00, against $2999.00 Future shop. Do I have to pay State Tax, in is there anyway can be avoided.
Please Help.

You have to pay the sales tax in the state. Then pay the duty / tax at the border.

[Keas]

120$ for gas? what happens when you get home and find the tv doa or something wrong? i just bought a tv last boxing day and had to exchange it 4 times til they got me one that worked. Luckily i bought it online so didnt have to pack it, load it and diliver it back and forth each time.

also if its that long of a trip maybe find a cheap motel and make a weekend trip out of it and then save 800$? i think on duty for 48 hours. for that coinage you could go see a broadway show(you mentioned NY) or something or treat wife/gf to a nice weekend while buying it.

[number8888]

if you are going to do the hauling yourself make sure you transport the TV vertically, especially if you have a long drive. If you lay it horizontal the panel would be more prone to cracking. This and the fact that a 70 inch TV would have a very large box and potentially quite heavy so transporting it yourself might be difficult.

[jrees]

if you are going to do the hauling yourself make sure you transport the TV vertically, especially if you have a long drive. If you lay it horizontal the panel would be more prone to cracking. This and the fact that a 70 inch TV would have a very large box and potentially quite heavy so transporting it yourself might be difficult.

Horizontal, or vertical.....it doesn't matter. Plasma shouldn't be transported horizontally because the weight of the glass could cause problems.

[Keas]

if you are going to do the hauling yourself make sure you transport the TV vertically, especially if you have a long drive. If you lay it horizontal the panel would be more prone to cracking. This and the fact that a 70 inch TV would have a very large box and potentially quite heavy so transporting it yourself might be difficult.


Horizontal, or vertical.....it doesn't matter. Plasma shouldn't be transported horizontally because the weight of the glass could cause problems.

sounds like this is more of an ordeal than it may be worth... seems that so many things can go wrong. if you were just crossing the border from town to town like 30 minute drive it would be ok but 120$ gas sounds like a couple of hours atleast.

[gnuman]

TVs don't go? I've seen 5 month old TVs experience issues and I'm not talking no names like Vizio or RCA here. It's not as if you're buying a TV for $500 on sale where everyone else is $1000. It's a big chunk of change to gamble without a warranty.

[number8888]

Don't forget that if you buy with a credit card many of them now extends the manufacturer's warranty (even non-premium ones). So if you buy it in Canada you get up to two years of warranty vs. none from the US. Now chances are nothing is gonna happen but are you willing to risk it?

[jrees]

Well, it's not like it won't have a warranty. He'll just need to bring it back to the states if the need arises.

I bought my Panasonic plasma in the states a few years back. All in it cost me $3100 CDN after gas, taxes (no duty, it was made in Mexico). The very same tv was selling for $4999 at Futureshop. So it was WELL worth the few hours of my time. OP has to figure in all the costs, and benefits to determine if it really is worth it.

[Ebeniz]

Well, it's not like it won't have a warranty. He'll just need to bring it back to the states if the need arises.

Try and explain that to the border guard leaving and coming back....

[jrees]

Try and explain that to the border guard leaving and coming back....

Piece of cake. Just have the proper documentation ready....not much to explain really.

[frogblender]

OP, what did you end up doing??

[ES_Revenge]

I'm one of the Captains of cross-border shopping, lol; but, worrying about transporting a seventy inch TV back across for warranty service would be wayyy too much hassle for me. Anything bigger than 46", you're usually getting in-home service on your warranty. Not only do you lose that should something go wrong with it, but you have to take it all the way back into the US, explain to the meat-head US customs ppl why you're bringing it in, etc. etc. Then leave it there for a week or two while they fix it then go back and pick it up again.

I had to take a 50lb A/V receiver over for warranty service once... Had to go back a couple wks later to pick it up. Got back home, there was a new problem (guess when they put it back together, the HDMI board wasn't in right and kept cutting out) so I had to go back and repeat the same thing! It wasn't that big a deal to me because I go over relatively often, but yeah I would NOT have liked to do that with a TV, esp. not a 70" one!

I'd just try to get as good a deal on it in Canada as you can, save yourself all the work/hassle.

In the end if you have even one problem