importing into canada

Has anyone had any problems with importing a cpap into Canada?

Hi sleeplessincalgary2,

Do a search on my first post "Canadian Newbie". A Canadian resident posted how he imported a unit using Fedex.

There are a number of considerations particularly if you are eligible for any govt funding. You will need a prescription no matter what. If you do import from USA make sure you check out CPAP.COM prices as they do seem to be the best and their staff helpful. You may even want to call them to get their take on shipping to Canada, seems to me they were trying to streamline the process.

I live in Ontario so with the govt funding and local service I opted to deal with a local supplier. The retail price was terrible but offset with the funding and my employee medical plan. With additional accessories I intend to order from CPAP.COM just as soon as this forum decides which nasal mask is best. Hope they hurry up and decide as I'll have it delivered to brother-in-law in Dayton and he will bring it with him to Sask this summer. Going to celebrate the centennial same as you in Alberta.

Please post any info you obtain as this forum is largely US but there are the odd, and I do mean odd (me), Canadian who appreciate news from the old country. Doesn't that sound great - the old country!

Good luck!

Bob F

Sleeplessincalgary2, I have found the cheapest solution to avoid the excessive custom broker fee that FEDEX and UPS have, is to use the U.S. Post Office as the shipping method. I only had to pay GST when it was delivered by Canada Post. As Unclebob suggested CPAP.COM is the place to check out. You can either fax your prescription, or use your scanner and email it to them as part of your order process.

You shouldn't have to pay GST. Medical equipment is tax exempt. I set up an account with Fedex online....I was concerned with the lack of insurance having it shipped US post. It ended up costing me more because CPAP.com told me the software was backordered and might be a couple of weeks and then they shipped it the next day! Two shipments, 2 insurances etc....
Before ordering, I contacted Canada Customs. I was told that there shouldn't be any problems as long as the paperwork was properly completed by the shipper. And a copy of the Rx should be included with the shipping docs. Later, a Fedex broker told me the shippers should write "GST Exemption 57" on the paperwork.
I did have problems....The Rx wasn't scanned at the Fedex warehouse with the other docs and Fedex accounting billed me for the GST. After playing phone tag with Fedex, they admitted their error and refunded me. That's when the broker told me about exemption 57. He, also, pointed out that CPAP.com should clearly mark that this is medical equipment on their shipping docs....most people don't know what a CPAP is!!
I suggest that when you order, you tell the shipper about those points I mentioned above.
If you need any other info feel free to PM me.
Aside:
When I did the research, it turned out that the Canada Custom agent's husband had apnea and she was quite interested in data about ordering online....I gave her the CPAP.com site and a few others. The Fedex broker's brother, also, has apnea. He asked for the info I had gathered.
It turns out that every third person I speak to knows someone who has apnea....I thought it was 4% of the population?!! So much for exclusivity!!