Ronco Tanks in Canada ??

[PKFK]

Hi -

I am looking for a new holding tank - preferable Ronco due to their many shapes/sizes available.

Unfortunately the option to ship from the States to Canada is only going to make UPS rich, and me poor.

Does anyone in the forum know of a CANADIAN source for these (or comparable) tanks ?

I have located lots of rectangular tanks, but that it not useful to me - I am looking for something like a Ronco B134 / B171 or B489 - all of these are odd shapes that work very well in a sailboat !!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

A suggestion:

Ottawa is only about 50 miles from Ogdensburg NY and any of several other US "border towns" where you can rent a US address in any "Mailboxes Etc" type store for next to nothing. Then you can have everything you buy from the US shipped to that address...it'll take you about two hours to come and get it. Get together with some of your sailing friends and all of you use that address...take turns coming to pick up your stuff.

There's nothing illegal or even slightly shady about doing this. You would have to declare it at the border, and you would have to pay any duty...so you're not trying to get away with anything...all you're doing is eliminating those ridiculous "customs brokerage fees" on top of equally ridiculous "international shipping rates."

And then you can happily shop the sbo.com store, Defende--even WM if you actually like spending too much--and every other US supplier to your heart's content!

But if you don't like that idea, try this Canadian tank mfr:http://www.e-barr.com/poly_tanks.htm

 

[PKFK]

Thanks Peggie for the tip - I was aware of a place in Ogdensburg that handles packages for people (http://www.corp-center.com/) ,so I will go that route.

I was hoping to just have stuff shipped here, but it is silly on the expensive side. That Damm border is a major pain some days.....even the guys you recommended in Canada told me that they would have to pay UPS brokerage (no business to business deals apparantly) - and then pass those fees on to me. That would double the tank price. :cussing:

On the bright side - the SBO store has been excellent to work with in getting a Raritan head "drop-shipped" from the NJ plant to Ogdensburg, saving me big time $$ on shipping.

I am now just trying to coordinate head, tank, hoses, KO, etc. shipping so that I can pick everything up all in one trip.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

 

[Cappep]

Ronco Tanks

I just installed a Ronco Holding tank (B145) into my Pearson 303 and removed the old bladder. I am very pleased with the tank and fittings kit.

Cost of the tank and fittings was $217.84 (US $). Freight to Lake Simcoe (north of Toronto) was $75.24 (US $) by UPS. Taxes and brokerage was $89.18 and $51.84 as the tank and fittings were shipped in two shipments.

If you buy a Ronco tank and have it shipped directly to Canada check that the fittings are shipped at the same time and in the same shipment or at least that the shipment cost reflects the cost of the package. My fittings were shipped separately from a different site and it cost me extra taxes and brokerage as the first shipment, which was the fittings only, showed the total cost of tank and fittings and the second shipment showed the tank cost resulting in paying takes on the tank twice and double brokerage. I am trying to get some of the tax charges back from the Canadian Gvt. but do not have much hope.

I could not find any source in Canada other than a custom fabricator who quoted over $600.00.

Happy sailing

Charlie

 

[PKFK]

So you paid $216.56 for shipping / taxes / "brokerage" on an item that was worth $217.xx ??

This is the stuff that puts my blood pressure thru the roof.

What an incredible fleecing for being Canadian. This is outrageous.

I am at least "lucky" to be less than an hour from the border so I can pick up the stuff myself rather than being financially raped by these pirates.

Paul

 

[Cappep]

It will still cost you about the same for freight to Ogdensburg because of the size of the tank. Taxes are 13% unless you stay in the US for a few days and I guess that your cost of gas from Ottawa to Ogdensburg will be a factor. But, if you wife goes with you, who knows how much more you may save!! I feel that is was a good deal compared to what I would have had to pay in Canada for a custom tank despite paying extra for brokerage and taxes.

Charlie

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I don' TEENK so, Cap...

UPS would charge more for an oversized tank...but their "international rate" for EVERYthing is even higher. And then there's that pesky "customs brokerage charge" for goods crossing the border. No sales tax in the US would be due unless the vendor has a retail outlet in NY (ronco doesn't)...Canada may charge 13%...but that's a bargain compared to those international shipping charges and custom brokerage fees. And now that gas prices are somewhere near reasonable....

However, a shipping address on the US side of the border only works for those who live fairly close to it. If you don't, you really don't have many choices except to request shipping via postal service...that can save you a bundle in shipping charges, but it takes FOREVER to get anything! So, like everything else in life, you have you weigh your options and then decide which compromise works for you.

 

[druid]

I rarely buy anything in the US because of the outrageous customs fees and hoops. (took a month, $300 and at least 2 dozen phone calls to Toronto to get $1000 worth or Edson stuff across the border).

Try Barr Plastics in Langley - they're not that cheap, but make excellent tanks and will build them any size and shape you like. They also have several lines of "standard" tanks that are cheaper, but not as high quality. I had them custom-make my holding tank for the Catalina 36, and bought "standard" tanks for holding and water for my Crown 28.

...And they're Canadian!
druid

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Wait a sec...

You're in Vancouver...literally a "stone's throw" outside the US...so WHY has it never occurred to you to use a US shipping address for stuff you order from US companies????

 

[PKFK]

I just ordered a 26 Gal Ronco tank from the SBO store.

FYI - I am having it shipped to Ogdensburg (45 mins from Ottawa). Costs will be:
Shipping $42
Gas and Bridge Toll $20
Tax (GST/PST) $28
Receiving Fee in Ogdensburg $4
Total - $94

Plus a couple hours of my time to go get it.

Having it shipped to my Door would be $80 Shippimg + $28 Tax + $50 Brokerage + $10 UPS "advance fee on taxes" + $5 (GST on UPS fees) = $173

For me the savings to take a short spin down the road are worth it. The drive becomes even more economical because I also ordered a new Head, Hoses, and some other stuff from SBO - and I willl pick all of it up on the same trip - which further dilutes the cost of Gas and bridge toll.

By planning to go down with about a 1/4 tank of gas in the car, and filling it up in the states, the $$ savings on gas will totally negate the $20 in fuel/tolls for the trip.

Lots of detail here - but for those considering this option who live close to the border - at least my numbers will help you in your research.

Once I get it - then the real fun starts with the install !

 

[PKFK]

Try Barr Plastics in Langley - they're not that cheap, but make excellent tanks and will build them any size and shape you like. They also have several lines of "standard" tanks that are cheaper, but not as high quality. I had them custom-make my holding tank for the Catalina 36, and bought "standard" tanks for holding and water for my Crown 28.

...And they're Canadian!
druid

Hi Druid - thanks - I did contact Barr - they sell Ronco tanks as well - but after talking to the folks there, it became apparant that ordering myself from SBO or Ronco was the way to go. Barr do not have any B2B deals on shipping, and had to pay the same UPS ground brokerage I did, and then would have to mark-up the whole thing to boot - which was totally out of hand cost-wise.