Chroming in Canada Question(60 Imperial)

["Clarke" <aclarke@xxxxxxxx>]

I suggest that you get the info right from the source. Call U.S. Customs to find out what the charges are on taking Chrome plating work into the USA. In Canada there is a 7 percent tax called GST. You can have this returned to you providing that your invoice shows the amount paid and you claim for it within 60 days of paying your bill. The forms are available at most Duty Free stores as you exit Canada.

 

I run a small restoration shop in Langely B.C. and the most difficult thing here is getting good quality plating and getting it done on time. You would be making a very serious mistake if you rely upon the platers to look after your stuff. They are well known for losing dozens of pieces, never to be found. I used to work in a plating shop when I was a kid so the system. I have had them lose an entire 57 Pontiac grill and the lower half of the front bumper, just to mention a few. The list goes on and on. They usually claim it never came in. I pressured them until they came out to look at duplicate parts (We had two Pontiacs in the shop at the same time) . When they went back to the plating shop they found the grill in their unclaimed stock as they lost track of who brought it in.Plating companies really don't have any idea if a piece is from a D-8 Caterpillar or a 53  MG.  Even the most reputable plating company loses things. They don't want to talk about it and fortunately for them the customer rarely ever has any proof at all. If you are smart you will take along your digital camera and make a photo record right on their delivery dock. You will no doubt need it so they can identify it when your piece gets mixed up with someone else's. The platers really do not know a running board trim for a 46 Ford to a quarter panel molding for a 63 Imperial.  I had one case where a man from near Seattle brought up his plating, took it home all wrapped up nice and put it on the shelf until his car was ready for the trim (about 1 year). When he opened it up he had most of the interior moldings for my customers 53 Mercury convertible.

 

 

 

So be forewarned. Take your photos on the dock or have an extremely high possibility of getting disappointed. Oh of course we all think. It won't happen to me! Ha!

 

Sorry to be so blunt but you just got "the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

 

Allan Clarke @ RoadMaster Automotive.

-----Original Message-----
From: Henry Hopkins <hhrp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 10:50 AM
Subject: IML: Chroming in Canada Question(60 Imperial)

I have a referral for Fairmont Electro-Plating in Calgary ,Canada.  Anyone have experience with them?  Secondly, plan to ship pieces to them from Kalispell, MT.  Folks at Fairmont told me shipping up is no problem, but that rechromed parts are picked up, not sent back.  My restorer says there is a problem with duty at the border but not quite sure.  Anyone know how to get stuff back without paying a hefty duty that wrecks the lower costs for having stuff done in Canada?????

 

 

Any help would be most appreciated.  This IS Imperial related as the car in question is a 60 Convertible under resto.

 

Thanks, Henry in Berkeley, CA 61/60