I was just checking the CAD vs US dollar yesterday and we are about 15% lower.
It's becoming crazy to make new purchases up here ... LHS will be adding about 20% plus the 15% sales taxes.
If I order items from the US I pay shipping let's say about 60$ US + the exchange 15% + the brokerage about 90$ + 4% GST 
So my 100$ US item can cost me about 280$ ...
Need to find more creative ways of buying things.
I have done transactions recently with members up here in Canada and it's much less painful since it doesn't need to cross the border.
I know some members buy in the US all the time, I was hoping some of you could share some tricks to get around all these charges ...
No dealers around here that sell O gauge. In fact, one dealer I spoke to didn't even know if he a supplier for Williams by Bachmann items.
I think we just have to a approximate Canadian dollar amount in mind when we purchase the item and try to stick to it.
I avoid eBay's shipping program with taxes included. I feel it's a ripoff. From what I hear eBay takes a cut from the shipping charge and the taxes don't seem right and almost certainly include a handling fee. UPS is just as bad and will charge "brokerage" on every item even though there is free-trade with the US.
I prefer shipping by USPS. I've had no problems and almost always have tracking. Whether you are charged taxes on postal shipments seems to be hit and miss.
We may just have to wait out the dollar for big items.
Wow, 15% sales tax on top of everything else. That's punitive! If it keeps going like this, why before you know it, the Canadian government will just take everything that you work for. It amazes me how some people in government feel that it is right, to confiscate your earnings.
