Nearest Outlet Mall in the States - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

vodafone_b · 09-21-2007, 10:36 AM

Hi all, I am a new member here and nice to meet you all, just want to start a new thread here regarding outlet malls in the states (btw, I am a big flames fan, been awhile actually and finally register on Calgarypuck!)

Anyways, with the Canadian dollar on parity now with US dollar, just wondering where is the nearest big outlet mall in the States from Calgary? There are some amazing deals if we can spend out loonie down there. But i guess the nearest would probably still require 4-5 hrs drive min. I am guessing Great Falls will be the closest big city to travel to. Are there any big commercial outlets down there? or anywhere else? People in the Ontario region must be enjoying the good times right now since travelling to buffalo or detroit is not that far away....

Deelow · 09-21-2007, 10:41 AM

Coeur D'Alene used to have some pretty decent outlet shopping. Still a 7 hour drive or so....maybe more.

Reaper · 09-21-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vodafone_b

Hi all, I am a new member here and nice to meet you all, just want to start a new thread here regarding outlet malls in the states (btw, I am a big flames fan, been awhile actually and finally register on Calgarypuck!)

Anyways, with the Canadian dollar on parity now with US dollar, just wondering where is the nearest big outlet mall in the States from Calgary? There are some amazing deals if we can spend out loonie down there. But i guess the nearest would probably still require 4-5 hrs drive min. I am guessing Great Falls will be the closest big city to travel to. Are there any big commercial outlets down there? or anywhere else? People in the Ontario region must be enjoying the good times right now since travelling to buffalo or detroit is not that far away....

As I was just shopping in the US last weekend I'm the man for your question.

Great Falls is the closest major centre to Calgary. It has Wal Mart (seriously - that store will blow your mind compared to Canadian versions), Sam's Club (Wal-Mart's Costco) and all the major department stores. We had to go to Helena to hit a Costco where I bought an iPod Classic for $240.

We probably wouldn't go to Great Falls again as it is really Nowhereville. While Montana has no sales tax we'd probably go to Spokane next time for more shopping variety.

BTW, you can make it to Great Falls in 5.5 hours if you go through Cardston and cross the border there as opposed to going through at Sweetgrass, Montana. There was no lineup and it was dead so we crossed in 3 minutes!

The Goon · 09-21-2007, 11:06 AM

Yeah, there's a huge outlet market about halfway in-between Coeur D'alene, ID and Spokane, WA. Just off the interstate.

Remember, also, that if you go shopping in WA, tell them you're an Alberta resident, and you won't have to pay the state sales tax.

vodafone_b · 09-21-2007, 12:19 PM

awesome.. thks
how are the outlet stores quality? are they brandnames and the price actually worth the trip down there? with the gas prices right now, the outlet mall better be good... the seattle premium outlets is definitely worth the road trip to vancouver and travelling down.... that outlet has over 100 stores...

kootenayguy9 · 09-21-2007, 04:43 PM

If you bring your Alberta's license to Spokane you don't have to pay tax. I always thought that was unfair when I lived in BC.

jolinar of malkshor · 09-21-2007, 04:46 PM

Kalispell also has walmart, costco, JC Penny and such. Much nicer area than Greatfalls.

CrusaderPi · 09-21-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Kalispell also has walmart, costco, JC Penny and such. Much nicer area than Greatfalls.

This is true, but Great Falls does have the added benefit of being the site of the Dar Heatherington fiasco. I'm not sure that makes GF worth the trip, but it is fun to bring up randomly.

jolinar of malkshor · 09-21-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

This is true, but Great Falls does have the added benefit of being the sight of the Dar Heatherington fiasco. I'm not sure that makes GF worth the trip, but it is fun to bring up randomly.

True that.

Neeper · 09-21-2007, 09:36 PM

Any designer stores or outlet mall in Spokane?

Vulcan · 09-21-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Coeur D'Alene used to have some pretty decent outlet shopping. Still a 7 hour drive or so....maybe more.

It used to be famous for another kind of shopping.

http://www.visitidaho.org/thingstodo....aspx?id=30935

if.away · 09-21-2007, 10:17 PM

So if you buy stuff in the US you have to pay taxes as you come back into Canada?

MRCboicgy · 09-21-2007, 10:30 PM

Missoula is a nice town--it's a college town and the shopping is better than at Great Falls, esp the big Macy's DT

jolinar of malkshor · 09-21-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by if.away

So if you buy stuff in the US you have to pay taxes as you come back into Canada?

If you are gone 48 hrs you get $400 exemption 7 days $750 exemption. Anything over that is subject to duty and tax. If it is made in the usa or mexico, only GST if it is not....you get a $300 preferential tariff rate of 8% and then the rest of the value for would be subject to full duty and tax....and that depends what the goods are and where they were made.

MacDougalbry · 09-21-2007, 10:36 PM

We were recently in Kalispell. There are lots of brand-new big box outlet stores there. I wasn't shopping for clothing, so I can't recall if there were any fashion outlets, but I can testify to the following stores...

Vann's 2185 Us Highway 2 W, Kalispell. Great deals on electronics. www.vanns.com. All stock from the web site is available in about 2 days, they said you can pre-order by calling the store directly. (406) 257-9530

Costco

Bed Bath and Beyond

Lowes

Home Depot

Best Buy Electronics

Target

JC Penny

Walmart

ShopKo

Kmart

... some massive ski/sports store that I forget now.

... and some big Chapters style book store.

Tip 1: Many of these places have online flyers, so you can shop before you go.

Tip 2: Don't use Google Maps to locate these places or you'll be sent majorly astray.

Tip 3: Kids get the $400 exemption too. We could have brought back $1600 worth of merchandise.

Tip 4: No taxes.

Also check out:

Los Caporales Mexican Restaurant (at least 3 locations) -- Real mexican food, like enchiladas mole or verdes with real corn tortillas.

Norm's News -- Old school soda fountain complete with the cherry on top, served by a real soda jerk.

Staying in Kalispell: We got a hotel on Priceline. Red Lion Inn. Basic rooms, but the free wireless internet was a big plus as it actually worked (unlike other hotels I've stayed at. In the summer, you can also camp, such as at the West Glacier area which is not that far away.

Oh yah, there IS a Starbucks in Kalispell,.

ken0042 · 09-21-2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Coeur D'Alene used to have some pretty decent outlet shopping.

Not sure if I went to the wrong place or something, but I went to an outlet mall that was just west of Coeur D'Alene, and it was pretty dead. I was ticked about wasting 1/2 an hour driving from Spokane.

Dan02 · 09-22-2007, 01:29 AM

Vegas, okay maybe its not the closest but we can pretend.

vodafone_b · 09-23-2007, 09:10 PM

so i guess the outlet mall by spokane that many posters have mentioned will be the best bet? any specific brand names store out there? did some research on the internet but don't seem to find any specific info regarding stores... any info will be much appreciated

urban1 · 09-24-2007, 09:14 AM

One thing to be carefull of is that it is $400 cannot be combined. Ie. your family of four could not combine the exemptions and bring back a $1600 TV. Ive heard a lot of people try this and have to pay tax and duty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDougalbry

Tip 3: Kids get the $400 exemption too. We could have brought back $1600 worth of merchandise.

THE SCUD · 07-25-2011, 10:44 AM

I know this is an epic bump, but I thought I'd do it since it's the same topic

My wife and I are heading over to Europe for a vacation in September and she has (of course) made a list of many items that are "required" for the trip.

So we're looking to do a pre-trip 'trip' down to the states to do some shopping. My wife is an ex-Vancouverite, so she is used to the quick jaunts down to Bellingham, etc to the outlets, which of course we don't have her ein Calgary...

I have been to Great Falls many times and I know they don't have the coach outlets, etc that she's after (KMart or bust! amirite Montana), so I am wondering CP:

What is the outlet/shopping situation like in Spokane and coeur d'alene these days?