Drive South! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

macker · 05-26-2012, 08:49 AM

http://www.vancouversun.com/business...107/story.html

The limits are going up for cross border shopping starting next month. Where do you go and do you have a list of things to hold off and purchase in the States. What is on that list? I don't overly like to shop but I love getting bargains so end up making trips at least once a year with this in mind.

burn_this_city · 05-26-2012, 09:00 AM

We usually head down to California once a year and buy most of our clothing at the outlet malls. I'm always amazed how much cheaper stuff is down there. We get robbed up here.

bc-chris · 05-26-2012, 09:24 AM

i order lots of truck stuff online and then have it shipped to a receiving company just over the border south of osoyoos. i can't believe how much less truck parts are in the states!

what cracks me up is that the one border guard loves my truck so i always get 'pulled in' and then i give him the low down of what i've done since the last time i went thru customs

after i had installed my digital instrument cluster i was showing him how it works (i had to hook some stuff up to the outside of the transmission) - so there we are, laying under my truck... when we get out from under my truck there was a family beside us in their mini van and the little kids were terrified that the border guard was going to start pulling apart the family vehicle - ha! ha!

saskflames69 · 05-26-2012, 10:19 AM

Might be driving to Minot sometime in June. I'll buy my computer there for a lot less than I would pay here.

macker · 05-26-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

We usually head down to California once a year and buy most of our clothing at the outlet malls. I'm always amazed how much cheaper stuff is down there. We get robbed up here.

There is a really good one at Gilroy that we were at last year. The savings could easily cover the trip down! Too bad there isn't really any good outlets closer to Calgary. First good one is likely the Premium north of Seattle. Nothing in Spokane/area anymore?

tvp2003 · 05-26-2012, 11:56 AM

Each year we usually do a trip or two down to Great Falls or Kalispell (no tax!); this year we combined it with a cheap flight to Phoenix and got the best of both worlds (going somewhere warm and sunny, and being able to load up the car with US purchases).

Last time I went I ordered something from the US and had it shipped here: http://www.montanashipping.com/

Walmart and JC Penney also have ship to store as well -- order from Canada and pick-up while you're in the US.

undercoverbrother · 05-26-2012, 02:52 PM

Denver this summer.

Might look into an iPad.

Anyone know the difference in costs on that item?

Russic · 05-26-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Denver this summer.

Might look into an iPad.

Anyone know the difference in costs on that item?

The difference in sticker price is $20 on the base models I believe.

Wormius · 05-26-2012, 03:22 PM

We're going down to Montana for a holiday and then driving through Spokane on the way to Kelowna. Any recommendations for places in Spokane for good deals? We don't have anything specific in mind. Usually just grab whatever kind of neat junk foods they have there. Otherwise maybe cycling stuff, camping equpiment, roof rack attachments.

3 Justin 3 · 05-26-2012, 03:39 PM

If I were to go to the States could I just ship what ever I bought back without dealing with Customs or no?

I ask because I would take my motorcycle, not a car; and I can't carry much on a sportbike.

REDVAN · 05-26-2012, 03:53 PM

Just bought a few big ticket items up here, but will be headed south soon enough- will try to pick up some clothes. It is way cheaper down there for sure.

bossy22 · 05-26-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

The difference in sticker price is $20 on the base models I believe.

You also save the environmental fee and gst.

bossy22 · 05-26-2012, 04:05 PM

I just bought tires from Costco down in Kalispell. Saved $240 from the Costco in Calgary, which was the best deal here.

burn_this_city · 05-26-2012, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

People actually take vacation for shopping. Shopping is something to avoid, not pay money and ware vacation time for.

We take a vacation and I tolerate 1 day of shopping.

tvp2003 · 05-26-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossy22

You also save the environmental fee and gst.

This is a good point -- we bought a 32" LED TV from Costco in Helena for $240 -- no tax, no fees. In Calgary, it would have been somewhere in the $300 range, plus $20 for the environmental fee, plus $15 for GST.

Our last printer we also bought while we were in the US, for the same reason.

4X4 · 05-26-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

This is a good point -- we bought a 32" LED TV from Costco in Helena for $240 -- no tax, no fees. In Calgary, it would have been somewhere in the $300 range, plus $20 for the environmental fee, plus $15 for GST.

Our last printer we also bought while we were in the US, for the same reason.

How much does duty cost on that item, or something like it?

VO #23 · 05-26-2012, 04:55 PM

Can anyone speak to the cost difference b/w Cross Iron Mills and the Seattle Premium at Tulalip? Particularly things like men's clothing (suits, ties, etc) and business accessories (briefcase, etc). I know to be super careful buying outlet suits but I will be a lowly articling student right away and am on a budget.

tvp2003 · 05-26-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

How much does duty cost on that item, or something like it?

If the total amount of your purchases is under the exemption limit (which is going up per the link in the OP), there is no extra tax or duty at the border. We were gone 7 days on that particular trip so we had $750 each (including the baby

)

If you're over the exemption limit, you may be subject to duty and/or tax; no idea how much it would cost as it depends on the item and where it was made (i.e. I believe products made in the US are duty free but don't quote me on that).

Sylvanfan · 05-26-2012, 05:01 PM

I'd like to get a good slow pitch bat. Maybe I'll have one shipped to Betta's than go camp at Osoyoos Lake state park in Oroville. For $50 I can camp, get a big Mexican dinner, a pack of smokes, a can of chew and 24 bottles of watered down beer. In Osoyoos I can't even get a decent meal and cup of coffee for that.

Living in Osoyoos was great for online shopping, you could always get the shipping to Oroville for cheap. I was going down to buy gas and food every week anyways.

bossy22 · 05-26-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

If the total amount of your purchases is under the exemption limit (which is going up per the link in the OP), there is no extra tax or duty at the border. We were gone 7 days on that particular trip so we had $750 each (including the baby

)

If you're over the exemption limit, you may be subject to duty and/or tax; no idea how much it would cost as it depends on the item and where it was made (i.e. I believe products made in the US are duty free but don't quote me on that).

If a product is made in North America, it's exempt. After June 1st, you are allowed $200 for 24 hrs, $800 for 48 hrs, and no limit after a week.
If you are over, you pay on the difference. Some border guards let you have a total amount for everyone in the car. Meaning you could be over, but they dont care because the total is under everyones combined limit. Some will count it as per person, which is what the rule is, and ask what the most expensive item is. If that item is over a per person amount, they'll make you pay. This may have changed because I haven't been asked in 2 years.