Anybody going south for Black Friday?

[KiKi Mouse]

I didn't pay any duty but I had to pay tax.
That kills me. How can Canada charge me tax on stuff I bought elsewhere?
The good thing is that I get all the tax I paid in North Dakota back.

 

[minniemomof3]

Hockeymom,

Where do you shop?

I looked everywhere for a "peabody" coat for my dd14 and could only find it at American Eagle, price was no difference than in Canada so i didn't by it.

I also wanted to pick up some down comforters and couldn't find any for a decent price.

I was planning on driving to Pennsylvania on Thursday night, but ended up not feeling well, something I ate didn't agree with me. Instead, dh and i drove down to Buffalo late Friday morning and shopped at Fashions Outlet Mall on Military Road and Walden Gallery Mal.

I did get really nice EMU boots for dd14 and dd12 at Journey's for $69, I was looking for UGGs but they where completely out of stock everywhere

 

[tgropp]

We had a 9 minute wait at the BlueWater Bridge on Thursday @ 6 P.M. We hit a bad storm about thirty miles from Sarnia and the driving was not very nice for around the next 20 miles but then it cleared up. We also got the 19" LCD TV's for $199.Altogether we spent $1,700.00 between my wife,daughter and myself and we did not have to pay any duty. We spent about 45 minutes crossing from Port Huron to Sarnia border @ 1:30 P.M.

 

[minniemomof3]

When you say you did not pay duty, did you still have to pay GST/PST?

I wasn't charged any duty, however, I was still charged GST/PST except for kids clothes, I was only charged PST.

 

[hockey mom]

Hockeymom,

Where do you shop?

I looked everywhere for a "peabody" coat for my dd14 and could only find it at American Eagle, price was no difference than in Canada so i didn't by it.

I also wanted to pick up some down comforters and couldn't find any for a decent price.

I was planning on driving to Pennsylvania on Thursday night, but ended up not feeling well, something I ate didn't agree with me. Instead, dh and i drove down to Buffalo late Friday morning and shopped at Fashions Outlet Mall on Military Road and Walden Gallery Mal.

I did get really nice EMU boots for dd14 and dd12 at Journey's for $69, I was looking for UGGs but they where completely out of stock everywhere

Walden Galleria Mall and the surrounding box stores like Target, Wall Mart, Bon Ton, etc.


I got the coat( a few of us ran right to them and snagged most of them up) at Sears, I got the comforters at Sears also but they were sold out by 7 and another comforter at Bon Ton.

I spent a total of 2 minutes talking to the customs guy and did not have to pay duty or taxes of any kind.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. We are heading over this Saturday, and still hope to get great deals. We have to stop at Bob Evens first for breakfast to start out day. We hope to be at the RainBow bridge buy 7:30 ,8:00 AM,and hope for no line ups. Our shopping lists are getting longer.

 

[tgropp]

When you say you did not pay duty, did you still have to pay GST/PST?

I wasn't charged any duty, however, I was still charged GST/PST except for kids clothes, I was only charged PST.

No duty, No Taxes. Just told us to have a good day

 

[chasbos]

We found our best deals at Pottery Barn - WOW, it was amazing. The entire store was 40% off and all Christmas items were 50% off. I had priced bed sheets last Christmas in Toronto and they were $299 - I bought my set on Friday for $55!!!!!!!!!!

I found that winter boots were a steal too. My 2 girls wanted the Sketcher suede type boots - found them for $29.99. Brought them home and other DD wanted them, ended up paying $99.99 for them here in Canada.

Under Armour is incredibley cheap! About 1/3 the price as here in Canada.

We also stopped and picked up 10 cases of beer (you are allowed 5 a person and they are $14 US each) I knew this was going to make us get stopped for duty (you pay an extra $12 a case in duty).

So of course I tell the border person what we all spent - $400, $400, and $700 plus the $140 in beer. We were asked to go into customs with our ID's and receipts.

SIL goes first and she has spent $400 on kids clothes and bed sheets - her tax bill is $20 and her receipts are not even looked at.
DFriend goes next she has spent $400 on body soap, kids clothes, christmas decorations and of course the beer - her tax bill is $45 + $60 for the duty on the beer and everyone of her receipts was looked over.
Now it is my turn - I spent $700 plus the beer. I bought bed sheets, a duvet cover, kids clothes and shoes and books and some toys. He goes over every one of my receipts and asks what they are for, who they are for (I tell him they are all for my kids except for the bedsheets) he looks them over again and says that will be $60 for the duty on the beer I do not know why I got off with no tax, but I am glad I did.

Friends were not happy though!

We will go back again next year - had no problems at all. Got to Birch Run at 1:30 a.m. found a parking spot right away. Some stores were crazy but very pleasant people for the most!

 

[chowboys]

My son needs some and we are going during xmas.

Thanks

 

[chasbos]

We went to a sporting goods store in Birchwood Mall in Port Huron called Dunham's.

I got a long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt and shorts for $91! Paid $98 for the same shorts and long sleeve shirt at SportChek a month ago!

 

[minniemomof3]

I guess they randomly select who's going to pay duty and taxes.

I spend $500 and was given a receipt, when I went to pay, they went over all my receipts, since most of it was for kids they asked how old the kids were i was buying for.

Although, I can't really complain, I only had to pay $38, still a great deal considering how much I saved.

 

[minniemomof3]

We found our best deals at Pottery Barn - WOW, it was amazing. The entire store was 40% off and all Christmas items were 50% off. I had priced bed sheets last Christmas in Toronto and they were $299 - I bought my set on Friday for $55!!!!!!!!!!

I found that winter boots were a steal too. My 2 girls wanted the Sketcher suede type boots - found them for $29.99. Brought them home and other DD wanted them, ended up paying $99.99 for them here in Canada.

Under Armour is incredibley cheap! About 1/3 the price as here in Canada.

We also stopped and picked up 10 cases of beer (you are allowed 5 a person and they are $14 US each) I knew this was going to make us get stopped for duty (you pay an extra $12 a case in duty).

So of course I tell the border person what we all spent - $400, $400, and $700 plus the $140 in beer. We were asked to go into customs with our ID's and receipts.

SIL goes first and she has spent $400 on kids clothes and bed sheets - her tax bill is $20 and her receipts are not even looked at.
DFriend goes next she has spent $400 on body soap, kids clothes, christmas decorations and of course the beer - her tax bill is $45 + $60 for the duty on the beer and everyone of her receipts was looked over.
Now it is my turn - I spent $700 plus the beer. I bought bed sheets, a duvet cover, kids clothes and shoes and books and some toys. He goes over every one of my receipts and asks what they are for, who they are for (I tell him they are all for my kids except for the bedsheets) he looks them over again and says that will be $60 for the duty on the beer I do not know why I got off with no tax, but I am glad I did.

Friends were not happy though!

We will go back again next year - had no problems at all. Got to Birch Run at 1:30 a.m. found a parking spot right away. Some stores were crazy but very pleasant people for the most!

Chasbos,

I saw those same boots for $29 at the fashion outlet mall but didn't buy them, I wish I had . When I got home, I found them at the Eaton Centre for $99.

 

[minnie56]

I'm going to go over either tomorrow or Friday. I had some stuff shipped there for pickup. There were Blk Friday sales online too..which is great!! We'll pick up the goods, then hit the Outlet Mall and Walden Galleria. Really haven't done any Xmas shopping so I guess it's time to begin!!

 

[minniemomof3]

Minnie56

Do you order from the department stores online and have it shipped to the stores?

I've never been able to order online because most stores don't ship to Canada.

 

[minnie56]

No, I have it shipped to an address in Lewiston N.Y we have used for years. Think they are a feight-shipping co? Anyways, they charge $5 a pkg and the parking lot is full of Canadian Licence plates! Works fabulously..

This way, I order away and can partake of the free shipping perks too!