Cross border shopping

[MamaLema]

Just a quick question. I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.

We will be doing some cross border shopping tomorrow. Staying for 1 night.
We will be spending the maximum allowed but I wanted to know if groceries are counted in the $200 maximum.

I want to buy a lot of groceries, but not if it's included in the maximum allowance.

Thank you

Edited to add:

Also looking for the equivalent of these stores in Buffalo: Sportscheck and Long & McQuade

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Just a quick question. I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.

We will be doing some cross border shopping tomorrow. Staying for 1 night.
We will be spending the maximum allowed but I wanted to know if groceries are counted in the $200 maximum.

I want to buy a lot of groceries, but not if it's included in the maximum allowance.

Thank you

Edited to add:

Also looking for the equivalent of these stores in Buffalo: Sportscheck and Long & McQuade

I would assume groceries are not duty free but someone else could possibly answer that.

For sport stores you could go to Dicks at Walden Galleria.

And, I have a few friends who cross-border shop on a regular basis and while I am the one who counts every single penny on a receipt they NEVER follow the allowed maxium. All they do is have their receipts ready and say how much they spent (even if it is over). I asked how often one friend (who spends HUNDREDS) gets pulled over to pay duty and she said out of a dozen or so trips last year, once.

Also, you don't get $200 for crossing the border for 1 day. It's for a 24 hour stay. If you're only there for a few hours you do not get the $200 allowance.

ETA: I also think it depends what you're buying. Don't buy Alcohol and Tobbaco products because they'll get you for duty on those. I always buy kid stuff and snack foods and customs barely blinks at me before passing me through.

 

[MamaLema]

Thanks Daisy,

We are staying more than 24 hours. Not bringing back alcohol or tobacco.

We just want to buy some clothes and shoes for the kids, as well as some foods that we don't have here.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

You'll have no problem then. Have fun!

 

[minnie56]

It's not duty you pay it's HST and isn't that either not on-- or lower on childrens clothes? I don't have little ones anymore so not sure?

Worst case scenario..you spend $500USD they'll convert into CAD and you'll pay 13%...no biggie

 

[MedicGoofy]

Basically, you can spend what you want. Anything over the 'limit', and they have the right to charge you taxes. Duty is something else, and may or may not be applied. It all depends on what you have purchased and where that purchased product was made. And as far as Im aware, groceries are duty free. Just watch what groceries you bring back. Some are not allowed.

If your going this weekend, they can be more apt to stop and hit people up spending too much. They love shoppers on a long weekend.

I cross border shop weekly. The US has so much more stuff than we do. I am usually over the limit. It's mostly in groceries or kids items, sometimes fun stuff. MOST times they don't worry about it, BUT you can get pulled in to pay. It's just how your officer feels that day, and if your the lucky car. I have been pulled in lots of times. It's not a big deal. You are still coming out much further ahead than if you bought here!!

Enjoy your trip over, and good luck with the borders

Oh, and definitely hit up Dick's. Its a HUGE sporting store. You'll like it

Jenn

 

[ejcj89]

In my experience you can buy all the groceries you choose as long as they are for personal consumption. We have never gotten stopped coming back over and spend lots each time. We go about once every three to four weeks.Enjoy

 

[Belle599]

For the Long&McQuade equivalent, check out Guitar Center.

 

[newrygirl]

just for info sake, if you go over your limit you actually could be made to pay duty etc on the total you spend, it states on the excemption list that for 24 hours you can bring back $200 duty free and if you go over the $200 you will be charged duty, taxes...on the total you spend not your total minus the $200. I think like anything it is at the whim of the officer working but I have heard of it happening. Stupid rule if you ask me.

 

[HunterBoo]

And remember if there are four of you going, then it is $200 per person ... so that gives you a good amount of wiggle room I would think. That is why I like the girls going along with me ... I can spend more (although it is generally mostly on THEM!!) lol

Have fun - I love grocery shopping in the US. One year I brought back a small cooler bag of Weight Watchers yogurt because we can't get it here. She asked what was "in the red bag"? I said WW yogurt. And she said "oh, you can't get that in Canada right?" ... and then went on to ask if I'd tried the breakfast sandwiches by WW as they were really good too. One of the nicest crossings I've ever had

 

[Tinetine]

Groceries are not included in your 200$. There are restrictions in the amount of food you can bring back, such as 20$ per person of beef or chicken,and pet food is restricted (because of different laws regarding beef use-that's what the agent told us) however, we have only received maybe 2 ou 3 warnings (never been asked to stop)over 3 years of cross border grocery shopping.
I have asked, and have never been able to obtain a copy of grocery restrictions. It seems the agents do not make a big deal out of it.

 

[minnie56]

Who knew!?!? I declare cat food all the time and they don't bat an eyelash

 

[lisalonglash]

Groceries absolutely ARE included in your total declared value! We do 95% of our weekly grocery shopping in WA State - so once a week, we go through the border and back lol

You must declare the value of everything you have purchased and are bringing back - including your groceries!

 

[Tinetine]

Who knew!?!? I declare cat food all the time and they don't bat an eyelash

The agent didn't actually stop us from bringing the bag into the country, he just gave us a warning and made frowning eyes at us. Maybe they relaxed the rules, it was over a year ago.

 

[bankr63]

Almost all groceries would be duty free; they are very rarely made outside of the NAFTA area, and even if they are, food items are pretty much tarrif free. It is surprising how FEW items still carry tarrifs (duty) anymore.

If you have groceries outside of your limit, they can charge tax (GST or HST) on the grocery items that are taxable in Canada. We always declare, and we have only had to pay once, but almost all of the stuff we had grocery-wise was junk food; pop and pretzels that you can't get in Canada. If it is taxable here; it is taxable at the border.

Just a suggestion, avoid the really quiet border crossings. They were pulling over pretty much everyone the day we went through (Prescott/Ogdensburg) probably because things were so quiet. May as well keep themselves busy!

 

[minnie56]

I went across today...spent almost $400 and my friend $280 ..mostly clothes/shoes and 2 cases of cat food. Used Nexus in and out..declared all and was told to "have a nice day".. Woo Hoo!

 

[megan_in_pink]

Just a question about Nexus? How do you use it? You drive into that lane and scan your card? Then is it the computer asking you questios or a person who may or may not have taken their happy pill that morning?

 

[minnie56]

You enter via the Nexus lane designation and hold your card up to the scanner..you then pull up as usual and there is an officer there. Sometimes they ask you a couple of questions, today I said Hi and offered up my info. He smiled, waved us through..easy. I can't think of any time I have had someone who was less than nice?

 

[OntFamily]

You enter via the Nexus lane designation and hold your card up to the scanner..you then pull up as usual and there is an officer there. Sometimes they ask you a couple of questions, today I said Hi and offered up my info. He smiled, waved us through..easy. I can't think of any time I have had someone who was less than nice?

Did you fill out the Nexus traveller declaration form? When we've used our Nexus card, they've always charged our credit card for any duty/taxes payable (I've never been waved through). Just wondering if I'm doing something wrong.

 

[minnie56]

I've never filled out a form?
I just verbally declare..sometimes we have been sent in to pay HST (as with a fridge we crossed to pick up last week) and more often than not, waved through as today.He asked nothing..he wasn't interested in what we spent oddly.