O/T Ottawa residents, please help with cross border question

[CanadianMinnie]

I am going to be in Ottawa soon, and will have lots of down time. I am thinking I could make a trip accross the border to pick up a few items that I can't get at home. It looks like the border is around an hour away, but where should I go to SHOP once I am in NY???

Any ideas?? TIA

 

[highland3]

From Ottawa you have two options...

The closest is Ogdensberg, NY. It is about an hour away.
BUT... not a lot of shopping. A good-sized Walmart is about all.

Next stop, Watertown, NY. It's about twice as far (two ways to get there, PM me for routes). It's got just about EVERYTHING you could ask for. Even stores for big boys. There's Target, Walmart, Kmart, all the clothing chains, shoe stores... you name it. Lots of good restaurants too.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

It depends what you're looking for.

When we want to do a quick trip for groceries, pharmacy stuff, etc... we usually go to Ogdensburg (about 45 minutes from Ottawa.) They have a Walmart, price chopper grocery store, Lowes, Walgreens pharmacy, etc... . (Massena is also only about 1 hour away but we've found the selection better in Ogdensburg.)

Watertown is about 2 hours away and is a bit larger and a few more shopping options (the closest Target store is here.)

Syracuse is about 3 hours away and has just about everything (Dept stores, Carousel Mall, etc...)

Waterloo, NY is about 3 1/2 hour drive and it has an Outlet Mall with all the big outlet stores (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=9)

Have fun!

 

[CanadianMinnie]

Thanks for the advice, it will help me plan. Now I have another question. Is everything charged duty and taxes? I would think groceries would not have any, but I really don't know since the nearest bordertown is a 6 hour drive for me! I just don't want to get stuck at the border getting hit with a big bill....

 

[Cdn Gal]

It depends what you buy- kids clothes, they almost never bring you in. Groceries- if you keep it around $60 you're usually OK too. Adult clothing, dollar store items, kayaks, bedding, shoes etc., you're in! It really depends on how much you buy and what you are bringing back. We usually declare almost everything b/c we travel back and forth enough that we don't want to have anything on our record (red flag) to bring us in. Two weeks ago my DH and I went over and we purchased $140- I thought for sure we were going in, b/c it was adult clothing, but we went through! We also never bring back any cigarettes or liquor- unless we are staying past 48 hours. The risk is too great! Plus we know alot of the guards and we don't want to put them in an uncomprimised position.

 

[highland3]

Is everything charged duty and taxes? I would think groceries would not have any, but I really don't know since the nearest bordertown is a 6 hour drive for me!

We often go over and buy groceries (great deals on meat). We have never had to pay anything for groceries ($100-200). They will ask to see receipts.

One one trip, the Customs Officer asked about the abundance of hair care products among the groceries. I leaned forward and said that I could assure him they weren't mine (I shave my head). He laughed and sent us on our way!

You will get hit for pretty much everything elese if you are just going across for a couple of hours.

 

[disneybound08]

They dont charge duty on much now, they used to check where your clothes were manufactured an charge that way (anything not US or canada made was charged duty)but theres a policy not to do that anymore. So basically you are paying tax (GST and PST) on the Canadian value of your goods. So that means food at the grocery store isnt taxed, (but other items like hair products can be) and kids clothes are only one tax. Be aware there are limits on how much dairy and meat you can bring back