OT: Cross-border shopping exchanges

[ccudmore]

Hopefully somewhere out there in DIS-land knows the answer to this...

I recently purchased something across the border and realized when I got home that it was the wrong product. Contacted the store and they said they'd just do a swap for me if I came back. The question I have is how to handle the border crossing. Do I stop at the Canadian border crossing on the way over to report what I'm taking, or does the US customs give me something to say what I'm bringing in. I just don't want to end up paying the HST a second time when I come back over with the replacement.

 

[rjan67]

Did you pay the first time? Did you keep your receipt from customs? Perhaps the store will give you a reciept stating an exchange. I have not had any problems exchanging items and crossing in general.

 

[ccudmore]

Thanks for the info. Yes, I paid the first time and yes I have the HST and store receipt. Hopefully things will go smoothly.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You do have to go in and get a paper before you cross the border.....or else they can tax you a second time.

I've done the exchange thing before and I just went over with it...thinking that since I had a receipt with a previous date on it I would be fine. WRONG. I got a major lecture from Canada Customs about the proper way to take things back and forth across the border.

 

[ccudmore]

I ended up going across and not getting the paper and ended up getting taxed a second time :-( But I got the paper on the way back into Canada to submit for a refund.

Lesson learned.

 

[minnie56]

Have returned things dozens of times...just keep your receipt showing it was a return or exchange and you will be fine. I have never had an issue..

 

[minnie56]

By the way...if you return something for refund that you have already paid HST on coming into Canada--you can also claim that $$ back for a refund less I believe it was a $5 admin fee. That was a bit of a rip ..but there you go.

 

[rjan67]

Just curious where you cross. As we all know it just depends who you get. I shop very frequently. How much were you bringing across that time? Just curious what amount you had to go in and pay on.

 

[ccudmore]

Crossed at Prescott ON -> Ogdensburg NY. Brought back about $1000 worth of goods and (as in almost all cases) just had to pay the HST.

 

[bankr63]

We did a jaunt down to Watertown last weekend. Crossed at Hill Island on the way down, but decided to come up through Ogdensburg on the way back. Mistake! P-O border crossing was really quiet, and very well staffed. I don't think I saw any cars get waved through - they were stopping everyone and collecting; better than having all those people doing nothing! Not that I mind paying, I always calculate the taxes in when pricing my US purchases. But I keep wondering if I had just gone straight, would we have saved $50???