OT~Has the Personal amount changed?

[pooksma]

Can someone tell me if the amount of goods you are permitted to return with has changed? Someone at work today said its now 200 dollars if you are in the US 24 hrs. I searched and still only saw $50.

Thanks!

 

[siobhan1997]

You are right up to 24 hrs zero, 24 to 48 hrs $50.00, over 48 hrs $400, over 7 days $750.00

 

[PhotobearSam]

They really need to up these limits...$750 does not get you much of anything these days...

We go for 1 month, it's hard to keep things at $750 because DH loves clothes shopping and his Star Wars toys and you can't keep me out of the Target Home decor section...

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Those limits are per person not per family.

 

[Allegro]

And you can still bring things back -- you just have to pay duty on them.

 

[siobhan1997]

We had a real a**hole customs guy on Sunday when we crossed back across the Thousand Island Bridge. As always I have a total per person with the receipts below them ready to show. We crossed over Friday around 2 pm and crossed back over Sunday at 3:30 pm We knew we were allowed the $400 per person as well as 1 bottle to be included in duty allowance.

We drive a minivan so upon arriving at the wicket, he signaled my daughter like a dog with a hand gesture to open her door. Very Rude to begin with.

The customs guy took our passports and then asked how long we were gone and my husband said we crossed into the US on Friday, then he asked, how much each spent, so my husband rambled by name and by amount per each person, then he said do you have any alcohol, my husband again said yes we have 3 bottles and a 12 pack of beer (we had four adults). He then said, very oddly and you only crossed Saturday? My husband replied no Friday, He said give me your plate number, so my husband gave it to him. He said again You crossed Saturday, and do you have alcohol? Now, were trying to figure out whats up with this guy, is he trying to tell us we are lying!! So next he asks let me see your hotel receipt (check in/check out date and time are clearly printed ) and your purchase receipts. So my husband gave them to him. He then says you stayed in Syracuse, did you go straight to your hotel when you got there? My husband said no, we toured around had a late dinner and then checked in.

Next thing you know he gives my husband all our information back and tells us we have to pull over, go into customs, and bring everything with us. ON his yellow customs paper he has written all our totals from our receipts and that we were only in the US forr 19 hours? What the hell? I am not sure what kind of a clock he runs on but I certainly run on a 24 hour clock.

So we go into customs show everything to the agent inside, who looks quite intimidating. Told him what had taken place, he asks my husband for his passport and what he did for a living. My husband told him, and then he says we can run your plate number, I replied he already did that out there, and he said he cannot do that at all from there out there. My husband told him to go ahead and run the plate number, but he wouldn't, the customs agent just crumpled up the yellow customs sheet and shook his head and said here's your stuff, go ahead on your way.

Not really sure what this was all about, we go shopping pretty much every 2 months to Syracuse and have never been treated like this. I am writing a letter to my local MP. The way he treated my daughter with such disrespect is awful. Forgot to mention before we pulled away from the wickett he again said to my daughter, you better close you door or you might fall out!! What an a* hole.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Those limits are per person not per family.

I know it's per person, but we are always over...we are gone for so long and I never really shop here much. I love the stores in the States. Also, these amounts have been in place long time. They have not kept up with inflation at all.

When the exchange rate was $1.45, we had to tell them what we spent Canadian so if we spent more than $517 we were over...Now it's different. Still think it's not high enough.

On the other hand, customs always give my parents a hard time. They have a house there and never bring much home...The border guardsare always asking where their souvenirs are...Ummmm, after going to Florida for at least 4 months a year for 30 years, YOU DON'T BUY SOUVENIRS anymore!!!

We have been quite lucky and never had any problems. Watch, next trip I will have trouble now that I have said that.

 

[pooksma]

Just got home. Wanted to confirm my original statement and share that I picked up the snuggliest Tink zip up hoodie. Its fleece and was 16.99. Disney Deals ! Goota love 'em.