Over the border shopping in Buffalo

[Little Miss Liberty]

I'm planning on doing some day shopping in Buffalo and just wonder when you cross the border how long is it to pay duty and do you think its worth the shopping with the duty tax on top of it? I've never done this before but I want to go to Victorias Secret. And does anyone know if there is an amount you can bring over without paying duty? Thanks.

 

[disneyvacationmom]

We cross over all the time. Technically you are not allowed to bring anything back for a day trip but generally we have found $50. or so dollars is passed through ok. When we have had to pay duty, it is a quick process--show your bills and pay the 14% GST and PST--debit, cahs or credit card. A painless process if you have been honest at the entry booth--I've heard horror stories of people who have lied and been caught. Go and enjoy, the dollar is great so a great time to shop.

 

[mommytodarlings]

You have to stay over 48 hours to be able to claim $50 per person.

I have shopped a few times in the last year and have not had to pay duty or tax yet. Each time we have claimed our actual amounts (at least $300 combined) and the border guards have just let us go.

They just asked what we spent it on and it has mostly been kids clothes and that's what we tell them.

The most recent time was just before school started and dh & I went shopping for a few hours, we spent $450 and when we crossed, we told him school clothes and shoes for the kids and he said "have a nice day".

 

[Hoogy]

We're actually hoping to do a one night stay in Buffalo (just DH and I) in a couple weeks. That will help with the spending limit. Hopefully we can do some early Christmas shopping. Any recommendations for where to stay? We've done the airport thing before but what is a good (reasonable) hotel close to the main shopping mall/area?

 

[Disney Ontario]

We go over all the time and have no problems when returning,until right before school started. We went for the day, spent around 50-80 dollars each and she made us go pay duty. It was only $32.00 and we did have a fun family day. We even have the first weekend in December booked to go back over for the day and spend a couple nights in Niagara Falls(Canada)

 

[NikP]

Here is a section copies from the Ontario Travel website that states allowances:

Duty-Free Limits for Returning Residents of Canada
The following duty-free allowances (in Canadian dollars) apply:
Goods (souvenirs, etc.)
$50 (excluding alcohol and tobacco) any number of times per year, after a minimum 24-hr absence.
$400 any number of times after a minimum 48-hr absence.
$750 after a minimum 7 days' Absence (excluding day of departure).


Hope this helps.

 

[michelle1]

We're actually hoping to do a one night stay in Buffalo (just DH and I) in a couple weeks. That will help with the spending limit. Hopefully we can do some early Christmas shopping. Any recommendations for where to stay? We've done the airport thing before but what is a good (reasonable) hotel close to the main shopping mall/area?

We usually like to stay near the Galleria mall because everything we like (the mall, Target, Sam's Club etc) is close and there are several restaurants to choose from. We have stayed at the Millenium and on their website they offer a Canadian rate which is usually around $99 or $109/night and you can walk to the mall from there.

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm originally from the detroit area..
when i was back home visiting last november/december and went out to the big outlet mall, Great Lakes Crossing, the parking lot was a veritable sea of Ontario plates...
at least 25% of the lot was Ontario plates (and this is a HUGE mall, gigantic)...i was stunned when i saw how many ontario plates were there...
i was wondering how they managed to get everything back across...

i asked friends of ours who live in Windsor and they told us that everyone they know crosses into detroit to do their shopping...and this was before the crash of the US$....i can't imagine how many cars must be crossing the bridge/tunnel now.....and i wonder what the stores in windsor do....they can't possibly compete....

 

[disneyfan2]

We usually like to stay near the Galleria mall because everything we like (the mall, Target, Sam's Club etc) is close and there are several restaurants to choose from. We have stayed at the Millenium and on their website they offer a Canadian rate which is usually around $99 or $109/night and you can walk to the mall from there.

we would like to stay neare Galleria as well. How did you like this hotel? Did you get Breakfast included?

Also, do you need a membership at Sam's/ I think i heard someone say that you can go there and pay a 5% premium without memberships.

 

[F4disneyfan]

We don't bother shopping in teh US unless it is while we are in Florida other than that we support our local economy but that is just us.

 

[minnie56]

I frequently shop Stateside and will continue to do so until the Canadian Retailers wake up and stop gouging us!!!! Michaels, Pier One, Indigo (Borders), Card stores, any one that is there and here ...needs to adjust their pricing! I am now looking for some new Kitchen Chairs...have seen them here for almost $500 a chair, just found them online at $235. Bought faucets a few weeks back, they were special order here taking 3-4 weeks and over $500. Found them in the U.S..$210 and next day I collected them!

When the Canadian retailers support me again, I might reciprocate! Till then...on the road again!

 

[michelle1]

we would like to stay neare Galleria as well. How did you like this hotel? Did you get Breakfast included?

Also, do you need a membership at Sam's/ I think i heard someone say that you can go there and pay a 5% premium without memberships.

Breakfast is included, I believe, but only Mon-Fri am although I think you can purchase a package that has breakfast on the weekend. There is a Tim Hortons just down the street though! The hotel was fine but some rooms are nicer than others with nicer furniture, bedding etc so we just ask for one of those. The last time we were there they were replacing all of the carpeting also. We have a membership to Sam's Club but find the ones in the States are much better than the ones here in Canada. I know you can go in and look around for free but not sure about purchasing.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I've stayed at the Millenium before. It's accross from the Olive garden and Krispy Kreme. You can walk to the mall (but usually we take a vehicle to hold the packages in the trunk) and a three minute drive to the target. Breakfast has never been included. If you want to drive a bit farther (10-15 minutes) the buffalo airport is pretty close by and with all the hotels out there you are sure to find one at a good deal with a breakfast.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am going there with a bunch of friends on the 12th (8 girls in all) and we are staying at the Homewood Suites so we can all share a room, Where is the best outlet mall or a great place to shop with deals? We are hoping to get most of our Christmas shopping done that weekend! We were thinking of going to Applebees for dinner or is there a better place you all recommend?

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

Thanks for everyones replys. It's not just about buying cheaper its also about going to stores that we don't have here such as Victorias Secret, Bath and Body works and Target. They do have items we don't have and it is different. And I just wanted to point out that vacationing in Disney also supports the US economy so if your really concerned about that you should vacation only in Canada.

 

[disneyfan2]

Can anyone recommend a hotel with a 1 bedroom or separate sleeping areas, in Buffalo or N.F-USA. I checked the Homewood suites which are what we would like, but wondered about other areas. We are doing a shopping weekend but would love a suite without outrageous prices. The Homewood prices are resonable but we really don't need a kitchen.

 

[mickeywho?]

There was an article in today's Toronto Star listing all the items you can bring back duty-free - surprisingly quite a long list. You still have to pay the GST on them at the border of course, but at 7% that is still cheaper than the exchange rate we've been paying in recent years.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

I was over in Buffalo last week. Just be aware that it's not only the 7% gst you might have to pay, but I got "dinged" for the 7% pst on everything I bought.

This included $92. in groceries, which most of the time they don't bother with. They had me pay both gst/pst on them as well.

However, it all evens out because sometimes they just wave me through.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

There was a list in our local paper today about paying duty.
Here is the number to call:

"To find out the duty rate of an article, contact our Border Information Service (BIS). You can access BIS free of charge throughout Canada by calling: 1-800-461-9999"

Depending where you visit you may be able to get a rebate of the state tax you paid. I sent in a rebate form last year for North Dakota and got back $15.00

Happy Shopping!!!!!

 

[minnie56]

It really is hit and miss isn't it? Like you, I feel it evens out because I get sent through much more than sent 'in' to pay!!

I was over in Buffalo last week. Just be aware that it's not only the 7% gst you might have to pay, but I got "dinged" for the 7% pst on everything I bought.

This included $92. in groceries, which most of the time they don't bother with. They had me pay both gst/pst on them as well.

However, it all evens out because sometimes they just wave me through.