hi,
can anyone shed some info on how much can we purchase at Buffalo, if we travel and return on the same day to Toronto ?
Also, I'm planning to buy either a stroller/ crib.. Is it ok to purchase it if i return on the same day ?
Are there any shipping options if I buy goods in US and ship them to Canada ?
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloopink
hi,
can anyone shed some info on how much can we purchase at Buffalo, if we travel and return on the same day to Toronto ?
Also, I'm planning to buy either a stroller/ crib.. Is it ok to purchase it if i return on the same day ?
Are there any shipping options if I buy goods in US and ship them to Canada ?
As per CBSA you do not have any DUTY Exemption if you return the same day. After 48 hours the allowance is only $50 and goes to $400 after 48 hour absence. I have pasted below some relevant information from their website http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/060-eng.html
Still it always depends on the Customs Official at the boarder.
What can I bring back with me?
When you return to Canada, duties and taxes are applicable on all purchases unless you qualify for a personal exemption. Personal exemptions allow you to bring goods of a certain value into the country without paying the regular duties. If you have been outside Canada for:
24 hours or more, you can bring in CAN$50 worth of goods free of duty and tax;
If the goods you bring in are worth more than CAN$50 in total, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead you have to pay full applicable duties and taxes on all goods you bring in.
48 hours or more, you can bring in CAN$400 worth of goods free of duty and tax;
7 days or more, you can bring in CAN$750 worth of goods free of duty and tax.
Alcohol and Tobacco - Restrictions apply to the amount of alcohol and tobacco you can bring into Canada under your exemption. If you have been outside Canada for at least 48 hours and are of legal age, you can bring in these amounts of alcohol and tobacco products free of duty and tax as part of your personal exemption:
Alcoholic beverages:
1.14 L (40 oz.) of liquor; or
1.5 L of wine; or
24 X 355 ml (12 oz.) containers of beer.
Tobacco products (all of the following):
200 cigarettes;
50 cigars or cigarillos;
200 tobacco sticks; and
200 g (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco.
If you bring in more than the free allowance of alcohol or tobacco, you will be required to pay the applicable duties and taxes.
As of October 1, 2001, if you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks, or loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked \"CANADA - DUTY PAID - DROIT ACQUITTÉ.\" You will find Canadian-made products sold at a duty-free shop marked this way. You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.
What if I want to bring back more alcohol and tobacco?
Except for restricted items, you can bring back any amount of goods as long as you are willing to pay the duties and any provincial and territorial assessments that may apply.
Restricted items / Prohibited Items
Handguns and weapons like mace and pepper spray are prohibited from entering Canada. Also, some fruits, vegetables, meats and plants from other countries cannot be brought into Canada. Review our travellers’ frequently asked questions for more information.
What if I'm away for only a few hours?
If you don't qualify for a personal exemption, you can still bring back any amount of goods - except for restricted items - as long as you are willing to pay the duties and any provincial and territorial assessments that may apply.
Keep all your receipts handy
CBSA officers may ask you to show receipts for the goods you've purchased while out of the country. They may also ask to see your hotel receipts to verify the length of your stay outside Canada. Keeping these items all together and readily accessible will help to avoid unnecessary delays.
Make a full declaration
If you are not sure what to declare when you arrive in Canada, declare all items first and then discuss them with the officer.
Be patient
Summer holidays and long weekends usually mean longer lines at the border. Be sure to add this time to your travel itinerary.
Need more information?
A little bit of planning can save you a lot of time and money. Here's where you can get more information on cross-border travelling:
I Declare;
Border Information Service1-800-461-9999(toll free)
Canada Border Services Agency Office Directory
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Pramod Chopra
Senior Mortgage Consultant
Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloopink
hi,
can anyone shed some info on how much can we purchase at Buffalo, if we travel and return on the same day to Toronto ?
Also, I'm planning to buy either a stroller/ crib.. Is it ok to purchase it if i return on the same day ?
Are there any shipping options if I buy goods in US and ship them to Canada ?
1. Same day return, there is no exemption in duty tax. You can bring any amount of shopping but keep all the receipts and declare every single purchases you are bringing in Canada. Take a few minutes priore reaching border to arrange all receipts and total $ amount of all purchases. Most purchases you wil pay 13 to 15% taxes but it will still worth because your purchase price will be low. Alcohole and tobacco may have higher taxes but I did not ever bring. Be prompt to answer your status in Canada, purpose of visit, place you have visited, what you are bringing in Canada, and total value.
2. After paying duties and shipping charges and preparing custom documents probably it will not worth. Better you bring it with you for peace of mind.
Do not take or bring fruits, veges, dairy products with you. No any medicines without labels.
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Meeting people is easy. Having meaningful connections is the hard part.
Thanks hamrahi and Pramod !!
Is there any option to ship items from US to canada ? I heard amazon.com costts a lot of taxes to ship items from goods to toronto..
Or is it worth buying the crib and other baby stuff in Canada itself despite of staying and buying things fromm US ?
Any choices pls ?
Big items like crib / stroller may be cheaper in the US, however, remember that it wont be easy to return these things without spending more money. Also, if there are recalls on cribs in the US, not sure how that would work in Canada.
And, you are forced to buy a car seat in Canada 
BTW, you can get a crib etc from Kijiji for far cheaper if you dont mind it. My kid barely used her crib and we sold it for a fraction of the original cost.
The safest thing to get from the states is baby supplies like clothes, bottles etc. I noticed that Dr Brown's bottles were at least 50% cheaper on Amazon.com compared to whats available here. In addition, there is a lot more choice.
One thing you can do is to rent a mailbox (see link below) in Niagara Falls, NY or Buffalo, NY and ship items there. They charge you either by month or by shipment. You can go there one weekend and pick up the items. The customs officers typically ask you for the total value of products. They should usually let you go if you have baby items like clothes etc and value is not significant. Its not worth their time to charge you $26 for a $200 worth clothes. But, its important to be truthful.
Again, that has been my experience, for all you know, you could be special
Good luck.
US shipping addresses for canadians.
CBI USA | US Mailbox Rental & US Shipping Address Services
cbiusa.com/
U.S. Address
http://www.usaddressinc.com/" rel="nofollow">LINK
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 17-01-12 08:16:04
Yes. Be truthful as you can.
As an immigrant, the Canadian border guards are extra careful to check you.
Once I did some shopping for $ 200 (dress) and the guards asked me if I had anything to declare. I said No. They asked me "Nothing like electronics?". I still said No. Then she asked me to open the trunk and saw the items inside the trunk. However she said nothing and let me go.
So the next time I got some car parts and hid it below the seat. Again the guard was suspecious and checked my trunk and look loosely inside the car. He let me go.
So be careful and be truthful. The guards will not let us live in peace. They will always treat us in an inferior way.
Peace
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
So the next time I got some car parts and hid it below the seat. Again the guard was suspecious and checked my trunk and look loosely inside the car. He let me go.
So be careful and be truthful. The guards will not let us live in peace. They will always treat us in an inferior way.
Peace
No, never do that..do not hide the things....it is called smuggling..not worth to save few bucks. Most of the times the officers will let you go if your items does not include alcohol, tobacco and of course fire arms. Generally made in america items are exempt under nafta if you already paid taxes. Better to be truthful than giving mis-information. lets say if allowed allowance is of $50 and you bought stuff worth $300 declare it. At the most you will have to pay taxes on some of the items that are not made in america.
