How does it work? I miss Target and would like to drive to Buffalo and get a few things. Also, my sister gave me a Sears GC before we moved that I still have a good balance on and it's only good in the US. Do I have to pay a lot if I shop in the US and bring it back here?
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What are your personal exemptions?
After each absence of 24 hours or more
You can claim up to CAN$50 worth of goods without paying any duties. This is your personal exemption. You must have the goods with you when you arrive, and you cannot include tobacco products or alcoholic beverages in this exemption.
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 duties on all goods you bring in.
After each absence of 48 hours or more
You can claim up to CAN$200 worth of goods without paying any duties. You must have the goods with you when you arrive. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, only a partial exemption will apply to cigarettes, tobacco sticks, or manufactured tobacco. You may have to pay a special duty on these products. You can find more details under the section “Tobacco and alcohol.”
After each absence of seven days or more
You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, only a partial exemption will apply to cigarettes, tobacco sticks, and manufactured tobacco. You may have to pay a special duty on these products.
To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you leave Canada, but include the date you return. Dates matter, not times. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Friday the 7th and returned Friday the 14th.
Who is eligible for these exemptions?
You are eligible for a personal exemption if you are a:
Canadian resident returning from a trip outside Canada;
former resident of Canada returning to live in this country; or
temporary resident of Canada returning from a trip outside Canada.
Even young children and infants are entitled to a personal exemption. As a parent or guardian, you can make a declaration to the CBSA for a child, as long as the goods you are declaring are for the child’s use.
When I lived in Ontario I crossed the border all the time to go shopping and sometimes I brought back way more than I should have without any problems and other times I was searched and had to pay alot in duty.
I think alot depends on the kind of day that the border crossing officer is having. Best advice I can give is...don't lie....cause that will be the time they pull you over for a routine search.
Also if I lived as close to the border now as I did(not that Montana has much to offer for shopping)I would definately be taking advantage of the current exchange rate.
I just went shopping in North Dakota last weekend -- SOOOO worth it. Especially Marshall Fields: designer jeans (CK, Hilfiger, etc). for $20, suede jackets for $50, etc.
And I love Target for the groceries: I get my favourite coconut chai Thai tea, lemon yogurt, cornbread mix, Mexican corn, Bush (sp?) beans, etc.
AAAAND we go to Paradiso's for a great Mexican dinner. So great.
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I remember going over to Tops grocery store in the 80's with my parents for gasoline and milk and butter (and chocolate bars that we couldn't buy here at the time like Baby Ruths). But then the dollar tanked and we stopped. I can't justify the gas costs to get over there, strong dollar or no. LOL
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i know here on the west coast there are a lot of things that are cheeper in the states
dairy, cheese, gass, eggs ect, and i find my OPK's are CHEEP down there compared to up here! 20 test strips for 19.95USD
gass is also pritty cheep but be ware of the oens right by the border, they usualy get gass on the open market and i find it makes MY car run realy bad... but if you drive 15 20 min in you should have no problem...
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Hm, it sounds like I need to do my shopping when we go home for a couple of weeks around Thanksgiving. I'll be gone long enough to bring back whatever I want without worrying about it. And if there is something I really want before that I can get my sister to pick it up for me and mail it. Thanks!
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DH and I go once or twice a month. We do alot of grocery shopping at Tops, and of course we spend a fortune at Target! The second last time we went, went spent (this is a little embarrassing) $600...in three hours! We had to pay duty, which ended up being $53. It was well worth it!
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Emily Marion - May 23, 2004
Hunter Nathaniel - May 17, 2005
Ethan Lukas - February 27, 2007
Oh, is that all it is? That's not bad. Thanks for letting me know!
I believe you pay the PST (or is it GST? I always get them confused). You DON'T have to pay duty on groceries, so if there's something you want at Target, but you can find it in Tops (ie: HPT's or tampons or something), buy it at Tops. Also, that's the first time we've ever had to pay duty. It's kind of a random thing.
HTH! We're huge fans of cross-border shoppping!
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Emily Marion - May 23, 2004
Hunter Nathaniel - May 17, 2005
Ethan Lukas - February 27, 2007
I just went shopping over there today and brought back $65 worth and didn't have to pay any duty. I have been going over there to shop quite a bit lately because I just can't find any summer clothes for my 16 month old son here in Canada and they are so cheap in the states and really cute. I thought you could bring $100 back per person in the vehicle and not pay duty. I know I have spent close to $80 in 1 trip and still not paid any duty. It is nice to see different things but Canada is getting more and more of the same stuff. Now if Canada would just get better kids clothes!
Also regarding the exchange rate, today I exchanged $60 dollars Canadian and got $53 American which is awesome. Happy shopping.
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You generally won't pay duty on simple items that you would purchase at Sears and such. Even if you aren't down for the allowed time to qualify for an exemption, you'll only have to pay GST and PST (smokes and booze are a whole 'nuther story).
The Canadian dollar is AWESOME right now (some places in the US are even offering it at par) so you should go as soon as you can.
I too am a huge fan and am planning a trip very very soon !
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shopping over the border 
