GOOD advice about bringing STUFF over THE BORDER!!!! THANKS!

[timmy!]

Hello all, long time lurker first time poster.

Ok here is the deal I bought 40GB 7200rpmMaxtor, Cendyne 52x24x52 Internal CD-RW Drive, 50 CDRs and artec scanner off STAPLES(US) for $183.13 - $150MIR = 33.13US$ today
Sweet deal i know :wink: but the problem is to get the stuff over the border. Does somebody have a link or a number that can give me info about the duties and the taxes applicable.

Even better if u have any ideas how i could avoid duties, taxes etc that would be I use the Windsor tunnel crossing.

If somebody would like info on the deal let me know i'll post it.
Note: STAPLES deal is on till midnight tonight only and u need to have a american credit card/chequing account, and ofcource they ship only to US.

Thanks

[AnimeEd]

i have only crossed the border a few times, but i don't think they search your car, do they?
just open all the stuff and throw away the boxes or something

[thomas997]

dont the mail in rebates also have to be from a US address

or do you have that covered

smuggle it in! dont blame me if you get caught...

[timmy!]

AnimeEd: They search cars at random :? I am planning to do what u're saying if nothing else works. Can you 'lie' about your stay in the US or do they know when you left?? anybody know?
cause if u can i could say i was away for 7 days and then i am allowed to bring in a few hundred $ worth of stuff.

thomas997 i got friend in Michigan, that is where i'm shipping it. I might have to smuggle em in like AnimeEd said but i think i'll just sell off the scanner on ebay.com or something for some cash and so no hassle of bringing it over. i only bought it to get 50$ off 200$ anyway :wink:

i know some ppl have mail boxes in the US on the west coast. how are u guys bringing your stuff in????

[HighFlyer]

Can you 'lie' about your stay in the US or do they know when you left?? anybody know?
cause if u can i could say i was away for 7 days and then i am allowed to bring in a few hundred $ worth of stuff.

The onus is on you to prove it (either with an airline ticket, boarding pass, or hotel receipt). I know US customs agents keep track of license plates on land borders, and passport numbers at airports. With increasing anti-terrorism measures, Canada and US routinely share this info. Don't lie. If caught, you'll have your merchandise seized, and your passport info flagged on their computers so you can be sure to get the rubber gloves treatment every time you clear customs.

Most recently at YYZ customs, I have been asked on numerous occasions whether or not I was carrying a laptop in my carry on bag. Others in my office have reported similar occurances.

[timmy!]

Thanks for the heads up HighFlyer

Recently they have been paying extra attention to people carrying laptops back and asking for receipts at YYZ customs.

You mean people bringing back laptops from the US and YYZ(what's that?-just an example?) customs asking them for their Canadian reciepts to prove it if they bought it in Canada before they left for the US?

[HighFlyer]

You mean people bringing back laptops from the US and YYZ(what's that?-just an example?) customs asking them for their Canadian reciepts to prove it if they bought it in Canada before they left for the US?

YYZ=Toronto airport

Yup, they are checking for Canadian receipts or the green card that you can get from Canada customs that proves that you had the item before leaving Canada.

[getmail99]

.. the green card that you can get from Canada customs that proves that you had the item before leaving Canada.

Where do you get the green card? If you drive to the state,
nobody is checking you from Canada side?

How about the camcorder or digital camera, do they ask for
receipts?

[HighFlyer]

.. the green card that you can get from Canada customs that proves that you had the item before leaving Canada.

Where do you get the green card? If you drive to the state,
nobody is checking you from Canada side?

I get them at the airport. They are located on the arrivals level, right near the meet and greet zone where the passengers exit the customs area. You don't have to be flying or leave the country to have it done. Not sure about land crossings.

How about the camcorder or digital camera, do they ask for
receipts?

They could ask you for them, and they are just as good as the green cards. But I'd rather carry the green card since it's the size of a business card and can list up to 10 items.

[Melchior]

i have only crossed the border a few times, but i don't think they search your car, do they?
just open all the stuff and throw away the boxes or something

I have a mailbox in Point Roberts, WA. I cross the border into the US once every two or three weeks to pick up stuff that me or my friends have ordered. Since February, Canada Customs has searched my car three times. The first time they pulled the carpet lining away from the sides of my trunk to search there (presumably looking for drugs or cash or something), and didn't properly put them back (which is how I knew they'd searched there).

They have, of course, never found anything in my car for which I didn't have a receipt, but still they search me. I swear, there must be something on their file for my license plate number that says "we've searched his car over and over and we still can't find anything! We must make a preemtive defense to find his WMDs!". AFAIK, Canada Customs has the ability to seize goods that you're bringing across if you don't declare them (depending on the situation, they can hold the goods until you pay an additional fine on top of duty and such, or they can seize the goods and not return them at all), and they can in some cases also seize your vehicle. IMO, it's not worth screwing with Canada Customs-- not for the few dollars that you'll have to pay in taxes. Most computer stuff (even if manufactured overseas) has a 0% duty rate, though you'll still have to pay taxes...

[sfu_lifer]

Yeah don't sneak it.
If busted, they'll make you pay a sliding scale of added penalties on all the stuff you lied about. Not worth it plus you get a mark on your record to be anally searched each time you come back to Canada.
First offense I think is 30% on top in addition to PST/GST.
Just remember, with the rebates you're still making a killing even if taxed on the full amount.

[hp]

So it's $180 USD, you pay 15% when you cross the border.

Is it worth the hassel to avoid $20?

If you get caught, they flag your license plate for 5 years, so everytime you cross the border, they will search you.

[poppa]

Have fun, btw, they convert the 180 USD to CAD and calculate tax from there. So it's more like 35-40 bucks of tax.

http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca

[hp]

You don't have to pay in Canadian Dollars, the gov will accept USD too.

All I am saying is that for $30 to $40, it's not worth it.

[getmail99]

.. the green card that you can get from Canada customs that proves that you had the item before leaving Canada.

I get them at the airport. They are located on the arrivals level, ...

arrivals level :? These Canada Customs people must be
smart. :wink: Can any one tell me the reason to put the
green card at the arrivals level?