Cross border shopping?

crunchywannabe · #1 July 17th, 2012, 09:43 PM

Hey! there hasn't been too much activity around here lately!

I was just wondering about your shopping habits! Do you do much if any cross border shopping? How far are you willing to travel? do you stay in hotels to ensure you get bigger exemptions? Do you travel to the US regularly? Do you think it's worth it for bigger purchases? (anything from 'back to school' to a house reno, or vehicle?)

When we lived in the city I would go to the States shopping maybe once every 2 years, but know many people who'd go every 6mo-1yr.

Now I go almost weekly (Live on the border, and do our grocery shopping state side-minus meat, and dairy)

It's taking some getting used to because I do believe strongly in 'buy Canadian' however we are limited with options here.

If we were to do a big house reno I would DEFINITELY go to the states to buy. Even with taxes, it comes in at 20-30% less for products with a big maple leaf stamped on it!

Jessimaaka · #2 July 18th, 2012, 06:03 PM

How bad is it that I have NEVER been to the states? LOL Not even popped over the border to go shopping. I would love to though, it just never seems to work out!

crunchywannabe · #3 July 18th, 2012, 09:35 PM

It all depends where you live I guess. In Manitoba most of the population is within an hour of the US border, and 2 hours of major US shopping centres. We also don't have many stores that larger canadian cities may have, we are also some of the cheapest people I've ever met! so the incentive is there for us to travel for a good deal!

Jessimaaka · #4 July 19th, 2012, 05:56 AM

I'm in Southern Ontario and an hour from the border...I have no excuse! I'm going to be off work for mat leave as of next Friday and its on my bucket list while I'm off, even if its just Niagara on the US side haha.

crunchywannabe · #5 July 19th, 2012, 07:31 AM

Lol. I guess so! There is nothing really 'special' about shopping in the states, but there are often really good deals, (even when you pay taxes bringing it back) I recommend you check with the cbsa website and find out what your exemptions are (after 24 hours)!

~MamaTutu~ · #6 July 21st, 2012, 05:21 PM

I've been to the states twice, and that's just in the last year. We went to Lake Placid last August for a few days, and then to Florida for March Break. I know a lot of people who do cross-border shopping, but I've never done it. At the moment, with two kids who don't really like to travel, it's just not worth it for us. But I love the idea of saving all that money!