Princess Auto wtf?

[greatwhite]

It's all being declared. Ask all the guy's on here. Customs just cannot be bothered with anything under 100.00

The last time I was over there I said I had a case of Beer and some roofing material and show the receipts, Customs said Go. So I said where do I pull over? He looked at me and said GO Home.

Not that I really care, but if it isn't declared, then technically it is hiding the import of goods. If it is declared and the customs officer choses not to impose a duty, then it's all good. For a stay under 24 hours, I'm not sure if there are any exemptions, I don't think so.

Otherwise, to each his own.

[SK33T3R]

Not sure if I'd declare that in a public forum. They could come after you.

MARK LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT! I SMUGGLE NOTHING! NOTHING!

I live in a border community and cross the border 2 or 3 times a month. The missus and I both have NEXUS cards. both have been fingerprinted and eye scanned. I will not risk losing my rights by smuggling piddlyazz items. I declare everything and am more then willing to go in and pay. BUT if the customs officers wave me through - for whatever reason - then I say thank you and go home!
Great system EH?

[welsh]

Mark may have been referring to bringing food across.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...up-from-mexico

[MarkB]

Guys like I said, I don't really care ... I'm just trying to make sure my fellow members don't get into trouble, but you technically should declare everything the food, the gas, etc. If the officer says go ahead, then I'm pretty sure you're fine.

You just don't want them coming on a site like this and then nailing you because you said you bought eggs and milk and didn't declare that, or you filled your gas tank and didn't declare that.

I'm pretty sure you get what I'm saying. Happy shopping in the USA.

Sc33t3r - not having a go at you at all, in fact the opposite. I'm not saying you didn't declare all this stuff either, I'm just saying it in case you didn't. Last thing you need is some libtard on your back because of an internet blog. If you declared everything and the officer let you through, then that's the end of it.

[MikePal]

You just don't want them coming on a site like this and then nailing you because you said you bought eggs and milk and didn't declare that, or you filled your gas tank and didn't declare that..

I don't think you folks that don't cross the border often have a grasp of the whole scenario...I cross almost weekly, closer to go there than to drive into Ottawa.

I buy all sorts of food...they NEVER ask for details...if I get called in to pay HST for other items, I give them our grocery receipt and the throw it back with nothing more than a glance and they don't include the grocery costs in the overall total. FOOD is not an issue and hasn't been for some time.

I just crossed Thurs with 30 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts I picked up for $1.49 lb and 20 lbs of ground beef for $2/lb...told the officer how much I had in total groceries and they gave me the standard "Have a nice day"

I'm like sk33t3r....never hide a single purchase, wouldn't risk the penalty. Some trips the nail you for the HST, other days you hit the Lottery and have money for a treat with the coffee at Tim's

edit add: just looked at the weekly flyer from Food Basics..the same chicken breasts are on sale for $5.99 here this week.

[welsh]

FOOD is not an issue and hasn't been for some time.

It's a bit odd ... did you see that story I posted above?

Everybody I know in border towns cross-border shops for groceries all the time and no issues. Then they nail a guy for packaged soup mix? Yes, it was from Mexico, but even so ... we import packaged food from Mexico, so what's the deal there?

[MarkB]

Mike - agreed, it becomes routine I understand. Takes a new recruit or an officer having a bad day to turn it into a bad one for everyone else.

I wonder if I flew into Toronto (Pearson) from Ohio with a suitcase full of chickens what would happen to me. Same rules, same officers. LOL.

Have a great weekend guys!

[MikePal]

.. we import packaged food from Mexico, so what's the deal there?

It sounds like the issue was he didn't declare it and was fined.

edit add: the country of origin is also involved in this case...see the link below, it explains what you can import (and quantities) from the US and from other countries.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/inf.../1389648516990

[SK33T3R]

Mike
I think you are correct when you say that the inland guys just don't fully grasp how we border communities go through customs. For many "Customs" is a nervous experience. For me and you it's routine. Boneless chicken $1.49 I musta missed that. I guess they don't advertise meat in the beer aisle! Wife's car needs some gas so I think I'll check out the meat counter this week. I'm lucky enough huntin that I buy very little meat BUT she likes that dry white boneless stuff. I'm a dark meat guy. I don't even take any grouse home from the moose hunt - too dry!

Our moose group has so many American bear cans in the recycle you'd think we were from the southern US! We comment often that we wonder how the rest of Canadians get buy living so far from the border. Once or twice I have ordered stuff delivered to my door from the US and I got a real lesson why I should not do it. There's usually an extra UPS charge for the shipping from the Canadian port of entry to my door. Then the gouging starts with brokerage fees and the tax man. I pay for a US mailing address. It's the only way!

[greatwhite]

Mike I am guessing you cross there at Oggy? Have you ever crossed at Cornwall? Is it just as quick?