Cross-border shoppers search for better deals
With the Canadian dollar up sharply, cross-border shopping is once again on the rise – despite concerns that that new U.S. passport restrictions could limit how many Canadians actually cross the border.
"Every time that getting across the border gets tighter, we see the relationship between exchange rate and cross-border trips deteriorate further," says Philip Cross, Statistics Canada's chief economic analyst.
If you regularly load up the van to visit U.S. outlet malls, at least consider getting a Nexus card. It expedites border clearance for low-risk travellers who've submitted to a background check.Of course, there's nothing to say that you actually have to get in a car to begin with. As they see our currency gaining ground, more and more people are clicking on their favourite American stores online.
If you want to do actual price comparisons between stores in the U.S. and in Canada, have a look at Wishabi. Its comparison tool lets you see all costs upfront – including brokerage fees, duties, exchange rates, shipping and customs fees – to ensure that you're getting the deal you think you are.
They'll also help you follow changes to prices for items on your wish list, as well as whether they think the prices are expected to move up or down.
Unfortunately, some U.S. retailers still don't ship to Canadian addresses. But if you live near a border town, you can list the mailing address of a U.S. package receiving company and then drive down to pick it up, suggests the Globe and Mail. Better still, rather than see shipping costs cut into your savings, develop a better relationship with the U.S. Postal Service.
Tell us: What's your preferred method when cross-border shopping?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: RalphsWife | Oct 20, 2021 11:45:07 AM
While the Nexus card can definitely speed things up at the border, keep in mind that you can only use the Nexus lane at the border if EVERYONE in the vehicle has a card. So if you travel with friends or other family members who don't have the card, you're still lining up like everyone else!
I cross-border shop frequently as I live in a border town. The only time it saves you money is if you know your prices at home first! Living in a small town, we get gouged in a huge way by local retailers. The same items in a larger shopping area cost almost half! We get the "freight costs" story, but since the larger shopping area is even further away than we are (and on the same highway, so the trucks have to go right thru our town!), that one doesn't fly.
A few things to keep in mind (which I learned the hard way)..... alcohol is taxed at 85% over the price you pay in the US if you haven't spent 48+ hours in the States. So that cheap bottle of wine & inexpensive case of beer is now champagne prices!!
Cost to buy cigarettes works very much the same way as alcohol. So you only save money if you spend a few days in the US. And then, of course, you've just paid for a hotel, so perhaps you aren't saving anything!
Items that are definitely cheaper & don't require a specific length of stay - fuel, dairy products, clothing items. Paper products & most personal hygiene products usually cost the same in US dollars or more.
Definitely food for thought! ;-)
Posted by: Joe | Oct 20, 2021 12:04:47 PM
I heard my space is losing significant market share due to www.sportposting.com
Posted by: Clif | Oct 20, 2021 2:18:44 PM
I don't believe in cross border shopping.I think Canadians are nice to a fault,correction nice to the point of stupidity.During the mad cow ordeal,softwood lumber,and take your pick of any other major event between the Canada and the states,their first order of business is to bail on us,period.And when the self professed "greatest power in the world" has a problem,eg: there banks,and financial wizards running them ruin the world economy,for there own greed,Canadian politicians,and people jump on the american bandwagon,screw the Canadians who have the same small businesses,they don't need our tax dollars as much as" the greatest power in the world".Bush screwed them with the war in Iraq,then bent them over with the $700 billion bail out,which I am sure Canada will also be paying for in some way.With the dollar drawing closer to par,alot more Canadians are heading south to a country that changed it's rules to almost make it harder foir Canadians to get in.But they will take the oil and gas our politicians GIVE them,so they can sell it back to us at a 300 % mark up.But I guess they have to so the "greatest power in the world" doesn't invade US(which we would probably have to fund as well).I think Canadians should head south while our dollar is closer to par,and even if it goes above par,cause when the financial wizards from " the greatest power in the world" will find a way to hose Canada again,and the politicians (no matter what party) will allow it,and why not they get paid no matter what happens to us common folk,and more times than not they seem to side with the states anyways.So when Canada goes through what the states did in the 30's,the last people to help us will be our own elected officials,and "the greatest power in the world".
Posted by: Cameron Johnston | Oct 20, 2021 7:03:30 PM
I go over the Michigan on a regular basis shopping, not for the lower prices, because there really isn't that much of a difference anymore, and certainly not because I like dealing with the oh-so-friendly cement-heads on both sides of the border. I go there because in the US they have different products and different stores than we have in Canada. It was only recently that we finally got a Lowes store (100 Km away) and I still don't know whether Bed, Bath and Beyond is in Canada. Not to mention Target!
If Canadian retailers don't carry the product I want, when I want it, then no price is the right price. I am not about to settle for something because "that's what's available." I will go to places where what I want is available.
BTW: I don't limit myself to small purchases either. I bought a new Subaru in Troy, Michigan which, even after taxes, duties eyc etc, came out to be around $6000 cheaper than the dealer here in London wanted.
Posted by: Sophia Leung | Dec 18, 2021 10:25:10 PM
The less barriers are to trade between the countries, the more efficient the market place and the better everyone will be off. The biggest problem for cross-border shopping between the US and Canada is that we don't know all the fees upfront, merchants here use that uncertainty and fear to keep our prices high. I applaud efforts of sites like Wishabi.ca to inform the public by showing those fees upfront. Keep it up!