Cross-border shopping continues to grow: report
Canadians continue to flock to the United States to shop.
The number of same-day trips made by automobile rose 16 per cent in 2011 from the year before. And, judging by the Ontario crowds enjoying March break this week, 2012 is following along nicely.
“The big reason I go is for the prices. If the prices were the same we wouldn’t go,” one regular border crosser recently told the National Post.
Sure, there are economic pros and cons (as documented here by MSN's Jason Buckland) and security is definitely tighter than it was even a year ago. But, if you can do the math, it's not hard to calculate where you'll be better off, duty and HST included.
But perhaps you still need some help.
Canadians can take $400 worth of goods back with them tax-free if they stay in the U.S. for 48 hours. Passports are now scanned to clock the amount of time being spent there.
Our CBS officer's sample calculation that a $100 jacket purchased in the U.S. costs an Ontario shopper $133.67 is accurate, although he doesn’t seem to include the state tax at point of purchase, which would add on a few bucks depending where you were.
How often do you go cross-border shopping, if at all? What are your reasons for going, or for not going?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: JD | Mar 13, 2022 3:01:36 PM
I shop across the border as much as possible. Even a 2 hour drive is worth it. A couple of quick examples: groceries for 2 full weeks in the States costs me an average of $125. In Canada $100 gets me about a week. I bought winter tires in the States for $850 including the taxes at the border and duty, mounting and balancing. Same tires in Canada are $1300, not including mounting and balancing. I'm about to buy wheels and tires for my car for summer. In Canada, $1800 not including mounting and balancing, from a large tire chain in the States, $1400 including mounting, balancing, and shipping, for nicer wheels, and a better tire. I bought a work shirt in the States for $4. The exact same shirt at the same store in Canada was $12. Why wouldn't I shop in the States? Just the difference in the price of a tank of gas down there pays for the 4 hour round trip.
Posted by: KR | Mar 13, 2022 4:47:32 PM
and when your jobs move to the USA cause its cheaper to produce products there, I fully imagine you will whine yourself silly about how unfair it all is......
Posted by: Trixie | Mar 14, 2022 10:45:48 AM
I agree with you JD. The USA is so much easier.
To those who say we are better because of our health care system, I'm already a step ahead of you, we don't have money anymore, our system will eventually crash.
Now what?