Is cross-border tire shopping worthwhile?
The last time the loonie was worth more than the U.S. dollar, Canadian consumers complained bitterly about the price gap between the two countries on a pile of goods. Well, not much has changed this time out.
Take tires, for instance.
The owner of a Niagara Falls, N.Y., warehouse that caters to cross-border shoppers by providing a U.S. address and temporary storage for goods ordered from U.S. online retailers claims tires are his biggest seller.
“I’m looking at four tires that cost $500 here that up in Canada would be almost $1,000,” he told the Toronto Star.
So, should you buy from Tirerack (which seems to have a few detractors) or some other place south of the border?
If price is the issue for you, you probably will come out ahead. The local tire shops won't thank you, of course, but what are you going to do?
Customs duties vary with the goods you’re buying and the country of origin, but expect to pay at least seven per cent if the goods originated outside of North America, plus the usual taxes upon declaring your purchase -- something many people seem to skip.
And, yes, personal exemptions can be used to offset your costs, depending on how long you’re away. Most drivers have the tires installed there as well, generally for about the same price you’d pay up here.
Click here and here for some hands-on advice from those who've been there.
Have you made a cross-border tire trip recently? Any problems or suggestions to report?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
* Follow Gordon on Twitter here.
Posted by: Jane Dixon | Jun 1, 2021 11:31:48 AM
Can you please let me know what the US address is for the warehouse so that I can order from the US and use a US address for shipping purposes> I live in Burlington, ON and frequently purchase in the US due to the excellent prices.
Posted by: Fran2u | Jun 1, 2021 11:32:48 AM
Have a look at prescription eyeglasses. A friend just had her prescription redone. Went to the eyeglass store and they wanted more than $500 just for the lenses. Costco estimated $300, and then she went to the USA to Burlinton. They estimated $160 for the same prescription. What a descrepency! Why is there such a difference for the same item?
Posted by: Wes | Jun 1, 2021 12:01:02 PM
I bought tires from TireRack.com... their site is great - it gives you a complete breakdown of the costs and when you checkout - everything is paid for - Customs, Duties, Freight, Taxes. Saved about $400 after I paid to have them put on at CDN Tire. If you live close to the border and can have them shipped to a US address and can cross over to pick them up - you will save even more.
There are lots of places close to the border that will receive your order and hold it for a fee. Ship Happens is an example (BC/Washington) and there is one in Montana - just across the border from Alberta. So there will be ones all along the border you can use.
Posted by: Tat | Jun 1, 2021 2:01:53 PM
Always Buyer Beware.
In 2007, I bought Blizzak REVO's from Tirerack and got them shipped with Customs Clearance via UPS to my door. The UPS guy as even nice enough to put them in the garage. Total Cost Landed $393. Any local shop wanted $600 for the same thing. HOWEVER, I still had to pay $80 for mounting & balancing. I was ahead $127.
In 2010, I bought Falken's for my Miata from Tire-Easy and got them shipped to a U.S. Postal Box in Niagara Falls, New York. As I was already going the U.S., it wasn't any trouble. Canada Custom just asked me to pay the HST and didn't seem to car about the duty excise. Total Cost Landed $270. Any local ship wanted $500 for the same thing. After $80 mounting & balancing I was still happy and ahead $150.
In April 2011, I bought Bridgestones' for my Camry from Costco.ca. With the instant rebate, the mounting and balancing (including the mysterious Nitrogen gas) by the local Costco location, I was $520 all in. This was cheaped than Tire-Easy and Tirerack, especially after disposal of old tires, mounting and balancing of these tires. I figure I was ahead $60.
The only reason I consider the U.S. purchase is that I live in Oakville, work in Hamilton and am 42 minutes from the border from my office.
My most recent purchase from the U.S.?
A 2011 Toyota Sienna !
Posted by: jamie | Jun 1, 2021 3:23:31 PM
For tires, simply shop online at WALMART.COM or COSTCO.COM or the like, and save LOTSA DOUGH.
Posted by: Mario | Jun 1, 2021 5:04:58 PM
please pass on info re:car purchase in US
Posted by: To Mario | Jun 1, 2021 6:28:30 PM
Zabin Somani created www.ucanimport.com a couple of years ago to help Canadians buy cars across the border.
Posted by: Nadia | Jun 1, 2021 8:27:58 PM
I lived in the US for 12 years and when I moved back to Canada I could not pay the inflated prices. I needed winter tires for my acura RDX ASAP and Canadian Tire could not even get the size I needed (early Dec). I ordered winter tires on rims from Discount Tire Direct (way better than tire rack). I paid the $300 brokerage fees and got the tires/rims for much less than than the tires alone in canada (if they were available for purchase). Delivered to my door.
Posted by: philip | Jun 1, 2021 9:01:38 PM
As usual, anything you can buy in the US is going to save a bundle. I don't care one bit if tire companies up here lose business as they really couldn't care about charging us consumers realistic prices. The only thing that gets thier attention is hitting them in the pocketbook as they watch tire sales go south of the border.
Quoted $1600 plus installation for 4 pickup tires here in Canada, bought them (same brand/rating) in the USA for less than half that installed. Funny the BS line dealers give you up here about the prices of raw rubber jumping doesn't seem to affect rubber in USA sold tires.
Posted by: scott | Jun 1, 2021 9:59:38 PM
I bought tires from tirerack.com only to end up with what my local tire shop called a tread seperation and that had I bought from them or any canadian retailer would have been covered by warrenty. But since it had a USA d.o.t. # it was not coverable in canada. By the time I shipped it south of the border for warrenty and got the replacement tire it cost me a week an a halph car rental plus shipping back to the tirerack I was $600 more than what I would have paid in canada. I am buying my next tires from here purely because there are less hassels when things go wrong.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 2, 2021 3:18:24 AM
What a knob.. 600 dollars to rent a car for a week what about your spare tire or buying another in canada and using the one that needed repair for a full size spare
You sound like the usua l" scare the consumer with the warranty" and I bet you also work at a tire store or own one...hahaha
I live in a boarder town and cross boarder shop all the time because canadian consumers are continually taken to the cleaners
Posted by: my2cents | Jun 6, 2021 11:00:50 AM
bought Tires from Tirerack for my odysseyfor $490 + $50 installation & Balancing @ Walmart USA..same tires at discount places in Canada $180+Tax including installation & Balancing.....saved $250...when I took it my car to my mechanic for rotation, he couldn't believe the price I paid...to top it all, he noticed that tires I bought were actually had "Made in Canada" printed on it...that's right..we pay more for goods that's produced here.....not sure how it's justified financially? If somethign is manifactured here and shipped to USA, shoudn't they be paying atleast few cents or dollars extra for the cost of shipping?
We charge more to our own citizens but give discounts to others!!!! Welcome to Wild North!
Posted by: Troy Jollimore | Jun 7, 2021 10:42:15 AM
If the tires actually are labelled Made in Canada, USA or Mexico, they should be exempt from duty if you bring them across the border legitimately.
Posted by: Route66 | Jun 8, 2021 2:06:50 AM
There are many things that come from Canada and cost less in the US. Fuel is the one that bothers me the most.
Posted by: TR | Nov 24, 2021 1:33:37 PM
Beware: If you have your tires installed in the States and come back accross the border into Canada under the customs rules, they can charge you on the FULL value of your car not just on the tires. They consider your car "altered" and taxable at the full retail value. (applies to repairs (unless the repairs are manditory to get your vehicle back accross the border) and jewellry alterations as well)
An obsure rule that can be a big shock . . .