I recently came across a situation where I wanted to bring parts into the States, to sell.

After going through the USCBP site and calling several crossings to get clarification, this is what I discovered.

- you can't bring an item across, to sell face to face, for cash
--- must be paid electronically
- transaction fee is $13.05USD for items under $2500USD

Certainly, people have crossed and sold goods for cash, no problem. But the last thing you want is to get turned around, if a guard wants to do things by the book.

Just a heads up.

Does anyone know what happened with Pac Can Duty Free? I’ve crossed twice in the last 2-3 weeks and as I drove by I noticed they have been closed both times. Once was on a Wednesday evening around 10:30pm and the other time was this past Saturday evening around 7:00pm.

I did a quick Google search and came up with nothing.

I sold my vossens to a guy in seattle, i was already heading there for a trip so it worked out. All i had to do was tell the boarder agent that i was selling wheels to a buyer in seattle. I was then told to go inside. They did the usual background check, declared the wheels are mine and the value, showed them the emails to confirm that im selling them and they said as long as i dont return with them then im fine.

Granted this was about 5 years ago. Perhaps they changed the rules. I went through peace arch.

A couple of years back I was trying to sell some seats to a friend in Seattle. I went through Peach Arch and told the guard what I was up to. Since the transaction had not actually happened I was not allowed to go through. I was told that the transaction would have to be completed beforehand, and that I was only allowed to deliver. In addition, I would have to go through the truck crossing and get some kind of sellers form that would cost me around $10.

So, after I was turned around I called my buddy, had him paypal the $$$, then went to the truck crossing. I told the guard what I was doing, he sent me inside for the form, I paid some money and was on my way.

Question guys and gals.

I have a friend coming up to visit and I offered to pick them up from the border (not allowed to drive my work vehicle into the US), for the sake of meeting them in the middle.

Is there somewhere on the US / Canadian side that is close to the border where they can park their car for the day safely?

Not sure about duty free parking lot? I wouldn't want them to walk 15 minutes from the border to their car if the lot is far.
Is the parking next to the currency exchange / visitor center on the Canadian side (slanted parking of HWY 99) ok for full day parking?

Thanks

Maybe the parking lot for Peace Arch Park? Not sure what the restrictions are

Or street parking in Blaine? It's pretty quiet in that town and I can't imagine there would be too much parking enforcement there.

Maybe the bus park and ride? It'll cost, but at least it's a safe-ish lot.

Anyone know about the rules/regs on being taxed when coming back? Specifically, I'm returning the item that I got taxed on, is it possible to get a refund on the duties paid?

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicat...6-2-6-eng.html

Casual refunds program

Just a very quick question. Most of the stuff I buy in the US comes with free shipping. I have to pick up some items for a friend. Do I declare the items plus the tax and not declare the shipping costs? I know it was covered before, but my god, how many pages are there now in this thread?

Anyway..............

If you have NEXUS, you aren’t permitted to pick things up for other people. I got sent inside and a nice little warning on my records because I was a nice guy and picked something up for someone a few years back. (They also have the option of revoking your NEXUS as well)

As for the declaring value bit, it’s the cost of the item plus the cost to acquire (ie: including shipping cost if you paid money to ship it and taxes)

I'm not nexus, so everything is fine?

You should be fine, I picked up a parcel for my friend 2-3 weeks ago. Although I do go with the "don't ask, don't tell" rule. So I simply said, "I picked up a parcel". I had my friend forward me his receipt via email in case I did need to provide it. Just make sure you have all your ducks in a row.

I usually pick up parcels from Blaine but this was the first time that the CBSA officer actually asked for the receipt at the booth itself. I happily agreed to show it to him but "Murphy's law" kicked in when I tried to open my email and it would not load. I guess he grew impatient and he said, "okay this time I'm going to let you go, but you should really have the receipt ready next time". This was the first time I ever had this issue and for a rather cheap parcel too ($20).

I totally lucked out with a wheel purchase. i purchased 1 single 'reconditioned' 18" wheel, no tires. total cost $283cdn. picked up from Blaine / 5Dpackages.

got to the CDN border checkin, the dude askes me what i got.. .so i said..

"one wheel.. to replace a broken wheel... total cost $249USD...but looks like they sent the wrong color so I gotta return it anyways .."... gave him a disappointed look... he said..."ah ok.. better luck next time... cya".. lol.. no duties, no tax...

I know it’s not a border crossing, but I buy a tonne of stuff (mostly Diecast models) from Japan... my experience the past 2 years with this is that if you send by surface/boat even if it’s like $400 of goods I never get any taxes or duties charged... but almost every shipment I elect to send by air, I get charged...

I think toys and hobby stuff are duty free.

I just got back from Bellingham. Had receipts in hand. $135.00 worth of parcels . No issues. Didn’t even ask what they were. I so wanted to explain what a fleet movement stand was, lol.

I think the key is just to make it easy for the border guard. Pay attention to when it's your turn. Have passports open and ready to hand-over, put your receipts next to you, and have the package open in the backseat for easy viewing. I don't think I am ever at the booth for more than 20 seconds, both directions.

Yeah I find being honest just helps with having things ready for the guard. I just came back through YVR and declared $1800 worth of things. Went to the couter with my slip and the guard just said because I was being truthful. He just let me go.

If any of you are in the US, close to the border, and need USD. Just go to most casino's and get it there. I was a little strapped for USD, but had some Monopoly money. So, I exchanged at near posted rates at the Silver Thief. I think the posted exchange rate on Forex was at 80.19 at the time and the casino was at 80. Not bad. No exchange fees. Just what's posted at the cashier's area.

Even a little no-name casino like Northwoods had USD for 80 cents on the dollar.

Absolutely, makes their job easier and shows that you're not trying to hide anything. I go as far as turning on my interior lights and putting the vehicle into park. My friend was a former CBSA officer and he said all those things are helpful ways to make the process easier.

I usually have all boxes open, know the total amount being brought over and I also roll down the rear windows.

hmmm... PREMIUM 91 averaging around $1.43 to $1.60 / Litre around town...


.... hmmmm.... $1.08 / Litre after conversion down south?

YAH..i'm alllll over dat....hurrah for living 10mins from Blaine.

https://i.imgur.com/SzMJvYd.jpg

Damn?! $1.08/L after conversion? How is Blaine that cheap?! I was filling up at PR just a few days ago, and it was $1.30-ish per litre after conversion.