Tariffs: A Cautionary Tale

[Michael B]

It could be relatively easy if there was a collector in a U.S. city/town near the border who could drive across and post from Canada. Don't forget the passport though. If you lived near Buffalo drive to Fort Erie or Niagara Falls. Detroit is across the river from Windsor. Bellingham is fairly close to Vancouver. You do not need to disclose to CBP if you have a few envelopes or small boxes you wish to mail. You just tell them you are visiting a friend for lunch or shopping. A Canadian that lives near the border could also rent a box at a Mailbox Etc. or UPS Store, possibly even at a U.S. Post Office. From what I understand the Post Office cannot require you to live near them to rent a box.

I have a friend in Switzerland who does something similar. He purchases quite a few items on EbayUSA. Everyone wants to charge exhorbitant shipping to send it to him. He has them sent to me and I package them together. If I am travelling to Europe I will bring them along, but if not, I send the package to Germany and he drives there to pick it up. He lives in Zurich so it is less than an hour to the border town. An additional issue for his is Swiss Customs knows he is a collector and opens every package addressed to him and he gets hit with duties. Not so if he is driving across the border to pick up.

[philo98]

Originally Posted by Michael B

It could be relatively easy if there was a collector in a U.S. city/town near the border who could drive across and post from Canada. Don't forget the passport though. If you lived near Buffalo drive to Fort Erie or Niagara Falls. Detroit is across the river from Windsor. Bellingham is fairly close to Vancouver. You do not need to disclose to CBP if you have a few envelopes or small boxes you wish to mail. You just tell them you are visiting a friend for lunch or shopping. A Canadian that lives near the border could also rent a box at a Mailbox Etc. or UPS Store, possibly even at a U.S. Post Office. From what I understand the Post Office cannot require you to live near them to rent a box.

I have a friend in Switzerland who does something similar. He purchases quite a few items on EbayUSA. Everyone wants to charge exhorbitant shipping to send it to him. He has them sent to me and I package them together. If I am travelling to Europe I will bring them along, but if not, I send the package to Germany and he drives there to pick it up. He lives in Zurich so it is less than an hour to the border town. An additional issue for his is Swiss Customs knows he is a collector and opens every package addressed to him and he gets hit with duties. Not so if he is driving across the border to pick up.

Ive done this for many years. Used a shipping consolidator based in NJ and once I gave the go-ahead would ship my packages to Hong Kong. Hong Kong has no import taxes, duties, fees, etc. Therefore it clears "customs" quickly. Normally, from the date it shipped in NJ it would be in my house 48 hours later in HK. I would look for one of these shipping consolidators in Detroit, Buffalo, etc etc and just drive across, obviously if thats feasible on where you live in Canada.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by philo98

I would look for one of these shipping consolidators in Detroit, Buffalo, etc etc and just drive across, obviously if thats feasible on where you live in Canada.

Easy dispensing the advice there, partner. There are still duties/tariffs to pay when crossing the border, so your instructions will not help unless the person wishes to try to sneak the stuff into Canada without declaring it. I highly advise against that.

Years ago, I crossed into Canada (where I live) after a trip to the States. I told them I had nothing to declare other than what I was legally allowed to purchase at the Duty Free shop. Unfortunately, I had completely forgotten that I had a 1950's autograph book in my laptop bag. Actually, I had unknowingly brought it with me from Canada and had it with me the whole time! They pulled me in for a general vehicle inspection, discovered the autograph book and certainly didn't believe the innocent truth of the matter. I was threatened with the aforementioned 5 year flag, a fine of up to $10,000 and seizure of my vehicle and property!

The only reason they knew the thing had any value was because they recognized the name Ted Williams. Ironically, the Williams autograph wasn't even real! It was a clubhouse version, signed by teammate Willard Nixon. Like I was about to try to get out of the situation by explaining the nuances of clubhouse autographs!!!

I somehow managed to get out of there with all my stuff and no fines. To this day, I do not know if I was flagged at that particular checkpoint, as I have refused to use it since. I'm guessing not, as such a flag would be nationwide, I surmise.

Long story short, don't sneak stuff across in your car.

[Rich Klein]

I drove from Seattle area to a couple of shows in Vancouver, Canada

Came back over the border and was driving a nice rental car and decent clothes and the crossing board agent probably said to himself, got a live one here

He was insistent I was doing something wrong so he not so nicely asked to me open the trunk of the car. Opened the trunk and as I knew, there was nothing in there. Comes back to me with a sound of disappointment in his voice and says, yep that's a trunk.

And to be honest, I did screw up. I thought I had nothing I bought at the Canadian show but I did buy a 1990 Leaf Larry Walker and, ooopsie, I forgot to say that.

After that brief break, I got back on my way back to the hotel and later that night went to the 1st minor league game I would ever attend

Rich

[Mark17]

In 1988 I had been renting a cabin in northern California, later visiting and buying a piece of property in Olympia, WA. On my way back to MN I decided to take a scenic Canadian route. Everything was routine at the border until the girl pulled out a roll of toilet paper I had in my trunk (the spare from my cabin stay... I figured, why leave it behind?) She questioned me about it and didn't like my innocent, true answer.

Out of the car, waited until she and a co-worker thoroughly went through everything in my car. I suppose they thought I was planning some back woods survivalist-type escape into the great northwestern wilderness. After all, this was the 1980s and Canadians were using toilet paper by then...

I'm sure they have a lengthy list of items that trigger the full search.

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

And to be honest, I did screw up. I thought I had nothing I bought at the Canadian show but I did buy a 1990 Leaf Larry Walker and, ooopsie, I forgot to say that.

Larry Walker, Leaf, 1990 (playing for Montreal).

That's a triple penalty.