OT: Cross Border Shopping

[JoeSchmoe]

Between the very bad Canadian dollar and US inflation being even worse than in Canada, I'm surprised there aren't a lot more people from the US shopping in Canada right now.

Are the US border guards really strict on bringing across goods on day trips? Are there that many people without passports? Is the extra 5% (or so) sales tax and the gas/bridge toll still the limiting factor? 

Has anyone from the US side done the math?

[Wyldnwoody44]

I walk over the rainbow bridge and while technically less than 24 hours means you can't bring alcohol home duty free... The paperwork and tariff is so much work that they don't care, so I walk over spend an afternoon and get a couple of really cheap bottles of liquor and come home. 

I've found good deals at the Niagara outlets on the CA side and I've never once been questioned by border patrol. The caviar is I have NEXUS and take the whirlpool Bridge usually when driving so idk if they're less strict because of that. But I drive to Canada a lot, Ottawa, Québec etc and always bring #hit home without an issue. 

[PromoTheRobot]

I have a trip to Montreal planned in April to see a concert. The only thing I'm planning to bring back is some smoked meat. Maybe some beer from Unibroue if there's something that isn't imported to the US.

[Indabuff]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I have a trip to Montreal planned in April to see a concert. The only thing I'm planning to bring back is some smoked meat. Maybe some beer from Unibroue if there's something that isn't imported to the US.

Be aware there are now restrictions in place for avian/poultry products coming from Canada.

[Wyldnwoody44]

And citrus, don't bring back oranges, it's a huge thing now, it's actually the only thing the guy in Ogdensburg cared about, but asked like 4 times 😂

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Indabuff said:

Be aware there are now restrictions in place for avian/poultry products coming from Canada.

But smoked meat is okay, right?

[Wyldnwoody44]

31 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But smoked meat is okay, right?

I brought home a couple kilos of smoked meat, smoked meat Mac and cheese and smoked meat sausages from Quebec without issue last year 

[Indabuff]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But smoked meat is okay, right?

Bovine, porcine and caprine originating from Canada is generally enterable as long as it's less than 50 pounds.  Poultry must be thoroughly cooked.  Fresh or chilled poultry is currently prohibited in passenger baggage due to resurgence of HPAI cases in multiple Canadian provinces.  Unless you're planning on bringing back smoked poultry, you should be good to go. 

[PromoTheRobot]

4 minutes ago, Indabuff said:

Bovine, porcine and caprine originating from Canada is generally enterable as long as it's less than 50 pounds.  Poultry must be thoroughly cooked.  Fresh or chilled poultry is currently prohibited in passenger baggage due to resurgence of HPAI cases in multiple Canadian provinces.  Unless you're planning on bringing back smoked poultry, you should be good to go. 

Couple pounds from Schwartz's, some bagels from St. Viateur, and some Unibroue selections not imported to the US. If your not familiar with Unibroue, they make some of the best beers I've ever had.