Tips for shopping in the border

Nov. 7, 2018 por Isolda Barrera

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Most borders have rules and regulations to follow when it comes to shopping for foreigners to the country. And the USA and Canada border are the same.

What better for a visitor to be prepared for shopping in the border than have some tips and basic knowledge of the rules, so you don’t pass up a good chance to take advantage of what the borders offer you.

Rules

1. The exemption amount for person in a span of 24 hrs. is $200.00CAD and this can include food (there can be exemptions), clothes, alcohol, tobacco and electronic goods.

2. For a visit of more than 48 hrs. there is an exemption of $800.00CAD and include the before.

3. And the exemption for a visit of more than 7 days is $800.00CAD, this can not be combined with either the 24 hrs. or 48 hrs. exemption.

4. Check the regulations on what food products can be brought into the country.

Tips

1. For Canadian tourist coming to the US, a tip is to fill up on gas, south of the border you are more likely to find gas almost 30% cheaper than in Canada. If you want to estimate exactly how much you are saving by filling up in the U.S., you can use our Gas Savings Calculator.

2. Plan your shopping trip around holiday or seasonal sales. There can be great every day savings in the US/Canada border, but you can save money by timing your shopping trips around sales at malls, department stores and retailers, which usually offer significantly steeper discounts and greater selections.

•There are many sales to watch for throughout the year (at least 10 - 15 big ones), including:

•National Holiday Sales

•Seasonal Sales (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall)

•Event Sales (Black Friday, Back to School Shopping, Christmas, etc…)

1. Many businesses periodically offer coupons and discounts that can help you stretch your cross-border savings even further. And remember, these offers aren’t limited to clothing and electronics, they can also provide savings on hotels, dining, groceries and activities.

2. You can save money by shopping in one of the following U.S. states that has no sales tax or offers a sales tax refund program for visitors from outside. Close to the border, Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing and shoes and Pennsylvania has no sales tax on clothing and shoes (as well as some baby products and toiletries). Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no state sales tax and North Dakota has a sales tax refund program for Canadians.

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