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The girlfriend and I were planing on going into Buffalo on Saturday Aug 2, 2008, have some breakfest and do some shopping. Simple, she goes to cloth stores I go to car stores. Coming back into Canada We were thinking of hitting up the Casino Niagra too. Leaving early in the morning, haven't planned what route to take yet. We were also thinking of instead of Buffalo, We might head down into Erie PN, I hear theres really great prices on stuff there, plus a 2 or more hour drive from the border.
So, anyone want to tag along and go for a nice lil cruise?
just a heads up, if ur gonna do some shopping and don't wanna get pinched paying taxs, dont cross the border on the peace bridge, you have a better chance on the lewiston.

have fun, i'll be in portugal. Leaving the end of this month. Coming back just in time for the big Aug event
Ya I know, I had some groceries last time so they just let me go.
Your now allowed to bring into Canada without any hasstles $65 per person for a day trip. And never come back across the Lewiston bridge. Way too much traffic. On July 3rd I went across to the US and saw the Lewiston bridge backed up for atlest 2 hours. Went back across at the Rainbow bridge and I was the 3rd car in line. By far the best bridge to come across for traffic and hastle free.

And is it worth it to travel all the way to Ohio? For a day trip?

It just a good drive and mostly shopping for my GF. Though We might just go to Buffalo more then likely. Plus that is where I was going to cross anyways for the casino.
meford4u,Jul 16 2008, 05:21 AM Wrote:Your now allowed to bring into Canada without any hasstles $65 per person for a day trip.  And never come back across the Lewiston bridge.  Way too much traffic.  On July 3rd I went across to the US and saw the Lewiston bridge backed up for atlest 2 hours.  Went back across at the Rainbow bridge and I was the 3rd car in line.  By far the best bridge to come across for traffic and hastle free.

And is it worth it to travel all the way to Ohio?  For a day trip?
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the $65 a day per person is not a correct statment i asked a customs officer after my g/f mom got pulled over and he said it is based on alot of stuff he said if u told me you were bring back $100 or maybe $150 of stuff back id ask to see it and then let you go so theres no real price tag on anything depends on the officer
Rather than make this complicated I cribbed this from the Canadian Border Services Agency website:

What are your personal exemptions?

After each absence of 24 hours or more

You can claim up to CAN$50 worth of goods without paying any duties. This is your personal exemption. You must have the goods with you when you arrive and you cannot include tobacco products or alcoholic beverages in this exemption. If the goods you bring in are worth more than CAN$50 in total, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead you have to pay full duties on all goods you bring in.

After each absence of 48 hours or more

You can claim up to CAN$400 worth of goods without paying any duties. You must have the goods with you when you arrive. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products or manufactured tobacco. See the section called "Alcohol and tobacco" for more details.

After each absence of 7 days or more

You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products or manufactured tobacco. See the section called "Alcohol and tobacco" for more details. With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive.

To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you left Canada but include the date you returned. Dates matter, not times. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Friday the 7th and returned Friday the 14th.

NefCanuck
An OPP Officer was just teaching me CPR and First Aid for work and she told us that one person is allowd one bottle of booze and one carton of smokes with out trouble, and she says if its mostly groceries like what happened to me before, she says they should just wave you on.
Thanks for all the info guys, good to know.
i was looking for that write up very informative
So this is the end of the thinking time if you wanted to go. Let me know Thurdady night or Friday morning. So far it's only Tony and I. We'll be going into buffalo and have some breakfast and go cruising around with some shopping and then head back and maybe hit the Casino Niagara on the way back too.
Do we need a pass port to get in to the states?
Tiketz,Jul 29 2008, 06:54 PM Wrote:Do we need a pass port to get in to the states?
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No my parents just went this morning and it was ok just make sure you have your birth certificate Drivers licence.
Scorcher000,Jul 29 2008, 09:58 PM Wrote:
Tiketz,Jul 29 2008, 06:54 PM Wrote:Do we need a pass port to get in to the states?
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No my parents just went this morning and it was ok just make sure you have your birth certificate Drivers licence.
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To be a bit more precise ... your birth certificate if born in Canada, if not you need proof of citizenship and photo ID.
If you're thinking of shopping in Erie -- you're really wanting to go to Grove City, PA.. its about an hour south of Erie. Basically, get to the US, take I-90 west, then I-79 south. Take exit for Grove City. Make a right off the exit, then a left into the outlet shops. You'll be there all day. And they do have some really good deals.

Note: If your girl wants to do shopping -- look up when PA has their tax-free days for clothing/shoes. That'll save you (I think) its 8% sales tax. As far as I can remember, its usually right near when school starts again, so sometime in August.
torradan,Jul 30 2008, 08:09 AM Wrote:If you're thinking of shopping in Erie -- you're really wanting to go to Grove City, PA.. its about an hour south of Erie.  Basically, get to the US, take I-90 west, then I-79 south.  Take exit for Grove City.  Make a right off the exit, then a left into the outlet shops.  You'll be there all day.  And they do have some really good deals.

Note:  If your girl wants to do shopping -- look up when PA has their tax-free days for clothing/shoes.  That'll save you (I think) its 8% sales tax.  As far as I can remember, its usually right near when school starts again, so sometime in August.
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Ya thanx, my parents are there right now as we speak lol, so it is possible.
Hey fellaz... Don't know if you went for a cruise or not, but i might be heading that way with my parents sometime. Since i have never been to Buffalo, actually i won't lie. Have been there once, but it was just a drive thru kind of thing, so yeah. I bet quite a few of you have been there, and i would like to know what are the places worth visiting in terms of shopping. I was thinking Pep boys, as John mentioned earlier, but what else ??? What are some good big malls in Buffalo ?

Thanks in advance. Didn't want to to create a new thread, so decided to post here. :)
It's alright dude, Prime Outlets in the Niagara area, Walden Galariea in Mid Buffalo area. Deffinatly Walmart (cheap prices) it's just north of the 290 on Niagarafalls Blvd. Hard to find when lost lol its beside the Homedepot. Check out Target and the Big K. Other than that have fun watch your speed and explorer around.