Shopping in the USA

[HunkyBill]

Geezus Kryst. The line-ups were insane going down south, even the Nexus lane (singular) was busy with over a 40+ minute wait.

Both the Americans and Canadians are pushing us to get Nexus but you have to ask yourself if Nexus has lost it's appeal? There has been ongoing controversy with US Border agents giving Canadians a hard time unnecessarily. Even the Bellingham Business Association has written to Homeland Security about the conduct of their officers.

And let's not forget about the good old small town, Blaine where those cops do nothing all day but wait for any tiny infraction from us Canadian drivers while turning a blind eye to the Americans.

Still, at the end of the day it's hard not to justify shopping in the USA where gasoline is $2.99/gallon or $.85/litre Canadian converted at $1.07 today's exchange rate and $5-6$/gallon organic milk or $3 regular hormone free milk.

Do you still shop in the USA?

 

[Real Sonny Burnett]

I hope this experience doesn't ruin your plans to go see The Chippendales next month.

 

[HunkyBill]

I hope this experience doesn't ruin your plans to go see The Chippendales next month.

Nah. Besides, I have a backstage pass where I help out the boys.

 

[87112]

I live in the States, the traffic at Blaine is nuts. I completely hear you on the hassle from the USA guards. I have a Nexus myself and since I travel by myself often and don't fit the family guy profile I have been called in and had my car searched 2 or 3 times. I see it as a hassle that I now pay more to poon in Seattle. Now it does not happen often I get called in but I just hate being implied something is wrong if a guy travels by himself.

By my math you guys are paying about $4.70 a gallon for gas right?

 

[HunkyBill]

That's pretty close. Most Canadians can't properly convert money to US funds and vice versa. It just helps them feel better not knowing how much more they really paid and just adds to their boasting.

In BC, our fuel taxes are insanely high. We pay about 60% in taxes for gasoline in Vancouver:
Here is a link: http://www.kentmarketingservices.com/dnn/portals/0/Pricing/WPPS_Public.htm

 

[VanessaofBC]

My friend has a Nexus cart and is still subjected to "random" screening at the border. It upsets them as well because they go back and forth everyday for business so the guards kinda "know" him now, but it is a great frustration.

Something I was told about the Nexus card, is that EVERYONE in the car must have nexus to use the lane.

it is FORBIDDEN for you to allow them to walk across the border showing only their passport then for you to go through the Nexus line and pick them up on the other side. I think that is a bit extreme.

However I do know someone who lives by the border and they admit to seeing people running through their backyard in the middle of the night.

edit. The last I noticed, honda it was $125.8/l

 

[badbadboy]

Both the Americans and Canadians are pushing us to get Nexus but you have to ask yourself if Nexus has lost it's appeal? There has been ongoing controversy with US Border agents giving Canadians a hard time unnecessarily. Even the Bellingham Business Association has written to Homeland Security about the conduct of their officers.

Do you still shop in the USA?

I had Nexus Land & Air and at one time worked full time in the USA. It is true with Nexus and a Work Visa you are sometimes hauled off for secondary inspection in a somewhat random selection. I was crossing the border so often that they would pull my vehicle apart routinely. They were just putting in their 8 hours and it didn't matter to them if they were making me late for appointments in Seattle.

I noticed post 9/11 the Border Security on both sides of the border were getting more aggressive towards the general public. Now I travel to the USA on business only and via Air even if its Seattle. The Douglas border and Truck Crossing inspection areas are so jammed up with people getting their secondary inspections that the time to get from my home to Seattle went from 3 hours to 6 hours. Pure waste of time.

I have been to the Outlet Malls and really don't see the attraction. Most of the name brand stores put substandard clothing on their shelves or the prices are crazy. I went into a Watch Store last year and they were selling a numbered i.e. only 250 pieces made for $3300. Not that I would buy it but when I checked ebay for the identical watch it could be purchased for $1800 from a Watch "Power Seller". People need to do their research if they are buying expensive gear down there.

That's pretty close. Most Canadians can't properly convert money to US funds and vice versa. It just helps them feel better not knowing how much more they really paid and just adds to their boasting.

In BC, our fuel taxes are insanely high. We pay about 60% in taxes for gasoline in Vancouver:
Here is a link: http://www.kentmarketingservices.com/dnn/portals/0/Pricing/WPPS_Public.htm

What is so difficult?

1 litre is 0.264172 of a US Gallon.

Typical exchange is C$ is 0.9536 USD.

Anyone should be able to do the conversion in their head right? Or one could just round down to 0.25 and round up to $1 for a pretty good estimation of their actual cost. :nod:

 

[VanessaofBC]

......

I noticed post 9/11 the Border Security on both sides of the border were getting more aggressive towards the general public. .......

I have been to the Outlet Malls and really don't see the attraction. Most of the name brand stores put substandard clothing on their shelves or the prices are crazy...... People need to do their research if they are buying expensive gear down there.

I agree with most of that. I mean I went down once to see what everyone was talking about. But at the end of the day I had to ask myself if I really "saved" any money.

 

[princeofdarkness]

It must have been a couple of years since I last drove across the border for leisure shopping. A recent trip down to the Oregon Coast proved to be a big eye opener, shopping wise.

Gasoline was close to half the cost than in Vancouver. The Costco, just south of Portland in Wilsonville, had Dom Perignon 2003 at $130 compared to $230 here and the list goes on. For the wine connoisseurs, Chateau Lafite Rothchilds pricing will have you crossing the border more frequently.

The USA have a large Tire Outlet called Discount Tires or America's Tires. Check online to compare. One has to weigh the outrageous border waits to the possible savings to be had. Safe travels everyone.

Peace

 

[badbadboy]

It must have been a couple of years since I last drove across the border for leisure shopping. A recent trip down to the Oregon Coast proved to be a big eye opener, shopping wise.

Gasoline was close to half the cost than in Vancouver. The Costco, just south of Portland in Wilsonville, had Dom Perignon 2003 at $130 compared to $230 here and the list goes on. For the wine connoisseurs, Chateau Lafite Rothchilds pricing will have you crossing the border more frequently.

The USA have a large Tire Outlet called Discount Tires or America's Tires. Check online to compare. One has to weigh the outrageous border waits to the possible savings to be had. Safe travels everyone.

Peace

Lot's of savings to be had on parts, tires and accessories in OR since they do not have a State Tax. You really do need to declare this stuff when you come back though because the fines and fees will far outweigh any savings found down there. I was in a line up coming back in June and a guy in a truck in the next bay to mine in secondary inspection had bought a set of tires but didn't declare the tires. The CBSA were laughing at him because the tires still had the little rubber 'nipples' on the tread which usually wear off but not for a few hundred km's.

BTW tirerack.com is the most competitive site I have seen. I pointed out their prices to a tire retailer I was dealing with in Vancouver and they met me half way between the tirerack price and the price they quoted me. It saved me a trip south. :nod:

 

[HunkyBill]

What is so difficult?

1 litre is 0.264172 of a US Gallon.

Typical exchange is C$ is 0.9536 USD.

Anyone should be able to do the conversion in their head right? Or one could just round down to 0.25 and round up to $1 for a pretty good estimation of their actual cost. :nod:

Looks like you too got it wrong

The more common method is 1 US gallon is 3.785 litres
The actual consumer CDN bank rate (not be confused with the Bank of Canada rate) is ~ $1.0766 [0.929]. The BoC rate is what the banks buy from the Feds. They sell it to us for a lot more.
- Professor Bill

 

[HunkyBill]

On another note, when you go in for secondary, if asked you are required to either provide the border agent your smartphone PIN or unlock it for them. They have every legal right to search your device. Nowhere does it say or allow you to be present while they browse your device for whatever included apps you may have gotten "illegally".

 

[HunkyBill]

My friend has a Nexus cart and is still subjected to "random" screening at the border. It upsets them as well because they go back and forth everyday for business so the guards kinda "know" him now, but it is a great frustration.

Something I was told about the Nexus card, is that EVERYONE in the car must have nexus to use the lane.

it is FORBIDDEN for you to allow them to walk across the border showing only their passport then for you to go through the Nexus line and pick them up on the other side. I think that is a bit extreme.

However I do know someone who lives by the border and they admit to seeing people running through their backyard in the middle of the night.

edit. The last I noticed, honda it was $125.8/

In general, yes. I seen people in the Nexus lane who had no nexus card. I thought the agent will scold them, he appeared not to. I know in one case he gave the occupants an orange tag to go inside.
In another case, I know first hand where someone forgot their ID back home, they approached the standard border crossing. They were allowed to cross into the USA. However, they were chastised when they returned back to Canada.

All this really depends on the border agent. Some are more strict while others are more flexible.

 

[1nitestan]

I understand the desire to shop in the US. Hell my wife and our families do. I admit I have purchased items there but usually because I cant find it here.
That being said, I have a real problem with it! My opinion is, you should spend your money where you earn it. If you don't then sooner or later YOU will not have a job because no one is supporting OUR jobs!
Pretty basic economics don't you think?

While I do buy a lot of stuff from the USA, I already support local enterprises - haircuts, groceries, meals out, gas, banking, etc. Discretionary retail is only fraction of a person's spending. I'm not about to pay more for things unnecessarily out of misdirected patriotism. How much of what you buy locally comes from a US-based retailer? Home Depot, Best Buy, etc. ultimately the money goes south of our border. If you plan on boycotting US companies in Canada then you are affecting the Canadians that are employed by them. Economics is so global now that it doesn't matter where you spend your money...so you might as well optimize the family budget and go where the deals/selection are.

 

[87112]

Why don't you guys spend your money on something you cant get in Vancouver down here- Real Mexican food, search for the Taco Trucks on Aurora Ave. I have never seen a Taco Truck run by Mexicans in BC. Do they even have Mexcian people up there?

 

[VanessaofBC]

I understand the desire to shop in the US. Hell my wife and our families do. I admit I have purchased items there but usually because I cant find it here.
That being said, I have a real problem with it! My opinion is, you should spend your money where you earn it. If you don't then sooner or later YOU will not have a job because no one is supporting OUR jobs!
Pretty basic economics don't you think?

I hope you do not mind, but I agree with you!!

The money I make I spend in my community first. Shopping at local retailers and grocery stores. Then I might spend some down in gastown or shopping in local boutiques and other small business. I always tip well when I get services done. Too bad each time I look at where my things were made or where it was grown and not often is it from Canada.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

Do they even have Mexcian people up there?

only rich ones that come up to ski at whisler, lol

 

[VanessaofBC]

Why don't you guys spend your money on something you cant get in Vancouver down here- Real Mexican food, search for the Taco Trucks on Aurora Ave. I have never seen a Taco Truck run by Mexicans in BC. Do they even have Mexcian people up there?

Yes, honda. There are Mexicans here!!! They are not as fussy as being referred to as Hispanic either, I noticed. WE also love Mexican food here!

 

[badbadboy]

Looks like you too got it wrong

The more common method is 1 US gallon is 3.785 litres
The actual consumer CDN bank rate (not be confused with the Bank of Canada rate) is ~ $1.0766 [0.929]. The BoC rate is what the banks buy from the Feds. They sell it to us for a lot more.
- Professor Bill

Not so fast Einstein.

The inverse of 3.785 is 0.264172 which you get by dividing 1/3.785. It's an easier number to work with instead of 3.785.

What a person wants to know is what the cost of gas is per litre while traveling in the USA. A quick way is to multiply the USD Price per gallon by 0.0264172 to get the price per litre price in USD.

Today's Bellingham price is $3.89 give or take. 3.89 x 0.264172 = $1.03 per litre US Dollars. Then get your price in C$ by dividing 0.95 or 0.93 whatever its Two cents difference

So today the price per litre in Canadian $ is approx $1.08. I gassed up today and the regular gas is about $1.30 litre IIRC since I buy Premium $1.43 litre.

Why don't you guys spend your money on something you cant get in Vancouver down here- Real Mexican food, search for the Taco Trucks on Aurora Ave. I have never seen a Taco Truck run by Mexicans in BC. Do they even have Mexcian people up there?

Lots of food trucks in Vancouver now and plenty of them are selling tacos although I think mainly with fish. There is an App for phones which shows the location of the food trucks and what they are serving. Streetfood Vancouver is the App.

 

[EuroSZabina]

OMG, going through the border these days reminds me the time back in Europe during communist time.
Lol, its crazy in here, in Europe now they dont even ask a question you can just zoom by without bodering you.