Where to buy these in Canada?

[PILOON]

Lots of rules have changed over the last few years.
24 hrs in the States now allows U to PRIVATELY import a very impressive value, enough to cover a set of forks I think.
And 3 days even more so.
The trick is to have a stateside location that you can have things shipped to, one that would work is a UPS store but that would call for prior arrangements.
If the US supplier is close to the Cdn border simply drive down and pick up keeping the bill of sale for declaration purposes.
If U buy used, get a bill of sale from the vendor but remember that Cdn Customs will convert US$ into Cdn$.
If your US purchase exceeds the custom limits you simply need to pay the taxes for the difference.
You can always call a local Cdn Customs to get current updates as to rules and limits.

Over the years I imported all sorts of things from Aircraft, aircraft parts and tractor stuff plus lots of Scuba gear.
I never had problems but then I studied the regulations and asked questions.

My usual trick was to make my first stop at the duty free store for my limit of scotch and cigs (when I smoked) so that established my official time of entry, the rest was easy.
We always had a hand tally of purchases with receipts attached to show the customs on entry. That also impressed the border agents.

 

[check]

Lots of rules have changed over the last few years. 24 hrs in the States now allows U to PRIVATELY import a very impressive value, enough to cover a set of forks I think. And 3 days even more so. The trick is to have a stateside location that you can have things shipped to, one that would work is a UPS store but that would call for prior arrangements. If the US supplier is close to the Cdn border simply drive down and pick up keeping the bill of sale for declaration purposes. If U buy used, get a bill of sale from the vendor but remember that Cdn Customs will convert US$ into Cdn$. If your US purchase exceeds the custom limits you simply need to pay the taxes for the difference. You can always call a local Cdn Customs to get current updates as to rules and limits. Over the years I imported all sorts of things from Aircraft, aircraft parts and tractor stuff plus lots of Scuba gear. I never had problems but then I studied the regulations and asked questions. My usual trick was to make my first stop at the duty free store for my limit of scotch and cigs (when I smoked) so that established my official time of entry, the rest was easy. We always had a hand tally of purchases with receipts attached to show the customs on entry. That also impressed the border agents.

I would be careful about that "exceeding the limits" rule. I seem to remember reading quite a while ago that if you exceed the limit you pay tax on the whole thing, not just on the amount that you exceed the limit.

The real bummer right now is how the exchange rates have fluctuated in favour of the US dollar right now. It's all fine if you are getting American dollars, or attractin American customers (luke for my rental cottage), but if you have to spend American dollars, you only get $.75 on your Canadian dollar. It wasn't that long ago that the Canadian dollar was worth $1.10 US, making things cheaper down there. It is kind of like playing the stock market!

 

[fried1765]

Lots of rules have changed over the last few years.
24 hrs in the States now allows U to PRIVATELY import a very impressive value, enough to cover a set of forks I think.
And 3 days even more so.
The trick is to have a stateside location that you can have things shipped to, one that would work is a UPS store but that would call for prior arrangements.
If the US supplier is close to the Cdn border simply drive down and pick up keeping the bill of sale for declaration purposes.
If U buy used, get a bill of sale from the vendor but remember that Cdn Customs will convert US$ into Cdn$.
If your US purchase exceeds the custom limits you simply need to pay the taxes for the difference.
You can always call a local Cdn Customs to get current updates as to rules and limits.

Over the years I imported all sorts of things from Aircraft, aircraft parts and tractor stuff plus lots of Scuba gear.
I never had problems but then I studied the regulations and asked questions.

My usual trick was to make my first stop at the duty free store for my limit of scotch and cigs (when I smoked) so that established my official time of entry, the rest was easy.
We always had a hand tally of purchases with receipts attached to show the customs on entry. That also impressed the border agents.

I am an American with a summer residence in Nova Scotia.
Maybe it is different for Canadians returning to Canada, but I have no trouble bringing anything in for my own use.
Sure, I have to pay the GST (NS provincial tax is waived for seasonal residents) for an expensive total, but I usually buy in NH where there is NO TAX,.... so it is a wash.
I recently bought a whole house supply of windows for a Canadian friend. He drove down with his wife, stayed 2 nights, picked up his windows, drove back over the border with their $1600 exemption, and paid HST on the remainder.
The windows were WAY less expensive in the US, and I saved him my 10% discount as well.
Even with the poor exchange rate, he saved nearly $5000 CDN.

I have never needed to do so, but I think both US and Canada customs would stamp your passport with entry time, and date if asked. No need to buy anything at duty free!