Importing from U.S. to Canada??

[PILOON]

Another thing I do whenever I travel to the USA.
I stop at the Duty Free Shop and purchase a liter of my favorite scotch. (hey I like scotch)
When I come back to Canada the first ? is 'how long have you been away?
I promptly pull down my duty free receipt for my favorite beverage and scan it and non nonchalantly read off my entry date.
Generally that is the end of the inspection!
BUT, if questioned further I have every receipt for whatever I purchased in the US.(all in an envelope over my sun visor)

Another item, if the Cdn customs address me in French I reply in French (Quebecker here)

Worst is a female customs agent, for some reason they have something to prove. (advice from a friend who was a customs supervisor, he suggested that I always avoid the line that had a female, seems they need to prove something or other)

 

[fried1765]

Another thing I do whenever I travel to the USA.
I stop at the Duty Free Shop and purchase a liter of my favorite scotch. (hey I like scotch)
When I come back to Canada the first ? is 'how long have you been away?
I promptly pull down my duty free receipt for my favorite beverage and scan it and non nonchalantly read off my entry date.
Generally that is the end of the inspection!
BUT, if questioned further I have every receipt for whatever I purchased in the US.(all in an envelope over my sun visor)

Another item, if the Cdn customs address me in French I reply in French (Quebecker here)

Worst is a female customs agent, for some reason they have something to prove. (advice from a friend who was a customs supervisor, he suggested that I always avoid the line that had a female, seems they need to prove something or other)

Wow!
Do I EVER agree with that!
I am an American (now 78)
14 years ago bought property in Nova Scotia, slowly built a waterfront house there, and enjoyed that area for 13 more wonderful years.
Sadly, I sold the property last October.
I pulled a 16' cargo trailer with building supplies/materials at least once each year, usually crossing in St Stephen, NB.
The ONE customs issue I had was with a WOMAN Canadian agent.
She was an absolutely nasty bit-- !!

 

[Industrial Toys]

How could you even see what gender is in the booth? And if you switch at the last possible moment, the cameras and puters will target you for an internal cavity search!

 

[Looking4new]

Wow!
Do I EVER agree with that!
I am an American (now 78)
14 years ago bought property in Nova Scotia, slowly built a waterfront house there, and enjoyed that area for 13 more wonderful years.
Sadly, I sold the property last October.
I pulled a 16' cargo trailer with building supplies/materials at least once each year, usually crossing in St Stephen, NB.
The ONE customs issue I had was with a WOMAN Canadian agent.
She was an absolutely nasty bit-- !!

Did you know that if you continually get a bitchy one that you can call up her/his boss and complain. The more complaints an agent gets against them the more likely they are to get transferred to a 'remote' area. I think it only takes three strikes.

I only had two rotten customs agents in my lifetime of trucking 'states side. One American and one of his cronies turned him in on my behalf and one Canadian and I turned him in. The resolution was done by his woman boss, gee thanks lady.

 

[fried1765]

How could you even see what gender is in the booth? And if you switch at the last possible moment, the cameras and puters will target you for an internal cavity search!

Seeing which gender is in the booth does not matter.
Dragging a 16' cargo trailer, you pull over after the booth, as instructed, and go inside.
Once inside, you walk up to an agent and present an inventory of the goods in the trailer (for GST purposes).
Learned the hard way: If the agent is a FEMALE, go to a different agent!

 

[fried1765]

Did you know that if you continually get a bitchy one that you can call up her/his boss and complain. The more complaints an agent gets against them the more likely they are to get transferred to a 'remote' area. I think it only takes three strikes.

I only had two rotten customs agents in my lifetime of trucking 'states side. One American and one of his cronies turned him in on my behalf and one Canadian and I turned him in. The resolution was done by his woman boss, gee thanks lady.

I actually had a problem with an American agent in St. Stephen, NB. when I was returning to the US.
I fumed about it to myself for several months.
Finally I called the Northeast customs regional manager in Boston, and made a formal complaint.
I am glad I did!
The regional manager was very understanding.

 

[PILOON]

In public service there are some situations whereby a supervisor can not over ride a juniors decision.
Customs is one of them.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have gone inside many times to pay my tax at Can Rev Service. I have never had the option to choose who I dealt with. Most often, it's only one person available at Niagara Falls. Never had to wait. But always leaving, thinking, it's just about the money.

 

[PILOON]

Earlier I mentioned avoiding female agent at customs.
That was back when I flew a lot and generally they had 4-6 agents to handle large flight loads of travelers.
The caution came from my secretary's father who was in charge of customs at Dorval (now Trudeau).

At one time I'd border cross a dozen or more times a year and that by road, commercial flights as well as with my Cessna.

Private plane travel is another thing.
Once an agent went as far as to inspect my child's dirty diapers looking for contraband.
Others would order U to stay inside the aircraft while some would say you were nuts to sweat while waiting.
Always recall one agent that always looked like a cowboy with a low slung big nasty colt hanging from his belt.

 

[Bavarian]

Earlier I mentioned avoiding female agent at customs.
That was back when I flew a lot and generally they had 4-6 agents to handle large flight loads of travelers.
The caution came from my secretary's father who was in charge of customs at Dorval (now Trudeau).

At one time I'd border cross a dozen or more times a year and that by road, commercial flights as well as with my Cessna.

Private plane travel is another thing.
Once an agent went as far as to inspect my child's dirty diapers looking for contraband.
Others would order U to stay inside the aircraft while some would say you were nuts to sweat while waiting.
Always recall one agent that always looked like a cowboy with a low slung big nasty colt hanging from his belt.

Now you have the chance to use your FAST card.

 

[Bavarian]

I see those checks at the border a bit different. They have a set number of inspections to do. And as well the intensity of the inspection. If you are that number x on their sheet, you will be inspected.
I'm crossing frequently as a truck driver. Yoy know some officers already over the years. Once they have their inspection day, I notice the change in their attitude. The tone does change.
No matter who, Homeland Security or CBP.

 

[fried1765]

I have gone inside many times to pay my tax at Can Rev Service. I have never had the option to choose who I dealt with. Most often, it's only one person available at Niagara Falls. Never had to wait. But always leaving, thinking, it's just about the money.

At St. Stephen, NB. in Spring/Summer/Fall, there always seem to be at least 2 on duty, and frequently there are 3.

 

[PILOON]

I know a chap that drives a semi rig across the border twice a week.

The rigs are passed thru an Xray 'tunnel' at each crossing and the driver was ordered to stay on board.
Well he refused, after all he wants to start a family some day.
Even a dentist hides behind a lead shield and you wear a 30 lb 'apron' once or twice a year.

He won his point and truckers now can step out.

 

[aventino68]

So, as I ponder relatively dry tidy tractors at farm auctions from south of the Border, has anyone bought and then pressure washed before sending a used tractor up to Canada?

 

[fried1765]

So, as I ponder relatively dry tidy tractors at farm auctions from south of the Border, has anyone bought and then pressure washed before sending a used tractor up to Canada?

Should not be a problem taking a tractor across the border if the machine is clean.
I am from the US, and have taken two of my old Ford tractors to Nova Scotia (customs in Yarmouth) for painting.
No border problems going either way.
My use was seasonal, so no tax, but as an ON resident you will certainly have to pay some HST.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just got a friend to pick up a shipment for me. He and his wife were across for a few hours and got $3000.00 worth of stuff which they declared to the (grumpy) tax collector. He waved them through. Apparently, there may be a labour dispute and they are trying to stick it to the man, or whatever that "thing" in office is!

 

[PILOON]

Border tidbits of info---
We have a choice of tariffs, the actual one for product or optionally a flat rate 25%, but you have to know the tariff rates.

We can import as much booze as you can carry (above the 40 oz (I litre) as long as you have a permit.
There is usually a 'bonding room' so you request your booze to be placed in bond and proceed to the SAQ and request that permit.
Next day back to customs and produce your SAQ permit.
One example is Jamaican rum that might cost couple $$'s/40 oz.
With your SAQ permit in hand you'll have a long supply of low cost rum!

When I was into SCUBA diving I returned from Florida by air with 2 tanks, one factory new and I later found a great deal on a used one.
Tanks MUST be empty to be carried on an aircraft, a bummer as in Fla they always sell then with a free fill.
(LOL. still have both)
In Montreal tanks were VERY costly (try $3-400) while in Fla new were in the $100 range and the used was $40.
(Locally SCUBA was considered a very seasonal 'luxury sport')
Fortunately I had kept receipts and was able to prove I was under quota. LOL, no wonder they were scrutinizing me, we had a full grocery type cart piled high with goods.
That was back when the personal limit was $100. for 3 days out of country.

One thing I do know,
No custom officer can be 'over ridden' by his superior so get it right the first time!
Do your homework and it should be smooth sailing.

If corporate you really have no choice, you need a broker, but for personal use you can DIY it!

 

[hdmyers]

I would only be concerned about anything that might require warranty. Generally speaking, Canada Revenue Agency only cares about their HST, and has NEVER even come out to look at what I am importing.

Between Trump and our PM on their contest. PM is going to have a tough time winning that one with his Female kit.

ALways seem to run into something you say that makes one really wonder...You don't sound Canadian.. Lots of equipment you have. That much I can say.