Duty free allowances.

[Spidey]

Canada has now increased duty-free allowances.

Starting June 1, travelers returning from a 24-hour trip can spend $200 at the duty-free shop, four times the current $50 limit. Anyone coming home from a 48-hour absence can legally cross the border with $800 worth of goods, double the current limit. The seven-day exemption was bumped, too, but only by $50 to $800.

I think the seven-day increase is fine but I have mixed feelings on whether we should have doubled the 48-hour limit. I have concerns regarding the impact of weekend shopping trips on Canadian merchants.

At the risk of sounding like an alcy, I think if they were playing with duty-free limits, one place that should be changed, especially for longer trips, are the alcohol limits. These currently sit at a piddly 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of liquor regardless of the time away. For example, I know of several people who have visited wine-country and were disappointed not to be able to bring back a couple more bottles. Personally, it would have been nice to have brought back at least 2 bottles of rum on a recent trip to Cuba.

Any thoughts?

[Sampson]

"Cross-border shopping" disease?
How will this affect Canadian manufacturers and retailers?

I welcome the change because I do quite a bit of cross-border shopping, but like you, would like to see alcohol limits increased. This will be a tough one for the Government to swallow since they would be directly losing out on tax revenues.

[praire_guy]

You are concerned about the effect on Canadian merchants, but you recently took a trip to Cuba?

What about Canadian tourist spots?

"hello kettle, my your black today"

[carverman]

You can always bring back more than 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14Lspirits per person (over the legal drinking age), but the extra declaration will not be part of your personal exemption.
By the time they charge excise tax and HST, at the border, there isn't much savings, you will be paying as much (if not more) than if you bought the wine or liquor
at the LCBO.

[Spidey]

You are concerned about the effect on Canadian merchants, but you recently took a trip to Cuba?

What about Canadian tourist spots?

"hello kettle, my your black today"

But, but . . . I'll freeze my butt off at Canada beaches in February. I do think there is a difference. A trip abroad is probably a once a year thing. However there are some (eg. those with a trailer across the border) who can travel to the US almost every weekend during nice weather. But as I say, I have mixed feelings - I have concerns but haven't made up my mind.

[praire_guy]

I was just poking fun.

Mu experience is that people with strong beliefs, are often radical, I.e vegetarians, "shop local" etc, and that they are quick to lash out at you and preach their beliefs, but they are the first to throw everything under the bus if it is to their advantage.

[CanadianCapitalist]

A report by BMO released recently is useful for this discussion.

Canada/U.S. Price Gap & Cross-Border Shopping

And you thought the line-ups to get into the United States were long before. A culmination of factors is likely to lead to a notable
upswing of Canadians cross-border shopping this summer, in numbers not seen in two decades.

[Spidey]

I was just poking fun.

Mu experience is that people with strong beliefs, are often radical, I.e vegetarians, "shop local" etc, and that they are quick to lash out at you and preach their beliefs, but they are the first to throw everything under the bus if it is to their advantage.

I didn't take any offense. Actually, I've noticed much the same tendency among many groups. One that kills me, are movie stars such as Brad Pitt preaching environmentalism while at the same time owning something like 4 energy consuming mansions at different locations around the world which require air-travel. But he drives a Prius so I guess that makes up for it. On a smaller scale, I've noticed that many of those worried about oil-sands production are the same ones who live out in the boonies and commute long distances into the city to work. But I'm getting way off topic and better close my mouth, er stop my fingers from typing before I make too many enemies.

Interesting report Canadian Capitalist.

[Sampson]

Nice link CC. It summarizes my trips completely. I go for the 10% discount on Hallmark cards and stock up.

Kidding aside, construction materials, booze, cars, some electronics, clothes, kids/baby stuff all make our list of items with significant difference in pricing.

[praire_guy]

Canada has now increased duty-free allowances.



I think the seven-day increase is fine but I have mixed feelings on whether we should have doubled the 48-hour limit. I have concerns regarding the impact of weekend shopping trips on Canadian merchants.

At the risk of sounding like an alcy, I think if they were playing with duty-free limits, one place that should be changed, especially for longer trips, are the alcohol limits. These currently sit at a piddly 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of liquor regardless of the time away. For example, I know of several people who have visited wine-country and were disappointed not to be able to bring back a couple more bottles. Personally, it would have been nice to have brought back at least 2 bottles of rum on a recent trip to Cuba.

Any thoughts?

Perfect examples. I work with one of those "Eco save the world, recycle, plant a tree" guys, and he hammers it home every single day at work, and yes he moved an hour out of town , thus increasing his carbon foot print.

Personally I welcome increased limits. I live an hour from the border. I can order just about anything and have it shipped for free and I can pick it up.

I pay gst/pst on a lower amount I would at home.

We have been paying more when the dollar was lower (that was always the reason). Now we have been getting screwed with a par dollar. Kinda like with mad cow, and farmers got nothing for cattle except the price of beef went down. Where does the money go.

Adjust your prices and I will shop at home. Otherwise screw you.