Montana USA Shopping

[Rika]

Has onyone ever driven down to Montana from Edmonton just to shop?? I am very interested in maybe going this weekend and on the map Great Falls seems to be the closest place.... any advice? I have never done this before. Is this the best place to go it seems like a small town maybe?

[Rika]

.... well maybe next long weekend...

[Rika]

I know meat and cheese are supposed to be cheaper but from the websites that I could see... Walmart and Albertsons groceries prices don't really look like awesome or anything ... there are a few items that I would say are close to awesome prices but overall I was not totally sold on the idea.... an opportunity came up for a last minute trip but I think more planning is better if I want to take best advantage of US shopping

[rewogd]

I've never gone across the boarder From Alberta but when my family go back home me make it a point of going to across the boarder. I find that maybe not all the prices are that great but they have different stuff then we have. We found spiderman mac and cheese for my son. Some of the prices were significantly better too which is always nice. You totally should go but I agree a little planning never hurt anything.

[RegulusLeonis]

Montana is not that great for shopping, Washington and Oregon are the best (no tax)!

[Poirot]

If you're doing it just to shop it seems like you would waste a lot of gas getting there compared to the savings you would get.Then there is waiting in a long line at the border then you might be taxed on what you bring back.If you're going there to vacation anyway then you may as well shop while there.

[Rika]

NO TAX wins... Washington state sounds like the place to go... now to figure out the best shopping place to go in Washington. then best timeline. then make the plan. If the dollar stays good one way or the other I will make a trip before the snow flies I hope.

[alwaysdaddysgirl]

We have have gone to Great Falls in past vacations and it didn't seem like a great place. I agree that I would rather go to Washington.

[Kelkens]

My mother lives about an hour out of Great Falls. It is not a big city and has very little shopping. A few good outdoor stores if you are interested.

Spokane Washington and Couer D'lene Idaho are larger and have better shopping.

Our dollar is good now and some of their goods are cheaper but honestly to make a special trip it is not worth it in my opinion. Both cities are quite a bit further away than Great Falls...you have to go to Cranbrook or Fernie BC and then cross the border.

Missoula Montana is a beautiful college town with a bit more shopping but then again it is further away as it is further south and west.

Better to go in the fall, less road traffic...

P.S. In some stores in the state of Washington they waive the tax for Albertans but you have to ask they do not offer and you need to ask before the sale is rung up. They did not do this in Idaho.

[KaraMA]

We travel to Great Falls, MT from Red Deer, AB once a year to shop. It has all your basic stores (Walmart, Target, Kmart, ShopKo, Dollar Tree, Sears, Ross, JC Penny, Herbergers, etc.). It is not a huge place but we find that there is everything we need there. Billings is also nice but farther away. I didn't find Missoula to be any better than Great Falls.

Montana has no sales tax and prices are definitely cheaper than in Canada. We usually go in August because summer stuff is super cheap and fall/back to school stuff is out and on sale.

Washington does have a state sales tax but Albertans can get an exemption. I have never tried this but I have heard it can be a pain in the butt. The shopping is pretty good in Washington because so many Canadians cross the border to shop there. It is a much farther drive than Montana though.

Idaho also has a sales tax and I really didn't enjoy shopping there. It would also be farther to drive than Montana I believe.

[RegulusLeonis]

Spokane and Couer d'Lene are the best!

[RegulusLeonis]

Washington does have a state sales tax but Albertans can get an exemption. I have never tried this but I have heard it can be a pain in the butt.

I've always said "I am tax exempt" and have my driver's license handy. I've never had a problem!

[Kelkens]

I think it depends on what you are looking for..

When we shop in the U.S. I am looking for stuff that I can not get here. I have son that is about 5'9 with a 28 inch waist...super skinny and tall. It's next to impossible to find jeans that size for men here but in bigger centres like Seattle it's not a problem at all.

I like Missoula because there are different kinds of little shops there but I agree is it not that big either.

It's not that difficult to get the tax exemption in Washington. You just have to make sure you ask before hand and you have to sign.

[alwaysdaddysgirl]

I love the internet. $10 for shipping and no driving or sales tax. Obviously I don't buy groceries but I buy tonnes of other things. I just makes sure I buy a lot and make sure there is a good shipping rate and return policy. I love the new low US dollar. I am in crafting heaven and I have bought quite a few clothes do to the difficulty I have buying for myself (size 2), my daughter (tiny waist, long legs) and my husband 32" x 38".

[Rika]

well lots to ponder over....since I've never done the trip and actually haven't been across the US border in over 10 years I will definitly be doing this with more planning so all thoughts are appreciated.