Couponing in the States when I go...

[NeonTulie]

So... anyone know what the limit is or how it work for when I go to the states and do a Massive coupon shop on a double coupon day with all the states coupons? Can I get my haul across teh border if I paid less then $200 for it? I would be there a wekk...

DOes anyone know the Boarder Rules with bringing back $2000 worth of storable food items if I paid less then $200 for them?

[blondcouponlady]

trust me thought about the same thing. I live 10 mins from the boarder....I called and asked the US grocery store themselves, they said call customs

[NeonTulie]

Yea... I was gonna start some research on what the rules are with cost or worth of stuff brought across... I would have to deal with Canada Customs though not the US customs so... hopefully were really are nicer at the boarder? LOL I would be getting aletter of aproval from the Atorney General if I needed too before I started collecting up my coupons and cards for the trip. My Daughter has Event in Seattle in Aug which is why she thought of the idea... isnt bad to check and see.. then maybe al our Canadian stores will welcome our coupons back when they see how much money they ARENT getting refunded by the Manufactures.... It would be a YouTube Event with my Daughter recording it! lol AQnd I would definately be making the haul worth the gas to get there.

[katrinajoan]

Good luck! I hope all goes well for you.

[LDgurl]

I just went through this same thing lol not 2000 worth for 200 but lots of savings. I spoke to Canadian customs and was told that it doesn't matter what the retail value is all that matters is what you paid for it. I usually go down grocery shopping with my mom... we each generally bring back about $200-$300 worth of groceries and they don't care. The only thing they are generally really sticky about is dairy. Just an FYI if you go over your limit in dairy there is 300% duty on it.... not nice lol.

[ericaraina]

I go to the states to do grocery shopping at least once a month. I live 45 mins away from the border. They do not charge tax on grocery items. Show them your bill and they will see that you are only bringing back groceries.

[louisep]

i would like to know which store do you shop the most when you do your grocery in the state thank you

[Scootchidoo]

I would be very interested to know where you shop and what stores you shop at. We are about an hour from the border, but if we can get some great deals, I would definitely go over there to shop once a month.

[PrincessCoupon]

So when you come back they ask you the "value" of goods, not what you paid. so if it's say $300 wort of groceries you have to declare it. BUT, because it's grocery you should get through without paying taxes. just declare and show receipts.

[karensugarpants]

I go all the time but have not couponed there yet, though I've started a folder for that reason.
Firstly, in my experience, if you tell the truth, you won't get searched. I always say exactly what I spent. I don't think they care if you spend less than say, $200 bucks. (I usually spent about $100-180 max.
Their question to me has always been, "How much did you spend?" so whether I coupon or not, as long as I give them that number (and keep the receipts handy in case they want to see), then I am telling the truth.
Also, I never bring alcohol back, and you guys probably know not to bring produce back. Make sure you read the rules, answer only the questions you're asked, and relax. Remember, they are looking for drug dealers and criminals, not couponers. LOL!

[karensugarpants]

So when you come back they ask you the "value" of goods, not what you paid. so if it's say $300 wort of groceries you have to declare it. BUT, because it's grocery you should get through without paying taxes. just declare and show receipts.

Yes I've had that question too, and I answer with "I spent about $180 (or whatever)." That has always been fine.

[amoureux]

We live 4 km from the border so I cross over 3-4 times a month.

Depending how close you are to the border, it is well worth it just for gas!

I almost never pay any tax when I cross back over and I declare every single penny. I have only paid a few times over the past 3 years and that was never on a grocery run.

You can bring almost any food item back - the government of Canada's beaware.gc.ca site will give you all the details but in summary, the restrictions are pretty minimal. i.e. you can bring back up to 20 kg of milk per person, up to 20 kg of meat/poultry per person (can be frozen or fresh), up to 20 kg of fresh veggies per person (just restrictions on apples and potatoes into BC), up to 15 cans of fruit per person, etc etc.

I haven't couponed in the US other than using ones readily available in store. Some items (like milk) are just so much cheaper in the US that it is a deal in and of itself! Other stuff is the same price as here. Now that I am starting to coupon here I think I will start trying to collect coupons for the US.

Good luck - it is fun to go down even just for the variety. I mainly go for some products that we like that are not available here.

[amoureux]

Forgot to say that all that matters is what you spent oop. The original retail value is not what is important. It is the same concept as buying an item on sale -- you declare what you spent for the item, not what the orig. retail value was.

That being said, you would have to be careful if you were doing a retail value of $2000 haul that you were not exceeding the limits allowed on different items like the limit of 15 cans of veggies or one turkey per person. I don't know if I am allowed to post a link here -- if I am I'll add the link to the Government of Canada page that shows what you are allowed to bring.

[chemicalflaw]

Bring the receipt, if you can prove it was under the limit you should be fine.

[hollyquaiscer]

I have found in my experience, (as we live in the states 5 months a year in the winter) that really, it will depend on the boarder guard you get, honestly. If you are going for less than 48 hours, the limit is

9804.10.00

Valued at not more than four hundred dollars and included in the baggage accompanying the person returning from abroad after an absence from Canada of not less than forty-eight hours.
For the purpose of this tariff item, goods may include either wine not exceeding 1.5 litres or any alcoholic beverages not exceeding 1.14 litres, and tobacco not exceeding fifty cigars, two hundred cigarettes, two hundred tobacco sticks and two hundred grams of manufactured tobacco.

9804.20.00

If you are gone more than 7 days, it is as follows

9804.20.00

Valued at not more than seven hundred and fifty dollars, whether or not included in the baggage accompanying the person returning from abroad after an absence from Canada of not less than seven days.
For the purpose of this tariff item:

(a)

goods may include either wine not exceeding 1.5 litres or any alcoholic beverages not exceeding 1.14 litres, and tobacco not exceeding fifty cigars, two hundred cigarettes, two hundred tobacco sticks and two hundred grams of manufactured tobacco if included in the baggage accompanying the person at the time of return to Canada; and

(b) if goods (other than alcoholic beverages, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco sticks and manufactured tobacco) acquired abroad are not included in the baggage accompanying the person, they may be classified under this tariff item if they are reported by the person at time of return to Canada.


I hope this helps everyone. As I said, all guards are different, but if they want to be not so nice that day, they can make you stick to the rules, and please note that it is the VALUE, not what you paid.