maybe, won't disagree with that and I guess the government finally decided the same thing. But in some ways there is a benefit to it

1) it is a simpler calculation (i.e. for example it is X*1.05*1.095 instead of X*1.05+X*0.95)--- for now it is not a big issue if someone knows where the 9.975 comes from, but what happens if one or both of the tax rates change

2) for the government you get to call it less (i.e. 9.5 instead of 9.975)

plus let's face it, like DJY said there are probably many examples where that happens now.

For the Canadian guys living close to the border; is there anything (other than pride, lack of time, etc.) stopping you from driving across the boarder and shopping in US?

In other words, do you have to pay taxes at the border, or is there a limit on how much goods (in $s) you can transport each time or on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis?

I'm asking because when I go shopping at Costco with wife for regular groceries, cleaning supplies (non office or electronics) we seem to spend $650-$1,300 every 2-3 weeks.

If I knew that I could save 20-30% by driving an hour each way, I would consolidate my shopping trips to just once a month and save $400-$500 on the $2,200 total.

not really


there are rules based on time spent outside the country and what you bring back(for example there are specific rules for stuff like Tobacco and alcohol). Let's say someone spends 30h in the US and comes back with 300$ of US (or Canadian or Mexican) made stuff, 200$ will be tax free and he will have to pay taxes on the other 100$.

Tax collection isn't really the issue since you'll be charged that in Canada anyways (and on a quick afternoon shopping trip there's no exemption, although sometimes the agents will be nice).

But the biggest issue to me, beyond making the actual trip, is with warranties on major purchases. Sony Canada for example will not honor a US warranty, so if there's any issues out the box you'll have to drive down again... and past any return period, you'll have something of a nightmare trying to arrange service. For cheaper items the risk is worth it, and many brands will honor warranties up here, but for some things you're really just stuck buying in Canada or gambling that it won't be a total loss trying to save money.

You also run the risk of getting nailed for duty - if something's made in China, technically there's a tariff that has to be paid (even if one was already paid to enter the US)... and if someone's having a bad day, they may decide to throw the book at you.

Costco up here is famous for "grey market" electronics - stuff they bring up cheaper from the US with no Canadian warranty. However Costco handles the warranty themselves (and often extends it), and like usual they're always great to work with.

What about the cost of living, groceries, cleaning supplies, etc?
You know, everyday stuff like milk and bread?

No idea... don't live close enough for something like that to be feasible (it's a several hour drive), so I've never personally checked on prices. Gas is certainly cheaper, though!

As previously mentioned somewhere I have, for the past few years, been using one of these (albeit the One-For-All version). However, it's now beginning to show it's age, but apart from Logitec Harmony there's not really much choice for the DIY tweaker these days. Then I saw Daniel's RTI T2i post.

Okay, I'd have to bite the bullet and have it programmed, $499 ain't that cheap, but I really like the clean look and style. Then I checked out the Invision Express site (RTI UK distributor) and nearly choked on my Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.

I'm used to seeing the interchangeable $ and £ signs, but £750.00 (no mention of it being inc/ex VAT) - someone's having a giraffe.

N.B. I'd like to see a retail price, but the only place I've presently seen one is here and they're not telling.

I know in Washington state the Canadians, mostly Asian, so they call them Canasians, drive across the boarder with empty suit cases, buy clothes, strip the tags, fill the suit cases up and drive back across into Canada like it was a trip.

We live closer than Daniel to Buffalo, only about a 45 min drive. While the dollar was high, making a trip wasn't really worth it. Now that it's lower again I am sure my wife will be cross border shopping again. With Target pulling out of Canada I assume there will be more people going again too.

We used to look for kids clothes when my son was younger, some grocery items are better and of course gas is cheap. Some times it's more about just spending a day out and about.
Coming back it's best to just tell them what you spent. Only time I have ever been pulled over at border and had to pay was when we bought a bike.

We recently drove to Florida and even with the exchange gas was pretty good in the US. Paid as low as 1.82 a gallon. Makes it tricky to figure out how much to pre pay the first time you fill up.

If you wan't to pick your chin off the ground, check out the prices of anything in Australia.

I remember years ago the ford Capri being sold in the US for about 16K.
The exact same car sold in Australia for almost 30K.

They were all made here in Australia including the US ones.