Bringing a used SO box into Canada

[gerryw]

I am interested in buying a used SO box in the US(not a specific sale just looking right now) (Buffalo/Detroit).
What would be the documentation to bring into Canada?

Bill of sale (with serial number)?
Ebay Invoice?

basically just to prove its not stolen?

Plus would the issue of liens be a issue?

thanks
Gerry

pro's of GJ: lots of info/ great people!

con's of GJ: my wallet is empty!!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

How old is it? If it's an older box or doesn't look very new, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Is this a big ol' roller or just a regular sized top box?

 

[Mickey O]

Get one of those huge boxes toss a license plate and taillights on the back and pretend it's a trailer, tell them it's a rental you're returning.

I think you'd have better luck calling the Canadian version of customs, I do know they'll want a value and to tax the **** out of you on it.

You might have luck with a local near the border trucking company, they might be able to just sneak it in. Maybe a flatbed tow truck, could say it's a part of the truck.

 

[tonydanzah]

Having gone through us/can customs many times, If you have a large suv, then i would take the seats out and put it in back. Also have a female riding shotgun with you. Most likely wont even ask.

Also out of curiosity, did canada make a new drivers license like in the US for border states. The kind with the special classification so you dont need a passport in addition to your DL?

 

[Mickey O]

Attach wings to it and fly it in.

 

[FordF1]

Bill of sale is enough for anything. You will pay hst on what you paid but no duty because it is made in the USA (NAFTA).

 

[lilredex]

Not likely they will say anything if used. Don't try to sneak it across, if you are singled out for a ramdom search (not likely) and they find that, they may just dis-assemble your car/truck. Always pays to be up front with those guys.............they are not trained to be friendly, got one for a neighbour.

Have been on day trips to Buffalo with wife and friends and brought back several hundred $$ of stuff and have never paid anything. Have your passports ready and a list of your purchases that you can read off, is what I do, and they just say "get outta here, have a nice day". Doesn't pay to fool with them, they hold all the cards and have guns too!

 

[sberry]

If it was used I wouldn't say anything, its been riding there a week and didn't have a chance to take it out.

 

[jvitez]

I am interested in buying a used SO box in the US(not a specific sale just looking right now) (Buffalo/Detroit).
What would be the documentation to bring into Canada?

Bill of sale (with serial number)?
Ebay Invoice?

basically just to prove its not stolen?

Plus would the issue of liens be a issue?

thanks
Gerry

pro's of GJ: lots of info/ great people!

con's of GJ: my wallet is empty!!

No issues at the border. Bill of sale is all I've ever needed. Just keep it simple for the guard to calculate the item's value. The difference between US Customs and Canada customs is that US customs is there to keep undesirable people out. Canada customs is there to collect tax.......

As long as you're up front and willing to pay, you'll sail through. They've let us through without charging anything even if we're over the limit, when we've been in the US with the family and have a large amount of low value items to declare. I think they use a time/value kind of calculation to determine if it's worth their while to charge you. If I have a few higher value items to declare, they'll charge taxes every time. A whole bunch of kid clothes, kitchen gadgets, toys, etc? "Have a nice day folks." Ditto on NAFTA. If it says made in USA/Canada/Mexico, only PST and GST charged. I'm ordering a steady stream of auto parts to a North Dakota parcel holding service and bringing them across. No issues at all.

Having gone through us/can customs many times, If you have a large suv, then i would take the seats out and put it in back. Also have a female riding shotgun with you. Most likely wont even ask.

Also out of curiosity, did canada make a new drivers license like in the US for border states. The kind with the special classification so you dont need a passport in addition to your DL?

Yes, the US demanded it and Canada had to follow suite or the US wouldn't be letting Canadians across. It's cheaper than a passport, and OK for land crossing only AFAIK. We just keep passports for the whole family active at all times. When I show a passport to the US border guard when I'm driving across, they seam to relax a little.

 

[Ser50]

Also out of curiosity, did canada make a new drivers license like in the US for border states. The kind with the special classification so you dont need a passport in addition to your DL?

yes.

but the difference in 'enhanced' license price is similar to a passport. so, unless you cross frequently, it makes a poor investment.



tell them how much you paid.
they WILL look for comparables online if they try to roast you. they will have a good, or inflated idea of what it is worth. so its best to be honest.
whatever tax they request will probably be slim to none.
im not even sure what the laws are on used items/duty.

i frequently pick up in Point Robetrts WA, its best to just tell the truth, they dont even tax/duty under 500 or so.

 

[Ser50]

If it was used I wouldn't say anything, its been riding there a week and didn't have a chance to take it out.

they do NOT like that.

ive seen it. theyre not dumb.
even if you know youre telling the truth,,, my friend left a suspension kit in their trunk. informed the US side, went down, came right back with another package.. good luck explaining that to CAD

 

[moparmuscle88]

be honest, have your wife or girlfriend with you, and put on a show of not being in a hurry, and if you have kids, they would make you look more honest too

if they think your trying to pull something theyll take all day trying to find a reason to get you, at least thats how the DOT is around here when they pull over a truck so it pays to be nice, polite and honest

 

[Dmaxman]

Have been on day trips to Buffalo with wife and friends and brought back several hundred $$ of stuff and have never paid anything. Have your passports ready and a list of your purchases that you can read off, is what I do, and they just say "get outta here, have a nice day". Doesn't pay to fool with them, they hold all the cards and have guns too!

I agree 100%. I buy **** all the time and bring it through. I always hand them the bills and i am upfront with them. Sometimes they send you on your way or worst case they charge you tax. No big deal if you are already saving a chunk of change by buying in the U.S.

 

[gerryw]

Thanks guys for all the help, i am looking for a krl roller 72"x29"x45" so it will be on a trailer(so i don't think any "sneaking" will be possible. There seems to be plenty around in the bordering states,and way cheaper than my home area

gerry

 

[lilredex]

No issues at the border. I'm ordering a steady stream of auto parts to a North Dakota parcel holding service and bringing them across. No issues at all.

Care to elaborate on that one? I'm also looking for that type of set-up in the Lewiston- NFalls-Buffalo areas and have only found UPS Stores that want $10+ per Pkg.

Thanks

Lil R.

 

[lilredex]

I agree 100%. I buy **** all the time and bring it through. I always hand them the bills and i am upfront with them. Sometimes they send you on your way or worst case they charge you tax. No big deal if you are already saving a chunk of change by buying in the U.S.

Yes! You have it so much better where you are, so many more choices. When I lived in Pte Claire in the seventies we often used to cross at Hemmingford or Swanton, sometimes having friends with us that knew the border guards.

Here we are limited physically to the major thoroughfares and no side road alternatives available to bypass the congestion.

 

[Ser50]

Care to elaborate on that one? I'm also looking for that type of set-up in the Lewiston- NFalls-Buffalo areas and have only found UPS Stores that want $10+ per Pkg.

Thanks

Lil R.

UPS are crooks.

find a private broker (parcel service)

jvitez described exactly how i order 90% of my stuff.

 

[babzog]

I am interested in buying a used SO box in the US(not a specific sale just looking right now) (Buffalo/Detroit).
What would be the documentation to bring into Canada?

Bill of sale (with serial number)?
Ebay Invoice?

basically just to prove its not stolen?

Plus would the issue of liens be a issue?

I bought a Cornwell in the USA last year. Asked the guy for an invoice I could show Customs, so he hand wrote me up one on a sheet of paper and signed it.

Arrived at Customs a few hours later (3.5hr drive plus time to let the kids get out and stretch, so probably 4.5hrs from pickup time)... probably around 5-6pm. When asked purpose of trip, "Visiting friends". Anything to declare? "I'm bringing back a used toolbox". Didn't ask for the value and I didn't tell. Said "Have a nice day" and off we went. I'm sure it helped enormously that I had the wife and kids in tow.

Get a receipt, otherwise you'll have to unload the box and leave it at the customs office till you can produce one. Had to leave my Mother's Christmas present there one year till I came back with the invoice. I only live 20min away so it was merely a PITA. I didn't need the receipt this time but I make sure I always have one before crossing back into Canada.