604/778 Cross border road trip to USA

[RedOktobre]

Hey fellow TF collectors!

Who is interested in joining/forming a small group of collectors and drive down to Washington State to checkout and/or buy the latest TF's at TRU, Target, Wallmart, etc?

We can share the cost of gas, food, etc...

RedOktobre

[Synch]

Wow I'd normally be up for a trip like that but I have no passport & I think you need one now :( ( I was born in bc & so were my parents though I don't really know what the rules are for this)

Personally I don't think it is really worth it for just TF as well... since well all that is really out right now is movie stuff most of which is here by now :| Could you really get there in just one day?.. I've only ever gone to the ECCC & thats just cause You can make it there pretty fast :)

If I were to go on a trip personally I would want to check out some comic shops & stores along the way as well now that could be fun! :)

[C_Shewins]

Who is going to drive? You? hahaha

[RedOktobre]

Who is going to drive? You? hahaha

Possible... but, there seems to be a lack of interest with this idea.

[Tech Spec]

A bunch of us are going later thismonth to check this out ----> http://www.ggaub.com/tf/cybcon2k7.html

[C_Shewins]

A bunch of us are going later thismonth to check this out ----> http://www.ggaub.com/tf/cybcon2k7.html


This looks interesting indeed, but the registration is closed somehow. Hope there will be more stuff like this.

[Tech Spec]

Yah registration was closed on June 30th, I should've posted this earlier. We goin down to see what we can find and take our GF's shopping.

[Synch]

now that would have been fun to go to...

oh & this is the eccc If you go let me know if you have fun ;)

http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/
The other one you can look up though I can't believe that someone would even have too...

ahhh I need to find out about getting a passport heh!

[agesthreeandup]

you don't need a passport until the end of 2008. Drivers lisence and birth certificate are still OK.

Spencer.

[Synch]

good to know thanks ages & Nice! Ages are you sure its not the start of 08 rather than the end of 08?..

If its the end of 08 I can go to one more con in the states & put off getting the pasport even longer... Since they only last what?.. 5 ish years?.. get it in 09 & have it last me till 2013?.. ish :S lol...

[C_Shewins]

good to know thanks ages & Nice! Ages are you sure its not the start of 08 rather than the end of 08?..

If its the end of 08 I can go to one more con in the states & put off getting the pasport even longer... Since they only last what?.. 5 ish years?.. get it in 09 & have it last me till 2013?.. ish :S lol...


From what I heard, it is January 2008 that u must have a passport to go to the States. But it is always good to get a passport, it takes a while to get one sometimes if the line up is long.

[agesthreeandup]

From what I heard, it is January 2008 that u must have a passport to go to the States. But it is always good to get a passport, it takes a while to get one sometimes if the line up is long.

The US delayed it again due to the fact that now getting a Canadian Pasport can take so long due to the backlog. There is also consideration of having a Super Drivers Lisence program that will enable you to not have a passport. These lisences are being tested in Ontario and if it becomes reality then it will be East Coast that gets them first.

I cross the border once a week for all my US shipping. I have never had a problem with using both my DL and birth certificate. I will be getting a passport as you do need it for flying (even tho you can get around that as well, it just takes a lot longer) and I have to take a few trips next year. It just makes sence to have the passport anyway.

Spencer.

[protoform_ironhide]

Oh my god! Is it cheaper in the USA? Maybe I should go down there for some toys!

[ChrisW]

Oh my god! Is it cheaper in the USA? Maybe I should go down there for some toys!

The toys are cheaper, but you'll probably spend the money you save on gas just by driving down there. On the other hand, it's still the cheapest way to get the US Exclusives.

[protoform_ironhide]

Yes, and last time I went to the USA, they said i am only allow to bring 50 dollars worth of item because I only spent one day there. So the most I can get if I go down with my brother and a friend is only 150 dollars I guess. And they will buy stuff too. They charged me tax after 50 dollars. So how much cheaper are the toys? Like movie bumblebee deluxe for example? Anyone know?

[Aernaroth]

Buy some cereal while you're there. Extra points if you mail me a box of cookie crisp.

[ChrisW]

Unless I'm mistaken:

Deluxe Class - $9.99 US vs $14.99 CDN
Voyager Class - $19.99 US vs $29.99 CDN
Leader Class - $39.99 US vs $59.99 CDN

Basically, we pay 1.5 times the US price. Still, it's better than the UK situation, where they pay more than twice the US price.

[RedOktobre]

Yes, and last time I went to the USA, they said i am only allow to bring 50 dollars worth of item because I only spent one day there. So the most I can get if I go down with my brother and a friend is only 150 dollars I guess. And they will buy stuff too. They charged me tax after 50 dollars. So how much cheaper are the toys? Like movie bumblebee deluxe for example? Anyone know?

I cross the border to the US regularly with my gf & her friends. Depending on how long you stay in the US, you can bring back the following without paying "Canadian Duty":

24 hours absence = $ 50.00
48 hours absence = $ 200.00
7 days absence = $ 750.00

"Canadian Duty" = US$ Purchase Price X CRA Prescribed US Exchange Rate X 6% GST X "Provincial Taxes %"

Notes:
"CRA" = Canada Revenue Agency
"Prescribed US Exchange Rate" = Exchange Rate used by CRA to Income Tax and/or Excise Tax purposes
"Excise Tax" = GST (simplified definition)
Maritime provinces = ignore "GST & provincial" and replace with "HST"

From past experience, Canada Customs Officers would only charge you "duty" if each passenger in your vehicle has purchased an average of more than $ 75.00 - $ 100.00 per passenger.

Moreover, they have a tendency to charge you duty if you bring in alcohol and cigarettes. If you don't, they often wave you by.

Unless I'm mistaken:

Deluxe Class - $9.99 US vs $14.99 CDN
Voyager Class - $19.99 US vs $29.99 CDN
Leader Class - $39.99 US vs $59.99 CDN

Basically, we pay 1.5 times the US price. Still, it's better than the UK situation, where they pay more than twice the US price.

I agree with ChrisW's quotations.

[protoform_ironhide]

Cool! It looks like staying 2 days is good, but have to rent a hotel.

[nuropa]

limit for 48 hours is raised to $400 recently.

[darthrage]

Cool! It looks like staying 2 days is good, but have to rent a hotel.


I would sleep in the car and bring a toothbrush. Paying hotel room fee totally makes the trip not worthwhile since part of the trip's purpose is to take advantage of the lower exchange rate