Cross border shopping

[stewm_21]

Hey there fellow Ontarians... any suggestions for cross border motorcycle shops from the Toronto area?

Sorry, I should just ask of anyone north of the border (or those south that like to see what we are up to) to make a list of good cycle shops on the other side of the 49th parallel.  

Start posting who and where you like to shop, then we can go boost the American economy  

 

[Flyer]

The gang at Hebeler's Kawasaki/Suzuki have been OK to deal with.
http://www.hebelers.com/home2.asp
About 45 minutes east of the Niagara River in Pendleton NY.

[RCR]

I bought my 06 triumph in detroit almost 2 years ago. They were great to deal with. The deal was well worth it in the end, saved almost 5 grand!     http://www.triumphdetroit.com/  

[Commando850]

Friend & Friend in Ellsworth Maine were great to deal with when I bought my new C14.

[faststage1]

It's been years coming but I think we ought to give our local shops one more chance. I've been buying all my parts and accessories in the states for years. This week I gave my local shop another chance to price me up on a boat load of parts for my KTM and holy crap they were priced fantastic! Less then the best priced dealer in Texas. Also they have Honda CRF450R's on sale for $5999.00. That's a  $2500.00 reduction from earlier this year. They must be getting the message.

[Global Rider]

Why limit yourself to a few dealers "just across the border" when you can mail order at far better prices from dozens of OEM or accessory dealers in the US and have your orders sent for pick-up to The UPS Store in Niagara Falls, NY.

http://www.theupsstore.com/locations/locdet.asp?strCenterNum=MBE2194

[bobo]

so how does it work and how much do you pay the 'u.p.s.' store for the privelege ?...b.b.

[Global Rider]

so how does it work and how much do you pay the 'u.p.s.' store for the privelege ?...b.b.

You find the UPS Store of your choice and use their address as the shipping address. The odd business may not want to ship to an address other than that of your credit card, but I found those to be rare cases. And even then, if you talk to them and then call your credit card company pre-approving a particular sale, I've had them accept my terms.

Your name,
Hold for customer pick-up
c/o The UPS Store
Their address

Go to their site and click on Locations. Enter a location in the US near you. Click on a particular store and see what services they offer.
http://www.theupsstore.com

Cost? $3 per envelope; $5 per box or bundled tires.

Been doing this for years, so have a lot of others.

[nwconk]

I'm sure, being the honest Canadians that you all are, that it is all properly declared.    

[bobo]

alex that's a great idea ! been getting robbed for years by u.p.s. with their 'handling charge' thanks a lot m8...b.b.

[bobo]

Why limit yourself to a few dealers "just across the border" when you can mail order at far better prices from dozens of OEM or accessory dealers in the US and have your orders sent for pick-up to The UPS Store in Niagara Falls, NY.

http://www.theupsstore.com/locations/locdet.asp?strCenterNum=MBE2194

:)alex do you need to notify u.p.s. that you have a package coming ? will i be notified when it arrives ? thanks...b.b.

[bubba zanetti]

 :)alex do you need to notify u.p.s. that you have a package coming ? will i be notified when it arrives ? thanks...b.b.

UPS will give you a tracking number and you look it up on the net to see when it was delivered. Same with US Postal Service. Painless and it works.

But never ever ship UPS across the boarder as they will nail you with outrageous broker fees.

When I cross the boarder to pick up a package I tell the boarder folk what I am doing and they just wave me through. Make sure you print your receipt in case the package does not have one. You will need to show the receipt when you cross back into Canada.

[bobo]

thanks 'bubba'...b.b.

[Kootenanny]

Make sure you print your receipt in case the package does not have one. You will need to show the receipt when you cross back into Canada.

This is important--even after specific requests both verbally and in writing, I've had stuff shipped with absolutely no paperwork (and the border guards can confiscate goods they do no know the value of).  Very annoying.

Another thing: make sure they address it to you personally.  Had one company send me an item billed to "My Name, Inc." because there was a better shipping rate on commercial shipments.  Caused me no end of grief at the border, especially since I didn't understand why it had been shown that way (I was only told this later, when I called to complain...they said most of their customers--American, of course--appreciated the small fiction for the better rate.)

[bobo]

so why declare stuff ?...b.b.

[bubba zanetti]

Unless you are staying over for 24 hours I would declare. They just look on the computer these days and can see when you went over and how long you stayed by typing in your license number. Besides, for tires there is no duty just GST and the minimal cost of that makes hiding the tires in the glove box a bit too stressful.

[Global Rider]

Start posting who and where you like to shop, then we can go boost the American economy  

Its not about boosting the American economy; its about boosting my personal financial well being. Money talks, BS walks!

I've been shopping stateside even when the dollar stood at 1.57, not just since the dollar is at near par. Works for me!

I just picked up an intermittent ignition control for my furnace while I was down in the US. CA$302 up here (not to mention nobody in my area would sell to anyone not in the heating/air conditioning business). I bought the same unit in the US for US$115.57.

Damn I hate to save big.  

[Global Rider]

:)alex do you need to notify u.p.s. that you have a package coming ? will i be notified when it arrives ? thanks...b.b.

As someone has already mentioned, if the item is shipped by FedEx, UPS or similar, you will get a tracking number via e-mail. If its shipped by USPS, then call them every few days...use a calling card.

You then "track" your package until it arrives where someone at the UPS Store will sign for it. The person's name that signs for it shows up on the tracking e-mail. Print it out and bring a copy with you in case there are problems (I've never had one).

[Global Rider]

Make sure you print your receipt in case the package does not have one. You will need to show the receipt when you cross back into Canada.

And make sure you only get taxed on the goods and not the total which includes shipping and handling charges.

[Global Rider]

Unless you are staying over for 24 hours I would declare.

48 hours: $400 tax exempt (per person) as often as you wish.

7 days: $750 tax exempt (per person) once per year.

The 48 hours is counted as follows: don't count the day you cross into the US, just the day you stay and the day you return. So, if you crossed over at 23:59 on Friday, you could come back at 00:01 on Sunday and claim your $400 tax exemption after only a 24 hour and 2 minute stay out-of-country.