Canada buying question

[Kingpimpin]

I live in the US and am thinking about buying a BLNR. I have a friend traveling to Calgary and she said she'd pickup a watch for me.

Can someone more educated on this explain my best options? I trust her and can give her a big brick of cash, or transfer funds to her, she's a dual us/can citizen. And she's visiting her brother, who lives there if I need to have it sent to him and then have him send it to me.

[sahcivan]

No problem, you can buy anywhere in the world as long as all taxes are paid where they need to be.

[Kingpimpin]

So just have her go to an AD in Calgary and pick one up? Does she have to declare she bought a watch when she comes back to the US?

[versatile1]

First of all, good luck finding a BLNR at a Canadian AD
Second, take the chance of a hefty fine if trying to cross the border without declaring the purchase
Not sure how much they would nail you with but a Canadian brought a Rolex into Canada a few years ago without declaring it and the fines totalled over 40 grand.
Pay the duty!

[GordonC]

Originally Posted by Kingpimpin

So just have her go to an AD in Calgary and pick one up? Does she have to declare she bought a watch when she comes back to the US?

As noted by 'versatile1' - stock of popular steel models is in very short supply in Canada; maybe have her phone the 3 ADs first to see if they even have a BLNR.

ADs in Calgary are Birks; Brinkhaus; and J. Vair Anderson. All are located downtown, within a few blocks of each other.

Bringing more than $10K in cash across the border requires declarations to Customs and Immigration - best would be to transfer between accounts.

She would be charged 5% GST (national sales tax), and you really want to declare it at the border and pay any duty owed. There's a good chance you may get the duty waived, but either way you want an imported card from US Customs.

[Kingpimpin]

Ah, so even with the exchange, this seems like more work and cost than I'd save.

[Kingpimpin]

Also, thanks guys!

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Kingpimpin

Does she have to declare she bought a watch when she comes back to the US?

Yes

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Kingpimpin

Ah, so even with the exchange, this seems like more work and cost than I'd save.

It's still well worth your time to buy in Canada with the current rate of exchange on currency.

[pd999]

Originally Posted by GordonC

There's a good chance you may get the duty waived.....

That's interesting; what circumstances would this apply?

And is this just for Can/US crossings, or for any Can/international crossings?

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by versatile1

First of all, good luck finding a BLNR at a Canadian AD

Second, take the chance of a hefty fine if trying to cross the border without declaring the purchase

Not sure how much they would nail you with but a Canadian brought a Rolex into Canada a few years ago without declaring it and the fines totalled over 40 grand.

Pay the duty!

Ouch!!

I purchased used Omega from a Canadian, which travelled by land and crossed the border to ship it to me from USA / using an US carrier. Imagine he paid his duties when he bought it, at least I didn't paid any duties on my end.


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[GarageBMW]

If you buy from Canada and live outside, you are not charged the taxes. The store will require a valid Social Security Number of the US citizen.

Then you have to declare it upon importing it.

[kamalrae]

Originally Posted by Kingpimpin

I live in the US and am thinking about buying a BLNR. I have a friend traveling to Calgary and she said she'd pickup a watch for me.

Can someone more educated on this explain my best options? I trust her and can give her a big brick of cash, or transfer funds to her, she's a dual us/can citizen. And she's visiting her brother, who lives there if I need to have it sent to him and then have him send it to me.

Not sure if you already have one sourced, but there are none at any of the 3 ADs in Calgary as of last week (at least not in the cases). Just FYI!

[poofyo101]

Originally Posted by GarageBMW

If you buy from Canada and live outside, you are not charged the taxes. The store will require a valid Social Security Number of the US citizen.

Then you have to declare it upon importing it.

Is this true?

[GarageBMW]

Originally Posted by poofyo101

Is this true?

Indeed it is, why would I state something that isn't

http://www.english-vancouver.com/tax-refunds-canada/

[GordonC]

Originally Posted by GarageBMW

Indeed it is, why would I state something that isn't

http://www.english-vancouver.com/tax-refunds-canada/

On your linked site, at the very top in big red letters it states that this rebate program is no longer offered.

I've heard that elsewhere also - a few years ago, you could get GST rebated or refunded, but not any more.

[GordonC]

Originally Posted by pd999

That's interesting; what circumstances would this apply?

And is this just for Can/US crossings, or for any Can/international crossings?

I bought my Daytona in the US 2 years ago, and declared it at Canadian Customs on bringing it back to Canada. I had to pay the federal GST (like VAT), and could have been subject to the duty on importing Swiss-made watches, if I recall around 6%. However, the Customs officers have discretion on whether or not you will be charged the stated duty. In my case, and I have heard of several others, I was not charged duty. I received a certificate of import from Canada Customs that cleared the watch into the country, so I don't have to worry about being questioned about it if I take the watch on an out of country trip.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by GordonC

I bought my Daytona in the US 2 years ago, and declared it at Canadian Customs on bringing it back to Canada. I had to pay the federal GST (like VAT), and could have been subject to the duty on importing Swiss-made watches, if I recall around 6%. However, the Customs officers have discretion on whether or not you will be charged the stated duty. In my case, and I have heard of several others, I was not charged duty. I received a certificate of import from Canada Customs that cleared the watch into the country, so I don't have to worry about being questioned about it if I take the watch on an out of country trip.

Interesting the notion of having to carry paperwork to prove a watch had paid duties when re-entering the country. You are expected to carry that certificate on every out of the country trip?


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[Boaters]

The old saying Honesty is the best policy.

[GordonC]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Interesting the notion of having to carry paperwork to prove a watch had paid duties when re-entering the country. You are expected to carry that certificate on every out of the country trip?


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Canada Customs would like you to carry it... And they would also like you to have proof of purchase receipt for expensive items purchased in Canada when you take them out of country, or to have you register items with Customs to get a certificate as proof before leaving the country. I have done that before (decades ago) with expensive camera gear that was purchased in Canada but was taking out of country on vacation.

It's not mandatory or required, but it sure helps to have either proof of purchase in Canada or proof of duties already paid if you get challenged by Canada Customs on returning with items which we used to be able to buy out of country for significantly less than locally - watches, cameras, etc.

[ABChop]

Yes Canada customs seems to be more interested in collecting taxes than anything else.
I carry proof of purchase for all my watches when I travel.
Better safe than sorry.

[JS4LUV]

U need some luck to b at the right ad at the right moment.. no discounts on blnr unless u have relationship w/ the dealer. I did find one in two weeks n bought one yesterday. Good luck!

[versatile1]

Originally Posted by ABChop

Yes Canada customs seems to be more interested in collecting taxes than anything else.
I carry proof of purchase for all my watches when I travel.
Better safe than sorry.

This