Crossing the Canadian Border with Jewelry

• raiderbuck

  So, my friend just got engaged. His fiance is a Canadian citizen. After their engagement, she attempted to cross back over to Canada however she was stopped by the border patrol. They noticed her ring, and upon questioning her about it, they informed her that she would have to pay a 13% duty tax for the ring. I've never heard of such a thing? It was a gift from her boyfriend (obviously) but they weren't buying it. Anyone ever have or heard of this kind of thing? I mean, I've heard of duty fees but I've never seen it enforced on gifts. Especially engagement rings.
  
  Ultimately, she gave the ring to a friend to take back over the border.
• FatHobbit

  

  Wow, that's some bad luck. (How the hell did they know she didn't bring it with her from Canada?) I know when you leave the US you're allowed to bring back a certain amount tax free. ($400 maybe? ) I assume it's the same in Canada.
  
  Did she turn around then when they asked for the tax? (How did giving it to her friend get her out of it)
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Ghey
• sportchampps

  FedEx with insurance
• TedSheckler

  

  Put it in your pocket and go across the border.
• salto

  

  [video=youtube;0BoO3_5tU8A][/video]
• salto

  

  sportchampps;1684815 wrote:FedEx with insurance

  Even better if you use UPS.
• raiderbuck

  FatHobbit;1684800 wrote:Wow, that's some bad luck. (How the hell did they know she didn't bring it with her from Canada?) I know when you leave the US you're allowed to bring back a certain amount tax free. ($400 maybe? ) I assume it's the same in Canada.
  
  Did she turn around then when they asked for the tax? (How did giving it to her friend get her out of it)

  I don't know how they found out. My guess is that they probably asked people in the car if they were returning home (to Canada) with anything and she blabbed that she got engaged. Even still, it seems odd that they would then go "Oh congratulations! Now pay us 13%."
  
  She turned around and stayed at a friend's place in Detroit for the night. Luckily, she had a friend who lives in Canada come back over the border and get the ring. I think they just hid it in a coat pocket or something.
• Old Rider

  

  We used to go to Canada and drink in the bars when we were in high school. One trip we got stopped when entering and they went thru our entire car looking for drugs and shit. We had nothing on us or in the car, but they proceeded to trash my buddies car. Took everything out of the car and put it on the road, hood, etc. Upon finding NOTHING...they told us to be on our way. It took an hour just to cram shit back into the car and get moving. CANADA SUCKS!!!