[J604]

Im considering ordering a set of michelin ps2 (zp)s from tirerack. I was thinking I might just get them shipped to a tire installed in bellingham or seattle and drive with them back home. I think that way I could save duty and shipping costs.

Has anyone done this or have any advice on the subject.

[schnell325]

Very possible to do. Just ensure that you have scuffed them enough to look "used" when you get to the border crossing......I've hear rumours that if you get caught with parts that you do not declare, they can ding you for ALOT of money. More than just duties and taxes......just rumours, but you never know.

If you decide to do it, make sure you mail all receipts. Do not have any type of paper work in your car!!!

[hj058]

i have done it once...but i bought the tires from a shop in bellingham..what i did is i went buy some stuff at bellisfair and show custom the receipts for shopping...and everything was good..

[Kriston]

I do this almost every year. Never had a problem.

[Universal_Magnetic]

im considering ordering new wheels and tires and having them shipped to and installed in states...the only problem is im going to be coming back with my 4 old wheels/tires in my trunk/back seat

[pellinore]

Done it a few times, no problems.

[323d]

i came back 2 weeks ago with 2 rims. declared both @ 125 each and the guard let me pass.

(this was at point roberts)

depending on the duty officer, you might get away with just 2 tires (especially when it is rush hour and they dont have too much time to deal with the lower priced items)

[cadthis]

Personally, I would just declare everything and pay the duty and taxes...

It's just not worth the risk especially for that small amount of money you'd save. If you get caught, not only will you be fined, they will have the right to impound your vehicle; and rest assured that you will be BLACKLISTED and your name will be in every system in every custom in the free world.

And as for scuffing up a brand new set of tires, you will pretty much have to cover them in mud for the customs officer not to notice - they are not stupid and they're trained to spot these things...

If you want to save some money and are willing to drive down the states for them, you can get Tirerack to ship them to Hagen's in Blaine and pick up from there. http://www.hagensofblaine.com/

By doing so, you will save on shipping and brokerage. Declare everything and depending on the officer, he or she might give you some kind of a break.
Better still, if you can spend a couple of days and stay overnight somewhere down there - it will increase your personal exemption/import allowance. Go with a buddy and have him/her declare half the loot.

[KkSc]

Originally Posted by hj058

i have done it once...but i bought the tires from a shop in bellingham..what i did is i went buy some stuff at bellisfair and show custom the receipts for shopping...and everything was good..

yeah,,just buy something from bellisfair and show the custom, then it's all good!

[J604]

thanks for the advice guys, sounds like it wouldnt be hard to pull off, drive on a few dirt roads befor i come back lol

[BavFan_08]

Originally Posted by J604

thanks for the advice guys, sounds like it wouldnt be hard to pull off, drive on a few dirt roads befor i come back lol

Can anyone recommend cheap places in the Buffalo NY area to change/swap tires? balance, mount rims? etc etc

thanks

[335BBS]

Do you guys not read the newspapers? The Canadian economy could use a little support. For what you are going to save, the possible repercussions and lack of warranty etc. does this really seem like a good idea?

[bolty]

Iam going down to buffalo this weekend to get new tires for my minivan.

Iam doing the tirerack --> local tire installer thing for the first time. Its been great so far. Tires were ordered, and are being sent to a good year dealer by walden galleria. They called me to setup an appt for the weekend.

I'd love to have bought them here but the same tires work out to about 30 percent cheaper.

[DnA Diesel]

Even declaring and paying full duty and taxes on the tires will be less than buying the same tires in Canada...especially with the dollars at par, now. I concur with Cadthis, just pay and you've supported both countries economies.

[TheRox]

watertown

cheney tire is a great place

[grn.eyed.bandit]

yeah, its probably super easy to do, but really, is it worth it IF you do get caught?

i was caught in the past and it becomes a huge hassle later. i got caught for under-declaring a set of headlights on my previous car because the person who sent it to me wrote a rediculously low price on the receipt(which i didnt want him to do). border guys searched online/ebay and found that, on average, they were about double what i said. i was held there for a couple hours, parts were seized and i had to buy them back, plus pay the duties/fines which made the parts come out at over double the original price. i was also blacklisted (probably still am) so EVERY time i cross the border or travel and have to come through customs, i get totally hassled and pulled over/searched.

dont be cheap...just pay the duties and you'll still come out ahead than if you bought them in canada.

[335BBS]

You are not supporting the Canadian Tire dealer who is trying to make a living. You are supporting an American. Its perfect business for him because the seconfd you drive away he never has to help/see you again if you have a problem. Not sure what industry/business you are in but I bet it has been affected by the recession and the US somehow. How much gas did you use and what is your time worth?

[pellinore]

Originally Posted by Leaker

You are not supporting the Canadian Tire dealer who is trying to make a living. You are supporting an American. Its perfect business for him because the seconfd you drive away he never has to help/see you again if you have a problem. Not sure what industry/business you are in but I bet it has been affected by the recession and the US somehow. How much gas did you use and what is your time worth?

When your saving almost 50% for the exact same item there is something wrong. I'm all in support of supporting local business but when the local business is going to charge me an extra $750 he doesn't look so good.
I bought Goodyear F1 Asm, I paid $800 with shipping to the border, here they wanted about $1600 for the same tires.

[2kaccordocoupe]

I go where the deal benefits me, I could care less about supporting the local economy.

If you are getting new tires on your existing wheels it's a no brainer. Drive over get them swapped, you don't have to declare shit. Go buy a shirt or shoes and declare that instead.

[2000gsr]

Originally Posted by Leaker

You are not supporting the Canadian Tire dealer who is trying to make a living. You are supporting an American. Its perfect business for him because the seconfd you drive away he never has to help/see you again if you have a problem. Not sure what industry/business you are in but I bet it has been affected by the recession and the US somehow. How much gas did you use and what is your time worth?

The Canadian tire dealer should go complain to the manufacturer for setting the price so high in Canada. Its not the Canadian vendors fault, its the manufacturers fault as they set the pricing.

[mre904u]

im also going to get tires this weekend in bufflo

[DnA Diesel]

Originally Posted by Leaker

You are not supporting the Canadian Tire dealer who is trying to make a living. You are supporting an American. Its perfect business for him because the seconfd you drive away he never has to help/see you again if you have a problem. Not sure what industry/business you are in but I bet it has been affected by the recession and the US somehow. How much gas did you use and what is your time worth?

"North of the 49th Parallel Socialism" applies to health care, not to paying in some cases almost twice the retail cost for the same product.

I don't shed a tear for retailers (and distributors) causing Canadian retail priced to be 'inflated' far beyond any reasonable explanation due to exchange rates and the like.

Taking a representative tire that I would buy in the future, a Bridgestone run-flat Potenza, the Canadian price was 48% higher than the exchange rate-adjusted US price...

US - TireRack.com - 255/35R18 90W Potenza RE050A RFT - $349.00 (USD) [= $351.09 CAD, 7 APR 2010]

Canada - Tiretrends.com - 255/35R18 90W Potenza RE050A RFT - $520.95 (CAD) [= $517.80 USD, 7 APR 2010]

If the US retailer is making a sufficient profit that they are able to offer tire for their quoted price, why does the Canadian manufacturing/distribution/retail need a further 48% on top of the US margin?

If your response is that there is less efficiency with the Canadian distribution system and that consumers in a global economy should still buy Canadian to reward inefficiencies, then your argument will fall on my deaf ears...I'm not having any of that...get productive/efficient or get out of business. Like I said, social support is for health care, not inefficiently run businesses!

My 2¢