aniceguy Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 thinking of going to Erie PA for a few days and I got to thinking. 2 days of shopping with the dolar close to par, gas to get there and back, 200 for the hotel, food for 5 for 2 days and declared duties are you really saving money. I can see if your maybe spending 5 grand on Christmas but if your only spending a few grand does it really make a difference
Billy Bob Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 Erie, PA is about 90+ miles past Buffalo (one way PLUS tolls), NY which of course is right on the border.......what can you get in Erie, PA that you can't get in WNY (Buffalo area)....
cram Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 Bought a set of snow tires on tirerack.com that saved me > $400. Ordered them online and htey were delivered to my doorstep in less than a week.
bigbuck Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 Erie is a bit better for shopping then anything close to the river ie. Niagara Falls and Buffalo. You get to shop at actual outlet malls and not 'tourist malls'. I have a couple of colleagues that go down that way and swear by it. Much better deals. Besides, it's a little getaway. Have fun!!
msp Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 If you go to Grove City Pa its well worth it. There is a huge outlet mall there that has some amazing deals (1/4 the price). There is also a fishing store just down the street from the outlet mall that has great prices and selection. Google Grove City Outlet mall.
ctranter Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 People used to go to Buffalo for specific stores that were not available in Canada (like Victoria Secret, Abercrombie ect..). Now-a-days, there are very few companies that haven't expanded into Canada, and very few hot items that are only available in the states. Now that Yorkdale makes the Galleria look like a dollar store, the only reason to go is to save a couple bucks on purchases (after factoring in a favourable exchange rate). Like you said, after you consider gas and the other costs, you would have a hard time saving more by shopping over the border than by staying local (assuming we are talking about the GTA here.
Guest ThisPlaceSucks Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 i bought my drywall for my house in soo michigan... it was 5 dollars a sheet cheaper! gas and beer is much cheaper as well!
kickingfrog Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 If you break-down all costs involved (hotel, eating out, gas) you are unlikely to come out ahead. That doesn't mean you can't go and have some fun and get some things that aren't readily available here.
mercman Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 with the economy the way it is, most stores are cutting prices.I cat see how it would be cheaper to buy cross border.However, just to drop in on Billy Bob in his boxers, browsing the OFC site would make it worthwhile !!
aplumma Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 I would invite you down to get warm and enjoy the shopping but it seems we are a little short of heat right now. Art
bucont Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 Gas, beer and groceries are much cheaper. A $2 border crossing fee and we get about a $50 per week savings. Plus I get to go into Gander and Dick's as well. Round trip takes us about 2 hour and we are done. All duties have pretty much been removed due to the trade agreements Canada has entered into. The major Canadian retailers want you to think they dropping prices. Sears stating they were matching US Sears prices on black Friday, not so. We are looking at fridge from Sears and the US price was still $400 less. Be the way who is still waiting for the Canadian retailers to drop the prices due to the HST? On the good side I am seeing a price correction on Cabelas Canadian site vs the US, about a $5 diff on $30 item. It is a good start.
adempsey Posted December 14, 2010 Report Posted December 14, 2010 I think some things are cheaper, but overall I have a feeling the prices are quite similar. If I do shop in the US, it's mostly for items I can't get locally. If you really try you could probably save money on buying items on sale and paying attention to what is duty free based on NAFTA. Another example are things like designer clothes/accessories can be had very cheap if you know where to look. I used to live in a border town and people used to cross-border shop all the time. However, they also used to sneak the stuff back across the border so they didn't pay tax or duty. They'd do things like wear crappy clothes there and buy a new outfit and wear it back. Especially shoes. Things like that. That was many years ago, I have no idea what it's been like the past 10 years or so, but my parents still live there and tell me shopping in the US is still going strong.
thatleetboy Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 If you go to Grove City Pa its well worth it. There is a huge outlet mall there that has some amazing deals (1/4 the price). There is also a fishing store just down the street from the outlet mall that has great prices and selection. Google Grove City Outlet mall. An awesome outlet mall! You will save a BUNDLE. OTOH, a heckuva long drive...
Dutchy Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 If you go to Grove City Pa its well worth it. There is a huge outlet mall there that has some amazing deals (1/4 the price). There is also a fishing store just down the street from the outlet mall that has great prices and selection. Google Grove City Outlet mall. Thats quite along way, its only an hour north of Pittsburgh I mean it is a great mall, but helluva drive just to shop.
aplumma Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 I say come down and get 4 cases of Bushes Baked Beans 3 cases of Ball Park Franks 2 case of Cookie Crisps cereal and one case of Pilsbury grands biscuits Sung to the tune of 12 days of Christmas. Art
Rob Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 I mainly go for the selection. Try finding size 14 shoes in Canada for a good price. Some of the tackle there I would never find here. Plus I always look at it like a mini vacation, we take the kids find a hotel with a pool and everyone is happy! :clapping: Rob C
Twocoda Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 (edited) I say come down and get 4 cases of Bushes Baked Beans 3 cases of Ball Park Franks 2 case of Cookie Crisps cereal and one case of Pilsbury grands biscuits Sung to the tune of 12 days of Christmas. Art Canadian version of 12 days of Christmas 5 pounds of hash 4 pink pills 3 snorts of coke 2 hits of acid and a dime bag of Panama Red Merry Christmas!!! Edited December 15, 2010 by Twocoda
mercman Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Canadian version of 12 days of Christmas 5 pounds of hash 4 pink pills 3 snorts of coke 2 hits of acid and a dime bag of Panama Red Merry Christmas!!! dont for get the back bacon !!!!!!!!!
walleyejack Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 (edited) I try to support the local economy,Obama says buy American,don t ship anything in,and i say buy Canadian,no matter,it all comes from China anyway,might as well support the importers in your own country. Edited December 15, 2010 by walleyejack
fishing n autograph Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 save yourself the trip and go to rochester and waterloo, ny the deals are better than grove city.....if you're gonna go that far go into pittsburgh great shopping there too If you do go to grove city, you have to stop off at Volant which is the Amish version of St. Jacobs
crossover Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Be wary when buying electronics on the other side of the border. Warranties tend to be region specific, for example say you buy a TV in the US, if it breaks down while you're in Canada and the warranty is only valid in the US. You can send it in to the American Sony but they won't ship outside the US.
Billy Bob Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Since I do a considerable amount of cooking for the fire department (150+ men) I spend a lot of time at Sam's Club in Cheektowaga, NY......there are a LOT of Canadian shopping there to a point that the management doesn't give good service there because they know they don't have to as the store in crowded with American and Canadian shoppers. So stay on your side of the border.....you hear...LOL Bob
blue pickeral Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Since I do a considerable amount of cooking for the fire department (150+ men) I spend a lot of time at Sam's Club in Cheektowaga, NY......there are a LOT of Canadian shopping there to a point that the management doesn't give good service there because they know they don't have to as the store in crowded with American and Canadian shoppers. So stay on your side of the border.....you hear...LOL Bob The service at most Canadian Walmarts is haphazard at best....maybe they are trying to make the Canadians feel at home...
walleyemen Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Personally i think its worth it, gas is $1 agallon cheaper, grab some beer, great deals and like everyone said , kinda like a mini vacation!
dickie Posted December 15, 2010 Report Posted December 15, 2010 Gas, beer and groceries are much cheaper. A $2 border crossing fee and we get about a $50 per week savings. Plus I get to go into Gander and Dick's as well. Round trip takes us about 2 hour and we are done. All duties have pretty much been removed due to the trade agreements Canada has entered into. The major Canadian retailers want you to think they dropping prices. Sears stating they were matching US Sears prices on black Friday, not so. We are looking at fridge from Sears and the US price was still $400 less. Be the way who is still waiting for the Canadian retailers to drop the prices due to the HST? On the good side I am seeing a price correction on Cabelas Canadian site vs the US, about a $5 diff on $30 item. It is a good start. Maybe you should go to the states and get your health care looked after as well.
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